Job Seekers Pull Some Strange Stunts

Finding out where a hiring manager is having dinner and picking up the tab.

Burning a corner of his resume to illustrate a “burning desire” for the job.

Gift-wrapping her resume.

Are these attention-getting stunts pulled by job candidates creative and impressive, or just creepy and off-putting?

For its latest survey, CareerBuilder asked more than 2,000 hiring managers to name the most unusual ways job seekers have succeeded in getting their attention – but not necessarily the job. The national online survey was conducted on behalf of CareerBuilder by Harris Poll between May 14 and June 3, 2015, and included more than 2,000 full-time, U.S. hiring and human resources managers across industries and company sizes.

Hiring managers gave the following examples of additional off-the-wall tactics job seekers used to stand out from the crowd, but not always for the right reasons:

Candidate had his daughter call the hiring manager in advance of the interview to thank the hiring manager “for giving her dad a job.”

Candidate had a cake delivered to the hiring manager with the words “Congratulations! [candidate’s name] got the job!”

Candidate answered a call during the interview stating that another company was calling to discuss a job offer.

Candidate sat on the floor during the interview and asked the hiring manager to take a picture of him with the company mascot.

Candidate tried to impress the hiring manager with the history of the business, which was incorrect.

Candidate showed pictures of their relatives working at the company many years prior.

Candidate acted like a game show host.

Candidate brought a bag of props into the interview and pulled them out as they were relevant in the questions/answers.

Candidate sent the hiring manager a coupon for a free meal.

“Job seekers know they’re competing with a lot of other candidates, so they’re trying more unusual tactics to stand out from the crowd,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. “For example, one candidate made a “Top Ten” list of reasons to hire him. But while these tactics may succeed in impressing hiring managers, what ultimately determines if they get the job is having the necessary skills and experience hiring managers are looking for.”

Want to stand out for the right reasons? Haefner suggests the following DO’s and DON’Ts:

Don’t confuse pestering with persistence. Most hiring managers don’t mind –and even appreciate – a follow up phone call or email, as it indicates enthusiasm and initiative. Bombarding the hiring manager with phone calls or emails, however, can come across as desperate, annoying or even creepy.

Do know your audience. What charms one hiring manager may turn another one off. You can’t always predict what will work for one company and what won’t. Just keep in mind, however, that a company that doesn’t appreciate your unique line of thinking might not be the company that’s right for you.

Don’t overthink it. Sometimes the simplest approach to getting a hiring manager’s attention can be a powerful one. For several hiring managers, the novelty of receiving a handwritten thank you note was enough to make a candidate stand out.

Do keep your eyes on the prize. Don’t let your unusual approach distract from what you’re really trying to do: Sell your skills and qualifications. Even when trying an unusual approach, tie it back to your skills and why you are qualified for the job.