1. Creating Opportunities: You should volunteer to provide back-up for all positions within the company. Try to be known as the jack-of-all-trades.  Make sure that you are being discussed in a positive way when you are not in the room. When there is problem who are you going to call?

2. Non-Traditional Networking: Volunteer at the YMCA, at your church or similar organizations that would allow you the opportunity to meet others. Put a plan in place that would afford you to meet people continually.

3. Job Sharing: If there has been no movement in the company, introduce job sharing which would allow you an opportunity to learn other positions as well as provide additional support during vacations and extended illnesses. Historically, individuals providing back-up have been a problem with companies over the years. You would be recognized as an innovator. Introduce mentoring within the company. Non-traditional mentoring would be redesigned as information exchange. It allows you to be introduced to jobs throughout the company without movement of staff.

4. Write to Company Human Resources Explaining Your Plight: During the Non-employment period, inquire concerning tours of the companies that you are seeking employment. Inquire about intern programs or minority organizations that may exist. Asked if there is someone you should meet with that could review the current expectations of the position, preferably someone who is in that position that you are seeking to fill.

5. Waiting Game (can I endure): You must have confidence in your approach.  You must do all of the items for improvement, not some of them. Always re-exam your approach. Review with your manager, how am I doing? Are there areas of improvement? How am I seen? How long can I really wait? Do my five year plan become a ten years? Review your road map to success!

6. Church Networking: Become an active member in your church or religious institution. There are employers in the church that will give you an advantage over a complete stranger. You have a common ground to build on and they have had an opportunity to view you in a setting that should give you an advantage