In the market for a new job? You’ve probably been given standard tips for job seekers like “pursue your passions, ” “leverage your network, ” “tailor and tidy up your resume, ” “do your homework, ” and “dress for success”—among other things.

Here are 10 unconventional (but very effective) tips for job seekers:

1. Don’t apply for a job as soon as you find it. The worst part about job hunting is the dreaded scrolling of an online job board, applying for job after job, and never hearing back, Adney says. “When you find a job online that you’re really interested in, applying is the last thing you should do. Instead, research that company and the professionals who work there, and reach out to someone at the company before you apply for the job, letting them know you admire what they do and would love their advice.” Then, ask questions via e-mail or phone about what they like and find challenging at their job, and ask if they have any tips for you. “Most likely they will personally tell you about the job opening (you should not mention it) and then you can ask them about getting your application and resume into the right hands, ” she says. “It is a great way to keep your applications from getting lost in the black hole of the Internet.”
2. Don’t focus on finding a job you love now. Don’t obsess about how much you’ll enjoy a particular job on day one, Newport says. Most entry-level positions are not glamorous. “The right question to ask when assessing an opportunity is what the job would look like in five years, assuming that you spent those years focusing like a laser on developing valuable skills. That’s the job you’re interviewing for.”
3. Create your position. Don’t just sit around waiting for your “dream job” to open. Study the industry or field that you’re looking to move into, and determine a company or two that you’d like to work for, Hockett says. “Then figure out their challenges through relationships or public information. With this, you can craft a solution for them that you can share directly or publically through a blog, for instance. The concept here is to get noticed through offering a solution to help them with no expectation of anything in return.”
4. Be vulnerable. It’s okay to ask people for advice! “Too often we think we have to sell ourselves as this know-it-all hot-shot to get a job, but I have found the best way to build relationships with people whom you’d like to work with (or for) is to start by being vulnerable, sharing your admiration for their work, and asking for advice, ” Adney says. “I recommend doing this with professionals at companies you’d love to work for, long before they have a job opening you apply for.”
5. Don’t always follow your passion. “Follow your passion” is one of the most common pieces of career wisdom, says Cal Newport, author of So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love. “It’s also wrong.” If you study people who end up loving their work, most of them did not follow a pre-existing passion, he says. “Instead, their passion for the work developed over time as they got better at what they did and took more control over their career.”
6. Start at the top and move down. We learned from Chris Gardner (played by Will Smith) in The Pursuit of Happyness (the biographical film based on Gardner’s life) that you need to start from the top and move down. “Why approach human resources in hopes that your resume makes it to the hiring authority?” Parnell says. “Just get it there yourself. Be careful to use tact, respect, and clarity during the process, but nevertheless, go straight to the decision-maker.”
7. Learn how to listen. Job seekers are so caught up in conveying a certain message and image to the employer that they often fail to listen.  When you practicing for interviews, don’t just rehearse your answers to questions like, “can you tell me about yourself?” “why do you want this job?” and “what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?” Practice listening carefully and closely without interrupting.
8. Focus on body language. You’ve probably heard this before—but job candidates don’t take it seriously enough. “”Body language is incredibly important in job interviews, ” “Watching yours (posture, your hands, whether or not you’re relaxed, confidence) will help you exude confidence, ” “Meanwhile paying attention to the interviewer’s body language can let you gauge whether or not you’re on the right track.””
9. Build a relationship with the administrative assistant. While you want to start at the top (see No. 5), you’ll eventually want to build strategic relationships with personnel at all levels.
10. Become their greatest fan. Once you find a company you’d love to work for, become their biggest fan. ““Becoming a brand loyalist may lead to becoming an employee, ” Organizations ideally want employees to love their company and be enthusiastic about their job. Loyal fans are passionate as consumers, and often make great employees because of this.

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