“If there’s one thing that hiring managers agree on, it’s that you need to take every opportunity to get their attention.” That true statement comes from Muse writer Jennifer Little-Fleck’s article about standing out when you’re competing against lots of qualified candidates.
That's exactly what Sumukh Mehta, a 21-year-old recent college graduate did when he sent GQ, a.k.a., his dream job, a “GQ-style” CV. Highlighting his experience, background, and skills, Mehta featured his winning attributes on a lookalike cover of his favorite mag. He proceeded to send the innovative application materials to the magazine’s headquarters in New York, London, and Mumbai.
Not only is his untraditional CV totally on-brand—Mehta looks and seems to speak the part of a GQ staff member, judging from his posed cover and clever headlines—but it’s absolutely original. Mehta took the whole “do your homework on the company” thing and delivered it overnight. Literally.
Speaking to Buzzfeed’s Sonia Mariam Thomas, Mehta say “I wanted to work at GQ, because I wanted to work at a place where I will be able to use my marketing knowledge as creatively as possible.”
It’s obvious that Mehta has a strong grasp of marketing and a big dose of creativity to match it. (Oh, he also had a business in college that created resumes for MBA graduates.) Fortunately for this guy, the inspired application nabbed him an internship at GQ’s UK office. The best part? He received an offer without even interviewing. His resume was just that good.
This kind of bold move isn’t right for everyone, and, in fact, it wouldn’t be appropriate for every company. But, Mehta knew his audience and gave them something they’d appreciate. His gamble paid off.
Depending on the job you’re after, you might really have to think outside the standard resume-and-cover-letter box. Consider the things you can do to stand out among a sea of candidates vying for the same position. How can you strut your stuff beyond a list of skills and work experience info? Could one of these “crazy” ideas work for you?
Yes, Mehta set the bar high, but it’s good to be challenged—right?