The job market today is very competitive, possibly more so than it has ever been before. It is very difficult to be noticed amongst so many applicants with a similar skills set as you have and maybe they offer even more skills than you have for the position you are trying to get. Unfortunately, it is common to hear about many job hunters who have been searching for a job for a long length of time. Nowadays, it would seem, to get that dream job you have to become very creative.
Creativity triumphs
One job hunter became very creative with his job searching. Sumukh Mehta had a dream job in mind; and that goal was working for the British edition of GQ Magazine. After searching and searching for a job with no success, a great idea came to him. He thought why not turn his job seeking story into his own personal GQ issue. “It took me three weeks to make the whole resume, which included graphic design, a photo shoot and the content,” shared Sumukh Mehta “I got the whole resume printed exactly like the original British GQ.”
Success
Sumukh Mehta’s creative tactics went way above the standard application process, in the end his hard work and consistent persistence was worth it. The editor-in-chief at the British GQ publication wrote an email to Sumukh Mehta letting him know that the company were highly impressed with his creative application and offered him a six month long paid internship with GQ. Of course, Sumukh Mehta accepted the job position. Sumukh had been previously, “running a website for the past year where I help graduates and working employees convert their normal resumes into infographic resumes”, which assisted him and his award-winning idea.
Get noticed
This job application technique of Sumukh Mehta may seem extreme and over the top for many companies and industries, there is something to be said for his commitment and positive attitude to get the job that he always dreamed of getting. He knew the only way to get that dream job was to have a resume that would get him and his skills noticed, and every job searcher should remember this when they are looking for job. Sumukh Mehta said, “I started thinking that if I send a normal resume, it’ll end up in the bin. So, I thought of portraying myself as a model on the cover and making a magazine, which showcases my resume in a creative way.”
Tailor your resume for your industry
In your field of work, creating your very own issue of your favorite magazine may not work in your favor, but you should always consider the company that you are applying for a position, then come up with a creative way that is unique to your skills and the company. Thinking outside of the box is just one way to bring positive attention to your resume and application. Who knows what could come your way.
Mehta said, “Since the day the resume went viral, my messages are flooded with people from all over the world appreciating my creativity. Now everybody wants an infographic resume!”