20 Creative Job Search Tactics That Impressed The Interviewer

It is such a competitive job market in Dubai  that sometimes you have to do something different to get noticed, yes, you need to do something that is a little out of the ordinary to stand out from the crowd. It is a fine line between doing something different that impresses your new boss and in doing something strange that scares the employer away.

Well, if you want an idea of different and creative job search tactics which may impress your boss, then take note of the findings of a recent survey from Office Team which asked HR Managers to recount the  most impressive action they have seen or heard  candidates take to try to land a position. The survey was developed by OfficeTeam and is based on telephone interviews with more than 650 HR managers at companies with 20 or more employees.

Here are some of their responses:

1. “An applicant walked in with coffee and donuts, and her resume underneath.”
2. “I’ve had someone outline what he planned to do for the company in his first six months.”
3. “One job seeker sent a handmade get well card when she heard the hiring manager was under the weather.”
4. “I’ve had people offer to work for free.”
5. “I recall someone who travelled a great distance just to be interviewed.”
6. “One applicant sent a gift and an invitation to coffee.”
7. “We had a candidate who contacted our board of directors to try to make his case for being hired.”

Some job seekers did a little show and tell:

1. “I recall applicants who have impressed me with their overall marketing approach. A few have sent in fancy CDs that contained a video message explaining why they should get the job.”
2. “Someone applying for a position as a car detailer brought in his own vehicle to demonstrate his skills.”
3. “I was impressed by a candidate who prepared an elaborate online portfolio and presentation.”
4. “One woman showed up with, literally, a suitcase full of binders containing letters of reference, certificates of achievement and other accolades.”
5. “A job seeker brought in a performance review from his past employer.”
6. “The most impressive thing to me is a creative resume.”

There were professionals who shined by going back to basics:

1. “One applicant explained what he knew about our company. I was very impressed with his knowledge and research.”
2. “I had a follow-up email from a candidate immediately after our meeting.”
3. “I liked the way one job seeker explained his skills in a way that correlated directly to what we needed for the position.”
4. “A candidate gave me a thank-you note right after the interview.”
5. “One woman didn’t just recite her skills — she provided many examples of her work.”
6. “The candidates I recall most are the ones who were persistent in calling to make sure they got the position.”
7. “An entry-level job applicant arrived for the interview in a three-piece suit.”

About the author

Kazim Ladimeji is the Director of thecareercafe.co.uk—a resource for start-ups, small business and job seekers. It includes a blog with career and small business advice articles. Kazim is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and has been a practising HR professional for 14 years.

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