How to Find Unique, Unknown Creative Jobs

Finding the right job is difficult enough for just about anyone, but what do you do when you know that the right job for you--whatever it is--is a job like no other? Standard methods of job searching and even entrepreneurial efforts don't often teach us how to look for, find or maybe create the ideal, unusual, creative job, but with a little thinking outside the box, the perfect opportunity for you might be right around the corner.

Instructions

1. Keep an eye on your local print classified ads, community boards (like those in restaurants and coffee shops), and online classified ads (such as Craigslist). In places like this, people often advertise needs and services that are somewhat more difficult to make connections about in the standard job market. Even if you don't see anything here that you want to copy directly, you might find some inspiration.

2. Pay attention to what sorts of unusual things you or someone you know might be paying for, or are willing to pay for, on a regular basis. Finding or creating a niche for unusual creative employment means discovering a common need that people have but don't commonly have the opportunity to hire someone to help them fill.

3. Read "human interest" stories about people's success with finding and creating out-of-the-ordinary creative jobs. These sorts of articles can crop up in just about any general magazine or publication, but look especially to sites and magazines dedicated to entrepreneurs and stay-at-home parents. You can also check out a few sites devoted to unusual jobs, such as backdoorjobs.com or "This Week's Weird Jobs" at businesspundit.com.

4. Consider the sorts of new opportunities that modern technology has created in the job market. Continual advances in information technology hold particular potential for artistic people who create intellectual property that can be transmitted online, even if what you create isn't the traditional music, writing or video offerings you may expect someone to make his living from. Online markets for physical arts and crafts (such as ebay.com and etsy.com) can also be found in abundance, so whatever it is you want to create, chances are you can find a place to sell it.

5. Determine whether you will need to work in an independent or employed capacity in your chosen area of work. Once you've decided what you want to do, look to any nearby businesses or arts organizations that might have a need for your services. Also, look to non-artistic employers that work in a creative capacity, such as consulting firms. Otherwise, pursue avenues of self-employment: determine your rates and advertise your services.