Not getting interviews? Pay your employer to hire you

You've probably tasted the samples of the new cracker in the grocery store, smelled the new perfume in the department store, or tried out the new detergent  you received in the mail.

 Those companies know that samples work.

One of the most savvy businesspeople in history knew that, too. When Napoleon Hill graduated from his one-year course in business, he was qualified for a position as a secretary, the most common entry-level position in the early 20th century.

He knew that without experience he would have difficulty finding a job - a state that continues to plague recent graduates today.

Napoleon chose the one place he wanted to work, the bank of a very wealthy businessman. He wrote a proposal that acknowledged his lack of experience. To make up for that deficiency, he told the banker he would pay him any sum he asked for three months, so long as at the end of that period, Napoleon would be paid the same monthly amount as his salary. The banker was immediately impressed by Hill's ingenuity and self-confidence. He was hired.

Before you dismiss this strategy as a century-old story, think about how you can apply it to your job search. Have you:

• Chosen a job you want to do in industry that fits you?
• Researched businesses within that industry at which you would like to work?
• Obtained the name(s) and contact information for the person or persons making the hiring decision for that position?

Yes? You're ready to write your proposal. Let me know how it turns out.

If not, let me know you'd like some help.