Unusual or just plain creepy? 13 unique ways folks tried to get hired

This one time, at band camp…


Hey, I’ll get to the “13 Unusual Things Job Seekers Have Done To Get Noticed” (thank you for compiling this list, Career Builder), in a sec.
But, first, for those of you who missed “How to Navigate Alcoholism and Substance Abuse under the FMLA/ADA,” a webinar I presented with Cigna’s Robyn Marino, Esq., today is your lucky day! The good folks at Cigna have told me to let my readers know that they can listen to the replay by clicking here and using the password Cigna1 when prompted.
(And for those who you who heard the webinar live and want to listen to it again, the list below is gonna be right in your wheelhouse. Call it a hunch).

And now on to the list of what Career Builder politely describes as “unusual tactics job seekers used to stand out, not always for the right reasons”:

  1. Candidate had a priest contact the hiring manager and ask for candidate to be hired.
  2. Candidate bought a first class upgrade to sit next to hiring manager on a transatlantic flight.
  3. During the month of October, candidate came dressed in a costume for Halloween.
  4. Candidate’s wife made homemade lavender soap bars for the hiring manager as a thank you for taking the time to interview the candidate.
  5. Candidate asked hiring manager to share an ice cream cone.
  6. Candidate sent a pair of embroidered socks with a note saying he would knock the company’s socks off if hired.
  7. Candidate showed up in his camp counselor attire with some of the children from the camp he worked for to show his leadership capabilities.
  8. Candidate sent a shoe with a flower in it as a thank you after the interview. The note said: “Trying to get my foot in the door.”
  9. Candidate mailed hiring manager money in an envelope.
  10. Candidate arrived to interview in a white limousine, an hour early, dressed in a three-piece suit. The open position was middle-wage and had a required dress code of khakis, company button-down and black shoes.
  11. Candidate kissed hiring manager.
  12. Candidate gave hiring manager a book on a subject he knew candidate manager enjoyed.
  13. Candidate wore a tie that had the name of the company he was interviewing with on it.
  14. Candidate Hit ‘Em With The Hein

Dudes! Is there anything on this list that screams, “Hire Me!” as opposed to, say, “Restraining Order!” What’s the freakiest thing a candidate ever did to try and get a job at your company? Email me. I’d love to hear from you.

Have a nice weekend.

“Doing What’s Right – Not Just What’s Legal”
Contact Information