People want jobs but......

[spyrosmom]

More things I don't understand.

There was a front page article in the paper yesterday or the day before about a job fair at the casino. The picture was of the people lined up out the door to apply for jobs.

There was...

A man in cargo pants and a T shirt
A man in jeans and a polo shirt
A man in baggy pants and a button down shirt with a giant cross and some words on the back
A little kid - couldn't tell who the kid was with
A lady with a flattened down mohawk looking hairdo
A lady dressed in basic work pants and a blouse

The lady in the blouse could have had the smarts of a 3 year old and I would have hired her before anyone else. What is wrong with people? You want a job, look like it. We get people who show up for job interviews in flip flops?!?!?!? Or, dressed like they're going on a date. Yes, we're a casual office, but you don't dress like that for an interview.

And we see typos on resumes all the time. My vote on those is a no, just on general principle. If you can't bother to look decent and run a spelling or grammar check or proofread, then I don't want you working for me.

Have we, as a society, gone that casual that it's not even required to look decent for a job interview? To me, a man requires at least dress or khaki pants, a dress shirt and shoes, and a tie. A woman can do pants or a skirt, a blouse, and a pair of nice shoes. Not hooker shoes or date shoes. And it doesn't have to be a $1000 suit, it can come from Target, but put the effort in!! I don't care what kind of job you're applying for, look decent.

And leave the kids at home, please. If you can't find a sitter for an interview, how are you going to find one for when you're working?

I'm not saying that jobs are easy to come by, because they're not, but don't you think you'd have a better chance if you dressed like you wanted a job and not like you were going to the grocery store? Every little bit helps.

Ok, I'm done. Thanks for listening.

Nan

 

[Fitnessfreakk366]

I have to totally agree with you here. But on a side note, I've been job hunting for way over a year now. I dress up for my interviews in a pinstripe gray suit and nice black heels. Sometimes I'll wear my gray striped pant suit as well. Haven't gotten a job yet. I've seen how people go on interviews and it makes my eyes roll. I was in an interview once with 4 other women. Me and one older woman were dressed appropriately. The other three looked like they were going to the beach afterwards. One was wearing flip flops.

I'm so fed up with the job market right now I could scream. I've done everyting I can to present myself in a professional manner and still no new job. I'm thankful I still have a job, but would like to work full time sometime in this lifetime...

 

[Elle_p]

I agree with you Nan, but i really believe that people really do not know any better. I'm so glad my parents taught my brothers and I how to dress appropriately for occasions when we were growing up. We NEVER wore jeans, flip flops, or running shoes when we went out to special functions or church. I always had a nice coat and shoes to wear with my dresses and my brothers did not show up with dirty baseball caps. When we got into highschool my mom taught us all how to iron our own shirts (we wore uniforms). When i was at the stage where i was going to start looking for a "real job", my friend and i went out and bought ourselves "interview suits".

You do not need to spend a lot of money to dress well, you just need to know how to put it all together. I have seen some people with expensive pieces of clothing and they still look terrible because the fit is wrong or it's not pressed.

There are so many people working in my office who have no idea how to dress appropriately for work. They aren't super strict here. We can wear open-toed shoes and we don't have to wear pantyhose but some women show up to work in flip-flops during the summer. There was even a girl who would wear black yoga pants! Seriously.

I also agree with you on spell check and grammar on resumes. That is the first impression you are making on the quality of your work and attention to detail.

Don't even get me started on basic manners!

 

[Dela]

I had a woman come in for an interview, there was almost no way I would have hired her, just for the outfit alone. After she left, it was even the first thing HR commented on when we had our follow up conversation, so it's definitely important to look like you are on an interview and taking it seriously. Listen, if she was THE most amazing candidate for the job, I could have looked past it, but she barely had experience in what we were doing anyway.

 

[FitGirlGear]

More things I don't understand.

There was a front page article in the paper yesterday or the day before about a job fair at the casino. The picture was of the people lined up out the door to apply for jobs.

There was...

A man in cargo pants and a T shirt
A man in jeans and a polo shirt
A man in baggy pants and a button down shirt with a giant cross and some words on the back
A little kid - couldn't tell who the kid was with
A lady with a flattened down mohawk looking hairdo
A lady dressed in basic work pants and a blouse

The lady in the blouse could have had the smarts of a 3 year old and I would have hired her before anyone else. What is wrong with people? You want a job, look like it. We get people who show up for job interviews in flip flops?!?!?!? Or, dressed like they're going on a date. Yes, we're a casual office, but you don't dress like that for an interview.

And we see typos on resumes all the time. My vote on those is a no, just on general principle. If you can't bother to look decent and run a spelling or grammar check or proofread, then I don't want you working for me.

Have we, as a society, gone that casual that it's not even required to look decent for a job interview? To me, a man requires at least dress or khaki pants, a dress shirt and shoes, and a tie. A woman can do pants or a skirt, a blouse, and a pair of nice shoes. Not hooker shoes or date shoes. And it doesn't have to be a $1000 suit, it can come from Target, but put the effort in!! I don't care what kind of job you're applying for, look decent.

And leave the kids at home, please. If you can't find a sitter for an interview, how are you going to find one for when you're working?

I'm not saying that jobs are easy to come by, because they're not, but don't you think you'd have a better chance if you dressed like you wanted a job and not like you were going to the grocery store? Every little bit helps.

Ok, I'm done. Thanks for listening.

Nan

Agree!! Time to step up the game and just dress for success. Duh?

 

[Bobbi-B]

Agreed! I've been involved in various search committees for positions over the years, and these things matter a lot. Poor spelling or grammar on resumes and cover letters means people don't get an interview, and poor grooming or dress during an interview means they don't get taken seriously. I forget where I heard this slogan, but "Hire the person, train the skills" means these jeans/flip-flop people need to step it up!

P.S. Fitnessfreak, I hope you get a full-time job soon!!!

 

[syzygy314]

I agree as well, but sometimes, it doesn't matter what you have on. My DH always wears a suit and tie and carries his leather portfolio to his interviews with his resume and other potentially asked for papers. He is still not working and it's been 9 months. He also has a double major in finance and economics, graduated with honors and is doing is double Masters in finance and business in a year. So much for being prepared and looking respectable and intelligent!

As for the comment Elle made about "people not knowing any better," I just don't believe that. I mean it doesn't take a high IQ to know that if you're meeting someone for the first time in a business setting, you dress decently! I mean, even if it's Wal-Mart or a restaurant, at least put on nice slacks and a button down shirt (men, with a tie!), and dress shoes!

Debbie - Don't give up! There's a fulltime job out there somewhere waiting just for you!

DH is not counting on finding a job and will be applying for post-grad programs this Fall.

It's a really tough market out there and people should be trying to best the next person for the jobs that ARE available, even if it's a janitorial position!

 

[martijean1]

Here in MN the job market sucks as well, though I must say I've had a position open for a sales rep (sporting goods and logowear for schools, school fundraisers) for almost a year...It's a commission only (1099'd) position...I'm not looking for anything difficult, and have found a great person on more than one occation (or so I thought)...The problem? Some people out looking for a job aren't really looking...On more than one occation I've had someone tell me, "I understand that it's commission only, so if you have something open when my unemployment runs out, please let me know.". REALLY? I'm frustrated as well...I don't even WANT anyone to wear a suit! Warm-ups would be fine!

MJ in MN

 

[Elle_p]

I agree as well, but sometimes, it doesn't matter what you have on. My DH always wears a suit and tie and carries his leather portfolio to his interviews with his resume and other potentially asked for papers. He is still not working and it's been 9 months. He also has a double major in finance and economics, graduated with honors and is doing is double Masters in finance and business in a year. So much for being prepared and looking respectable and intelligent!

As for the comment Elle made about "people not knowing any better," I just don't believe that. I mean it doesn't take a high IQ to know that if you're meeting someone for the first time in a business setting, you dress decently! I mean, even if it's Wal-Mart or a restaurant, at least put on nice slacks and a button down shirt (men, with a tie!), and dress shoes!

Debbie - Don't give up! There's a fulltime job out there somewhere waiting just for you!

DH is not counting on finding a job and will be applying for post-grad programs this Fall.

It's a really tough market out there and people should be trying to best the next person for the jobs that ARE available, even if it's a janitorial position!

If people really do know better, then i am at a loss to understand why they behave the way they do! I wouldn't think anyone would go to a job interview thinking they look bad. I would think they actually selected those clothes specifically for the interview. To them, it's appropriate and they believe they look good.
Best of luck to your hubby continuing his studies.

 

[Vee]

I have to totally agree with you here. But on a side note, I've been job hunting for way over a year now. I dress up for my interviews in a pinstripe gray suit and nice black heels. Sometimes I'll wear my gray striped pant suit as well. Haven't gotten a job yet. I've seen how people go on interviews and it makes my eyes roll. I was in an interview once with 4 other women. Me and one older woman were dressed appropriately. The other three looked like they were going to the beach afterwards. One was wearing flip flops.

I'm so fed up with the job market right now I could scream. I've done everyting I can to present myself in a professional manner and still no new job. I'm thankful I still have a job, but would like to work full time sometime in this lifetime...

Debbie, it could be entirely fanciful, but I have this strong intuition that fate is telling you you that you are made for something better than the jobs you apply to. I hope you find your job or if I am right, your destiny soon - either way, that you feel fulfilled.

 

[chefkate]

Debbie, it could be entirely fanciful, but I have this strong intuition that fate is telling you you that you are made for something better than the jobs you apply to. I hope you find your job or if I am right, your destiny soon - either way, that you feel fulfilled.

I think Debbie needs to be a personal trainer!

 

[pjlippert]

TOTALLY agree. The old adage of "dress for success" may be cliche' but it still stands true to this day. Also, dress as if you already have the job. Dress for a level above you are going for. For cryin' out loud people.... dress like you mean it and that you are serious about the job!! Okay, I feel better.

Pam

 

[Lastchance09]

Here in MN the job market sucks as well, though I must say I've had a position open for a sales rep (sporting goods and logowear for schools, school fundraisers) for almost a year...It's a commission only (1099'd) position...I'm not looking for anything difficult, and have found a great person on more than one occation (or so I thought)...The problem? Some people out looking for a job aren't really looking...On more than one occation I've had someone tell me, "I understand that it's commission only, so if you have something open when my unemployment runs out, please let me know.". REALLY? I'm frustrated as well...I don't even WANT anyone to wear a suit! Warm-ups would be fine!

MJ in MN

maybe the position is still open because its commission only. I avoid those positions all the time. Never knowing what my pay will be or if I will have any pay terrifies me.