An article in the Wall Street Jouranl entitled, Bold Tactics Don’t Always Get The Job, highlighted some bold ways job seekers are trying to be noticed. They featured Jim Winninger, 60, who sent dress shirts to two hiring managers embroidered with his contact information, along with a note reading, “If you want a training manager willing to give you the shirt off his back to work for you, look inside.”
He says one hiring manager called, but didn’t mention the shirt. Mr. Winninger concedes that “I”m not going to get a job as a result of sending someone a shirt. All I’m trying to do with that is get an interview.”
That’s the goal of any marketing campaign, it is a first step. It’s not the ring at the wedding, it’s the fancy jewelry you wore for the first date to standout.
When I was a conductor of a chorus in Los Angeles county, the person responsible for publicizing our concerts let me down so I took matters into my own hands. We were premiering a new work and I wanted to be sure we received advance publicity; a review wouldn’t help build ticket sales.
I went to Creative Cakery and had a custom design similar to the one on the right feature our event information in icing and I took it down to the Times office. They wouldn’t allow me to hand deliver it but I added a personal message and a press kit. I called up a few days later to enquire if they received my gift.
The writer told me, “Bob, gifts are strictly forbidden.” I said, “Well you didn’t throw it out did you?” ”No,” she said, “we all enjoyed the chocolate frosting. It was really good.” The story ran and we had a large audience.
There was a house I wanted to buy in Long Beach, California. I had told a realtor that when it came on the market, I wanted to know. February 13, 2002 he called and said, “It’s listed but she isn’t letting anyone see it until she cleans it up a bit.”
Like the Grinch, I paced, “I must stop others from coming.” I wrote a short letter to the owner describing how I wanted to make this house my home and asked to be able to see it that Saturday. I went down to the local party supply and picked up three Valentines’ balloons, attached them to the letter and slipped it under the mat.
I got a call from the realtor, “You’ll be the first ones to see the house this Saturday.” It needed a ton of work inside but it didn’t slip through my hands. I enjoyed that home for six years before moving to New York. If you want something enough, creativity does rule the day.
While the WSJ article featured people saying such tactics wouldn’t work for getting a job by recruiters, I think it’s no different than that line, “gifts are forbidden.” Be creative when marketing yourself and you’ll be able to standout from the rest.
