I’ve seen every shape, color and creative package of resumes and job applications possible – but never one that actually scared me.
But recently, emergency crews at Eastern Illinois University evacuated a building after a campus postal carrier discovered a suspicious looking package addressed to the college admissions office. 
“There was no return address, it was poorly written, poorly addressed to the university, there were misspellings,” school spokeswoman Vicki Woodard said Saturday. “There was some tape over it. Just the overall appearance was rather strange.”
The unusual size, no return address, misspellings in the address and the tape holding torn sections together were enough to bring in the local bomb squad. Explosives investigators X-rayed the package and blocked off nearby streets – only to discover the envelope contained only an application for admission to the school.
How would you evaluate that application? Would you think that young student would be a great addition to your university? Would you want that person working for you – representing your company?
I am constantly amazed when I see people walking into business establishments in torn cutoffs, with a baseball cap on, and then asking, “You don’t have any jobs, do you?” Or college graduates roaming the aisles at career fairs in flip flops and coffee-stained t-shirts, handing out resumes in anticipation of that first $80,000 a year job. These are the same people you’ll hear complaining about the bad economy and the fact that no one is hiring.
Funny how a clean shirt and pair of slacks, an enthusiastic smile and direct eye contact can change the economy instantly.
More tips provided in the clear plan laid out in Chapter 7 of 48 Days to the Work You Love.
Dan, I am equally amazed by how people present themselves so poorly in so many situations. My mom used to say “put a $5 gift in a $10 package and the recipient will be thrilled”. I think that applies to us, as well. When we present ourselves well on the outside, we often get closer to the opportunity to present what we have all wrapped up on the inside.
Erin – ha, I love that analogy!
Dan, when I used to hire people for my bread business I had one applicant say they would be a good fit because they were a big vodka drinker. I just started laughing!
Kimanzi – hard to imagine how someone would see that as an appealing quality.
Now this is too funny. Yes, it’s amazing what results a person can get when they actually decide to “care” about the outcome they are after. Thanks for sharing.
“I am constantly amazed when I see people walking into business establishments in torn cutoffs, with a baseball cap on, and then asking, “You don’t have any jobs, do you?”” I’m no longer “amazed” by this, because I’ve learned that it’s a way to scam the government into giving the person unemployment or other benefits for a longer duration. In my state, in order to receive unemployment the person has to be “actively seeking employment” and provide a list of places he / she looked. What better way to be turned down than to show up somewhere looking like you crawled out of the gutter? The person is also memorable enough that if the state took any time to audit claims (unlikely), they would get an affirmative if asked “Did Joe Doakes apply for work with your company?” Sad to say, “free” money can make people stupid as well as keep them broke.