Buy him now! Graduate looks to eBay in job desperation

For many graduates, the search for a job can be a fruitless task.

That's why a former student from Haddington has chosen a novel way of showing his worth in the job market - by putting himself up for sale on eBay.

Ross Laing, 24, graduated last summer from Edinburgh's Napier University with a 2:1 honours degree in marketing management.

Since then he says he has applied for "hundreds" of jobs with little feedback and not one interview.

But he has now decided "enough is enough" and started to think outside the box, which has led him to placing himself for auction as a 'marketing management graduate' on eBay, with a starting price of just 1p.

He hopes the idea will spark interest from potential employers, allowing him to leave his part-time job at Laing the Jeweller in Edinburgh and take on a full-time marketing post.

Ross, previously a bar manager at the Maitlandfield House Hotel in Haddington, said: "I am not sure this will get me a job but I felt trying an out-the- box idea like this one may provide me with a job interview.

"What do I have to lose? I am only trying to stand out in the crowd. When I am applying for jobs in Scotland I feel a CV is a very boring document which may get lost in the piles of CVs the company receives.

"I was aware of an Olympic runner putting himself on eBay to try to raise cash for the Olympics. He required a new sponsorship deal and I require a job.

"The eureka moment came a few days ago. If I can't market myself, how am I able to market a product or service for a customer?"

In his eBay listing - which includes a copy of his CV - Ross describes himself as being in 'new' condition and says that returns are accepted. Postage involves the free collection of him in person - but he cannot be delivered!

The auction is set to end tomorrow (Saturday) at about 7.20pm. As of Tuesday, however, he had not received any bids.

Ross - who attended King's Meadow Primary School in Haddington and George Heriot's School in Edinburgh - added: "The idea of the auction is to put myself in the shop window through innovative means as all other avenues seem pointless to me now.

"Any money I make from the auction will go to a local charity of my new employer's choice.

"Without help the listing on eBay will likely go unnoticed and a local charity will be out of pocket!

"My dream is to be a marketing manager and in order to get ahead in that business unique ideas are essential."

Source: Bryan Copland, Eastlothiancourier.com, Thursday 9th February 2012