Hey, it got me the gig.
Posted on 10/06/2005 8:17:24 AM PDT by Millee
What would you do to get your dream job? Bribe the employer with food or gifts? Hit on the hiring manager? Become a stalker?
Job seekers will do almost anything to stand out among the competition. There is no length a candidate won't go to and no line someone won't cross in order to get a job.
Hiring managers nationwide shared the most unconventional methods job seekers used to grab their attention in CareerBuilder.com's latest survey "How to Get in the Front Door."
While some candidates' efforts were impressive -- like giving Power Point presentations, distributing portfolios on CD and working for a day to demonstrate talents -- others' were complete turn-offs.
One candidate called incessantly for weeks before and after the position was filled. Another clueless candidate asked for another interview after being told that the job was filled. One job seeker brought coffee for the entire office, while another asked the interviewer out to dinner.
If you think that's weird, here are some of the most bizarre things job seekers did to get noticed:
* Wore a tuxedo.
* Used a celebrity official fan site as one of their portfolio accomplishments.
* Brought a baby gift to the interviewer who was pregnant.
* Sat next to the hiring manager in a church pew.
* Left Yankee tickets for the interviewer.
* Sent a nude photo of himself to the hiring manager.
* Tried to do a stand-up comedy routine.
* Waited for the hiring manager at his car.
* Came dressed as a cat.
* Said they "smiled on command."
Multiple people are vying for the same open positions in most situations. Trying something out of the ordinary to market your skills and accomplishments can give you an edge over other applicants. The key to executing effectively and making yourself memorable for the right reasons is coupling creativity with professionalism and persistence.
The nude picture of myself is definitely out. Now, . . . .being a stalker . . . hmmmm. But I wouldn't hire a stalker. That is counter-intuitive.
These things communicate loud and clear that the candidate is a needy and desperate loser. I doubt any of these people got hired.
Ping..
The lesson is: never vie for open positions.
By the time a position becomes "open", it has already been rejected by the internal candidates and outside candidates a company has on file. It is likely to be a low-paying, high stress job that isn't worth the effort.
The newspaper classifieds are a list of all the bad jobs nobody wanted. Internet sites are only marginally better.
Instead, create new openings for yourself by being active in professional organizations and building a network of hiring manager contacts within companies. If they already know you and like your work, they will create a job for you when the time is right.
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Pissant? I thought the same exact thing!
Did he send you that picture too?
LOL!!!
He didn't send it to me. Did you get one?
Actually - funny story....
I met a guy and we exchanged biz cards - potential lunch date, yada yada...
By the time I got home, he had sent me three emails - INCLUDING a nude photo of himself.
He was forever known as "the naked guy" in my circle of friends. I did share his picture with as many people as I could. It was a ... um....er...stunner of a photo.
But, it wasn't Pissant.
He sent one to the Nurse to be attached to his latest Dental X-Rays. SHe's using it as a target for her dart board.
Actually, he sent it to me. Not something I requested, trust me.
Um, why was I not cc'd on the photo mail?
Figures he would send it to a man.
Hey, it got me the gig.
I'm not sure I see the problem here if the person was applying for a web design position. It's not much different from people who use their user mods as portfolio accomplishments when trying to get into the game business (which is a widely accepted practice at this point).
You do meet some interesting people. *LOL*
Desperate people do desperate things. I remember once needing a job so bad I showed up for the interview without carrying in a can of beer. A big mistake.
Would love to see your resume! : )
I much prefer the ladies use their imaginations. Build appetite. ;o)
Much to your dismay.
You mean she has it hung next to her bed. ;o)
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