Obama's Pecs and 5 Interview No Nos

O.k. so while I was packing for Christmas I almost fainted. I was watching CNN and suddenly the future leader of the free world popped up on my flat screen (I know you are thinking, so what?) ... but here is the thing- he was only wearing shorts. At first I thought- How darn inappropriate for them to show our President in this manner- he is trying to vacation with his family before occupying the most stressful job in the world! I must admit, I am not a sucker for a muscle head. Those kinds of boys are just not my thing. But, OMG is he is quite beautiful, just absolutely smooth. Was this picture appropriate for the media to take with their super duper lenses? I am not sure. Was I drooling over our President elect? Yep, I sure was. So this gets me on my next topic of what not to do on your next interview.

Here are some things you should not do on your next interview:

1. Tell your prospective employer how bat shit crazy your boss is. Yes, I know we have all had those bosses, it is just part of life. I believe you when you say she made you do degrading errands that were NOT part of your job description. I believe you when you say that she broke all kinds of laws in her supervisory capacity and I believe she swore at you regularly and may have even threatened you under her breath. Here you are looking at your next job opportunity- it will serve you no good to complain about how terrible management has been to you in your next interview. Trust me on this one, everyone has had a bad manager or supervisor at one time and possibly many times. And whatever YOU DO, do not explain that you are in litigation or in the process of suing the company for harassment or something along those lines. That is better suited as a conversation between yourself and your attorney. It is generally not an appropriate conversation to have in an interview forum. (Some exceptions may apply based on your field and nature of work- consult with your attorney on this).

2. Don't over do the cologne or perfume, in fact why risk annoying anyone with a smell that might make them want to vomit? A good smell to you might be a very very very bad smell to someone else. Ivory soap and clean and fresh shampoo along with clean clothes and some deodorant will most likely do the trick. Since I tend to obsess over lint and animal hair, do me a favor and bring a lint brush with you for the ride. It never hurts to de-lint yourself right before the face to face.

I will never forget the lady I interviewed that smelled like a bottle of watermelon perfume, it made me so sick I could not focus on the interview. She told me she accidentally spilled the bottle on herself. (Could this be a cover up for something else?) hmmm.. Needless to say, she was not selected as a finalist.

3. Please think of something creative when asked about best and worst qualities. I am not even going to elaborate on this one. O.k. a small hint...opportunity.

4. If they ask if you have questions and you say no, you probably shouldn't be hired. Seriously.

5. Always send a thank you note. Handwritten is best. (Don't get me started on people who fail to write thank you notes- this could be a new blog coming soon)

Off to google that pic of the pecs.

Pink Slips, Emotions, and FAQs...

A family member recently received the dreaded PS , yep the "pink slip". Her company did their pink slipping a little differently- it was more of a "hey stick around until January, and if nothing has changed for us financially then we will formally 'PS' you." I am not sure who it hurt more - her or me?. She had been with this company for about eight years and had a true love affair with them. The pay was just average, but they were incredibly flexible with her family situation, and most importantly, she loved the work. Flexibility was key for her. She is a Generation Xer with two little kiddos, and if you know anything about Generation Xers it is that we are obsessed with work-life balance. I am sure it is because we were latchkey kids, left home alone to fend for ourselves for days on end, but back to the story. I felt like someone knocked the wind out me for days, so I can only imagine the gut wrenching conversation she must have had with herself on the car ride home and in the mornings following the conversation convincing herself to get out of bed and go to work for another few weeks despite knowing her days were numbered. I reminded her to make sure her company provided her with the standard legal separation notice so that she could make a visit to the unemployment office. Dontcha know, I am always rational during crises.

So I have been thinking not just about my family member's PS situation, but about the emotions of job searching AND about some FAQs I have been wanting to cover. I know times are hard right now, and I hope these points will help you or someone you know if they find themselves staring down a PS:

1. In short, making a job change can be an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs often with your family's well being riding on the contents of what looks like an automated rejection letter. How can you not feel emotional about that? However, try to remove your emotions from the phone calls, emails, letters etc. When corresponding with your POCs (points of contact)- you do not want to be a hot mess when the recruiter does follow up with you to let you know someone else was selected for the position. You just never know when they will call you next.

2. I have been getting a lot of feedback about how frustrating online job searches (monster, hot jobs, etc.) are. I hear you on this! (Note to self: Future blog topic.) We need to bring back some personal contact here! There is way too much to wade through and it is getting hard to tell what is legit not to mention the thousands of "work at home" opportunities that simply are clogging sites.

In the meantime-

Here are a few FAQs I wanted to share:

1. Dear HR Nerd: I recently found two jobs at one company that I am extremely qualified for. I sent my application and resume in for the jobs and I received rejection letters on both. Is it o.k. for me to contact the company and find out why I am being rejected?

HR Nerd: Yes, It is completely appropriate to make contact with the company and find out what their hiring process is and why you may have been eliminated from the pool of candidates. Before you do this, try to remove your emotions from the phone call. Don't call when you are upset, frustrated, or anxious. Wait until you have calmed down and can explain why you feel you were a strong match for the positions and that you would like to understand what process they used to screen their applicants. Be professional, and courteous and you just might be on your way to making a wonderful contact for future job opportunities. Often, the company filled the position with an internal candidate or the position was eliminated due to financial constraints. It is a good sign that companies are recognizing internal talent (hiring from within), but it can be frustrating when you are looking for a job! It is also possible that they had a large number of very qualified candidates. Hang in there, and continue to network and maximize your personal connections along the way!

2. Dear HR Nerd: I submitted my application and cover letter/resume online, it just seems so impersonal. Is there anything else I can do or should I just wait to see if I receive any response?

HR NERD: If you think you are a good fit for the position, I suggest contacting the hiring authority (go to their website and look up their contact information) and give them a personal phone call or send them a paper copy of your cover letter and resume. Sending a paper copy of the resume is always a good idea (after you have followed directions for applying for the position). When you send the supplemental paper copy be sure to indicate that you have already followed instructions and applied online and you are just following up to ensure they have everything they need. Address the cover letter to them and be sure to sign a copy of the cover letter with an ink pen. You can also call and follow up to ensure that the hiring authority received your information. Do not call if the instructions say "no phone calls please". Have a professional look over your resume and cover letter! Good Luck!

Have suggestions about a blog or topic? Email me at YourResumeGuru@gmail.com