I believe that your career is your most valuable financial asset and that managing it correctly can earn you millions of dollars in extra income throughout your lifetime. That said, some people go waaaaaay over-the-top when trying to "make the most" out of various job opportunities. Want examples? Well, here are some of the weirdest job seeker stunts as collected by Career Builder. Some of my favorites include:
- 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.
- Came dressed as a cat.
- Said they "smiled on command."
Ok, many of these would freak me out if I was the hiring manager. Here are my thoughts on each of them:
- Church -- This would weird me out.
- Tickets -- Thanks, I'll take those. But I'm never hiring you.
- Photo -- Yikes!
- Comedy -- Was he good? Maybe I'll hire him -- for someone else's department.
- Cat -- Was it one of those sleek Catwoman-type suits? Could be interesting. ;-)
- Smile -- I couldn't resist that one. I'd have to test it. Something like, "Well, Jim, we at XZY company -- smile"..."value hard work, dedication to the company, and -- smile"..."and a commitment to excellence. It is -- smile"..."these principles -- smile"..."that have made us -- smile"..."successful throughout -- smile"..."the years -- smile." Every time I said "smile", I'd look at him, point, and expect him to smile (I'd coach him the first time if he didn't do it.) It could be a fun half hour or so.
The piece actually ends by giving some good advice that we can all use when it comes to getting hired:
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.
Here are some suggestions of doing this that Career Builder liked:
- Giving Power Point presentations
- Distributing portfolios on CD
- Working for a day to demonstrate talents
Pretty good ideas. They certainly demonstrate creativity and a willingness to go the extra mile, not to mention they will certainly set you apart from the pack.
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