WorkWise BlogTip: The Unexpected

While job hunters get jobs by following rules, those who sprinkle a bit of imagination into their marketing will stand out against the competition. Tim McHeffy (solvingstickypeopleproblems.com) reports that a newly-minted graduate traveled from Long Island to Boston for an interview. All went well until he discovered that he'd arrived exactly a week prior to his scheduled appointment. "When he learned that he'd misread the date," McHeffy e-mails," he said, "'I just wanted to make sure I was on time!'"

Take the case of Robin Sacks (waycoaching.com) while competing for a job at a network TV station. A knock-out audition tape wouldn't suffice. "I visited a local novelty shop and purchased a large foot that people hang out of their trunk to make it look as if someone is in there," she says. Then she packed a box with her resume, tape and a foot. Her note read, "Now that I got my foot in the door ..."

The news director called her a day after her package landed at his desk, scheduled an interview and subsequently offered her the job. She worked there, happily, for three years.

Take a qualified leap of imagination (and faith) when you really want a job. You might well get it.

Dr. Mildred Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. © 2010 Passage Media.