Joshua Persky gets hired: What's the craziest thing you've done to get a job?

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Joshua Persky gets hired: What's the craziest thing you've done to get a job?

by Angie Posted December 12, 2008 01:09:37

49 answers
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+7 raves

Joshua Persky's sandwich board became a symbol of the financial crisis. Laid off as a financial engineer, Persky could not find a job as month after month passed. Finally, Joshua Persky grabbed a stack of resumes and walked around Manhattan with a sandwich board that said "MIT Graduate for Hire". Persky landed a job with the accounting firm Weiser LLP thanks to press attention from the sandwich board and his blog on business valuations.

In a tough job market, you need to make yourself stand out from a pack of similarly qualified applicants. Sometimes, attention-grabbing ploys like humor can be interpreted as a lack of professionalism and backfire. But in the case of Joshua Persky, it paid off nicely.

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+3 looneysinger December 12, 2008 01:20:00

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
did what he had to do so he could find a job! and by gosh he did it!
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+1
DemonKiTTiE ♥ In MUSE I Tru... December 27, 2008 03:43:01

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
And that is my I have no job...
+1
amashmallow888 December 18, 2008 21:06:22

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
is pretty courageous, he has a family (with a baby) to feed if I remember right, he has no other option. Good job!
+1
mbw December 16, 2008 14:05:35

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
moderated...
+1
tripp'68 December 16, 2008 04:42:33

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
I'm a carpenter so the classifieds don't usually work for me but I find it funny that I have to pee in a cup to make money and they give it to welfare recipients
If you want a job, perform if you want free money then sit in line and dope up
+1
scotty December 16, 2008 02:39:37

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
who? eh? i'm really drawing a blank here...

i got my current job by accidentally posting my resume to an online board to be used for posting jobs available. i got back a bunch of "you idiot, you're not supposed to post your resume here!!!" messages and a job offer.
+1
Peggy December 15, 2008 05:55:04

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
Did what he had to do. It was different and got attention. Mostly it worked
+1
Joker2874 December 14, 2008 20:52:26

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
I just did the 'norm' as for finding a job..Want ads..Job fairs..drop off & Email resumes to employers...etc.
+1
P-Funk December 13, 2008 20:47:45

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
If you have real skills, you don't need gimmicks. Let's think about this: MIT grad, blog on business valuation, ... he'll soon be engineering another Wall Street disaster! Just what we need.
+1
Piwan December 13, 2008 20:43:01

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
I didn't have to do much of anything to get the job I have now. My boss knows me from my old job, and offered me the job directly!
+1
Cinnuint™ December 13, 2008 17:05:37

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
...although, his was a bit more honorable than mine...I lied to a company contracted by HBO that I could drive a stick shift, when all the while I never learned (still can't drive one!!) I got the job, but fessed up about not being able to drive one of their trucks...so they proceeded to 'teach' me, and I ended up tearing the clutch out, lol...they figured a way out around my 'stupidness' and kept me on...we put cable in this whole area when cable tv was the new thing...I assembled the transitors and flagged traffic for them...great bunch of guys to work for. And I did such a good job, they asked me to go back to Ohio with them to work there, but I was only 17 and my daddy wouldn't allow it =D I feel bd that I lied, but better once I fessed up.
+1
xanthus4966 December 13, 2008 02:29:45

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
I went to a prospective employers' and made the HR secretary go to lunch with me. It included ice cream and chocolate.....
+1
Petpeve December 13, 2008 02:08:37 (edited)

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
I think this guy is great. Humbled, yet a professional. More power to you Joshua. I've never done anything this unique, but I'll keep this in mind if my mother-in-law ever fires me (lol).
+2
Karadoll December 12, 2008 23:51:49

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
but it wasn't for a job. It was to get more people to come to my class's booth, while we were raising awareness on Darfur a couple of years ago.

I even wore the sandwich board, lol.

But you do what you have to do to get noticed. Would you rather him have slept around?
+1
Zah December 12, 2008 22:51:25

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
Is smart. cuz, i mean, who else would think of that???? smart man.
+1
Dickey December 12, 2008 22:38:43

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
I once put my tongue to work on the human resources lady to get the job, it worked!
+1
aherbert December 12, 2008 17:17:17

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
Made the right decision and landed a job. Good for Persky....
+1
DrDave December 12, 2008 16:45:47

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
For my first job at Mellon Bank I walked 2 miles in the snow to my interview. Frozen and dripping from the melting snow the interviewer asked me how I got that way. After I told the truth that I didn't have enough for the bus and to get something to eat after my interview; she was impressed and I got the call I was hired the next week.
+2
big di December 12, 2008 15:31:51

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
I think this guy ROCKS! So many people blame the economy for their lousy jobs, or their lack of jobs - Joshua Persky didn't waste his time & energy bitching and complaining, he DID something about it, and it paid off for him!

Now, instead of waiting in line for free food and free money and free medical care, he's out working, paying taxes to support everyone out there who is pissing and moaning and collecting the freebies and ISN'T out looking for work!

Flipping burgers (or sorting strawberry plants in unheated, open sheds in the middle of winter) is preferable to not doing anything at all!
+1
jacktown kid December 12, 2008 15:13:29

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
Should grow up
+1
Ed December 12, 2008 13:45:43

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
Way to go man. He wasnt going to get that job siten on his ass bit---n about not working. Get out there and do something about it !
+1
sjhorner December 12, 2008 13:43:44

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
my job hunts have always been boring... go to school, graduate, interview, work
+1
rushforpres December 12, 2008 13:42:36

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
...good for him. And there are people who claim they can't get a job...
+1
Hammer December 12, 2008 12:26:30 (edited)

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
Bet he got hired because he defied conventional reasoning. Hmmmmmm kinda like my personal favorites 'Jesus Christ, Christopher Columbus, and Ronald Reagan. You probabaly wont find his name on the welfare rolls either.
+1
Just another nobody. December 12, 2008 07:35:43

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
I have never tried anything like that.
+1
CMK December 12, 2008 07:06:31

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
I'm not as bold as Joshua but kudos to him! I think that's awesome. I've always just been myself and pushed forward.
jackolantyrn356 December 12, 2008 06:04:24

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
I dated the boss' daughter...// It was not what you think. But you gotta remember that for a fat girl she didn't sweat much.
+1
perfect punk December 12, 2008 05:13:13

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
well, i met a girlfriend who i dated for 2 years by drawing, she was drawing caricatures at a nightclub, and after flirting with her, i asked her if i could draw her.... *she didn't know i could draw*, needless to say, i landed the job, lol.... but i did end up working as a caricature artist with her for sometime after that.
+1
kitkat42 December 12, 2008 03:47:14

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
Well, I did when I worked. Not fired or laid off, just your run of the mill retired person I am so thankful I do not have to look for work in today's world. My heart goes out to all that have lost, or will lose, their livelihood this year. I applaud Mr Persky, he got the job done, whatever it takes!
+1
sal December 12, 2008 03:39:17

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
desperate measure, for desperate times.
+1
moomoof "Jin Kazama!" December 12, 2008 02:49:43

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
ha lucky him for now
+1
tallChristian December 12, 2008 02:31:51

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
but I wouldn't be opposed to taking pieces of his idea and adapting it for myself.
+1
Ms Missy December 12, 2008 02:31:00

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
but ive thought about pulling something to get a better job. (currently I freelance, so i only have a job when there is a project in my inbox...its too hit or miss.)
+2
Koda ~ 2009 SH King~ Hot 50... December 12, 2008 02:30:26 (edited)

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
I just bugged em til they hired me ;)
Been here 25 years ;)
+1
MJ December 12, 2008 02:01:45

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
The first year and a half that I was in federal law enforcement, I was in a small border town with no future. I applied for jobs around the country during that time always getting the same answer: "You were among the most highly qualified, but...” Being young, daring and ambitious, I mapped out a 2,600 mile week-long trip covering New England, the eastern seaboard as far as Washington D.C., then west into Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago and Buffalo. I was well-armed with federal employment application forms already completed and began my drive knowing each agency I was going to and was going to see the director at least long enough to give him my application. I pulled out all the stops and saw every person I targeted that week. On arriving home, 6 pieces of mail awaited me telling me that I had a firm offer of a position somewhere and I got 23 more in the following week alone! I got to pick and choose, because I had the audacity to get politely but assertively into people's faces and became a name and a face and not just a name and number on a paper job application!
+1
feretta December 12, 2008 01:59:34

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
I am boring, I just go to temp agencies when out of work
+2
Twizzer December 12, 2008 01:30:32

Answered: I've pulled a stunt like Joshua Persky before...
I applied for a job at a small department store when I was 17. Nobody had called me but about a week later I walked by the store and noticed that the help wanted sign was still in the window. I grabbed the sign out of the window and went in and asked for the manager. I asked him why the sign was still in the window when they had in their possession an application from a perfectly qualified person...I was hired on the spot.
+1
Kat December 12, 2008 01:23:46

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
The craziest thing maybe was when I returned to a placed I had worked as a Nursing Assistant and was now an LPN (over 30 years ago) my luggage had been lost and I could not afford to buy new clothes. So I interviewed in jeans! I did manage a new shirt!!
Oh, I did get the job!
+3
looneysinger December 12, 2008 01:20:00

Answered: I think that Joshua Persky...
did what he had to do so he could find a job! and by gosh he did it!
+1
Shane - oldschoolelf December 12, 2008 01:19:50

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
Considering that I do alot of babysitting, it's hard for me to get my jobless ass out there and make it known that I am available for work. I try newspaper and job sites on the net but everyones looking for someone who has 1-3 yrs experience and fast paced. Sorry, but that's not me.
+3
USAmom December 12, 2008 01:19:02

Answered: I take a traditional approach to my job hunt.
I admire Joshua's determination in finding a job.