With an economy flooded with recent college graduates and the unemployed, you need to find ways to differentiate yourself from the competition. Jobseekers have utilized some creative and unusual tactics to peek the attention of employers and recruiters.
Judy Schultz, a graphic designer, was trying hard to get an interview at a company with a Desktop Publisher opening; however, the usual steps – calling, emailing, etc – weren’t working. Instead, she turned to a creative alternative by using her skills as a cake decorator to recreate the company’s logo in frosting and sending a cake to the HR contact and the internal creative team.
“The logo was an oval shape in blue and white so I used the same color scheme for ribbon as well as created 2 matching oval tags for the box. One tag read “To: Susan Smith and the Creative Team” and the other “Now you can have your cake and a talented Desktop Publisher, too! From: Judy Schultz” I dropped it off at the company’s reception desk,” explains Schultz.
A few days later, Schultz received a call to schedule her interview at the company. In the long run, the salary of that position did not fit her needs. However, this creativity and attitude has opened the door for other positions within that company.
Be Creative
Being creative with your job search does not mean that you need to be a cake decorator. Utilize the skills that set you apart from the other resumes stacked on a recruiter’s or hiring manager’s desk.
1. Start with your resume. Use color or design to make yours eye popping. Remember, that creative does not mean messy – keep it organized and easy to read.
2. Differentiate with your social media networks. Did you know that over 70% of companies do searches for how you present yourself online? Take the initiative and put those links directly on your resume. Make sure your content is professional, but also highlights your strengths. What are your passions? Do you like to volunteer? Our WYP JobScore product analyzes your content and highlights areas you may have missed on your Twitter, Facebook and blog accounts.
3. Your interview is your sales presentation. An interview is the strongest chance you have to sell yourself and your talents to the company you want to work for. Be direct and succinct when answering an interviewers questions, and always have at least two questions to ask the intervewier. Do a mock interview with your friends or family to become comfortable being put on the spot.
4. Grow your skill set. Even though you may not have a job or the job you want, take a chance by exploring an area of the field that interests you that many people do not have experience with. For example, take a sustainability class at a community college or show your social media prowess by volunteering your talent for a nonprofit.
