Laid off? In this market, many have adopted the notion that when it comes to a job these days, you either can’t be too picky, or you have to be willing to be really creative.
This cluster takes a look at some of the most innovative job ideas, entrepreneurial ventures and creative self-marketing tools we’ve featured on Trend Hunter.
Implications - The recession forced companies around the world to lay off employees en masse. Newly unemployed individuals began to look for any work possible to earn an income, which led to an unusual rise in odd jobs, paid internships and innovative moneymaking schemes. These untraditional jobs kept the economy afloat.
52 Innovative Job Ideas
51
Free Cars (With Billboards)
Paid Vehicle Advertising
50
Resume T-Shirts
Let Your Shirt Get You a New Job
49
Million Dollar Homepage: Almost Sold Out
48
Recession-Proof Jobs
Careers Promising Prosperity and Stability in 2009
47
Career-Boosting Gadgets
Innovations For Job Seekers In A Bad Economy
46
Ultra Luxurious Job Offers
Tourism Queensland Offers 'Best Job in the World'
45
Funemployment Fashion
Irina Blok's Buttons and Shirts Make Fun of Joblessness
44
Million Dollar Business Minds
Young Entrepreneur Gets Lucky With His Brainstorming
43
Ex-Con Cooks
'Conviction' Restaurant Employs 13 Former Inmates
42
Monk E-business
Rise of the New Dot Com Entrepreneurs
41
Self-Promotional Ads For Jobless Advertisers
Unemployed Egyptian Pharaohs
40
Social Entrepreneurs
A Megatrend
39
Get Paid to Use Twitter
Linkbee Puts Ads in Your Tweets
38
YouTube Recruiting (Part 2)
Cistercian Monks Get Universal Music Deal
37
Beer Bartering
UK Pub Cashes in on Credit Crunch By Letting You Swap Goods For A Pint
36
Cool Careers For Dummies: Trend Hunter Listed
35
Bright Business Promos
Artemide Offers Discount on Lamps for Entrepreneurs
34
Selling Gold At House Parties
'My Gold Party CA' is the Luxury Equivalent of Container Parties
33
Selling Teeth for Cash
The Economic Crisis Has People Selling their Golden Grillz
32
Paid Tourists
$25,000 Job For "67 Days of Smiles" in Orlando up for Grabs
31
Getting Paid to Bicycle
PedEarn
30
Get Paid To Party
Clubbing Celebs
29
Entrepreneur Communities
Endossa Shops
28
Gene-Based Job Recruitment
Sifting Through Genetic Resumes for the Best Employees
27
$10,000/Month Dream Jobs
Murphy-Goode's ‘Really Goode Job' for Web-Savvy Winos
26
Testing 52 Jobs in a Year
Sean Aiken's One Week Job
25
Giving 2.0
Kiva Loans Lend Directly to a Developing World Entrepreneur
24
Credit Crunch Hair Selling
Websites Let Desperate People Trade Their Locks For Cash
23
Recruiting Viral YouTube Stars
Bonds Commercial Stars Freestyler
22
Microlending To Entrepreneurs
Richard Branson Launches Virgin Money
21
Wild Women Entrepreneurs
Supporting Mammapreneaurs & More
20
Money-Making Mobiles
Recycle Old Phones for Dough at CellForCash.com
19
Product Testing Programs
'Brand New You Tube' Delivers You 4 Beauty Products Per Month
18
Get Paid to Hunt Trends
No More 30 Trend Minimum
17
Recruiting Wage-Free Workers
LightFair Seeks Unpaid Employees With Promise of Gratis Entry
16
Mystical Career Counseling
The Jobless BeginTurning to Psychics for Economic Guidance
15
Unemployment Olympics
Jobless Gather to Blow off Steam in Laid Off Games in NYC
14
MySpace Recruitment
Alicia Keys Finds Backup Singers Online
13
Crowdsourced Careers
Chen Xiao Performs Random Real-Life Tasks for Chinese Internet Users
12
Cashing in On Amateur Phone Apps
iPhone Trism Worth $250,000
11
Personal Bailouts
MissingMoney.com May Have The Cash You've Been Looking For
10
Kissing Booths to Pay Off Speeding Tickets
Marnie Stern's Rock Star Side Jobs
9
Get Paid For Your Photographs
Photrade
8
Inspiring Entrepreneurship
Grasshopper Gives Innovators Hope Amid the Recession
7
Odd Jobs Via GPRS
Otetsudai Flexible Workforce
6
Bossnapping
French Employees Holding Superiors Hostage to Protest Layoffs
5
Recession-Fueled Entrepreneurs
Former Microsoft Employees Head Out On Their Own
4
Bidding on Employees
Man Posts Himself on eBay as "Employee for a Month"
3
Student Writers Wanted
Virtual Student Writer Jobs Earn You Cash and Fame
2
Video Resumes
StaffTube Changes Online Recruiting
1
Auctioning Off Innocence
Australian Filmmaker Recruits for Unusual Naughty Documentary
Related Ideas
Work-Friendly Beers
Creative Juice is a Low-Strength "Desk Beer" for Creative Problem-Solving
Recruitment Metaverse Shops
IKEA on Roblox Merges Virtual Gaming and Real-World Job Opportunities
Industrial Cellphone Concepts
The Nokia N90 x Nothing Concept by Viet Doan Duc is Retro and Modern
Anti-Theft Phone Cases
JOAN London Created an "Unsnatchable" Phone Case to Deter Thieves
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
AI Job Impact Predictor
Future Proof Provides Insights on How AI Will Effect Different Industries
AI Outfit Search Engines
'I Have Nothing to Wear' Uses AI to Spark Fashion Inspiration
Eco Storytelling Workwear Campaigns
Patagonia's We Can Get There From Here Tells is Inspiring
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Remote Work-Locating Tools
The Remote Worker Helps Digital Nomads Find a Temporary Space to Work
AI-Powered Innovation Platforms
Mintel Spark Helps Brands with Concept Generation
AI Replacement Probability Tests
Will AI Replace Me Predicts Job Automation Likelihood
Global Handbag Campaigns
Coach's New 'Unlock Your Courage' Campaign Promotes Personal Expression
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Brainstorming Business Idea Tools
IdeaMate is the Solution to Fighting Stale Business Ideas
Beauty Innovation Contests
Estée Lauder Launches The Catalysts Program
Remote Hiring Platforms
Match Top Global Tech Talent with Remote Jobs Via Arc 3.0's AI Platform
Resurrected Used Smartphones
Think Tank Team Makes Artifacts with Project Afterlife
Creativity-Centered Workshops
Gap's Workshop Initiative Empowers Local Makers in San Francisco
Pizza Box Resumes
Pizza Hut's "ResZAmes" Support Job Seekers During the September Surge
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Resume-Ranking AI Scoring
CV Score Uses AI To Tailor Your Resume to a Job Listing
Encouraging Jar-Reusing Campaigns
Kraft Mayonnaise's Initiative Encourages Consumers to Repurpose
Remote Job Platforms
Users Can Connect Remote Talent with Global Companies Through Flexrem 2.0
Adventurous Roadtrip Retail Campaigns
The Pilot Flying J 'See You Out Here' Campaign is Relatable
Job Application Automation
AutoJobs Simplifies Job Searches by Auto-Applying with AI
Interactive Recruitment Billboards
easyJet's Campaign Encourages Women to Consider a Pilot Career
Entry-Level Job Aggregators
Junior OK Finds Junior Developer and Design Jobs for New Tech Talent
Marketing Creation Design Tools
Adobe Presents the New Express for Enterprise Tool
College-Inspired Haircare Pop-Ups
Monday Haircare Hosted an Interactive Pink Truck
Professional Social Media Games
LinkedIn Released Three Games to Build Connections on its Platform
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
Digital Nomad Lifestyle Insights
Work, Wealth & Travel Podcast Offers Tips for Digital Nomads
Viral Video Databases
Viral Ideas Offers Inspiration for a Content Creator's Next Big Video
Music Industry Creative Offices
22RE Transforms a Vaulted Factory into a Modern Workspace
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Musical AI Campaigns
Fiverr's 'Nobody Cares' Positions AI as a Tool for Skilled Freelancers
Educational Fashion Partnerships
Louis Vuitton’s Design Graduates Initiative Shapes the Future
Streaming Service Expansions
Spotify Launched an In-house Creative Agency, Spotify Creative Lab
AI Productivity Suites
GeniusMindsAI Provides Creativity-Boosting AI Tools Across Industries
Job Hunting AI Tools
JobBuddy Streamlines The Application Process with AI
AI Startup Idea Generators
IdeaPicker Scours Reddit to Discover Your Next Big Idea
Adventurous Outdoor Tool Concepts
Kazuya Washio Designs the Yamaha Outdoor Tools Concept
AI Hiring Assistants
The LinkedIn Hiring Assistant Takes on Time-Consuming Recruitment Tasks
Playful Creativity-Focused Campaigns
Sharpie® Launches the World is Your Canvas Tour
AI-Powered Digital Employees
Product Genius Transforms How Small Businesses Connect with Customers
AI Interview Simulators
Interview with AI Creates a Personalized Roadmap to Help Candidates
AI Idea Generators
The AI Content & Idea Generator Streamlines Project Management
Marketing Idea Generators
Thunderbucket Provides Marketing Ideas and Observations at Speed
Custom Inspirational Quotes
Muse Combines Quotes with Creative Themes for Social Media
Game-Changing Staffing Platforms
Marketplace by Coach360 Addresses Staffing Shortages
Human Connection-Centric Campaigns
Etsy's New Ad Campaign Wants to Keep Commerce Human
Idea Validating Platforms
HeadStarter Helps Entrepreneurs Discover If Their Idea Exists
Supportive Entrepreneur Communities
Ooutliers Shares Insights From Successful Startups
Kid Entrepreneur Carts
Allboss is a Creative Approach to Entrepreneurship for Children
Business Founder Newsletters
The Solo Founder Newsletter Compiles the Top News and Inspiration
Cheeky Pet Insurance Campaigns
OnePack Plan by PetPartners is Hiring Pets for Various Positions
Content Ideation Tools
The Content Ideas Generator Creates 12 Ideas in Seconds
Reassuring Job Search Tools
YANA Helps Job Seekers Feel Less Alone in Today's Job Market
Instant Inspirational Quotes
Quotz Offers Quick Curated Inspirational Quotes for Businesses
Tech-Focused Delivery Expansions
Best Buy is Now Allowing Scheduled Deliveries in Some U.S. States
Retailer Mental Health Initiatives
L.L. Bean's 'Be An Outsider' Challenge Encouraged Time Outdoors
Pizza Box Resume Deliveries
Pizza Hut's ResZAmes Optimizes the September Surge of Job Opps
Sustainable Turkish Textile Initiatives
ILO Turkiye and Ekodoku Aim to Boost Eco-Friendly Textiles
Online Idea-Sharing Platforms
Collaborate, Share, and Discover Projects with Oasis of Ideas
Income-Centric Animated Comedies
Universal Basic Guys Follows Two Characters Earning 3k Monthly
Early Wage Solutions
Tapcheck Provides On-Demand Pay Access for Employee Financial Flexibility
Career Tracking Tools
HuntHelper Helps Professionals Track Achievements for Career Growth
Startup Name Generators
FindName Suggests Countless Ideas to Help Name Your New Business
Personal Productivity Planners
PlanPlume Increases Work-Life Balance Through Personalized Planning
Interactive Juice Packaging
Gulf Union Foods Launched Fun Connected Packaging for its Juices
Community Behavioral Health Campaigns
Comprehensive Healthcare Debuts a New Recruitment Campaign
Personal Cubicle Concepts
Ma. Camilla Isabel Reyes Designs a Personal Working Pod Concept
Automated Job Applicant Platforms
The 'SuperApplicant' Platform Tailors Every Application
Idea-Testing Startup Tools
Startup Idea Tester Streamlines the Early Stages of a Business
Tech Job Aggregator Tools
Career Hound Aggregates High-Paying Tech Jobs from Various Sources
AI-Powered Business Discoveries
Yelp Unveils a New AI Assistant and 'Project Ideas' Feature
International Student Employment Programs
Oregon State University Debuts the Jump Start Program
Custom Headwear Holiday Campaigns
Lids' 'It’s Personal' Campaign Brings Heart to Holiday Gifting
Interview Coaching Tools
Mind-Interview is an AI Tool to Enhance Skills and Create Video Resumes
Slacking Support Tools
Office Slacker Helps Workers Pretend to Be Busy
Personality-Packed Snack Filters
Jack Link's Created Bold "Flavor Filters" for Gen Z Job Seekers
Automated Resume Customization
Resume Ink Uses AI to Tailor Your Resume Automatically for Each Job
AI Job Application Reviewers
Job Seekers Can Upload Their Resume and Get a Score in Minutes
Burnout-Preventing Toolkits
The Upward Spiral Playbook Offers Strategies to Navigate Challenges
Business Idea Keyword Checker
Build the Keyword Helps Find Keyword for Optimal Traffic
Emotional Short Films
Johnson & Johnson’s New Emotional Film Sheds Light on Severe Depression
Inspirational Learning Management Tools
'Get Inspired' Offers Digestible Snippets of Content
AI Freelance Proposal Writers
GigWiz Helps Freelancers Land More Job Opportunities
Advertising Demand-Side Platforms
Yahoo Launched Yahoo Creative to Help Advertisers
Job-Themed Obstacle Courses
Mike's Jobstacle Course Challenges People to Experience "Easy" Work
Outdoorsy Branding Initiatives
REI Co-Op Continues Its Tradition of Closing All 190 Locations
AI Recruitment Tools
TalentoTouch Enables Recruiters to Craft Highly Personalized Messages
Effective Productivity Strategies
64Hacks Takes a Community-Driven Approach to Streamline Workflow
Creative Design Tools
Spectrum Grants Access to 100+ Premium Vector Shapes to Boost Projects
Daily Motivational Quotes
QuoteBuzz Uplifts with Positive Reinforcement Aligned to Their Goals
Professional Community Platforms
LinkedIn is Targeting Gen Z Professionals with its New Campaign
Career Platform AI Features
LinkedIn Introduces a Slew of AI-Powered Enhancements
Resume Analytic Tools
Resume Intelligent Analysis Provides Insights Into How Resumes are Perceived
Streamlined Job Searching Tools
Upply is an All-in-one Tool to Aid Candidates in the Job Search
Post-Launch Entrepreneurial Newsletters
One Year Wiser Interviews People One Year After Launch
Quick Resume Creation
My Resume Hero Creates Tailored Resumes Quickly and Affordably
Beginner Artistic Inspiration
Drawing Prompts Helps Artists Develop a Consistent Practice
Inventive Charity Initiatives
Spark Financial's Annual Charity Initiative is for Autism Awareness
Failed Digital Product Databases
Dead Product Marketplace is a Graveyard for Abandoned Projects
Hotel-Led Vintage Markets
The MOB Hôtel Hosted a Vintage Market, an Eco Conference and Workshops
Explorative Entrepreneur Ideas
Hustle Momumtum Invites You to Discover and Launch Side Hustles
Job Tracking Tools
Job Application Tracker Simplifies Centralizes Job Search Data
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Personalized Professional Content Generators
Viralify AI Crafts LinkedIn Posts to Save You Time
Entrepreneur Brand-Building Tools
IndieLogs Helps Founders Stand Out Through Personalized Profiles
Automated Job Applications
AutoJobs is an AI Web Extension That Helps You Apply to Jobs Faster
Personalized AI Resumes
This Tool Assists Candidates by Offering Tailor-Made Resumes for Every Job
Productivity Template Bundles
The Ultimate Notion Bundle Brings Together the Best Templates
Collaborative QSR Hiring Solutions
wagamama Enhances its Hiring Strategies with inploi
Pre-Launch B2B Startup Apps
Faindrr Focuses on Growth and Connections Between new Startup Founders
SEO Job Board Generators
Job Boardly Allows Anyone to Launch a Job Board in Minutes
Aggregated Social Insights
IndiePulse Uses Forum and Thread Comments to Find Your Next Projects
Instant Job Alert Tools
Uptrackr Provides Instant Alerts for Upwork Jobs, Helping You Apply Faster
Tech Hiring Platforms
'Hackajob On-Demand' Connects Companies to Top Tech Contractors, Fast
Shanghai Marketing Office Refurbishments
Linehouse Renovates an Office for The Independents
Intellectually Stimulating Social Media
Maven Goes Back to Basics with Traditional Algorithms
Thought Leadership Assistants
Jessica By Queue Uses AI to Streamline Content Creation
Creative Hollywood-Themed Games
'Greenlight' Tasks Players with Pitching Ideas to Studio Heads
Empowering Trader-Focused Campaigns
Vantage Markets Debuts New Phase of Reborn a Trader
Greenhouse Gas-Reducing Video Tools
IMPACT+ Has Debuted the Creative Optimizer Self-Service Tool
Entrepreneurial Journey Insights
Founder Folks Teaches You How Founders Launched Their Business
Unlimited Randomly Generated Tools
The Random Tools is Ideal for Sparking Creativity in Writers
Job Application Optimization
ApplyGoat Uses AI to Help with Streamlining Job Applications
HR Productivity Tools
Notion for People & Hiring Offers a Tailored Approach to HR and Hiring
Connective Student Grad Apps
DevGrads Offers a How-To Guide for Graduates Looking for High Pay
Unique Urban Event Hires
London is Renting Tube Stations, Cable Cars, and Piers for Private Hire
Surprising Romantic Inspiration
Love Fuel Offers 450 Ideas to Liven Up a Relationship
AI Recruitment-Enhancing Tools
The AI Skills-Based Query Builder Analyzes Job Titles
Niche Interest Ads
Interest Navigator Uncovers Interests That are Hidden from Most Advertisers
Streamlined Start-Up Job Searching
Startup Jobs by Binh Pham is a Community for Job Seekers
Efficient Job Outreach Solutions
Career Connect Helps Job Seekers Find Company Emails
Comprehensive Career Guidance
Placify Technologies Aims to be a Partner in One's Career Journey