How to stand out – alternative thinking July 30, 2010

Image by Maladova (Flickr)

I recently went to an employer presentation where once again the same ‘top tips’ for standing out were given – good spelling on forms, no textspeak in emails, research about the job and company, punctuality, professional attitude, work experience, networking… No doubt there must still be plenty of people making the same mistakes year-in, year-out, but let’s assume you know all that. So what else might you try? Here are some more novel approaches:

A job with a view

Keep an eye out for jobs at the university careers service next year – some of our student helpers have found working at the careers service desk to be the perfect way to meet a range of employers, network and absorb careers advice while getting paid for it!

Alternatively, if you are a member of a society with a career-related interest, consider arranging your own careers talk. If you can set-up an effective event for an organisation, you will impress your contact and get your name known (you can always ask at your careers service for tips and help).

Prove yourself

Like dating, you might find people become more interested when you are taken…

While studying German at Edinburgh University, Helen Pidd worked for her student newspaper, ran a festival freesheet called Fest, and pitched “absurd and brazen ideas” to The Guardian’s pull-out features section, G2. She wanted to be a journalist because she “could not think of anything that could be more interesting”, but, when The Guardian eventually offered her a job, she did not accept immediately.“I told the editor I wanted to start my own magazine empire,” she remembers. “I didn’t know at the time that I was playing hard to get, but apparently that made him want to hire me even more.

Hold the front page, I want to be on it – Times Online, 16th May 2010

Commercially aware, communicator, driven, self-starter – how better to show this than by starting your own business? You don’t have to turn a profit in year 1 to succeed. You might simply produce a well put-together product, or a marketing campaign with impact – prove what you can do and make them want you.

Target your marketing

This copywriter proved his understanding of both digital marketing and audience pscyhology by setting up a Google ad that only came up for top creative directors… when they googled their own names. Four out of the five got in touch requesting an interview. The cost? $6.

Know your audience (and send food)

Image by DeuseXFlorida (Flickr)

In this podcast, Howard Roberts, a globe-trotting Saatchi & Saatchi director describes how one enthusiastic networker got his attention. She proposed a coffee at Terminal 5 – a novel suggestion that won her a meeting. She got extra points when she dmet him with his favourite coffee in hand – she had checked this in advance with his PA. It was the personal touches that made her approach such a success.

Similarly, one student found out his target’s favourite pizza toppings, and sent him a takeaway… with his CV taped to the lid! He earned an interview and a job offer. (Cole & Whistance 2003 Creative CV Guide, p.9)

Careful though – you can see both of these examples are in creative industries and even then they are personal approaches rather than wacky stunts. Watch your audience – pizza deliveries might mark you out as a joker in a more traditional firm…

Stunts

Still keen to take a chance? Got an original idea?

Last year this graduate got a spot on the plinth in Trafalgar Square, and unveiled a giant CV to ask for a job.

And this graduate got 250 enquiries from walking around London wearing a ‘job wanted’ sandwich board.

So…

What do these stories have in common? I can see energy, creativity, business insight, and above all personal connections. More fun than sitting at home sending out hundreds of emails too.

Heard of any more alternative approaches to the job-hunt?