how to get a job

alright, I don't actually know how to do that. I've had jobs before, but I couldn't tell you how I got them.

I did think up a pretty ethically sketchy way to give yourself an edge in getting a job, inspired by a TED video I watched today about irrational decisions.

Step 1: Create a dummy resume that is similar to your own resume, but slightly (but obviously) worse than yours. The qualifications are similar, but maybe a slightly lower GPA.  And maybe your "dummy" didn't do that community service thing you did last summer.

Step 2: Send in your resume to a place you want to work.

Step 3: A day or two later, send in the dummy resume.

Step 4: Get hired.

I haven't tested this. I don't recommend doing it. But it would probably work.

Nobody will ever choose a dominated option on purpose. But what's cool/messed up with human rationality is - when given THREE options (say for example: you, a "dummy" who is slightly worse than you, and some other guy who's also trying to get hired), people tend to favor the option that dominates one other option EVEN IF that option has nothing to do with the third!

This baffles me, but it also makes so much sense it's scary.