Good Morning America painted another ugly picture of the economy today and the difficulties job seekers face in today’s market.  They showed some creative ways people are using to get hired, like a woman who turned her resume into a magazine.

It was somewhat interesting to see that creativity is acceptable in a job search, but surely daunting for those people that might be an excellent candidate for a job, but not sure how to put on a “dog and pony show”, or that they even want to.

In my opinion, no matter what the market conditions, a key thing to rely on is your individual strengths.  How have you gotten jobs in the past?  Did you network?  Was it through a friend?  Was it persistence?  Take a good look at the steps you went through to get that job.  You might think it was plain old good luck, but when you really analyze all that led up to it, I’ll bet you’ll find something more concrete.

These are the skills you will be able to rely on, even in a tough market.  These are the assets you have that should help keep your spirits lifted, even if today didn’t bring in any leads or job offers.

No matter what the market, you’re still unique.  You can still ask brilliant questions, find out from people in the company you want to work what they’re looking for, and who your competition is.  If you don’t want to use media or boldness to express your creativity, focus on your uniqueness in your own way.  Don’t let anyone stop you.  And if the first door doesn’t open for you, hang in there, persistence and follow-up are two of the most valuable tools in your search.