Sofia Theodorou, vice-president of human resources at Toronto’s LoyaltyOne Inc. had one job candidate offer to clean her home in her spare time. Leanne James, senior vice-president of HR at Apex Public Relations Inc., recalls one job seeker who sent in a note and a photo of herself before attending a group interview so Ms. James could “pick her out of the crowd.”
Yes, the economy may be improving, but it’s still a tough job market and the competition among job seekers remains fierce. And that has some of them getting creative, trying more unconventional methods to catch the eye of hiring managers.
Nearly one-quarter (22 per cent) of 2,778 hiring managers surveyed recently by online job site CareerBuilder.com reported that they are seeing more candidates try unusual methods to capture their attention. That’s up from 18 per cent in 2009, and 12 per cent in 2008.
Nearly one-in-10 said they had hired someone who used a creative tactic to stand out from the crowd.
But when it comes to job-search tactics, there’s a fine line between creative and crazy, said Ms. James. What appeals to one hiring manager, may turn off another.
While stepping off the conventional path may be welcome or even expected in creative fields such as marketing or PR, human resource experts suggest ditching the over-the-top antics when it comes to more traditional sectors such as insurance or banking.
That doesn’t mean you can’t differentiate yourself though, Ms. James said. “If I have a pile of résumés to go through, even using a different font or a really nice paper can stand out.”
No matter which method you use to stand out, it must be professional. You want to be remembered for your skills and what you can offer an organization, not simply for an unusual antic.
Which creative search tactics impressed hiring managers enough to land the candidate an interview? We asked a few hiring managers to share the most memorable tactics that worked:
SOFIA THEODOROU
Title: Vice-president, human resources, LoyaltyOne Inc., Toronto
The tactic: One job candidate sent in what appeared to be a Starbucks gift card. But when you looked closely, one side carried the hiring company’s logo and included his name and how his skills could contribute to the company. The other side of the card had the Starbucks logo and offered a $15 gift card –and included an online link to where it could be redeemed. The link took you to the applicant website where he’d posted his résumé. You had to read the résumé to get the gift card.
Why it worked: Ms. Theodorou said the tactic was creative and unique, while still tasteful. The amount of effort put into the conceptual design was impressive. It was a great way to demonstrate that his skills went beyond the basics.
The lesson: “Nowadays it’s not just marketing people who need to think creatively; every employee has to think that way,” she said. If you can demonstrate such creativity up-front, hiring managers will be much more confident that it will cross over into your everyday work, she added.
BRUCE POON TIP
Title: CEO, Gap Adventures, Toronto
The tactic: One candidate sent Gap a vintage suitcase. Tucked inside was a series of boarding passes she had designed. Each one included information about herself and her skills and achievements.
Why it worked: The candidate had put a lot of thought into it, Mr. Poon Tip said. “The boarding passes were amazing. It was unique, very creative, very innovative and beautifully done.”
The lesson: Know your audience and the culture of the organization to which you are applying. “Creativity and innovation is part of our business model. To work here, you have to be able to look for creative ways to tackle your job,” Mr. Poon Tip said.
JENNIFER OSBOURNE
Title: Senior vice-president, business development, Search Engine People Inc., Ajax, Ont.
