Ever have a desire to really separate yourself from the pack when trying to get a job (or even an interview?) We’re not talking using creme paper for your resume versus standard white, but something much more extreme. Maybe something like sending a resume via homing pigeon (don’t laugh, it’s been tried.) Or perhaps an even more attention-getting effort — something like these, reports Career Journal:

Among the more bizarre gimmicks hiring managers say they’ve seen: a cut-up resume placed piece by piece inside a Russian stacking doll, a cover letter with an electronic key chain and a note saying, “The only noise you’ll hear out of me are the ones generated by this letter,” and a case in which a job candidate brought a Rubik’s Cube to an interview to demonstrate her quick problem-solving skills.

And as if these weren’t bizarre enough:

Ms. Shapiro says a job hunter in a gorilla suit once dropped off his resume at her office at a construction company. Then, she recalls, he burst into a song describing why he would make a strong candidate. ‘The receptionist said he couldn’t come in, but he kept running around with balloons and calling my name,’ she says. ‘Everyone thought it was my birthday. The CEO came out. It wasn’t cool.

Do you think it’s a bit over-the-top?

In some circumstances, certain tactics can draw attention to your work experience and abilities and serve to move you ahead in the process. But you need to be very careful in what you do, be sure you tailor your effort to the recipient’s personality and interests, and don’t get too extravagant — a subtle effort is much more effective than becoming a singing gorilla.— FREE MONEY FINANCE

Why Attention-Seeking Tactics Often Backfire on Job Hunters [Career Journal]
(Photo: Getty)

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