They say you only get one chance to make a good first impression, and some job seekers have really taken this adage to heart.
Last year, CareerBuilder published a survey listing the most memorable interviewee stunts. Some antics actually got employees hired; others ensured they were barred from the employer’s office for life.
Candidate fails
- The Gymnast: Candidate entered the room by doing a back flip.
- The Stalker: Candidate brought the interviewer a gift—from her online shopping wish list.
- The Fruit Loop: Candidate sent a fruit basket to the interviewer’s home address, which had not been provided to him.
- The Psychic: Candidate performed a tarot card reading for the hiring manager. (Did he or she predict the manager would be hiring the candidate? I’m curious.)
- The Clown: Candidate arrived dressed in clown attire and was not interviewing for a clown position.
- The Chef: Candidate prepared beef stew for the interviewer with a note that read “Eat hearty and hire me.”
- The Fast Talker: Candidate placed a timer on interviewer’s desk and in less than three minutes recited the reasons he was the perfect candidate for the job.
- The Gambler: Candidate mailed a lotto ticket to the hiring manager.
Candidate successes
- The Chocoholic: Candidate printed a resume on a chocolate bar.
- The Eye Catcher: Candidate arrived dressed in a bright red shirt that read “Hire Me!”
- The Singer: Candidate serenaded interviewer while playing the guitar.
- The Romantic: Candidate sent a message in a bottle to the hiring manager.
- The Linguist: Candidate insisted on being interviewed in Spanish.
- The Helper: Candidate assisted in office activities during his interview.
- The Advertiser: Candidate put his image on a billboard outside of the office.
If nothing else, the lists prove that not all hiring managers are alike or impressed with the same things. Message in a bottle? Okay.
Here at PayScale we’ve yet to have any interviewees do anything too audacious, but I guess there’s a first time for everything! What’s the boldest thing a candidate has done to secure a position with your company?
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