Standing out from the competition is always a challenge in a job search. And, although it is said that “there is nothing new under the sun,” there are those individuals who come up with novel ideas for breaking through in terms of getting noticed by a hiring manager. Follow me over the jump for some truly innovative strategies for getting noticed in the sea of resumes.
A man from the Midwest got hired for a job for which he had applied previously without success. In order to get himself noticed, he sent a copy of his resume in a box with his cover letter. Along with his resume, he enclosed a paper Starbucks cup and a note requesting that the hiring manager meet him for coffee. He followed up with a phone call. Although he had been completely ignored the initial time he submitted, he certainly was not ignored the second time. This strategy has now been trademarked as the “Coffee Cup Caper™.” (Of course, it goes without saying that your resume be perfectly written, formatted and concise and on excellent paper stock.)
Taking the “caper” a step further, another job seeker had coffee mugs printed with the header graphics from his own website and the words, “Let’s Have Coffee.” He then sent his resumes out in a box with one of his mugs and, within three and a half hours of the first one he sent, he received a call back for a phone meeting.
Another innovator sent a chocolate-covered apple with a hand-written thank-you note for an interview she had been granted. She had a friend who was not working that day hand-carry it to the employer. It was such a big hit, the employer called and arranged her much desired second interview, this time with the executive vice president! After the interview, she went home and prepared a 30-60-90 day plan using information she had garnered in the interview to create suggestions for what she would do in the first 30-60-90 days if she were hired. She sent that out Fed-Ex with yet another thank you note. And, guess what? She got a job offer!
In a very extravagant manner, presented here just to show you the novelty of some people’s approach to creative job searching, a Connecticut woman rented a billboard along Interstate 95: It read: “Hire me! Unemployed and seeking employment.” Next to that was a picture of her in pearls and a blue button-down shirt.
While not everyone can afford a billboard, the coffee cup in the box strategy seems like a creative, affordable and memorable way to differentiate yourself. Anyone have any creative ways to be noticed they’d care to share? Standing out from the competition is always a challenge in a job search. And, although it is said that “there is nothing new under the sun,” there are those individuals who come up with novel ideas for breaking through in terms of getting noticed by a hiring manager. Follow me over the jump for some truly innovative strategies for getting noticed in the sea of resumes.
A man from the Midwest got hired for a job for which he had applied previously without success. In order to get himself noticed, he sent a copy of his resume in a box with his cover letter. Along with his resume, he enclosed a paper Starbucks cup and a note requesting that the hiring manager meet him for coffee. He followed up with a phone call. Although he had been completely ignored the initial time he submitted, he certainly was not ignored the second time. This strategy has now been trademarked as the “Coffee Cup Caper™.” (Of course, it goes without saying that your resume be perfectly written, formatted and concise and on excellent paper stock.)
Taking the “caper” a step further, another job seeker had coffee mugs printed with the header graphics from his own website and the words, “Let’s Have Coffee.” He then sent his resumes out in a box with one of his mugs and, within three and a half hours of the first one he sent, he received a call back for a phone meeting.
Another innovator sent a chocolate-covered apple with a hand-written thank-you note for an interview she had been granted. She had a friend who was not working that day hand-carry it to the employer. It was such a big hit, the employer called and arranged her much desired second interview, this time with the executive vice president! After the interview, she went home and prepared a 30-60-90 day plan using information she had garnered in the interview to create suggestions for what she would do in the first 30-60-90 days if she were hired. She sent that out Fed-Ex with yet another thank you note. And, guess what? She got a job offer!
In a very extravagant manner, presented here just to show you the novelty of some people’s approach to creative job searching, a Connecticut woman rented a billboard along Interstate 95: It read: “Hire me! Unemployed and seeking employment.” Next to that was a picture of her in pearls and a blue button-down shirt.
While not everyone can afford a billboard, the coffee cup in the box strategy seems like a creative, affordable and memorable way to differentiate yourself. Anyone have any creative ways to be noticed they’d care to share? 8 Responses to “To Land the Interview/Job: Think Inside the Box?”
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If that woman can afford a billboard and pearls, she doesn’t really need a job! She could put that money in a better use, like opening her own business.
Depending on the job you are applying for this might be a great way to catch someone’s attention; however, some hiring managers might think it’s over the top. I feel that often a good cover letter and a thank-you-note will do the trick, even without coffee mugs or billboards.
To Land the Interview:
With the slow job market, It is not a bad ideal to think inside of the box. Care is needed, since bombs come in boxes too!
The point is well taken, anyone who wants to land a job should do what ever they can to be creative, going the extra mile, that is what an employer is looking for. Some interviewers would love to see something different. The person applying for the job will be able to discern what would be good to do in order to get the attention on the interviewer, perhaps it’s a small box of candy with a thank you note, or a nice, cute picture frame for that picture of a grandchild on the interviewers desk.
Sometimes it’s nice to have something new, it could impress the interviewer and just might land you the job you want.
Claudia Godfrey
This article was very interesting. That is a good idea that will get you noticed. It will make you stand out from the rest of the people applying for the same job as you. Although this may be a good idea if it is taken too far it can be like a bribe. I heard that in foreign countries whoever gives the most to the boss will get the job that they want.
Anyone who wants to land a job should do what ever they can to be creative, going the extra mile, that is what an employer is looking for. Some interviewers would love to see something different. The person applying for the job will be able to discern what would be good to do in order to get the attention on the interviewer.
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I see what he did. He really put forth the extra effort to show the employer that they were willing to go above and beyond and stand out just to get the job, but the right person has to be able to do something like that and know how to talk to people. It cannot be some uneducated person that wants to do that and then you meet them and they are like sitting there giving you the silent treatment because that would not be their personality to do that. You got to have the right personality to really get your foot in the door.
this is also one of the good ideas but i think they will still choose the right candidate for the position. thanks for sharing.