Unemployment Fatigue: Forget Those Sad Stories

With the recovery picking up, the jobless might think twice before agreeing to be featured in the media. The nation seems to be going through unemployment fatigue. Stories such as the one about the unemployed recent law school grad, Randah Atassi, in Chicago's Sun Times might not be helping the feature's subject in her search for work.

The story profiles her strugles to find a job in the current economy. A much better strategy might be pushing to be featured when you're pursuing a promising employment strategy. Of course, that requires some creative marketing of your skills.

For example, Indian Americans might have noticed the opportunity to tell their unique story of pursuing the American Dream. The New York Times Magazine featured self made man Ravindra Misal who is breaking with tradition in India. Given the caste system in India, normally his economic fate would have been to be born and die poor. He not only is breaking away from that with his personality contests. He is motivating others who would have been also limited to think and act capitalistic. In America, those of Indian origin can focus on how they are redefining opportunity for themselves and other immigrants.

What kind of story can you present to the media? How about how getting out there and actually knocking on doors in person, which might just land you interviews for jobs with small business. If you do that, you bet you should tell the media. Readers are likely to admire your drive and present you with a concrete job offer.