All the trolling aside, if you are sending it to a fortune 500 exec, odds are they have an iPad 2 already. Do yourself a favor and create an Apple developer account (you may already have done if your using the device to show off an resume.) Simply send the .IPA to an thumb drive, leave a not telling them that if they are interested to email you their ecid. Or just publish a quirky app, and have a hidden password slot with your information. No need to send a expensive device around in the mail.
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Best way to ship an iPad to a potential employer
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You're going to make them go through the trouble of worrying about sending it back to you?
Yeah, this is a bad plan.
Here is an idea: You send them a portfolio they can view on their own iPad.
What makes you think it's still going to even have charge when it reaches them? If it doesn't, they're not going to bother plugging it in to recharge it.
Way too many variables for failure and embarrassment.
Besides, shouldn't you be impressive enough you don't need an iPad gimmick to prop you up?
Yeah, this is a bad plan.
Here is an idea: You send them a portfolio they can view on their own iPad.
What makes you think it's still going to even have charge when it reaches them? If it doesn't, they're not going to bother plugging it in to recharge it.
Way too many variables for failure and embarrassment.
Besides, shouldn't you be impressive enough you don't need an iPad gimmick to prop you up?
Why?
I ran across this thread and my only question is "Why?" What is the advantage to the employer to receive an iPad, have to turn it on, read instructions on how to get to the presentation, load that up and after sitting through that, have to pass it off to someone with instructions on shipping it back? I don't see any reason anybody would prefer that over a professionally designed portfolio or a personal meeting.
It just doesn't make any sense to me.
But I do like the Bentley idea.
I ran across this thread and my only question is "Why?" What is the advantage to the employer to receive an iPad, have to turn it on, read instructions on how to get to the presentation, load that up and after sitting through that, have to pass it off to someone with instructions on shipping it back? I don't see any reason anybody would prefer that over a professionally designed portfolio or a personal meeting.
It just doesn't make any sense to me.
But I do like the Bentley idea.
I think it's a clever idea. You need to do something to get noticed, and it sounds like even more so in the industry he's in. Sending in your resume on "nicer" paper isn't going to do what sending an iPad with a resume on it would do.
Also, I think it's pretty unlikely that someone is just going to steal or keep the iPad. Obviously you know who you sent it to and I don't think CEO's or the high level people he's intending this to get to are really in the business of stealing iPads. I doubt even anyone in the mail room would just keep the ipad. You all have such little faith in society.
Also, I think it's pretty unlikely that someone is just going to steal or keep the iPad. Obviously you know who you sent it to and I don't think CEO's or the high level people he's intending this to get to are really in the business of stealing iPads. I doubt even anyone in the mail room would just keep the ipad. You all have such little faith in society.
Sounds sort of gimmicky, but you know the potential employer better then we do, so if you think it'll help, go for it!.
Personally, I'd be worried about making the potential employer both with packing it it and shipping it to you. Perhaps you could work out something to have a currier to recover it.
I'd love to hear what exactly you plan on having on the iPad.
Personally, I'd be worried about making the potential employer both with packing it it and shipping it to you. Perhaps you could work out something to have a currier to recover it.
I'd love to hear what exactly you plan on having on the iPad.
This person distinguished herself by demonstrating her skillset and communicating it in a relevant manner. Had she put all her ideas on an iPad it would have weakened her presentation because she stimulated your imagination with the tools you would use in day-to-day business.
The iPad-as-resume, on the other hand, smells like a stunt from the get-go and demonstrates nothing about you (other than questionable judgment). There's a world of difference between the example of what impressed you and what you believe will impress others.
Nice gesture. I applaud your thinking outside the box.
2. FYI everyone else, OP never said he expected the iPad back. (He just want's to know how much padding to put in the box.
)
1. Have you considered that the CEO or Chairman likely already has an iPad ... for every member of his family?
If I have an iPad and someone hands me a document on another iPad, my first inclination is to ask, "Can you send it to me (so I can view it on my own)?"
2. FYI everyone else, OP never said he expected the iPad back. (He just want's to know how much padding to put in the box.
)
from somone who makes 100k a year, 100k is not that much. That does not make it affordable to send out resumes as ipad. If your making that much money then you should be the BOSS and people should be send you resumes.
So much negativity in here. This probably isn't the right place for a question like this as has been demonstrated by most of the obnoxious and oblivious responses.
I think this would be a good idea for a smaller company, but for a huge corporation, I don't think it would have the same impact. Both because they get a lot more resume's than smaller companies and the fact that the CEO himself won't be opening his own mail. That said, let us know if you go through with it, and if it works!
I think this would be a good idea for a smaller company, but for a huge corporation, I don't think it would have the same impact. Both because they get a lot more resume's than smaller companies and the fact that the CEO himself won't be opening his own mail. That said, let us know if you go through with it, and if it works!
To the OP,
I think its a very creative idea as long as the worth of an iPad is chump change to you. Pay no attention to the dumbass*s in this thread. Sometimes we have to do things that seem crazy to others to get what we want. With the job market the way it is now, showing up to a job interview buck naked to make sure you are remembered isnt crazy anymore.
If this was a job as a legal assistant at some law firm or a position with the state, what you are doing would be borderline rediculous. But this a top notch job that deserves top notch strategy in order to be considered for the position. Just because the value of my iPad is very important to me doesnt mean yours is the same for you and I can understand that. Some people dog there brand new cars because they know they are going to get another next year and some people baby there brand new car because they know they wont be able to afford another for another 10 to 12 years.
As far as making them send it back, I think its Ok that you request that, but you cant be upset if they choose not to go through the hassle.
I think its a very creative idea as long as the worth of an iPad is chump change to you. Pay no attention to the dumbass*s in this thread. Sometimes we have to do things that seem crazy to others to get what we want. With the job market the way it is now, showing up to a job interview buck naked to make sure you are remembered isnt crazy anymore.
If this was a job as a legal assistant at some law firm or a position with the state, what you are doing would be borderline rediculous. But this a top notch job that deserves top notch strategy in order to be considered for the position. Just because the value of my iPad is very important to me doesnt mean yours is the same for you and I can understand that. Some people dog there brand new cars because they know they are going to get another next year and some people baby there brand new car because they know they wont be able to afford another for another 10 to 12 years.
As far as making them send it back, I think its Ok that you request that, but you cant be upset if they choose not to go through the hassle.
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I think it's gimmicky. Ultimately, you'll catch the attention of the CEO but then after that, what? How are you going to hold the attention of that CEO and make the point that you are the person to be hired rather than be the guy who people point to and say he's a "one-trick pony" with one gimmick on the surface and then after that nothing.
It's too gimmicky. You can always do digital presentations and digital résumés online.
Perhaps there are other jobs where this would work but for now I don't see how a CEO job needs this kind of delivery.
Now, this kind of approach that your current marketing VP did makes total sense. She actually produced a product that is relevant to her potential (now current) job.
Now, if the job the OP is applying for is something about making use of iPads in certain realms realm (e.g., education, social research, marketing) then sure, including an iPad as part of the package to DEMONSTRATE the main point makes total sense.
But after they are done, you are requing a potential (and busy) employer to have to go through the bother of sending it back. I'd be more annoyed than impressed.
And by the way, I make close to that too, and even the "cheap" $500 iPad is not "irrelevant" to me
It's just a bad idea, period. Let me illustrate:
Years ago I worked for a very large corporation and we had a steady rotation of divisional vice presidents. We would prepare periodic presentations to the CEO (who had a stake in the company and was by then a billionaire). Those of us who were longer-tenured knew that the CEO was pretty frugal and frequently re-used binders. Most of the VP's disregarded this practice and used brand new $5 binders for presentation copies. One VP came into the firm and he sent out for $50 leather portfolio covers for the presentation, despite everyone's assurances that frugality was the norm. He didn't last long after that (not saying it was the leather binders, just that his mindset didn't conform to the CEO's ideal).
I think the iPad conveys the wrong thinking. You impress people with the message; if you need to impress them with the wrapper, then you're starting out with a deficit.
Years ago I worked for a very large corporation and we had a steady rotation of divisional vice presidents. We would prepare periodic presentations to the CEO (who had a stake in the company and was by then a billionaire). Those of us who were longer-tenured knew that the CEO was pretty frugal and frequently re-used binders. Most of the VP's disregarded this practice and used brand new $5 binders for presentation copies. One VP came into the firm and he sent out for $50 leather portfolio covers for the presentation, despite everyone's assurances that frugality was the norm. He didn't last long after that (not saying it was the leather binders, just that his mindset didn't conform to the CEO's ideal).
I think the iPad conveys the wrong thinking. You impress people with the message; if you need to impress them with the wrapper, then you're starting out with a deficit.
Hello all,
I bought the iPad 2 for one purpose so I could create a digital resume and portfolio of my professional work experience and send it to potential employers. Im fortunate to be employed right now, but am looking to relocate for family reasons. Id like to FedEx my iPad 2 to a potential employer in order to entice them to interview me, but wanted to create this post to see if anyone had any good ideas or solutions for how to send it?
Basically, I figured Id simply send it as a box in a box
The outside box would have the potential employers address, and the inside box would be pre-labeled with paid postage and my address as the ship-to address. So basically, when they open the package, theyll see an iPad in an opened box.
That way, they can ship the iPad back to me when done. (Hopefully they wont need to ship it back to me because Ill be interviewing with them
Thoughts? Recommendations?
Im O.K. with buying a nicer solution if anyone has any ideas?
Thanks.
I ran through this thread quickly. Seems like no one directly answered the question. I've received packages in the mail that come in a reusable box. Basically, I open the first seal, take out what I need (usually papers for signing), put back into the original box what I am returning. The box has my address written on it but the sender has enclosed a label that I stick over my address. Simply go down to your local UPS store. They will help you out.
OP, just my 2cents but i'm assuming your position entails some management and supervisory role as well in addition to your design work? what would the CEO be thinking about your cost management skills when he opens up a posh resume?
creativity isnt about spending money. its about what you do with little resources compared to others with the same resources. like someone mentioned, would hiring a bentley be deemed more "creative" than sending in the iPad resume?
$500 as your budget to knock the CEO's socks off. i'm sure being in the creative field and having come up with lots of creative ideas, you can do something amazing!
ps: no hate intended. just sharing my 2cents like other. i'm no high roller in the creative industry that's for sure
creativity isnt about spending money. its about what you do with little resources compared to others with the same resources. like someone mentioned, would hiring a bentley be deemed more "creative" than sending in the iPad resume?
$500 as your budget to knock the CEO's socks off. i'm sure being in the creative field and having come up with lots of creative ideas, you can do something amazing!
ps: no hate intended. just sharing my 2cents like other. i'm no high roller in the creative industry that's for sure
Just a thought... It is possible to track an iPad through various methods. If the recipient know this, or is informed by his staff, he might have reservations about using it. Even if it's not possible (disable wifi, non-3g model), the recipient might not care and see it as an actual trojan horse to track his location!
How big of a hassle is it really for an employee at a corporation to put an iPad back into a box the sender provided, slap the label on that the sender included in the box and put it in the bin near their workplace so the mail room attendant can come pick it up and mail it out. I'm assuming the companies he's planning on sending this to have pick ups each day by shipping companies, usps, fedex, ups, etc. It's really not that hard to mail it back if he provides the box and label for them. And that's only if they don't invite him in for the interview.
He's already made it clear that he isn't sending the iPad for the recipient to keep, so I'm not sure why people keep posting nonsense contrary to that. Also keep in mind that this is just a resume. All the people that say it's a gimmick or then what are you going to do don't understand what you're trying to accomplish. He's trying to get in for an interview where he can then display his skills and further distinguish himself as a candidate.
So I'd say do it, just make sure that you make it as easy to use as possible and include a box and prepaid return shipping label in case they do just want to send it back.
He's already made it clear that he isn't sending the iPad for the recipient to keep, so I'm not sure why people keep posting nonsense contrary to that. Also keep in mind that this is just a resume. All the people that say it's a gimmick or then what are you going to do don't understand what you're trying to accomplish. He's trying to get in for an interview where he can then display his skills and further distinguish himself as a candidate.
So I'd say do it, just make sure that you make it as easy to use as possible and include a box and prepaid return shipping label in case they do just want to send it back.
People aren't implying that the CEO will keep it, they say it's a gimmick because it doesn't look good (in my opinion.) He's trying to stand out, but is it really a benefit when you just threw some money down? I mean, if he writes and develops an app for his resume, showcasing some of his skills relevant to the position, sure that's fine, but just sending an iPad with a resume on it isn't impressive. It can be viewed as if the applicant is trying to "buy" the position (even though the iPad isn't a gift). If you really think you MUST send the iPad to get the job, you probably won't get the job.
As has been said before, is he trying to cover something up by providing such an extravagant display of his resume? Perhaps his resume isn't that impressive, so he's trying to make it look cooler/better by displaying it on an iPad (not saying this is the case, but it could be viewed as such.)
OP, you said that people would appreciate it, so go ahead with it. I'd just be sure that sending the iPad will showcase some of your potential, not just the size of your wallet (and your e-peen). Good luck.
Obviously you've never used an iPad before.
In the old days, some photographers send around copies of hundred to thousand dollar photography portfolios to get high end jobs.
And the portfolios were immediately relevant to the position being sought. They didn't buy expensive gilded frames in handsome hand-carved presentation boxes to display the photos. The medium was very literally the message. Just like the OP's example of his applicant sending out fully-realized letterhead/business cards.
Unless he's applying for an iPad developer position (in which case, the company would have iPads at the ready) then he's confusing sizzle for steak.
And unless he can single himself out in a way that's relevant to the position being sought I think it's a huge mistake. He's just going to be referred to as "that iPad guy" and not in any endearing way.