Need more options? Browse Jobs by Company, Date Posted, Job Title, and more job categories

Advice » Job Hunt Strategy » Getting Started » Will Unusual Job Hunting Tactics Work ...

Will Unusual Job Hunting Tactics Work for You?

By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster Contributing Writer

When you’re trying to find a job, it can be tempting to do something out of the ordinary to set yourself apart from the crowd. Job search strategies of this nature aren’t always a bad idea, but they’re not always a good idea, either. As with so many things, whether a stunt or unusual tactic will work depends on variables such as your audience, your skills and your industry.

For example, Steve Langerud, a career consultant and director of professional opportunities at DePauw University, had a client who wanted to become a business consultant. “He spent his days in high-end stores on Michigan Avenue in Chicago to meet business leaders,” Langerud says. “He discovered where all the consultants at his target firm drank after work and went every night until he met a VP. He developed the relationship, continued to pitch his skills, and, ultimately, was given a trial period to prove himself.” This atypical approach helped the candidate land an opportunity even though there were no advertised job openings.

Abby Kohut, president and lead staffing consultant for New York City-based Staffing Symphony, tells the tale of an applicant who landed an interview with her using social media and a ping-pong paddle. “He looked at my LinkedIn profile and saw that I won a ping-pong tournament,” she says. “He sent me a ping-pong paddle and wrote a cover letter with ping-pong-related language, including sentences like ‘I'd like to get in the GAME’ and ‘I bring energy, intelligence and motivation to the TABLE.’”

And when Neil Gussman sensed an interviewer was about to rule him out because she thought he wouldn’t dig the 62-mile commute, he decided to make a bold move. “I rode my bicycle back to her office,” says Gussman, now communications manager for the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia. “I ride 7,000 to 10,000 miles a year, so it was a Brer Rabbit trick. She decided that if I could ride a bike to the office, I could drive a car.”

These tactics were successful. But before you decide to infuse your job hunting with some out-of- the-box activities, consider these pros and cons.

Pro: Take a Risk

Taking chances like these can show potential employers that you’re risk-tolerant and creative, and know how to get noticed. “Stunts work best when you’re in a profession that requires creativity,” Kohut says. The obvious choices are advertising/public relations, sales, marketing, and relationship or social-media management. Some companies in more conservative industries might also appreciate your off-the-wall thinking, but you’ll need to look for signs (on their Web site or by talking to people familiar with the company) to make sure they won’t see your antics as a bad thing.

“Overall, you have to have the professional chops to make a stunt work,” Langerud says. “Then it’s not really a stunt but a calculated strategy. You want to do something that makes a professional point without putting you or your contact in an embarrassing or compromising position.”

Con: Play It Straight

Unique tactics can make you stand out in the wrong way, too. “I’m not a fan of crazy job search tactics,” says Janis Von Culin, own and advisor with Von Culin Associates, an HR consulting firm in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. “There are lots of downsides to stunts that aren’t right on target: People don’t take the candidate seriously, they find [the tactic] off-putting -- especially accountants, engineers, scientists -- and they make the interviewer wonder about the candidate’s judgment and perceptiveness.” So research the industry and corporate culture prior to making contact.

Adding insult to injury, word of your miscue will likely be shared with HR and hiring managers at other companies. “A lasting impression will be made either way, and if it's not good then that will be [spread] to others in the interviewer’s network because people talk more about the bad experiences than the good ones,” says Trish Ruff-Cunningham, business-development manager for Houston’s Brookwoods Group, a staffing, recruiting and program-management firm. “So the best way to get attention is to keep one's reputation intact.”

Following these job search tips will help you decide if you want to play it safe or swing for the fences. No matter which approach you take, remember the goal is to showcase your value as an employee. Says Steve Siebold, author of How Rich People Think: “Any tactic you use to find jobs will fail if you fail to focus on the bottom line, which is how you are going to benefit the employer.”

Rate this article:

Average rating:

Email to a friend

Join the Discussion

Latest Jobs

WEB COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Massachusetts College of liberal Arts

Posted: 5/24/2012

Albany, NY

Environmental Services Tech, PRN

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall

Posted: 5/24/2012

Rockwall, TX, 75...

Life Insurance and Annuity Agent

Sagicor Life USA

Posted: 5/24/2012

Phoenix, AZ, 852...

Associate Manager

J. Crew Group, Inc.

Posted: 5/24/2012

Mishawaka, IN

Store Director

J. Crew Group, Inc.

Posted: 5/24/2012

Grand Prairie, T...

Want more personalized results? Update Your Profile

View All Latest Jobs

Browse Advice

Job Hunt Strategy

Resumes & Letters

Interviewing

Salary & Benefits

In the Workplace

Career Development

Featured Advice Resources:

Browse All Articles in this section

Rate this article:

Average rating:

Monster Advice Forums

Looking for Answers?

Get them on our boards:

Resume Tips
Job Search Advice

All boards

Join the Discussion

Monster Communities

Teaching Community: Where teachers meet and learn.
ArtBistro: Create and connect.
Excelle: Networking for the career-minded woman.
Nursing Link: Where nurses call the shots.
More Monster Communities

Monster Partners

Scholarships: Scholarships, financial aid and more ways to pay for school.
Education.org: Find top campus and online degree programs.
Military.com: Military portal for the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Financial Aid: Scholarships & financial aid.
Staffing for Government Jobs: Staffing and hiring solutions for federal government agency jobs.
More Monster Partners

Job Hunt Strategy

Seven Job Search Mistakes New Grads Make

Even in an improving job market, there's little room for error when looking for your first job. Don't let one of these missteps cost you a career opportunity.

Resumes & Cover Letters

Cover Letter Checklist

Wondering whether your cover letter is the best it can be? It is if you can answer "yes" to the questions on this checklist.

Interviewing

Three Job-Interview Myths

In a job interview, things are not always what they seem -- or what you expect. Get the truth about three commonly held interview myths here.

Salary & Benefits

Jobs with High Lifetime Earnings

Want to earn the most money possible over the course of your working life with just a bachelor's degree? Consider one of these 10 lucrative jobs.

Attracting Candidates

Facebook for Employers: Make Friends, Not Fans

Recruiting? Go where the talent is. See why recruiters have befriended social networks.

Employee Sourcing

Employment Index

November Monster Employment Index Grows 13% Year-Over-Year, Tenth Consecutive Month of Positive Annual Growth.

Interviewing Candidates

Improving Interview Skills: Learn from the Experts

What’s the key to a great interview? According to experts: Practice, practice, practice.

Workforce Planning

Enhance your Small Business Marketing Strategy with Social Media

Social media. It’s everywhere. But how can it help you? Learn how to utilize social media even monetize it.

For Seekers

Campus and Online Degrees: Advance your career and earn more with an online degree.
Compare Your Salary: See how your pay stacks up to others in your field
Free Salary Wizard: What are you worth? Find out and negotiate a better salary.
Research Careers: Get information on jobs and career paths to help guide your choices
Questions & Answers: Find answers to all your career related questions -- powered by Yahoo! Answers
eLearning by Monster: Search our catalog of online courses and learn new skills.
Resume Distribution Service: Our distribution service puts your resume right in the hands of recruiters.
Resume Writing Services: Our experts will craft a keyword-rich resume that stands out in the crowd.
Other Services

For Employers

Career Ad Network: Target your job posting to more candidates on thousands of websites.
Hire Right Background Checks: Explore our background check packages to improve the quality of your hires.
Hiring Home Page: Find the best candidates for your business with Monster hiring solutions.
Job Postings: Find the right solution for your hiring needs. Starting at $99.
Power Resume Search: Monster's new search technology precisely matches people with your jobs.
Resource Center: Find staffing insights, labor trends, HR best practices and more.
Target Post: Connect with skilled, hourly and administrative candidates for only $99.

Social Media

Jobs on Twitter: Find jobs in your area and industry.
Monster Careers: Tune into our career advice and discussions tackling a wide range of topics and industries.
Monster Corporate & PR: Stay up-to-date on the latest news. Get the 'Who', 'What', 'When', and 'Why' on all things Monster related.
Monster Customer Service: Got a Monster question? We've got the answer. Whether you're a job seeker or employer, we can help you find the answers you need.
Monster for Employers: Find advice on hiring.
Follow Us: Check out our many pages and stay connected with the latest industry news, events, career advice and job openings.

Are You An Employer?

You may want to upgrade your browser.

Top Articles

Most Popular Jobs

Other Helpful Resources

Advice

Top Articles in Career Advice

Top Communities

Other Helpful Resources

Will Unusual Job Hunting Tactics Work for You?

Email to a Friend

Related Articles:

Latest Jobs

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Looking for Answers?

Popular Questions & Answers

Popular Job Searches

Monster Communities

Monster Partners

Job Hunt Strategy

Resumes & Cover Letters

Interviewing

Salary & Benefits

Attracting Candidates

Employee Sourcing

Interviewing Candidates

Workforce Planning

For Seekers

For Employers

Social Media

Other Links

|Chat With An Employer

Want to Chat With an Employer?