Lesson: Think outside the box(ers). In "Tootsie," actor Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) is out of work, out of money and out of options, until he decides to get creative and try out for the part of a woman in the long-running soap opera "Southwest General." His ballsy move pays off, and he gets the role -- and a much-needed jump-start to his acting career.

Not surprisingly, today's competitive job market -- the unemployment rate hovers above 9% -- has prompted some to become equally inventive. Hiring managers report job seekers are trying all kinds of off-the-wall tactics to stand out: offering a free foot massage if hired, writing a poem or bringing breakfast to the boss until getting hired, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey.

But the dicey job market is also pushing many people to contemplate (or pursue) career changes. More than half of U.S. workers want to; they told Harris Interactive they would switch careers if they had a chance to start over. And it can pay off: See "Change your job, change your life."

Continued: "You Can't Take It With You"