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Doing a cool cover letter worked, but dressing like a clown didn't

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What would you do to get hired?<br> <br>CareerBuilder asked hiring managers and human resource professionals in the United States what people had done creatively to get a job – and whether it worked or not. <br><br>Here are the top 10 stunts that worked:<br>Jupiterimages/Getty Images

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A candidate contracted a billboard outside of the employer’s office.<br>Fernando Morales/The Globe and Mail

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A candidate gave a résumé on a chocolate bar. Yum!<br>Valentin Flauraud/Reuters

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A candidate showed up in a suit with a red T-shirt underneath a white shirt. The red T-shirt had a message – “Hire me, I work hard.”<br>Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate asked to be interviewed in Spanish to showcase his skills.<br>Juan Moyano/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate crafted her cover letter like an invitation (similar to a wedding invitation) to hire her, rather than a request.<br>Jamie Grill/Getty Images

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A candidate climbed onto the roof the employer was repairing and asked for a job.<br>Christina Richards/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate performed a musical number on his guitar about why he was the best candidate.<br>Tim Fraser/The Globe and Mail

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A candidate volunteered to help out with making copies when he saw that the interviewer’s assistant was getting frazzled. <br>Dean Bertoncelj/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate repaired a piece of the company’s equipment during the first interview.<br>Sergiy Tryapitsyn/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate sent a message in a bottle.<br><br> “Employers typically aren’t looking for the most outrageous candidate, they’re looking for the best fit,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice-president of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.<br><br> “Thinking outside the box is great, but the stunts that work best are the ones that showcase your relevant skills and abilities.”<br>

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But stunts don’t always work.<br><br> Here are 10 that backfired:<br><br> A candidate back-flipped into the room.<br>Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

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A candidate brought items from interviewer’s online shopping wish list.<br>Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate sent a fruit basket to interviewer’s home address, which the interviewer had not given her.<br>Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate did a tarot reading for the interviewer.<br>Gene Blythe/The Associated Press

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A candidate dressed as a clown.<br>Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press

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A candidate sent the interviewer some beef stew with a note saying “Eat hearty and hire me.”<br>The Canadian Press

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A candidate placed a timer on interviewer’s desk, started it, and told the interviewer he would explain in three minutes why he was the perfect candidate.<br>Esben Emborg/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate sent the interviewer a lottery ticket.<br>Yvonne Berg/The Globe and Mail

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A candidate wore a fluorescent suit.<br>Getty Images/iStockphoto

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A candidate sent in a shoe to “get their foot in the door.”<br><br> <i>(Note: This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive on behalf of <ahref="http://www.careerbuilder.ca"> CareerBuilder </a> among 2,076 hiring managers and human resource professionals in May and June.) </i> <br>Comstock Images/Getty Images

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Are you a hiring manager?<br><br> What are some of the best and worst stunts you've seen?<br><br> Did you ever use a stunt to get a job? <br><br>E-mail us at <a href="mailto:careerquestion@globeandmail.com">careerquestion@globeandmail.com.</a> We’ll compile the best submissions and post them.<br>Alex Skopje/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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