Designer Creates Elaborate Physical Resumes to Combat Employer "Ghosting"

Fed up with employers "ghosting" job applicants and advertising non-existent positions, Melbourne designer Felix Toohey has adopted a highly creative strategy to secure employment. He constructs and personally delivers elaborate, physical resumes designed to capture attention.

Toohey's "Ghosting Busters" series includes ten distinct, sculptural resumes. One creation reimagined a coffee tray, with each cup labeled as a resume section like "education" or "experience," adorned with "latte art." Another was a lunchbox containing foam "sandwiches," with his resume printed to resemble lettuce and tomato.

Toohey began this project after graduating and struggling to find a stable role in the competitive creative industry. Experiencing significant silence from potential employers after numerous applications, he felt compelled to change his approach. "I wanted to be impossible to ignore," Toohey stated. He customizes each resume to the specific agency, using their specializations and names as inspiration for the physical format.

While these elaborate applications have not yet landed Toohey his dream job, they have garnered considerable attention on social media. His "sandwich box" video alone has amassed hundreds of thousands of views on Instagram. The project also highlights broader issues in the job market, such as the prevalence of "ghost jobs" and companies altering roles after hiring.

Toohey acknowledges that his methods may set a high bar for other applicants. However, he views it as his personal strategy to pursue highly desirable positions. He is committed to giving his best effort, despite the uncertainty of securing his ultimate career goal.