Creative Ways to Land a Job in a Tough Market

It's a tough jobs market right now with a large number of candidates vying for a small number of jobs. As such, it's important to make sure you stand out from the pack and grab the attention of your prospective employer. How you do this though varies significantly depending on the industry you work in. And it's important not to go too far. As one employer put it recently in a Globe and Mail story, "There's a fine line between creative and crazy."

Years ago when I was a young university graduate trying to break into the radio business, a number of announcers mentioned that, when sending my resume to different stations, I should also send a gift -- perhaps a basket of baked goodies or some wine. I didn't like the sound of this -- not only could the job hunting process become expensive, especially for someone without a job to start with, but I believed that the right candidate for the job should be based on skills, not their ability to suck up to their prospective boss.

In the end I found a job in a large radio station newsroom without having to bribe the news editor. I landed the job because I had done a lot of "free work" through internships with the station and had built up contacts. However, I know of many people who used the gift approach, both successfully and unsuccessfully. I firmly believe that establishing contacts and networking is the best way at landing a job, in any industry.

There are other ways to stand out from the pack that are creative, demonstrate enthusiasm and don't require money. Group interviews in particular can be difficult , but the Globe and Mail article mentions a candidate that sent in a note and a photo of herself ahead of a group interview so that the employer would recognize her during the group session.

Another good tip is to brand yourself. This tactic worked particularly well for a candidate applying for a job in the public relations industry. He created a stylized logo using his initials and used it on his resume, business cards and cover letter. Other candidates have submitted their resumes in the form of press releases, power point presentations, or even on boarding cards in a suitcase for a travel-related position.

Feel free to get creative when applying for a job, but make sure your creativity fits with the culture of the company you're applying for. And heed the advice of Leanne James, a senior vice-president of human resources at Apex Public Relations Inc. in Toronto. She says that if you are going to take the unconventional route, make sure it's done carefully -- she's seen many job applicants who have come up with good ideas that have been poorly executed, leaving prospective employers with a negative impression.