Cheezhead

A recent CareerBuilder survey that polled 3,388 hiring managers found that at least 12 percent of these managers said that job seekers are going to much greater, if often unusual, means to get hired.

“Candidates have a short window to make a lasting impression on potential employers” said Jason Ferrara, Senior Career Advisor at CareerBuilder.com. “Those who apply resourcefulness and an inventive approach to their job search may have a better chance of standing out in the minds of hiring managers. The key is making sure you are maintaining an appropriate balance of creativity and professionalism so you are remembered for the right reasons.”

Here are some of the most memorable tactics these managers noted:

* Candidate advertised on a billboard.

* Candidate carried around a sign that said, “Will work for paying bills”

* Candidate brought a broom to the interview to “clean up the waste and corruption in the office”

* Candidate wore a shirt to the interview that said, “Please hire me”

* Candidate showed up with breakfast for the employer every day until hired.

* Candidate approached the hiring manager in a restroom.

* Candidate sent a giant cookie with “Hire Skip” written in frosting on it.

* Candidate parked outside of the office building with a sign that said, “Seeking employment”

* Candidate wrote a poem about why she wanted the job in her cover letter.

* Candidate promised to give the employer a foot massage if hired.

* Candidate noticed the employer wrote a blog about a particular restaurant. She persuaded the restaurant to put her name on the menu so the employer would see it the next time he ate there.

* Candidate created an electronic resume with flash animation and musical score.

My personal favorite is the guy with the broom. I can just imagine him vigorously swatting at random people around the office, much to the horror of the HR rep.

It also brings to mind this guy, who wore a shirt with his resume written on the back and “Damn, I need a job” in bold on the front. He stood in front of office windows for hours waiting for managers to notice him, and it worked. Plus he got so much publicity that the guy started his own very successful business inscribing resumes on job seekers’ shirts.

So what’s the craziest thing a candidate has done to attract your attention?