Can Creativity Really Help Land That Job?

Have you ever thought about getting a little crazy with your job search? You know, it just might work. If you’re down in the dumps, thinking that you’re never going to get a job, think about this.

On behalf of the website, CareerBuilder.com, Harris Interactive conducted a survey of over 2,000 human resource professionals across the country, asking about the most memorable job applications they’ve encountered, and whether creative job applicants actually get hired.

One employer referenced an applicant who got a job by whipping out a guitar and singing an original song about why he should be hired. He got the job. Another employer spoke of a candidate who insisted on being interviewed in Spanish so that he could showcase his bilingual skills. He also was hired, not on the basis of his linguistic ability, but because he had a new and interesting approach.

Of course, not all creative techniques played out quite so satisfactorily. The guy who did a back-flip into the interview room was simply dismissed as weird. So was the candidate who offered the interviewer a tarot reading. And the one who sent a fruit basket to her interviewer’s home address? Two words: Stalk. Er.

If you’re going to do something unusual in a job interview, or post-interview, the best course of action is to make sure that it actually has something to do with the position you’re applying for. That’s why back-flipping into an interview, unless you’re applying for a position with Cirque de Soleil, is probably not the greatest idea. Grabbing a ringing phone and saying “International Widgets, Susan speaking, how can I help you?” on the other hand, just might do the trick. Assuming, of course, that your name is Susan, and you’re interviewing for a position with International Widgets.

I think the takeaway here is simply this: If you’re feeling desperate, don’t let it get you down. Keep a positive attitude. It’s okay to have a little fun with it. At the very least, you’ll have a story to tell your grandkids. And you never know, maybe that off-the-wall creativity of yours could land you the job of your dreams. It’s worth a try.

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