By Bogdan Zlatkov, Founder, GrowthHackYourCareer.com
If you’ve been applying to jobs for a while, chances are you’ve seen that depressing number by the job post. I’m talking, of course, about the dreaded “applicant number”:
- 167 applicants for this job.
- 346 applicants for this job.
- 705 applicants for this job.
If you have LinkedIn Premium, you can even see the seniority level and education level of your competition.
On average there are about 250 applicants for every job posting. Out of those 250 applications, only 4-6 candidates get called in for an interview.
Of course, one of the most common ways to stand out is by getting a referral,
but what if a referral isn’t an option? The truth is there are still many other creative ways to get an employer’s attention. So, today I’m sharing 5 creative job application ideas that have worked for others and are worth trying out.
- Get Personal with a Video Introduction
One of the best ways to make your application more memorable is by creating a video introduction of yourself. Your skills, personality, and interests can come to life in a video much more than they ever could on paper. Plus, hiring managers tend to appreciate the extra effort and creativity.
Before you feel intimidated by the thought of video, know that it doesn’t have to be a big production. There are dozens of video messaging platforms that allow you to record and share personalized videos super easily, like Loom. You can keep the video super simple too. Just introduce yourself, highlight your skills and accomplishments, and show some of your work if relevant. Just remember, you’re trying to break the ice, so keep the tone casual and friendly. Avoid sounding too scripted or rehearsed. The more personal you make this video, the better.
- Put a Voice to the Name
Have you ever considered using voice messages as part of your networking strategy? Not many people have, which is why this is one of the most underutilized creative job application ideas on this list (but it can lead to surprisingly high response rates).
One platform that makes this super easy is LinkedIn. With its voice message feature (available on mobile only), you’re able to record and send short voice messages (up to 60 seconds) directly to your connections. This is a great way to add a human touch to your networking efforts, making it more personal and memorable. This is especially important with the number of generic messages being sent on LinkedIn these days.
Here’s how to use voice messages on LinkedIn:
- Open the LinkedIn app on your mobile device
- Navigate to the messages section
- Click on the “New message” icon (denoted by a pencil and a paper)
- Search for & select the connection you want to send a message to
- Click on the microphone icon next to the text input field
- Record your message (up to 60 seconds) while holding down the microphone icon
- Release the icon when you’re done recording it
It’s that easy and so worth it!
- Map Out Your Success (30-60-90)
This one is more of a tactic that helps you get an employer’s attention during the interview. The technique is pretty simple.
During the initial phone-screen interview, ask the recruiter what some of the main issues the company or team is currently facing. Then, based on their answers, create a 30-60-90 plan outlining your goals and strategies for the role.
For those who are unfamiliar, a 30-60-90 plan is when you describe what you’d like to accomplish in the first 30 days, first 60 days, and first 90 days after being hired.
A good template for 30-60-90 plan is:
- First 30 days – Learning the business
- First 60 days – Meeting the team and gathering inputs
- First 90 days – Solving one big business problem
Creating a 30-60-90 shows that you’re proactively thinking about how you can add value to the company and are willing to put in the effort to do so.
Pro Tip: Remember that oftentimes the questions you ask during the interview, can be more important than the questions you answer. For some more ideas, I recommend adding these 7 killer questions to ask during your interview to your arsenal.
- Create a Problem-Solving Presentation
Similar to the 30-60-90 plan, this technique uses the phone-screen interview to create value and show initiative.
Like in the example above, you’ll ask the recruiter questions about the company’s challenges during the initial phone-screen interview. Then, based on their answers, you’ll craft an insightful presentation that offers potential solutions to those challenges.
Pro Tip: I don’t recommend creating a presentation based solely on online research. That’s because what a company shares online is hardly ever what the real problems are. Online research can often be misleading or outdated, so it’s better to ask the recruiter instead.
- Pen Your Way to Success
You’ve probably heard the term “thought leadership” before. Employers are constantly on the lookout for individuals who can not only excel at their jobs, but also bring new ideas and perspectives to the table. This creative job application idea takes advantage of that.
One of the best ways to showcase your expertise is through blogging. There are many platforms, such as LinkedIn and Medium, that allow you to share your writing easily without needing to set up an entire blog. Even if you don’t consider yourself a great writer, just the act of writing alone can be impressive to hiring managers.
Pro Tip: If you feel like you don’t have enough to say, you can always leverage existing content. For instance, you can share research insights on trending topics and add your color commentary, which will still make you stand out from other candidates.
Takeaways & Next Steps
Alright, so those are 5 of the best creative job application ideas that will help you get an employer’s attention…but there are many more!
Now, before you try these, I do recommend getting your resume and cover letter up to the right standards. You can try all the creative job application ideas, but without an optimized resume and cover letter, all that effort won’t matter.
I recommend starting by checking your resume with one of these AI resume builders that can give you feedback on what you may be missing.
Get creative and get the job!
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Read more resume, LinkedIn, and interview best practices on The GHYC Blog.
Bogdan Zlatkov is the Founder of GrowthHackYourCareer.com and has taught thousands of smart job seekers how to optimize their resumes, reach “All-Star” status with their LinkedIn profiles, and how to ace their interviews to land their next job faster. Before starting GHYC, Bogdan was a Content Manager at LinkedIn Learning and the author of, “The Ultimate Guide to Job Hunting,” ranked #1 on Google. To accelerate your next job search, visit GrowthHackYourCareer.com.