THE WORKPLACE

People will do “crazy things to get a face-to-face interview,” says Mark McNulty, president of HR Dimensions in Indianapolis.

Case in point: One guy sent McNulty an old shoe filled with dirt and a live plant. Stuck in the shoelaces was a resume with a note: “Now that I have my foot in the door … can we meet?”

“I’m not making this up,” McNulty says.

Everyone knows how not to get a job, right? Spell the company name wrong on the resume. Use an unprofessional e-mail address like juicybabe007@ whatever.com. Wear ripped jeans to the interview.

But these days, even taking the appropriate, traditional measures isn’t enough.

Since the traditional isn’t working for most, why not try the untraditional?

Ditch the resume. Instead, write an impact letter. This newfangled, one-page report highlights what you can do for a company, rather than who you are and what you’ve done elsewhere. It will take some research about the company you are applying to, but it can make you stand out.

Ask for an informational interview rather than a job interview. Show the employer you are interested in learning more about the company for the future, not because you are trying to get a job now (even though you are). This sideways method to getting your foot in the door may land you an unexpected job.

Find the phone number for the manager of the department you are applying for and call him or her. Sound too bold? Too desperate? It’s not. That person may just remember you.

Get a few good people on your side. The more people you know who know the important people at the company, the better. Don’t be shy. Call on them to put in a good word for you.

PASSED OVER? Feeling passed over for a promotion you thought you deserved?

To move forward in your career, know what you want and learn how to ask for it. Here are some online resources for professional advancement:

•money.cnn.com/ 2000/02/15/career/ q_promotion

•www.womens media.com/new/ business-Women- Dont-Ask.shtml

•www.work 911.com/articles/ negotiate.htm

•deliver

change.com/ coachscorner

From wire reports