Want That Dream Job? Be Prepared To Get (Very) Creative

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jmaureenhenderson/2012/06/01/how-a-creative-job-application-can-land-you-or-lose-you-your-dream-job/ 

J. Maureen Henderson, Contributor

How far would you go to get your dream job? Would you buy a Facebook ad targeting the company? Deliver your contact info to the corporate headquarters written on the back of a Frisbee? Stalk the hiring manager’s Twitter and write blog posts responding to things he had tweeted?

Mark Hayes has seen all of these tactics and more. The Head of Public Relation for Shopify is no stranger to receiving creative job applications in response to his company’s job ads – here are a few notable examples – and he says the best ones all have something in common. “If a creative application makes me respond, ‘I have to meet the person behind this’ then it’s mission accomplished.”

According to Meredith Hall, Talent Acquisition Manager at Dell, creative approaches to getting an employer’s attention – she cites a past candidate’s Pinterest portfolio as something that caught her eye – are a growing trend among job hunters looking for any and every advantage.

“We’re definitely seeing an increase in out-of-the-box approaches. I believe that it’s due to the mass adoption of social media and a tighter job market. People are definitely taking advantage of the opportunity to network online, build relationships, and then submit resumes once they have made a connection. Cover letters have gone the way of brief introductions via email, likely because most recruiting-related communication occurs electronically. A well-written resume or CV is still the best way to communicate the value someone brings to the table, but keeping a fully updated LinkedIn profile is a close second.”

Both Hayes and Hall agree that while a novel application might net a candidate a coveted interview, the hiring decision still comes down to qualifications over creative tricks. “It could help someone obtain visibility, but after that, the communication of their experience and education will get them to the next step in the hiring process; that could be a resume or online profile/ portfolio,” says Hall.

But skipping or augmenting the tried-and-true cover letter and resume combo isn’t without its risks. As career expert Jenny Foss counsels, you should do your homework about the industry and the company before sending the Director of HR a claymation YouTube video of critical scenes from your job history:

“Common sense is one good guiding method. No, really – job hunters should study the company’s online presence, marketing tone, personality, etc. and then try and deduce what the culture of that organization will appreciate – or bear. A highly conservative financial institution will likely appreciate a very different type of creativity and tone than a digital marketing agency that lets everyone wear flip-flops and bring their dogs to work, right? Gauge company culture and then proceed strategically. I have recruiting clients – I recruit within the robotics industry – who would laugh me out the door if I sent them a creative infographic instead of a resume for a candidate. Gauge the personality and conservativeness of the entity and proceed accordingly.”

Foss says the dividing line between appearing like a go-getter or coming across as desperate is often a blurry one and that job hunters should use common sense and their best judgment when it comes to deciding whether unorthodox measures are the right approach to landing their dream job and just how far to take such creativity. “Overboard for one company or industry might be just the ticket in another. As a rule, however, any kind of expensive gift, intrusive behavior or flat out weirdness is not going to set you apart in the way you’re shooting for.”

And for those companies eager to recruit outside-the-box thinkers into their ranks, Hayes has some advice – you better be just as creative as those you seek to hire.

“I’ve heard of companies that complain that they receive boring resumes and then I look at their job posting and the company and think, well, no wonder! If you’re an employer that’s looking for candidates to go the extra mile, not only does your company need to be a desirable place to work, but your job postings should encourage a creative response.”