Today’s job market is brutal. As of 2013, there were three unemployed applicants vying for every job opening. Add in the applicants who are actually still employed and that number rises even more, making the hiring process extremely cutthroat.



Because of this wicked environment, job seekers are going to great lengths just to simply get noticed. But are these gimmicks worth the risk? Will they just come across as desperate to potential employers?



Let’s find out.





What is a Job Seeker Gimmick?



Job seeker gimmicks are somewhat limitless. They can be as extreme as printing your resume on a hand-delivered cake or creating a digital portfolio to showcase your work. Obviously the more outrageous the gimmick, the more likely it is to get noticed, but keep in mind that it isn’t always a good thing.



Gimmicks can not only seem desperate, but they can also make a hiring manager think that your qualifications aren’t enough to make you stand out. But does this make all gimmicks off-limits to job seekers?



Cover letters can actually be a great opportunity to incorporate a gimmick to get you noticed when done correctly. It will make you stand out from other applicants and could get your foot in the door for an interview. But mindfulness is key here since a bad cover letter gimmick will alienate you from the hiring manager, causing more harm than good.



So what works and what doesn’t?



The Good



A good gimmick on your cover letter can take it from average to top of the pile. It is an opportunity for you to not only showcase your strengths and qualifications, but you can also present a sense of creativity and prove that you are willing to put an effort into your career.



After a brief yet personalized introduction, adding a chart to your cover letter is a good gimmick that is subtle, yet effective. On one side of the chart you could list the qualifications in the job posting, and then on the other side match your qualifications. Not only does this showcase your skills in reference to the specific job, but it is also easy to scan which is important.



If you’re in a more graphic or visual industry, you could incorporate a brief infographic with your qualifications or even send your letter into the employer on custom letterpress stationary. These options are visually appealing and can get you noticed in a positive light.



The Bad



Do you remember writing poems where the letters of a word were written vertically to begin each line of the poem? They are called acrostic poems and they are a terrible gimmick to use in your cover letter. This particular gimmick (which has actually been used) comes across as juvenile and hiring managers will not take you seriously.



Other bad gimmicks include “cute” fonts, clip art and personal photographs. You may think that these items help you to stand out but they just look unprofessional, making you look bad to future employers. Additionally, adding your photo to a cover letter can put a hiring manager in a tough spot in terms of discriminating against potential candidates.



Is the Gimmick Worth It?



The saying that “all attention is good attention” does not apply to your cover letter as a job seeker. Sure, that rainbow colored letter will stand out to the employer but not for the reasons you want it to.



Gimmicks need to be subtle and well thought out. The company and industry will impact your choice of gimmicks to use, or not use, as some are not appropriate in certain areas. At the end of the day you should always ask yourself, “Does this actually make me look like a better candidate?” before adding something to your final draft.



A cover letter that is solidly written which showcases your abilities as they apply to the position will always be the most important aspect. Smart gimmicks are just icing on the cake that could help you stand out even more and should only be used if the benefit outweighs the risk.