I'm mostly curious to know. Has anyone applied for a job using some creative way, and had more luck then just sending out resumes? I remember reading a webpage about someone who applied for a job in a really creative way, which in the end resulted in them landing a job. I want to know if this has worked for anyone before i waste too much time on what might be a useless endevour.
( I don't expect that a creative way to apply will just land a job without a decent demo reel to back it. I'm just curious to find out if anyone else has tried it and had luck.)
Yeah. I can imagine that
Yeah. I can imagine that letting a car tire down for an interview is a little extreme. But at the same Muffins feels more like a bribe. Has it ever been percived wrong? A talk I had earlier today from a non industry background just said to show my art off as much as I could on my resume and that sending a cake or muffins would be percived as more of a joke then a serious application.
-Tejay
I've looked at hundreds..
..of artist's portfolios over the past decade or more. I can't recall ever hiring anyone who did anything out of the ordinary. The two most critical aspects have always been a) how good is the work and how how well does it match what we're looking for? And b) how well does the candidate interview? I won't say don't do it, but I will say don't at the expense of anything else. First and foremost let your work speak for itself.
The weirdest applicants that I can remember in recent times would be one guy who pleaded then (literally) begged job. Another who said about a dozen words (tops) in the entire interview.
Meh...
If you can come up with a very simple idea that makes someone say "oh that's clever" with a wry smile, it can't hurt.
But personally I wouldn't spend any time trying to do something crazy, and I wouldn't do something too obvious. Just somethign clever and professional.
Real time should jsut be invested into the folio and showreel. It sounds boring but at the end of the day thats what employers look at. Anything else is just icing on the cake. Icing a cake should't take too much time or effort, and overly extravagent icing will never make a shitty cake employable.
Yeah, anything I do would be
Yeah, anything I do would be icing on the cake. My reel has always been the priority. Just thought with so many redundancies and poeple trying to enter the industry, that I should try something that will help me stand out of the crowd. Got to love how hard it is for a junior to get a job. 8 months experince just doesn't mean anything.
-tejay
I think you can be creative
I think you can be creative in some sense of the word.
There's no need to be overly professional about your covering letters, resumes and portfolio - I think some creative license is not only appreciated but also necessary. Muffins/tyres/puzzles are all gimmicks and kind of detract from your presence. If you have a gimmick that's a part of a well conceived plan, then go for it - especially if you think it can differentiate you positively from others.
I think time spent on good portfolio and interview skills is better than thinking up novelty approaches. I guess there is some merit in the concept though. If you can be remembered in front of other candidates (in a positive light) it is to your benefit.
I've never tried that approach although when i started sending links to a website instead of sending a CD or printed samples that might have been considered out the of ordinary at the time. (yes that was some years ago!)
I've heard of muffins being send with an application and being well recieved and read a great, although questionable story, about a guy who let the tyre of a car down. He Hid till the owner with whom he wanted an interview with appeared then 'coincidently' wandered past and offered to help with changing the tyre. During which time he chatted about the position vacant. The anecdote ends with him getting the job although I wonder if in reality it ended with a trip to the local police station.