Strange But True

It's a dog-eat-dog job marketplace out there at the moment. As a result, many candidates try their best to get noticed by hiring managers and ensure they land an interview. Luxury resume paper, carefully crafted cover letters and starched shirt collars are all standard fare when it comes to standing out from the crowd, but sometimes a really bold impression is necessary.

According to a recent survey by CareerBuilder, some candidates go several extra miles to get noticed. Beyond the world of cotton paper stock, clever alliteration and Armani ties lie slightly less conventional job seeker tactics. Not content with the usual methods, some applicants gift wrap their resumes, use props during interviews and even send hiring managers free meal coupons.

Sure, unusual gestures ensure you get noticed during the hiring process; off-the-wall, attention-seeking behaviors, however, often do not translate into jobs. Your game show host impression or generous offer to pick up a dinner tab might give your hiring manager the basis for an interesting story, but there are better ways to positively influence the outcome of an interview.

To get noticed and leap ahead of other candidates at the interview stage, you need to prove your superior skills to the hiring manager. Even better, arrive prepared to show that you can improve your potential employer's bottom line. After all, a simple question lies underneath the veneer of most job interviews: Can the candidate make this company more profitable?

Resist your desire to send the hiring manager a personalized cake. Instead, focus on improving your interview technique and your confidence. If you exude belief in yourself and poise, you'll stand out as a positive, bright choice. Get noticed by researching the hiring company's history in depth, and then arrive with well-thought-out questions about past business endeavors. Come to your interview armed with potentially lucrative ideas, and show off your ability to think outside the box.

After the interview concludes, don't be afraid to follow up with a handwritten note. According to the CareerBuilder survey, hiring managers found handwritten notes both impressive and thoughtful. Just don't constantly call, text, email, write or show up unannounced at your hiring manager's home. There is a difference, after all, between persistence and pestering. Cultivate a good reputation, and you may find an offer letter in your mailbox.

The next time you get the urge to set the corner of your resume on fire to prove how much you "burn" for a particular job, stop and think. Inventive job seeker tactics may reveal your flair for innovative thinking, but in most cases, they won't get you a spot in the office. Instead, get noticed by obtaining the right qualifications, improving your interview skills and following up after the interview in a respectful manner.

Photo courtesy of stockimages at Freedigitalphotos.net