Study: Job seekers get creative to get hired

Job-seekers looking to land a position might want to consider an off-the-wall approach, according to a new study.

About one of 10 managers said they hired an applicant with an unusual approach, such as bringing in a DVD with a former boss recommending the person or a lengthy business plan for a product with a résumé, according to CareerBuilder.

Almost one in four managers said applicants are trying the unusual to grab their attention during the past year, compared to 18 percent in 2009 — and 12 percent in 2008, when the economy was still humming along.

“While we are seeing positive signs in the job market as employers gradually add headcount, competition is still high for open positions,” Jason Ferrara, senior career adviser with CareeerBuilder in Chicago, said in a news release. “While these tactics may work occasionally, they still need to be done with professionalism. That way, candidates are remembered for what they can offer an organization and not just for an unusual antic.”
Almost 2,800 hiring managers were surveyed between Feb. 10 and March 2.


Source: Sacramento Business Chronicle