Resume – Tricks are deadly in the job search
There is a strong temptation in today’s highly competitive job market to look for tricks to make one’s resume stand out from the crowded field. The temptation is particularly strong after a series of rejections.
Avoid gimmicks like the plague.
There are rare times when a truly creative tactic works, but most of them will fail and make a resume stand out for all the wrong reasons. Still, some applicants, especially beginning and mid-level professionals, turn to fancy devices.
“It’s really disheartening when you send out your resume and get nothing in return,” says Cynthia Shapiro, career counselor for job seekers. “It just makes people feel like they have to do something crazy to get attention.”
Here are some examples of the more outlandish tricks cited in a recent Wall Street Journal article.
A young marketing professional tried to send his resume via carrier pigeon. The bird never came back.
In another case, a resume was cut into pieces and encased in a stackable Russian doll.
An electronic key fob and a note were attached to a resume that read, “The only noise you’ll hear from me is the noise generated by this letter.”
One candidate thought it was a good idea to bring a Rubik’s cube to an interview to demonstrate problem-solving skills.
A job seeker dressed as a gorilla, accompanied by balloons, hand-delivered his resume with a song explaining his qualifications. (In fact, hand-delivering résumés is quite common, but they often fail because they convey a sense of desperation.)
Some summaries include jokes, wacky pictures, “cute” gifts, or free tickets to ball games.
Jargon or funky language and spelling is prohibited, as is professional and industry jargon. So are shorthand symbols and decorative symbols in emails.
Dale Winston, CEO of Battalia Winston International, an executive search firm, once received a resume containing two Pepto-Bismol tablets along with a note that said, “I’m a candidate you won’t gag on. However, as I don’t know how the rest of the day goes, accept a little relief, a compliment from me.”
Job applicants sometimes send their cover letter in an unsealed envelope without a resume. The idea is to make it look like the resume was dropped with the idea that the recruiter will respond by asking for a resume.
However, there are rare cases where creative tactics are required to capture attention, such as advertising, public relations, and marketing. But good taste is always required in terms of topics. Also, avoid costly tricks so it doesn’t look like you’re trying to bribe the recruiter.
Far better, of course, is to make one’s cover letter and resume stand out from the crowd through simple, direct communications that present the qualifications that “fit” the position.
Proper follow-ups to keep the application top of mind for the recruiter are also highly desirable. The rules for cover letters and resumes also apply to notes that express appreciation for the opportunity to interview and express positive interest in the opportunity.
Where postal mail was once required, email thank you notes are now acceptable, even preferred. Make concise and personalized messages. No “smiley faces.” Texting, Facebook, and MySpace should not be used.
After all is said and done, it’s really quite simple. Jobs are awarded to candidates who do the best job of convincing the recruiter that he or she can meet the employer’s needs, not those who can outsmart tricks.