Unemployed woman uses unique strategy to look for new job

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - When you've been unemployed for nine months, you'll do almost anything to land that new job.  Natalie Zehr has worked in marketing for the past seven years, and she's trying a new tactic to market herself.

Two days this past week, Zehr could be found out at a busy intersection in town, holding a sign that reads in big bold letters:

Marketing Professional For Hire
6+ years experience
College degree + Creative thinker
Traffic-stopping ideas

"I was kind of jokingly saying to my Facebook friends that I might need to stand on a street corner with a sign in order to find a job," Zehr said Friday while standing by the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Ardmore Avenue.  "They started to chime in and commenting, that's not a bad idea Natalie, maybe you should do that.  If there's anybody in the world that would do it, it's me.  I just want to show I have the drive and determination and the commitment to be out here and get myself off of unemployment.  I don't want to be unemployed anymore.  I need a job.  I want a job."

The first day Zehr was out was Wednesday, when Fort Wayne had its first significant snowfall of the season.

"It was cold," Zehr said.  "It was windy, but I got a couple leads.  They didn't work out.  I did a little research on those companies (Thursday) and not anything I would be interested in right now.  I know beggars can't be choosers but I really want to stay in the marketing field.  It's what I love."

Zehr has a bachelor's degree in English, and has done marketing on social media, the internet, in print and for events.  She said she's willing to stand outside two or three times a week if it will get her foot in the door for an interview.

"I love the marketing side of business," she said.  "That's kind of how my personality is.  I'm kind of big, bold and out there.  I just want to look for something that's a perfect fit for me and I know I'm a perfect fit for somebody out there, it's just a matter of us meeting face-to-face.  I know I can do it if I can get my foot in the door for an interview somewhere."

NewsChannel 15 caught up with Zehr again Saturday afternoon at her Huntertown home, which is the basement of her finance's mother's home.  She doesn't mind the space where her, her fiance, and her two children live.  The plan is to stay there until the two pay off their student loans.

"My fiance finished the basement at his mom's house and did a really nice job on it," she said.

When Zehr was first out of work, she spent much of her spare time cleaning.  With everything clean, she spends a couple hours each day on her computer looking for job leads.

"I try to do a couple hours a day, but sometimes you see only one or two new jobs posted," she said while sitting by her laptop. " You try to keep at it but it gets so frustrating."

Zehr said any possible employer can reach her via email at: natalie.zehr@gmail.com.