Three crazy ways to get a job
We see a lot of crazy job seeker stories, from mega-bucks marketing to eBay auctions. But does it work, and should you do it?
As recession and unemployment rates continue to hit the headlines, we increasingly see stories in the media focused on how people ‘go the extra mile’ to find a job. My heart goes out daily when I see the stories, particularly in the American local press, striving to deliver practical advice to people living in high unemployment areas. I’m seeing a lot of really good initiatives and good work. Today this UK based story caught my eye – along with the Huffington Post. This guy, Josh Butler, placed himself on eBay in hopes of getting a job. He’s decided against going to university, which is fine – but in a world where grads are doing entry level roles he’s understandably been struggling to find a way to stand out from the crowd. He sat down with his mum and devised the plan to ‘sell’ himself on eBay for £16,000 per annum.
Did it work for Josh? We’re not sure yet, but reports suggest he’s had some doors opened and conversations started with top employers like John Lewis. The reports said he described it as advertising yourself – which is exactly what your BraveNewTalent profile does (and the good news is, the auction is always open).
We all enjoy these stories, and I often share them on BraveNewTalent, Facebook and Twitter, and it can start to feel that just having a well-crafted CV, good experience and some great skills isn’t enough. But it’s vital to remember you don’t have to have a professionally designed infographic CV or pay for a billboard poster to get a job – despite the headlines. Bear in mind that the number one thing these campaigns do for people is open doors. And you can do that yourself by being active on BraveNewTalent. We give you direct access to great companies so you can make it happen.
Two other ways jobseekers have tried to get hired
The innovative CV
Marketeers often find crazy campaigns work because when they plan their own marketing campaign, it’s almost like work experience – and it often generates media coverage for the agency who hires them, which is incredibly valuable real estate. Zef Narkiewicz is a recent example. His Zeefax, retro-style online CV was great fun and demonstrated his skills in a very employable way, and now he works for an agency dealing with household names.
The expensive marketing campaign
This guy spent a lot of time and money on this cringeworthy (in my opinion) campaign. Did it work? Not that I can tell – although from what I can see he’s working for a great agency, so there is a happy ending for this job seeker too.