Would a Resume Stunt Get You the Job?

You need your resume to stand out from the crowd if you want employers to notice you during a job search. One way to accomplish this is to submit an unusual format or even pull a resume stunt. This might mean buying a billboard, producing an online video or using some other inventive way to catch your target's attention. There's a right way and a few wrong ways to employ this unconventional tactic.

What to Do

A competitive labor market indicates you have a lot of people applying for just one prestigious position. Capture an employer's eye during a job search by taking one particular aspect of your skills and showing your dedication and hard work towards achieving results. For example, a graphic design position opened up at Aha, a product road map software company. The applicant knew of CEO Brian de Haaff's affinity for cycling, so he devised a previous employment timeline using bicycle motifs. One bicycle symbolized one employer, and the years the candidate rode a bike showed how long he spent at each firm.

The graphic designer used a creative technique for a creative employer. His resume fit the position perfectly because his designs stood out, but he also had experience and quality skills behind him. The bicycles were there to supplement his hard work as opposed to simply trying to catch someone's attention on a job search. Similarly, candidates might construct their own magazine for a job at a publication, a social media website to earn a job at a marketing firm or visually stunning computerized graphics to land a position with an advertising agency.

What Not to Do

A job search is serious business, and there is a fine line between showing your talents and showing off. A resume stunt done the wrong way may send a completely different message. Here are four things to avoid if you submit an atypical resume.

1. Egocentric

Some industries don't mind people who love life in the spotlight, but an over-the-top resume might make it appear as if you are not a team player. Companies may not want a high-maintenance employee who demands constant attention.

2. Immature

A person who tries to steal the show could seem immature rather than experienced. Employers might not want someone used to sensationalism versus professionalism.

3. Style Versus Substance

After an employer peels back the layers of a job search stunt, what's left? Does the candidate have what it takes to raise the company to the next level? If a stunt garners press attention but you don't have the skills to back up your outlandish resume, you could face negative consequences rather than positive ones.

4. Desperation

Trying to get someone's attention in a very public way could seem like an act of desperation. Instead of trying to impress an employer with skills, you resort to gimmicks that are the opposite of expressing humility for the position at hand. It's okay to want a job badly, but don't turn it into a cry for help.

A job search takes a lot of work, and a creative resume uses a lot of time and energy towards that end. Examine whether you should use this tactic at all as you try to present your uniqueness to a hiring manager, recruiter or HR staffer.

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