It's bad enough to blast the same resume to a collection of potential employers, but buying a spam list to do it takes “bad idea” it to a whole new level. But one candidate recently tried it. More surprisingly, it apparently yielded some success, according to security researcher Sans Internet Storm Center. When ISC handler Adrien de Beaupre checked his email, he found a message from a prospective Business Analyst named Jeff, who included a link to his LinkedIn profile to tout his MBA. What surprised de Beaupre was that Jeff had gone so far as purchasing an email list, he noted on the ISC blog. In a reply, de Beaupre told Jeff his search technique was “inadvisable.” de Beaupre was floored by Jeff's response: He said he was “being creative.” But even more surprising is the fact that the technique apparently worked. Writes de Beaupre:

I find it depressing that the spammer appears to have in fact gotten a job roughly four weeks later. Well, according to his LinkedIn profile, so it must be true.

Of course, people have been known to stretch the truth, if not outright lie, in social media, but let’s assume that in this case Jeff’s telling the truth. Does that mean spamming a list of employers is a good idea? In a word, no. In job hunting, as in anything else, there’s always an exception to the rule. The reality is, managers who are already snowed under by email don’t look kindly on people who waste their time. Chances are, a blind email looking for a job that may not even be opened isn’t a way to make any friends. Whether you’re networking, writing a cover letter or preparing to send in your resume, tailoring your approach to the job is still the most effective tactic to break through the noise. Put yourself in the manager’s place: Would you hire a spammer?