In the spirit of Labor Day, we’re taking a look at the lengths people will go to in order to labor – as in to land a new job.
The folks at CareerBuilder recently took a pool of the most memorable things candidates did during job interviews. Some worked brilliantly, and others … not so much.
Considering that the majority of CFOs report they’ll crank up the hiring machine in the last part of the year, this couldn’t come at a better time.
Perhaps you’ll encounter some of the same experiences these hiring managers did when looking to add to your finance team. Or better yet, top them!
These folks got the job …
Of course you’re taking a calculated risk when you go for an original approach to a job interview. In these cases, those risks paid off:
- Candidate contracted a billboard outside of employer’s office. Clearly, that resume was larger than a single page.
- Candidate gave a resume on a chocolate bar. A sweet touch.
- Candidate showed up in a suit with a red T-shirt underneath a white shirt. The red T-shirt had a message – “Hire me, I work hard.” Subliminal advertising at its best.
- Candidate asked to be interviewed in Spanish to showcase his skills. Muy bueno.
- Candidate crafted the cover letter like an invitation to hire her rather than a request (similar to a wedding invitation). We guess the RSVP was “yes.”
- Candidate climbed on a roof the employer was repairing and asked for a job. An upwardly mobile candidate.
- Candidate performed a musical number on the guitar about why he was the best candidate. Maybe it was a job on American Idol.
- Candidate volunteered to help out with making copies when he saw interviewer’s assistant was getting frazzled. Now that’s a true team player.
- Candidate repaired a piece of company’s equipment during the first interview. Handy person to have on staff.
- Candidate sent a message in a bottle. Stranded on the Island of Unemployment no more.
… And they didn’t
Then, of course, there are times when the creative touch falls flat. These folks didn’t land the job, despite some Herculean efforts:
- Candidate back-flipped into the room. A workers’ comp claim waiting to happen.
- Candidate brought items from interviewer’s online shopping wish list. Stalker alert!
- Candidate sent a fruit basket to interviewer’s home address, which the interviewer had not given her. Yet another stalker alert.
- Candidate did a tarot reading for the interviewer. That candidate should have been able to predict there’d be no job offer.
- Candidate dressed as a clown. No clowning around in that office.
- Candidate sent interviewer some beef stew with a note saying “Eat hearty and hire me J.” Perhaps the manager was a vegetarian.
- Candidate placed a timer on interviewer’s desk, started it, and told interviewer he would explain in 3 minutes why he was the perfect candidate.
- Candidate sent interviewer a lotto ticket. No luck needed to find the right hire.
- Candidate wore a florescent suit. Not the brightest idea.
- Candidate sent in a shoe to “get their foot in the door.” Seems that person was quickly shown the door.
Info: To read the full survey results, click.
