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As with any kind of job hunt, a candidate needs to stand out from the crowd. Being creative and having a sense of humor are good weapons to have in the arsenal for any profession.

One good way people promote themselves is through business cards. But they get lost or thrown away and nobody misses them. Make a bigger card, so it doesn’t fit in a stack with the rest and it’ll be noticed more often. Whether it’s travel nurse programs or public school nursing that’s being applied to, getting noticed is key.

Ruth Smith, a freelance writer transplanted in Portland, Oregon promotes her background to get her foot in the door. She has a cover letter that’s a light-hearted explanation of who she is. She says it works nearly every time she sends it out.

Bank on Experiences

A short version of it says she raised her kids and a gang of foster kids and something got into her. She sold all their stuff, got rid of all but the smallest kids, the pets and her husband and they went to Alaska and lived in a tent, and she found a lot to write about. Ten years later, she’s still writing. Of course it’s more entertaining the way she says it, but it’s a good conversation starter with clients, and the thing is, the paragraph is true. People all over are interested in Alaska-living and it draws interest to her.

Another good idea is to use quality paper for the cover letter and resume. Using bright white copy paper is cheap, sure, but it doesn’t stand out from the crowd. After spending so much money in medical school, getting good quality paper is important.

It’s all in appearances, at first, so make a good impression.