Lumon is hiring, are you ready?
A fun one for today. Happy Monday!
Applying to jobs through traditional channels often feels like throwing your résumé into the void. You craft the perfect cover letter, optimize your LinkedIn profile, and hit “submit,” only to be met with... silence.
But what if we took a more severed approach?
Apple TV+’s Severance introduced us to Lumon Industries, a company where employees literally separate their work and personal identities. While we wouldn’t recommend surgically splitting your consciousness to optimize productivity (yet), there’s something to be said for rethinking how you present yourself to potential employers.
Instead of getting lost in the black hole of applications, here are a few unconventional ways to stand out—without needing a "severed" self.
The Power of the Unexpected Personal Brand
Think of your job search like a marketing campaign. Would Lumon hire you based on a dull, text-heavy résumé? Unlikely. They’d be looking for someone who feels like they already belong in the company’s eerie, cult-like ecosystem.
Take inspiration from their unnervingly vague LinkedIn page, which presents cryptic, loyalty-driven messaging rather than traditional corporate jargon. Can you mirror this approach by crafting a unique personal brand that intrigues rather than informs? Maybe a creative portfolio disguised as an employee handbook. A résumé formatted like a press release. A website that looks like an old corporate intranet. The goal? Be memorable.
Make Your Own Elevator (or Break Room) Moments
In Severance, workers are confined to endless hallways, never quite sure where they’re headed. Sound familiar? The job hunt often feels just as disorienting. But instead of wandering aimlessly, what if you strategically placed yourself in the “right hallway”?
Rather than waiting for a recruiter to reach out, consider unconventional networking tactics:
Create engaging LinkedIn content that sparks discussion in your industry (like this 😳).
Send personalized video messages to hiring managers instead of cover letters.
Show up at industry events in unexpected ways—perhaps even creating your own micro-event or digital roundtable to discuss trends.
Think of it as crafting your own moment; space where the right conversation could lead to unexpected opportunities.
Build a Work Sample That Can’t Be Ignored
Imagine submitting an application to Lumon. Would “The Board” be impressed?
Your future employer should not require quite the same level of... compliance, but they do want proof that you can do the job. Instead of listing qualifications, demonstrate them:
If you’re a marketer, launch a creative campaign showcasing your skills.
If you’re a writer, create an “internal memo” from your future self at the company.
If you’re in product design, prototype an idea that improves their offering.
Give them something they can’t ignore—something so compelling that they must bring you in.
Engage Directly with the Company’s Digital Presence
One of the most fascinating things about Lumon’s real-world LinkedIn presence is how it acts like a real company, despite being fictional. This demonstrates a brilliant use of digital storytelling—something job seekers can replicate.
Commenting thoughtfully on a company's posts, engaging with employees, and even crafting speculative work tied to their brand can set you apart. Want to work at a cutting-edge agency? Reimagine one of their past campaigns and post it on LinkedIn. Targeting a media company? Write an article about how they could expand their audience. The goal is to show up in their orbit as a problem-solver, not just another applicant.
Be unforgettable
Your job search shouldn't feel that way. You don’t have to rely on the same repetitive process everyone else follows. Break free from the expected, leverage creativity, and take risks.
After all, the best way to get hired isn’t just to apply—it’s to make them wonder how they ever operated without you.
