Job Applicant Dresses as Delivery Driver, Hides CV Inside Doughnut Box : The Hearty Soul

An inventive 25-year-old job seeker performed a delicious and daring stunt to land interviews with top tech companies. Lukas Yla, originally from Lithuania, disguised himself as a Postmates delivery man and hand-delivered his resume tucked inside boxes of doughnuts to his dream employers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The note hidden under the doughnuts read, “Most resumes end up in trash, Mine, in your belly.”

A Bold Leap from Vilnius to Silicon Valley

He hand-delivered his resume tucked inside boxes of doughnuts — Image Credit: Lukas Yla

Yla, who moved from Vilnius to California in 2016, recognized that he lacked US work experience and had zero local connections. He believed he needed a bold, out-of-the-box approach to grab attention in the fiercely competitive market. “I felt stuck in my comfort zone in Vilnius… How far can I go in a city where competition is much tougher, where I know no one? I don’t have work experience in USA,” he told reporters.

Over the course of a week, Yla visited around 40 companies, wearing a homemade Postmates-style shirt and carrying doughnut boxes from a well-known local bakery, such as Mr. Holmes Bakehouse. He either handed the boxes directly to executives or left them with reception staff with the hope they’d make it onto the right desk.

Spectacular Results: Ten Interviews

The strategy paid off spectacularly. Recipients were surprised, amused, and more willing to read his resume. Within days, he landed interviews with around ten companies, including marketing agencies and tech firms. As one recipient praised in a tweet, “Love creative approaches to job hunting… Pretended to be with Postmates to deliver this delicious resume!” Lukas described his campaign more as a carefully orchestrated marketing effort than a mere gimmick. He studied his competition, tested different approaches, tracked LinkedIn profile visits via a Bit.ly link, and adjusted his messaging across companies of different sizes.

Pioneering a Memorable Job Hunt

Yla’s stunt demonstrates the impact of creative self-branding in a saturated job market. Traditional resumes often go unread, but pairing one with a tasty treat made hiring managers pause. Business Insider noted that his bit.ly-tracked approach let him fine-tune which messages worked and who engaged. Companies appreciated the gesture. Postmates, even though Yla had not contacted them beforehand, embraced the move. Their VP of strategy called it clever, and the company’s CEO even arranged to meet Yla for coffee.

The Aftermath and Visa Setback

Although his creative campaign earned him at least ten interviews, and some sources say up to fifteen offers, Yla ultimately faced visa hurdles. He could not obtain a US work permit and eventually returned to Europe, where he took on leadership roles in companies such as Bolt, a competitor to Uber. Even years later the stunt continues to resonate.

Stories of Resume Innovation

Yla was not the only candidate to embrace edible marketing. Others have used food or humor to stand out:

Pizza-box resumes: In September 2024, Pizza Hut in New York City offered “ResZAmes,” a service printing job seekers’ resumes on pizza box lids and delivering them to employer offices. The campaign aimed to make applicants unforgettable.
Chocolate bar resume: In Australia, a designer wrapped her resume inside a chocolate bar label. The sweet packaging was a hit, earning her recognition and interviews.
Volunteer conference stalking: A Gen Z graduate named Basant Shenouda secured an internship at LinkedIn by volunteering at recruitment-heavy conferences, ensuring she could hand a resume in person. It was an exercise in hustle and persistence.

These examples highlight how combining creativity with strategy, food-themed or event-based, can break through hiring clutter.

The Take-Away for Job Seekers

Creative campaigns like Yla’s offer several lessons:

Be strategic. Yla didn’t just surprise hiring managers. He planned his route, tracked engagement, and positioned himself as a marketing asset, not just a desperate candidate.
Add genuine value. Doughnuts created a warm impression. Conference volunteering built connections. A pizza box can show effort. Each tactic adds real value beyond just being memorable.
Blend creativity with professionalism. Yla’s campaign was playful yet well-executed. It was appropriate for the marketing sector, where ingenuity counts.
Check practicality. Food surprises may impress, but they may not be appropriate in all industries or cultures. Legal, financial, or scientific roles might prefer digital portfolios or case-studies over edible gifts.

Final Thoughts

In September 2024, Pizza Hut in New York City offered “ResZAmes” — Image Credit: Pizza Hut

Lukas Yla’s doughnut-wrapped resume reminds us how hard job seekers must work to stand out today. His post-doughnut tally, 10 interviews from 40 attempts, is proof that clever ideas, combined with smart execution, can make hiring managers take notice. Similar creative stunts, pizza sheets, chocolate bars, volunteering, suggest the same. In a crowded market, memorable can beat mundane.

Still, creativity must fit the candidate and role, align with industry norms, and support the core message. “I have skills and personality worth hiring.” When it does, such unconventional methods can leave a lasting impression long after the last bite. Ultimately, Yla’s tale teaches us. Do not fear to think inside the box, especially if there is a doughnut inside.