People talk about surviving the interview as if it’s the biggest hurdle to getting hired. The fact is, scoring a response is tough enough. Why? Dozens or sometimes hundreds of other applicants are vying for the role. Not to mention the job market isn’t at its most stable right now.

Crossing your fingers and waiting to get noticed is fine when there are tons of vacancies. It’s a different story when you find that perfect job you cannot afford to botch the application for. In this case, you will want to make sure you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Taking a creative approach is always an option albeit a risky one. Some stunts may catch the attention of recruiters, but not always in a good way. To leave a lasting impression that’s unconventional yet shows how serious you are about the opportunity, here are some ideas.

Forget the Plain White Background

You’re not limited to the monochrome or black-on-white look for your resume, especially when you’re in a creative industry. Treat it as part of your portfolio instead; a chance to showcase your originality and skills. Don’t be afraid to use different colors and patterns.

If you’re a digital marketing specialist, try creating an ad campaign with a tagline matching the role. If you’re a graphic designer, take style cues from infographics. If you’re an architect with knowledge of CAD, see if you can make it fully 3D.

Bear in mind that this approach isn’t suitable for every position or company, particularly when applying as an executive. Otherwise, have fun with it as long as it remains easy to read or skim through. Your resume is sure to pop out from a sea of white this way.

Get Yourself in Front of a Camera

Times are changing so you no longer have to stick to the old paper format. If you’re not confident in your ability to edit images, put your resume on video instead. All of those skills you developed from creating fun TikTok videos can be put to use for your career.

It doesn’t have to have a quality at par with box office movies as you likely have a limited budget. There are plenty of things you can do with video editing programs or apps anyway. Many smartphones these days allow you to shoot in 1080p or even 4k already.

Start with an outline or storyboard to keep things organized and to ensure that you don’t forget any important information. Seek help from a friend or family member with the shooting. Record in the morning for natural lighting and somewhere quiet for good audio quality.

Tailor Your Application to Them

Most resumes are about what people have done for other businesses. Make yours about what you can bring to your potential employer. For this, you’ll have to find out what they’re looking for in an employee specifically and how you can solve the problems they commonly face.

When the opening is for a website designer, for example, send in 3 web design ideas, including the color palettes, logo ideas, page layouts and the like. Provide enough information to make them curious about the finished product so they’re tempted to hire you to complete the job.

Beyond creative fields, tailored presentations are excellent for other niches too. Those applying for sales positions, for instance, can send in sales pitches with a forecast for the ROI. Those aiming for a copy editor role may suggest better ways to present website content or product descriptions too.

Make the Most of Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms are great ways to start conversations with prospective employers. Although you can’t send in your application through direct messages via these channels, following their business profiles gives you insight on their specific needs to tailor your proposal.

Liking and submitting well-thought-out comments on their posts is an effective means to draw their attention to you. Avoid going too far back on their feeds though or else you might give the impression that you’re a stalker. Post links of your published work on your own account too.

You’ll want to create a separate account and make your personal one private so clients will be directed to your professional profile when searching for you on social media. After all, potential employers don’t care to know about your political inclinations, eating habits, and the like.

Get Your Very Own Website

Have your own site with a personalised domain name, even if it’s simple. What matters most is that it provides all of your relevant information in one place. Remember to link to your social media profiles and include a section where you showcase your finished work.

There are plenty of web hosting services that don’t cost an arm and leg. They often come with a free domain name which you should set to your name or anything related to your field. If you already have a blog that doesn’t contain many personal entries, update it.

It will be necessary for you to learn a bit of WordPress or coding if you wish to customize your design. You can choose from a wide selection of readily available themes to make your life easier. If you’re a web designer, though, you should go all out on design.

Go Beyond the Norms

Do you really want to land that job interview even when there are plenty of other applicants? It’s time to take your creativity to the next level and submit your application through unconventional methods. The sky’s the limit when you’re free to personalise your resumes.

If you’re already using any of the interesting strategies we’ve suggested above, you’re ready to find a job you want to apply for. We at Remote Workmate can connect you with your next potential employer through our extensive network of global clients.