When I ( Country singer Clint Black ) was 14, I was hired for an after-school job selling subscriptions to my hometown paper, the Houston Post. I was sent to some of the city's worst neighborhoods to ask door-to-door. Even though I was often struggling around after dark in bad areas searching for some place for the night, I was thankful for the work.

It was a hard job because people didn't like a stranger knocking on their door, especially a boy trying to get them to buy something. One time, a man shut his door heavily in my face and shouted, "I don't want any paper." I forced myself to knock again and was able to tell him how great the paper was. I ended up selling him a subscription. I was soon among the top sellers and, like other successful salesmen, was asked to train newcomers.

Around this time I started playing some musical instruments. Before long I was playing in a band at some and other events. When I turned 18, I fixed my attention on becoming a professional musician. I never give up this dream. I'm sure my perseverance came from what I learned knocking on strangers' doors.

That experience helped me in many ways. Early in my music job I was locked in a lawful quarrel with a former manager. He forced me to give in, but I refused.

Having all those doors closed in my face as a boy gave me the strength to stand up to this frightening person. Except this time there was one difference: I was the one saying no. And I won.

If you’re finding it tough to land a job, try expanding your job-hunting plan to include the following tactics:

Set your target. While you should always keep your options open to compromise, you should also be sure to target exactly what you want in a job. 【小题1】

Schedule plentiful interviews. Use every possible method to get interviews—answering advertisements, using search firms, contacting companies directly, surfing the Web, and networking. 【小题2】

Follow up.【小题3】 Then, some weeks later, send another brief letter to explain that you still have not found the perfect position and that you will be available to interview again if the original position you applied for—or any other position—is open. Do this with every position you interview for, and you may just catch a break.

Make it your full-time job. You can’t find a job by looking sporadically(偶发地). 【小题4】 If you’re unemployed and looking, devote as much time as you would to a full-time job. If you have a job while you’re looking, figure out an organized schedule to maximize your searching time.

Network vertically. In the research stage of your job hunt, talk to people who are on a level above you in your desired industry. They’ll have some insights that people at your own level won’t have, and they will be in a good position to hire you or recommend you to be hired.

【小题5】 Looking for a job is one of the toughest things you will ever have to do. Maintain your confidence, stay persistent, and think positively, and eventually you will get a job that suits you.

The increasing environmental problems and need for eco-friendly products and services are creating a new job section of green-collar jobs.【小题1】It is expected that by 2025 about 25% of the jobs in developed countries will be green-collar jobs. Doesn’t the data look promising for the future?

【小题2】 And jobs will pop up at every income level, from environmental managers to gardeners. For example, many countries including the United States have understood that fossil fuels have a negative effect on the environment which can later become a serious danger to mankind. 【小题3】 The increasing demand for new resources has created the need for experts and researchers who can find better ways to deal with the ongoing needs. In addition, in order to meet the increasing demand for environment-friendly equipment, both green product designers and educated and trained workers are needed. Management of environmental enterprises and organizations also demands a large number of environmental managers.

【小题4】 The Internet is undoubtedly the best way to find information on almost any matter. Nowadays, different kinds of jobs are being posted online. Search through a couple of job websites to look for a bright future in energy conversion and recycling of waste management. Check regularly and find the right work for yourself. 【小题5】