Outside the Box … or Out of Their Minds?

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Job seekers are getting very creative in their efforts to land jobs, going way beyond the traditional thank-you note to get noticed by employers. A CareerBuilder survey of 2,076 hiring managers and HR professionals nationwide asked about the most memorable techniques used by candidates.

Job seekers are getting very creative in their efforts to land jobs, going way beyond the traditional thank-you note to get noticed by employers. A CareerBuilder survey of 2,076 hiring managers and HR professionals nationwide asked about the most memorable techniques used by candidates.

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"Thinking outside the box is great," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of HR for CareerBuilder. "But the stunts that work best are the ones that showcase your relevant skills and abilities."

"Thinking outside the box is great," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of HR for CareerBuilder. "But the stunts that work best are the ones that showcase your relevant skills and abilities."

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Here are some successful and not-so-successful techniques used by job-seekers.

Here are some successful and not-so-successful techniques used by job-seekers.

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Techniques that worked:

Techniques that worked:

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  Candidate contracted a billboard outside the employer's office.

  Candidate contracted a billboard outside the employer's office.

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  Candidate gave a résumé on a chocolate bar.

  Candidate gave a résumé on a chocolate bar.

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  Candidate asked to be interviewed in Spanish to showcase his skills.

  Candidate asked to be interviewed in Spanish to showcase his skills.

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  Candidate performed a musical number on the guitar about why he was the best candidate.

  Candidate performed a musical number on the guitar about why he was the best candidate.

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  Candidate volunteered to help out with making copies when he saw that the interviewer's assistant was getting frazzled.

  Candidate volunteered to help out with making copies when he saw that the interviewer's assistant was getting frazzled.

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  Candidate sent a message in a bottle.

  Candidate sent a message in a bottle.

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Techniques that did not work:

Techniques that did not work:

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  Candidate dressed as a clown.

  Candidate dressed as a clown.

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  Candidate back-flipped into the room.

  Candidate back-flipped into the room.

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  Candidate brought items from interviewer's online shopping wish list.

  Candidate brought items from interviewer's online shopping wish list.

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  Candidate sent a fruit basket to interviewer's home address, which the interviewer had not given her.

  Candidate sent a fruit basket to interviewer's home address, which the interviewer had not given her.

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  Candidate did a tarot reading for the interviewer.

  Candidate did a tarot reading for the interviewer.

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  Candidate sent the interviewer a lotto ticket.

  Candidate sent the interviewer a lotto ticket.

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  Candidate sent in a shoe to "get their foot in the door."

  Candidate sent in a shoe to "get their foot in the door."