Woman uses ‘resume shirt’ in job search
March 5, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Assessing the right candidate, In This Week's E-Newsletter, Latest News & Views, Self marketing
These days, more people are desperate for work and go to greater lengths to land jobs. But would a stunt like this get your attention?
Former marketing manager Kelly Kinney has been out of a job for more than a year. Her latest strategy for getting her resume out there: She had it printed on a T-shirt.
The front of the shirt reads, in big bold letters, “I need a job!” followed by contact info and a list of her qualifications. The back of the shirt features a “cover letter” with more information.
Kinney says she wears the shirt every chance she gets — when she’s grocery shopping, out for coffee or just walking down the street.
It’s not the first gimmick she’s tried. At other points, she posted a resume on her car window and sent prospective employers postcards. So far, nothing’s worked.
If you saw Kinney in her resume shirt would it grab your attention enough to offer an interview? What other gimmicks have you noticed desperate job seekers using? Let us know in the comments section below.
Tags: gimmick, job seekers, resume
March 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I like her creative thinking – I’d give her a call.
March 6th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
As a Recruiter, I would never contact someone about a job if they used the t-shirt tactic. I would think the person was a bit odd, and it comes across as overly desperate. If people check Craigslist, Careerbuilder, Monster, Hotjobs, local newspapers, and employment agencies, there are jobs out there. Even a temp or part-time job can be temporary income and a possible foot in the door.
March 6th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
NPR did a piece on a gentleman in New York who walked the streets of NYC with a sandwhich board stating similar things. He hands out resumes to people as they walk by. He hadn’t gotten any hits by the time the interview aired, but if you’re looking for a marketing person these tactics don’t seem half bad.
March 6th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I have to agree with Kris. While it may be “creative”, it’s also a bit unprofessional. I wouldn’t contact her.
March 6th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
This is exactly the tactics that Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream used for years when looking for managment who “think out of the box”. When they advertised a job opening, the most creative resumes were the ones who initially got the interviews. Don’t know if they were the ones hired or not, but when looking for out of the box thinkers for your company, even the resume submission said something about the applicant. I applaude her for trying something others might think is desperate. I think is shows creativity and determination.
March 6th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
A+. I LOVE IT! I’m an optomistic person so I don’t see it as being odd, but creative and determined….., desperate yes, but who isn’t these days. I see her as a “go getter”, someone who I’d want on my team. Afterall she’s a former “Marketing” Manager. And if I was looking for a Marketing Manager she would definitely get an interview with me.
March 6th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Problem is that I don’t think I would feel comfortable staring at her chest to get her credentials… Maybe resume should be printed on the back… However I do admire her creativity and her willingness to face critical review in her day-to-day environment. I would invite her to interview.
March 6th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I think the fact that she’s still in the labor market speaks volume as to the effectiveness of these tools. It makes her less credible. There are a lot of ways to stand out in a more professional way. Unless her line of work is some sort of weird marketing paradigm; I’m not sure she’s doing herself any justice.
March 6th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I can understand her position and have considered doing the tee-shirt thing myself.
March 7th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Tough times call for tough measures! I would certainly contact her if there was a possible match! Guerilla Tactics in the Job Market (Book written by Tom Jackson many years ago when we went through similar tough times) described many unusual tactics which caught the attention of others. And isn’t that the point? Reading resumes both on-line and in print gets pretty tedious. I rather like the idea of taking my daily walk or run with a pocket full of business cards and “running” into real live candidates! Call me old fashioned, I like “live” candidates!!! Thanks!
March 9th, 2009 at 8:40 am
I think this is great! She’s a marketing person. In marketing, you want someone creative and innovative. If I were looking for a marketing person, I’d probably call her. I don’t know if I’d feel the same way about an accountant wearing a resume t-shirt…probably still give them a call. What does a phone screen take? 15-30 minutes of my time? If I really need people, why not explore all avenues?
May 1st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I got my first job because my resume, typed on pink paper, caught the eye of the hiring manager. I’ve now been in HR for over 30 years. Thank goodness he didn’t think straying from the traditional white or ivory paper was too over the top!
August 7th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I have to say that I LOVE IT! I’ve been overrun with resumes of people who say they want to work, but really are just doing what’s needed to remain on unemployment. Reading resumes any more is mind numbing due to all the cliches and the continual, “no, I think I’ll pass on that job.” To see a fresh and new way of looking for a job, I could only assume that she’s definately interested in working. And the creativity of that marketing professional gets an A+ in my book!
August 19th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Yes, i can understand that this is the matter of frustration as she was jobless for more than a year but this behavior seems strange and not acceptable in professional world.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I would not put the resume in front of a T-shirt but this story just illustrates how tough these times really are. I disagree with Kris since I know many job seekers who use all the tranditional and not so traditional sites including social networking and still have not landed a job. I know 2 very qualified people, one is an HR director who has been out of work for a year in MA and still can’t find work despite aggessive networking. She is almost ready to lose her home, got through her assets and can’t even find an office job as a temp. Any ideas?
September 25th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I think we have all seen those “will work for food” signs. I was in Phoenix a few years ago at a red light. There was a “homeless” person there. The car in front of me was a new gold Mercedes. When the car reached the “homeless” man, it stopped, both rear doors opened, another “homeless” man got out on the right, the one on the corner got in on the left. The new man went to the corner and sat down. The car then drove off. Shift change for the “homeless” with a Mercedes? That’s what the “resume shirt” reminds me of. And she has been out of work for a year? Where did she get the money to have a shirt printed like that?