We all know how hard it is to stand out from the hordes when applying for a coveted job.
Capitol Hill staffer Adrian Sferle is standing head and shoulders above others trying to get in to Facebook with a Facebook cartoon resume. And the dude is going viral.
I learned about this creative effort via a friend’s Facebook posting. Now I’m letting my circle know. Don’t know yet what the FB folks are doing about this. Stay tuned.
Which brings me to a few thoughts on how to stand out from the crowd when applying for a job. I’ll mix in a couple of standard ones with creative efforts we’ve seen.
- Do your homework on the company. I’m always impressed when someone actually knows what we do.
- Don’t LIE on your resume. Someday, somehow the employer – or someone outside the company – will figure out either the truth or your level of competency
- Creativity does help. If the FB cartoon isn’t for you, how about a Flip camera message to the employer you really want to work with?
- Dress appropriately for the interview. We’ve traveled a long way from the dot.com days when wrinkled-out-of-the -pants shirts were “de rigeur.” It’s a buyer’s market these days, not a seller’s. Be the best-dressed person in the room.
- Find a reference who will say something substantive.
- Thank you notes and emails still make a difference.
What’s the most creative job applicant/resume you’ve seen?