“We’re not hiring,” is the HR equivalent of “your price is too high.” In both situations the candidate and the sales rep hang their head and move on.  There is no faster way to get rid of a sales rep.  And it is the exact same thing with job candidates. If the company or HR manager says they are not hiring, they must not be hiring.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

So what can you do?

Think this through with me a little. Are they not hiring or are they not hiring you? You mean to tell me if you approach a company with a way to prove your worth, either in a cost saving way or in a revenue producing way, they would not hire you?  Of course, we they would.  But some namby-pamby, they-all-look-alike resume is not going to get you the job.  It’s going to take work, even in the job searching.

If you are not working now, what better time to work like an intern. Prove yourself to them. Work half days, Do something that makes YOU indispensable. Be flexible. Be results oriented. Figure out how they like to measure performance and offer to match that.

Offer to do a loathsome job…even part-time. Ever wonder why so many head media honchos got started in the mail room? Back then, it was always hard to get a job…and, the most aggressive, the ones who wanted to work the hardest, knew it was mostly about getting a foot in the door. The mail room was the way IN.

One thing is clear…when companies cut back on employees, over 95% of the time, they do not cut back on activities or requirements. This means that fewer people are doing the same work as before. If you can offer up a lifeline….most companies will think twice about throwing it back.

I know it is hard out there for job seekers. I am not questioning that fact. I am just hoping to help one person find a job…you.

(hat tip: Leah Metz)+Don’t forget our way-cool site LinkUp.com which only has jobs from company’s own websites, most are never advertised. There are new jobs every day in JOBDIG, in the paper and on the website that is constantly being updated.