One unemployed man in Dublin has adopted a novel approach to finding himself a job in these tough times – by taking out a large advertisement for his 'brand' in the national press.

Gary Harwood, a 41-year-old customer services, sales and logistics professional with over 20 years' experience, told the Sunday Tribune he was prompted to place the advertisement after he was made redundant for a second time last autumn. He has applied for between 300 and 400 jobs since then with no luck.

In the ad, which he said would typically cost between €1,500 and €2,000, he extols the benefits of 'Brand Gary'. He also promises prospective employers that he will give "100% focus" and has the ability to "hit the ground running which will save your company precious time and money during these challenging times".

Harwood is currently sleeping on a friend's couch, having had to leave his home at Blackhorse Avenue in Dublin earlier this year because he could no longer afford to keep up with the rent payments.

He says he has applied for everything from a job as a pizza delivery man to part-time work with a well-known communications company.

" I thought I needed to look at a different way of marketing myself. A lot of companies usually say in their job descriptions, we want this. Instead, it's me saying I can do this," he said.

Harwood placed the ads for two weeks in a row in the jobs section of the Sunday Times and the Sun. However, the responses have so far not been encouraging.

"I've got two responses. One was a guy who is in the same situation as me and wanted to know how the ad was going," he said. "The other was from a company which is launching a new product, but that was just not suitable for me unfortunately."

But he is undaunted, and is determined to get back into the ranks of the gainfully employed.

"I will not give up. I suppose the message I want to get across is to take that one step to meet me, because when people meet me I think I can impress them. Take that one chance in the hope something will come out of it."

Gary Harwood can be contacted at 087 320 4358