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c172g · 04-14-2005, 10:08 AM

My two cents as a business owner, maybe it will help in some future interviews (and these may sound REALLY strange to some of you):

1. If you are sending me a resume to look over, do something to make it different. Put a snappy phrase under your name like many of you do with your ID's here. This won't work with all employers, but I really like to laugh. If somebody put "insane" under their name in small letters (or next to it) or anything different than a white or manilla peice of paper in the standard format of every resume I see (and they all come straight out of MS Word's formats) I'd be calling the person way before anybody else. I joke with my customers and vendors, and anybody who works here best not be a stiff. I imagine there are some employers who will see it and pitch immediately, but something different will set you apart from the rest.

2. I'm 35 but any guy that applies here best not have their nose ring, tongue stud, or fifteen earrings in when they show up. It WILL be the shortest interview you've ever had, and you won't go away wondering if you did or didn't get the position. I'll notice you have the holes, but don't even think about having them in during the interview. I'll also make sure you know not to wear them to work if you're planning on accepting the job. The tongue & nostril studs go for the women as well. A single pierced ear for the guys is fine (or both sides if it's your thing), or a pair for the ladies. Aside from that, leave the pierced jewelry at home.

3. Don't bother showing up if you were smart enough to get "O-Z-Z-Y" tatooed on your fingers when you were in college. Automatic out. Tattoos are fine, but get them somewhere you can hide them with clothing. If you're an ex-military where that was common to do, I'm fine with it. Got your division on your arm, no problem. Van Halen belongs in the CD player, not on your wrist.

4. Dress based upon where you are interviewing. We have a manufacturing facility, but everybody who does sales also gets their fingers dirty once in a while. Business casual is fine for any interview here. I don't know how many others would agree with me, but a suit for an interview is way more than you need to do. A snappy tie might get some attention however...

5. Ask me just as many questions as I'm asking you. There isn't any way I can put an all-emcompassing name on the position you might get here, because you will be doing other things as well. Ask about what you might be required to do. Ask about the other workers, ask about my family & my interests. What we have in common (or what we don't) is what will sway my decision about you, not your grade point average in college. Look around my office & ask about the things on the wall, I've put them there because they have a significance to me, they make great conversation starters. If you're asking too many questions, the interviewer will let you know to clam up.

6. Make yourself noticable. We don't interview 50 people for a position, we usually have it slimmed down to 2-3 before, but some places may interview a hundred people for a position. Everyone is going to give the same info, birthdate, college GPA, high school GPA, experience. Unless your experience is with one of my competitors, it's probably not that much use here. Do something, anything, to make yourself stand out. Make it happen in the first two minutes of the interview. I've probably already got my mind made up by then.

7. Don't pull up in your 2004 Tercel with the subwoofer smacking out a rap song at battery-draining levels. I don't like what you're listening to in most cases, and the people in my office don't want to hear it either. If business is good, they should be on the phone or talking to a customer. Don't mess with the process.

8. Most importantly, don't be late. If you want to sit in our office for an hour before, that's fine with me. I'll get you in as soon as I can, and if I'm doing a load of interviews, getting somebody in a little early is great. Do not, in any circumstance, be late. I don't care who died or what light wasn't working or what happened to your ride, don't show up late. Don't show up at all (call first at least 15 minutes before to explain why you won't be there) but DO NOT SHOW UP LATE!

Some of these things may sound elementary but I've seen every one of them in the last 10 years. Above anything else, do something to make yourself stand out with your personality or your paperwork. I think most smaller companies would enjoy different as opposed to "standard" resumes & interviewees.

Hope I helped some of you out, and no, we're not currently hiring. Best of luck to you all...

04-14-2005, 10:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
c172g Crazy Location: Michigan	My two cents as a business owner, maybe it will help in some future interviews (and these may sound REALLY strange to some of you): 1. If you are sending me a resume to look over, do something to make it different. Put a snappy phrase under your name like many of you do with your ID's here. This won't work with all employers, but I really like to laugh. If somebody put "insane" under their name in small letters (or next to it) or anything different than a white or manilla peice of paper in the standard format of every resume I see (and they all come straight out of MS Word's formats) I'd be calling the person way before anybody else. I joke with my customers and vendors, and anybody who works here best not be a stiff. I imagine there are some employers who will see it and pitch immediately, but something different will set you apart from the rest. 2. I'm 35 but any guy that applies here best not have their nose ring, tongue stud, or fifteen earrings in when they show up. It WILL be the shortest interview you've ever had, and you won't go away wondering if you did or didn't get the position. I'll notice you have the holes, but don't even think about having them in during the interview. I'll also make sure you know not to wear them to work if you're planning on accepting the job. The tongue & nostril studs go for the women as well. A single pierced ear for the guys is fine (or both sides if it's your thing), or a pair for the ladies. Aside from that, leave the pierced jewelry at home. 3. Don't bother showing up if you were smart enough to get "O-Z-Z-Y" tatooed on your fingers when you were in college. Automatic out. Tattoos are fine, but get them somewhere you can hide them with clothing. If you're an ex-military where that was common to do, I'm fine with it. Got your division on your arm, no problem. Van Halen belongs in the CD player, not on your wrist. 4. Dress based upon where you are interviewing. We have a manufacturing facility, but everybody who does sales also gets their fingers dirty once in a while. Business casual is fine for any interview here. I don't know how many others would agree with me, but a suit for an interview is way more than you need to do. A snappy tie might get some attention however... 5. Ask me just as many questions as I'm asking you. There isn't any way I can put an all-emcompassing name on the position you might get here, because you will be doing other things as well. Ask about what you might be required to do. Ask about the other workers, ask about my family & my interests. What we have in common (or what we don't) is what will sway my decision about you, not your grade point average in college. Look around my office & ask about the things on the wall, I've put them there because they have a significance to me, they make great conversation starters. If you're asking too many questions, the interviewer will let you know to clam up. 6. Make yourself noticable. We don't interview 50 people for a position, we usually have it slimmed down to 2-3 before, but some places may interview a hundred people for a position. Everyone is going to give the same info, birthdate, college GPA, high school GPA, experience. Unless your experience is with one of my competitors, it's probably not that much use here. Do something, anything, to make yourself stand out. Make it happen in the first two minutes of the interview. I've probably already got my mind made up by then. 7. Don't pull up in your 2004 Tercel with the subwoofer smacking out a rap song at battery-draining levels. I don't like what you're listening to in most cases, and the people in my office don't want to hear it either. If business is good, they should be on the phone or talking to a customer. Don't mess with the process. 8. Most importantly, don't be late. If you want to sit in our office for an hour before, that's fine with me. I'll get you in as soon as I can, and if I'm doing a load of interviews, getting somebody in a little early is great. Do not, in any circumstance, be late. I don't care who died or what light wasn't working or what happened to your ride, don't show up late. Don't show up at all (call first at least 15 minutes before to explain why you won't be there) but DO NOT SHOW UP LATE! Some of these things may sound elementary but I've seen every one of them in the last 10 years. Above anything else, do something to make yourself stand out with your personality or your paperwork. I think most smaller companies would enjoy different as opposed to "standard" resumes & interviewees. Hope I helped some of you out, and no, we're not currently hiring. Best of luck to you all...