Amazon job hunt: Frenchman’s creative CV goes viral

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Published time: January 27, 2013 11:36
Edited time: January 27, 2013 21:48

Creativity trumps unemployment and a bad economy – at least for one jobless Frenchman, whose online CV went viral after he created a mock Amazon.com webpage and offered himself for sale based on his skills as a web product manager.

Parisian Philippe Dubost caused an internet sensation by creating an Amazon-like webpage that invited prospective employers to bid for him.

The price has been scratched out from $999,999, encouraging employers to offer their own salary options. The fake page urges buyers to "order soon", as there is "only one left in stock".

The page includes a profile picture, skills and experience. It also has personal information like his height, languages spoken, and his best marathon time.

By clicking to add Dubost to your ‘cart’, his contact information pops up. He also links his resume to his blog.

Under ‘shipping’ he indicated, “This item is available for shipping anywhere in the world!” demonstrating his willingness to travel.

Dubost even developed a “frequently bought together” section and included running shoes (sold on Amazon) and airline tickets.

"I wanted to do something fun. Résumés are not fun. They're not fun to write, not fun to read", Dubost told The Independent. "I thought it would be fun to build a small web product that would feel a little bit like a game you could interact with, like those baby toys where every button you push makes a different noise."

After the online CV went viral, around 100 employers had offered various job opportunities, Dubost says.

"So many awesome companies, projects, entrepreneurs, I'm starting to feel like a spoilt kid with too many toys," Dubost added. "And yes, among those there are indeed a few opportunities that match what I'm looking for and that I'm going to pursue."

Unprecedented unemployment levels are putting a big strain on the young professionals to innovate traditional methods of job search. Earlier in January, the UK’s Adam Pacitti, 24, spent his last $800 on a billboard featuring his picture and a message “please give me a job”.

In France, the number of jobless has continued to increase in December for the 19th consecutive month, affecting at least 3 million people, which is a near-15-year high.

Screenshot from phildub.com