Hiring managers share 10 awesome job pitches, and 10 epic fails!

There’s a fine line between genius and insanity. 

• Voting for this blog for the ABA Journal Blawg100 (today is the last day to nominate blogs, so, please, please, please): genius;
• Boston Red Sox Chardonnay: nutbars.

When applying for a new job, you need more than just a resume to stand out from the crowd. But, go too far, and you crash, burn, and become that person whom hiring managers discuss when sharing their worst interview stories.

Speaking of which, yesterday, CareerBuilder published the results of a study in which it asked 2,076 hiring managers and human resource professionals nationwide to share the most memorable methods candidates have used to stand out from the crowd, and whether their creativity got them hired.

Here are ten standout techniques that worked.

1. Candidate contracted a billboard outside of employer’s office.
2. Candidate gave a resume on a chocolate bar.
3. Candidate showed up in a suit with a red T-shirt underneath a white shirt. The red T-shirt had a message – “Hire me, I work hard.”
4. Candidate asked to be interviewed in Spanish to showcase his skills.
5. Candidate crafted the cover letter like an invitation to hire her rather than a request (similar to a wedding invitation).
6. Candidate climbed on a roof the employer was repairing and asked for a job.
7. Candidate performed a musical number on the guitar about why he was the best candidate.
8. Candidate volunteered to help out with making copies when he saw interviewer’s assistant was getting frazzled.
9. Candidate repaired a piece of company’s equipment during the first interview.
10. Candidate sent a message in a bottle.

And these ten moves, not so much…

1. Candidate back-flipped into the room.
2. Candidate brought items from interviewer’s online shopping wish list.
3. Candidate sent a fruit basket to interviewer’s home address, which the interviewer had not given her.
4. Candidate did a tarot reading for the interviewer.
5. Candidate dressed as a clown.
6. Candidate sent interviewer some beef stew with a note saying “Eat hearty and hire me J.”
7. Candidate placed a timer on interviewer’s desk, started it, and told interviewer he would explain in 3 minutes why he was the perfect candidate.
8. Candidate sent interviewer a lotto ticket.
9. Candidate wore a florescent suit.
10. Candidate sent in a shoe to “get their foot in the door.”

Me? I’m easy like Sunday morning. I would hire anyone on the spot who did this. 

What about you? What is the single best, original way a job candidate won you over? Let me know in the comments below. Also, let me know the one that had you calling security.

(h/t @Chaimbook)