What I've learned about job hunting

[MonorailMan]

After having spent the majority of the last few months applying for jobs, I have some simple tips for those of you who might be in the same boat. (Listed from least important to most important.)


3. We're in an age now where how you dress is very important. The weirdest thing I noticed about this is that you should NEVER OVERDRESS FOR AN INTERVIEW. Do some research about the job you're applying for and what type of environment you'd be working in before dressing for the interview.
Examples....
--Some restaurants think it's weird if you're applying for a position in the kitchen and you're wearing a suit and tie. If you're going to be running around a kitchen, dress down a little bit.
--Whatever you do, DO NOT overdress for a retail position. Retail stores are looking for young, fresh faces with style.......and essentially people they can get away with paying very little. The suit won't help you here.

2. HAVE A RESUME THAT IS FOCUSED ONLY TOWARD THE JOB YOU'RE APPLYING FOR AND CUT OUT ALL THE FAT. (I literally now have 4 versions of my resume and focus on which ones would work best at specific jobs.) Having said that, you should also not volunteer any spoken information that isn't going to help you get the job.

Example: If you're applying to be an back surgeon and you have tons of experience working as a freelance photographer......you're probably not going to want to mention anything about it, regardless of having shot images for Victoria's Secret for 20 years.

1. This one's weird, but probably the most important. Take the first 10 seconds of the interview to assess the manager/person interviewing you.....and "dumb-down" yourself enough so that you don't intimidate them. (By "dumb-down" I mean make yourself come off as being a step inferior below the person doing the interview as far as your intelligence, education and knowledge about the job is concerned.) In other words, if the interviewer knows that you have more experience than they do, they're not going to hire you because eventually you're going to be in a position to snag that person's job. Most of the interviews I've been on I've been very well-spoken, did research on what I was applying for and let them know that I'm a good candidate for the positions. However, 99% of the people who've interviewed me have been a few years younger than me (if not younger), and, in most cases, not that bright (in my opinion).

Now, if you're applying for a $150k/year job with a Fortune 500 company these rules probably don't apply as much. I hoped this helped.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Good luck with the search!!

Nanny jobs are funny. Agencies will tell you to dress up - REALLY dress up - for your first interview with a family. But my job prior to my current job the family SPECIFICALLY told me to come in sweats because we were meeting on a weekend.
My current job I wore capris and a denim jacket to the interview.
Since I was hired for both jobs I think there may be something to the "dress down" theory!

I don't know what I would do if I had to go back to retail. I am old now, and my retail experience was almost 2 decades ago. (OMG, has it REALLY been that long??? ) I don't know if I could even get an interview, let alone convince them to hire me. There are stores I won't go in because their music is too loud. See? Old. (But if they had a shred of sense they would know stores with that SUPER loud music have higher shrink. That's a thread for another day.)

 

[MonorailMan]

Good luck with the search!!

Nanny jobs are funny. Agencies will tell you to dress up - REALLY dress up - for your first interview with a family. But my job prior to my current job the family SPECIFICALLY told me to come in sweats because we were meeting on a weekend.
My current job I wore capris and a denim jacket to the interview.
Since I was hired for both jobs I think there may be something to the "dress down" theory!

I don't know what I would do if I had to go back to retail. I am old now, and my retail experience was almost 2 decades ago. (OMG, has it REALLY been that long??? ) I don't know if I could even get an interview, let alone convince them to hire me. There are stores I won't go in because their music is too loud. See? Old. (But if they had a shred of sense they would know stores with that SUPER loud music have higher shrink. That's a thread for another day.)

When I'm going on these interviews I sometimes feel like they're looking at me going, "Why is this old guy applying here?" Even though I'm not....that.....old. If either of us went into a retail shop we'd probably be twice as good at the job than most of these 18 year-olds who tend to get hired......but we're not what they're looking for most of the time. I applied at a bridal/pageant/prom shop a few days ago and they were blasting dance music that sounded like the stuff the gay bars refused to play due to it being so bad.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

There was a pizza delivery guy in the elevator with me yesterday when I was taking the baby to the Dr. He was carrying a big bag of pizzas, and just huffing and wheezing to beat the band. I felt bad for the dude.

The other day I saw a guy delivering Jimmy John's sandwiches IN HIS LEXUS! Not sure what to make of that.

Obviously people are having to think outside the box for employment.

But the weird thing is when Frito Lay has job fairs DH says they are hardly able to hire ANY of the applicants. They all get knocked out on driving history, criminal background, drug test, etc.

 

[MonorailMan]

Hmmmm.....I should go to one of those job fairs. I'm clean as a whistle.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

www.fritolayemployment.com

Just put your zip code in and it will pull available jobs for you. Some of the positions require a vendor or retail grocery background, but not all of them.

 

[wallyb]

Hmmmm.....I should go to one of those job fairs. I'm clean as a whistle.

Dang!
I was hoping you were a bad boy.

 

[MonorailMan]

www.fritolayemployment.com

Just put your zip code in and it will pull available jobs for you. Some of the positions require a vendor or retail grocery background, but not all of them.

Thanks! I'll see what I can find. I have experience ordering for a catering company from vendors.....but I know that's a little different.

Dang!
I was hoping you were a bad boy.

I'm angelic......24/7.

 

[OrlandoMike]

When I applied for my current job I couldnt believe what people were wearing, and who they brought with them.

Guys in wife beaters, covered in Tatts....with their three screaming kids and the babby's mama tagging along!

Guess I'm from a different age! No jacket required down here because of the heat, but at the very least a presed shirt and a nice tie!

 

[MonorailMan]

When I applied for my current job I couldnt believe what people were wearing, and who they brought with them.

Guys in wife beaters, covered in Tatts....with their three screaming kids and the babby's mama tagging along!

Guess I'm from a different age! No jacket required down here because of the heat, but at the very least a presed shirt and a nice tie!

Yeah, I would definitely wear a tie (sans-jacket) there. Reminds me of when I applied at the Disney Store many moons ago--There was a group of 5 or 6 people applying and I was the only one who shaved all my facial hair, wore clothes that were kinda nice and spoke in full, non-broken sentences. The rest of them were similar to what you just described. I was the only one who got the job.

This is partially off-topic, but.....did you know in order to get a job at the Disney Stores (at least in the 90's) you had to take a 50-question test on Disney? It asked everything from specific dates to questions about park attractions. I think I got 49 out of 50. THEN you had to go through a training course/probation plan that lasted a few weeks before you were allowed to start working. Oy! Disney isn't messin' around.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I can tell you some horror stories about the people who sometimes show up for interviews! I used to work in HR, and then have interviewed for positions in various agencies where I've worked.

One man kept saying "You know how those NY people are..." finally I let him know I had lived in NY. He didn't get the job.

One person (an INTERNAL candidate) in an agency that expected ties and dress shirts on men for the most part, showed up in a wrinkled, collarless plaid flannel shirt! What the heck was THAT? Didn't get the job.

There was the woman without underwear... There was the big bellied man who wore a t-shirt and sweats that exposed his stretch marked belly...

Yep. Some folks just don't get it. I do understand fully needing to dress for the culture of the business to which you are applying, but seriously, I honestly believe that erring on the side of conservative is better than showing your gut.

Plunk me in the old fashioned category too.

 

[zeitzeuge]

In my industry, Mortgage, it use to be that you had to wear a full on suit and tie to an interview. You then spent a couple hours in an interview, schoozing and trying to be "one of the boys", bragging on your stats as a processor, closer, loan officer, etc. If you had something in common with them such as playing golf or hunting, you were in.

Then it changed to the current atmosphere of business casual, and you sit there spewing forth as much of your knowledge of the industry. Tell them as much as you can in the length of time that you have.

There's no "boys club" in the mortgage industry anymore. Good thing. I never fit in it anyways. It's no lie. I told them I was a huge golfer at times to get a job. Little did they know......

When I was out of work two years ago for 4 months, it was an eyeopener at how much had changed when it came to resume's and appropriate dress for interviews, etc. I've seen people come in for mid level positions wearing jeans and a polo. I wouldn't be caught dead in that for an interview. And tattoos? I love them personally, but don't wear short sleeves, showing off your tattoo sleeves. I just don't get it.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Thanks! I'll see what I can find. I have experience ordering for a catering company from vendors.....but I know that's a little different.



I'm angelic......24/7.

DH had 17 years of retail grocery experience, with about 5 years as a receiving coordinator. He interviewed with Blue Bell ice cream but they told him he MUST have vendor experience for them to consider him. He was hired at Frito doing route sales, which is what he still does. At first he didn't have his own route, but now he does. I think to be a merchandiser or a detailer you just need common sense. Open the box, put the chips on the shelf. Pretty self explanatory.

 

[rpmdfw]

In my industry, Mortgage, it use to be that you had to wear a full on suit and tie to an interview.

I'll bet you look HOT in a suit and tie!

 

[wallyb]

Rule 4- If you can finagle a way to sleep with the person hiring - go for it!
It shows them you're willing to do whatever it takes - sometimes twice!

 

[zeitzeuge]

I'll bet you look HOT in a suit and tie!

Ah thanks.

I have about 5 brand new ones, that I got on a 75% off, get an extra 20% off sale at Kenneth Cole. Beautiful suits. I have absolutely NO where to wear them. Have not worn any of them.

I got another one over Christmas, not sure why i got it, but I can't pass up a good deal like that.

 

[MonorailMan]

If you had something in common with them such as playing golf or hunting, you were in.

Didn't you tell them you hunted bears?

DH had 17 years of retail grocery experience, with about 5 years as a receiving coordinator. He interviewed with Blue Bell ice cream but they told him he MUST have vendor experience for them to consider him. He was hired at Frito doing route sales, which is what he still does. At first he didn't have his own route, but now he does. I think to be a merchandiser or a detailer you just need common sense. Open the box, put the chips on the shelf. Pretty self explanatory.

Thanks for the heads-up. There doesn't seem to be anything near this area.....but, having said that, I guess I no longer have a reason to be tied to Columbus.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Didn't you tell them you hunted bears?



Thanks for the heads-up. There doesn't seem to be anything near this area.....but, having said that, I guess I no longer have a reason to be tied to Columbus.

Yeah, just for fun I typed in the zip for WDW. 3 jobs came up, but it was truck driver, temp warehouse, and something else. DH doesn't have to have a special license for his work truck, but this sounded like an 18-wheeler type thing. I know around here there are DOZENS of zip codes in a relatively small area, so you would have to hit just the right one for the jobs to come up. It would be better if they let you put in a radius of the zip, and not JUST the zip. I think DH's warehouse is about 20 miles from us.

 

[rpmdfw]

Yeah, just for fun I typed in the zip for WDW. 3 jobs came up, but it was truck driver, temp warehouse, and something else. DH doesn't have to have a special license for his work truck, but this sounded like an 18-wheeler type thing. I know around here there are DOZENS of zip codes in a relatively small area, so you would have to hit just the right one for the jobs to come up. It would be better if they let you put in a radius of the zip, and not JUST the zip. I think DH's warehouse is about 20 miles from us.

Try 32808 for Orlando area . . . A quick check of google says that's where Frito lay is located here

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Try 32808 for Orlando area . . . A quick check of google says that's where Frito lay is located here

That zip pulled 5 jobs - 2 part time and one temp. One of the full time was the truck driver one, the other full time was merchandiser. We see the Frito Lay rep at AKL with some frequency - we should stop and chat with him one of these days. Not that we would relocate before DS graduates.