But more than that, he took the trouble to find out the name of the hiring manager and sent him the same excellent resume, portfolio and follow-up rock," says Laukka.

So, not only did this candidate show creativity by sending stones in the mail, he started a conversation at

It's a fact: the best jobs attract loads of competition. So it pays to do whatever you can to stand out as a persistent, creative candidate, one that any sane employer would love to hire.

But how can you do that, in this impersonal age of email, chat rooms and mega job sites?

Easy. Just do what has worked for others.

Here are 3 mini case studies from job hunters who got hired by creatively persisting and going after the positions they really wanted.

How can you emulate them?

1) Follow up creatively and get them talking

"I remember one job seeker trying to transition from geologist into a position as a copywriter in an advertising agency," recalls Elizabeth Laukka, National Recruiter for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Minneapolis.

"He sent me a resume and work portfolio, then a few days later sent a follow-up note with a stone attached, that read: 'I am tired of being taken for granite in my current industry,'" says Laukka.

Now, you may or may not love puns, but you have to love what happened next ...

"His persistence stood out from a creativity standpoint. But more than that, he took the trouble to find out the name of the hiring manager and sent him the same excellent resume, portfolio and follow-up rock," says Laukka.

So, not only did this candidate show creativity by sending stones in the mail, he started a conversation at t

?

Easy. Just do what has worked for others.

Here are 3 mini case studies from job hunters who got hired by creatively persisting and going after the positions they really wanted.

How can you emulate them?

1) Follow up creatively and get them talking

"I remember one job seeker trying to transition from geologist into a position as a copywriter in an advertising agency," recalls Elizabeth Laukka, National Recruiter for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Minneapolis.

"He sent me a resume and work portfolio, then a few days later sent a follow-up note with a stone attached, that read: 'I am tired of being taken for granite in my current industry,'" says Laukka.

Now, you may or may not love puns, but you have to love what happened next ...

"His persistence stood out from a creativity standpoint. But more than that, he took the trouble to find out the name of the hiring manager and sent him the same excellent resume, portfolio and follow-up rock," says Laukka.

So, not only did this candidate show creativity by sending stones in the mail, he started a conversation at

I remember one job seeker trying to transition from geologist into a position as a copywriter in an advertising agency," recalls Elizabeth Laukka, National Recruiter for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Minneapolis.

"He sent me a resume and work portfolio, then a few days later sent a follow-up note with a stone attached, that read: 'I am tired of being taken for granite in my current industry,'" says Laukka.

Now, you may or may not love puns, but you have to love what happened next ...

"His persistence stood out from a creativity standpoint. But more than that, he took the trouble to find out the name of the hiring manager and sent him the same excellent resume, portfolio and follow-up rock," says Laukka.

So, not only did this candidate show creativity by sending stones in the mail, he started a conversation at

ent a follow-up note with a stone attached, that read: 'I am tired of being taken for granite in my current industry,'" says Laukka.

Now, you may or may not love puns, but you have to love what happened next ...

"His persistence stood out from a creativity standpoint. But more than that, he took the trouble to find out the name of the hiring manager and sent him the same excellent resume, portfolio and follow-up rock," says Laukka.

So, not only did this candidate show creativity by sending stones in the mail, he started a conversation at

But more than that, he took the trouble to find out the name of the hiring manager and sent him the same excellent resume, portfolio and follow-up rock," says Laukka.

So, not only did this candidate show creativity by sending stones in the mail, he started a conversation at the agency by mailing his materials to two people: the HR person and the hiring manager. This got them both talking to each other.

Did it work?

"We offered him the job," says Laukka.

2) Prove your enthusiasm by showing up, and showing up, and ...

Enthusiasm is a wonderful kind of wild card that can trump potential negatives in the minds of employers. And it can get you hired.

Here's proof ...

"I was hiring manager at a retail business, looking for a 'mature' individual for a customer service position," says Los Angeles-based job search expert David Portney (http://www.confidencenow.com/secret.htm).

"A lot of applicants came in, but none really fit. Among them was a young man named Michael. He was dressed to impress, had a charming and polite demeanor, but he didn't match my 'mature' requirement, so I turned him away," says Portney.

But Michael didn't take "No" for an answer.

"A couple of days later, Michael came back, and politely asked: 'Have you filled the position yet?' I told him that I appreciated his follow-up, but that he did not fit the position. H