Dec 25, 2008 11:00 pm US/Eastern
Job Seekers Resort To Wacky Tactics
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
The job losses in the past few months have been staggering, which means there is a lot more competition out there for anyone looking for work.
Experts say some job seekers are doing some pretty crazy things to get hired.
"Candidates are looking for unusual ways to make sure they stand out in the crowd, and I think that's only going to increase as the market gets tighter," explained Rosemary Haefner of careerbuilder.com
A recent survey conducted by Careerbuilder found 12 percent of hiring managers said they've seen an increase in unusual job-hunting tactics in the last year.
"Some of the ones that stand out to me is somebody got a billboard and put up there that they were looking for a job," said Careerbuilder's Michael Erwin. "Another person wore a shirt to an interview that said, 'please hire me.' My favorite was when someone sent breakfast to the office every day until he was hired."
Michelle decided to lead a spontaneous yoga class when she applied as a brand manager at a marketing firm. Since creativity is a must at the firm, she was hired.
The owner of the company said she wouldn't recommend that for just any job-seeker.
"You have to know your audience. If you're going into a job at an accounting firm, you might treat that a little bit differently," she said.
Experts say you should really learn about the company's corporate culture before you apply. Also, keep in mind that being memorable isn't always a good thing.
"Be careful you are not remembered for the wrong reason," said Erwin.
Read:
'Connections' Key To Finding Work
Resource: Job search powered by Monster.com
Resource: Post your resume on Monster.com
Haefner agreed, "Some of the ideas we've heard, such as following a hiring manager into a restroom to have a private conversation. I wouldn't advise that."
Haefner also warns against doing anything you don't feel comfortable with.
"If you get the job, it's a reputation that's going to follow you for the rest of your career at the firm. So, be mindful of how it represents you. You don't want to be too wacky."
OTHER RESOURCES:
How To Sell Yourself In A Job Interview
Hone Your Job Interview Skills
Resource:
Resume Tuning Tips from Career Builder
Resource:
Free Resume Review from Career Builder
Resource:
Career Builder's Online Job Search Center
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments