What’s the Craziest Thing You’ve Seen a Potential Candidate Do to Land the Job?

As a hiring manager, you probably encounter hundreds of résumés at any given time. And let’s face it: Sometimes, it’s a mundane chore to sift through the candidates trying to find the perfect fit. You’ve probably encountered résumés filled with typos and some that seem to stretch the truth a little too far, but once you’ve gotten past the résumé stage, it’s time to start the interview process.

What’s the craziest interview you’ve ever conducted? What’s the most unique way a candidate has tried to set himself or herself apart from the rest?
One story comes to mind of a man from Lithuania who was so eager to enter the American workforce that he dressed up as a food delivery man and passed out boxes of donuts—with his résumé taped inside—to companies he wished to work for. Fortunately for Lukas Yla, he was eventually hired by CityBee and is now the company’s CEO.
Want even more crazy interview experiences? CareerBuilder’s got you covered! In a survey, hiring managers were asked to share some of the unusual tactics job candidates have used to stand out among the rest. These insights include:

• A candidate gave the hiring manager a baseball that read, “This is my best pitch of why you should hire me.”
• A candidate sent the hiring manager daisies with a note that said, “Pick me, pick me.”
• A candidate brought their mother to the interview as an in-person character reference.
• A candidate developed a whole website dedicated to the hiring manager, asking to be hired.
• A candidate hugged the hiring manager when introduced instead of shaking hands.
• A candidate got up from the interview and started waiting on customers because the business got busy.
• A hiring manager had a candidate volunteer to work at the business for a month before submitting an application to show that she was able to do the job.
• A candidate presented a thick scrapbook of certificates, awards, and letters.
• A candidate sent a Christmas card every year for 3 years.
• A candidate sent a cake with their résumé printed on it.

These are some pretty ingenious ways of standing out in a crowd! We hope the candidate who helped customers during the interview process got that job. That’s a great way to show initiative to a potential employer.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve experienced during a job interview? Share it in our comments section below.