Clever Answer, but I Wouldn't Recommend It

So, I asked one of my favorite interview questions - mainly to hear what an interviewee has to say and how they say it. I'm not so concerned with the answer as I am with the implications behind it.

"Tell me a strength" followed by "Tell me a weakness." I'm not so much interested in the strength questions as I am the weakness question, however, this interviewee answered the strength question with such a straight face I actually started to laugh. Here's how it went down.

Me -"Tell me a strength."

Interviewee - "My intelligence. I'm really smart so it helps me adapt quickly."

Me - ha ha ha giggle ha ha giggle stifle giggle

I almost died laughing in front of this poor kid. He was totally serious and it was all I could do not to sit there with a shit eating grin on my face thinking - did he seriously just give that answer.

It was a very clever answer, I'll give him points for that, but honestly, I don't think blabbing about your intelligence as a strength is the best answer. Obviously you're smart or you wouldn't be sitting in front of me.

Clammy Hands and a Fishy Shake

My apologies for not updating this blog in a few weeks. Yikes!

Anyways...I interviewed a candidate last week that had the absolute worst handshake ever! Not only did he give me a limp fish to shake his hands were soaking wet! Initially I thought he was trying to be gentle with his shake on account of my gender, but he shook my counterpart's hand the same way. I was afraid to shake his hand firmly because I might break his fingers off!

Now, I don't know about you, but I'm usually sweating bullets when I go in for an interview, but no matter how nervous I am, I always remember to wipe my palms off before shaking hands. The only thing worse than a fishy handshake is a clammy fishy handshake!

Moral of the story - always make sure your hands are dry and shake is firm.

Keep in Touch

Out of any interns I've had over the past few years, the ones this summer were absolutely the best. I tried to keep them on through the fall, but alas college was calling. However, I still think of them fondly, and often, as do my colleagues.

In fact, one of them sent an email today that made me smile. He had seen some of the company's work and wondered how we were doing. That simple email does a few different things.

1. It makes me smile on a dreary Friday afternoon.

2. It keeps him in my mind as a great intern.

3. It reminds me what a great intern he was.

These three thoughts work on both our behalfs. It shows me that he cares about us even after he's left, and more importantly for him, it reassures him that we won't forget him even though he's no longer interning here. And that, is a great basis for a fabulous letter of recommendation when the time comes. Even if I will be trying to persuade him to come back as I'm writing the letter!

Thank You Letters

I'm not sure what has become of today's society, but it seems younger generations aren't as polite as older generations. Or perhaps they haven't been given the proper tools. I met with a very nice and very talented young man yesterday who showed an incredible talent for graphic design. He ran late, but I thought well, he probably got caught somewhere and didn't have cell service. I didn't believe it, but did want to give the kid the benefit of the doubt since his work was so good. Sitting at home last my night, my cell phone went off saying I had a message. Even more earth shattering (because aren't all phone calls!) was that it was said interviewee saying he was caught in traffic and was running late! Stupid technology. The kid almost had a strike against him because of a technological glitch. That being said, I am still disappointed I haven't received (nor has my Art Director who also interviewed him) a thank you letter.

I realize thank you letters are not as "cool" as they once were, but with the aforementioned technology, it is so simple. A few sentences 'thanking the person for interviewing with you, you think you would be great at the job, and look forward to hearing from them' goes a long way. Not only will you be awarded brownie points for nice manners, but a company will realize that you are serious about them, and not just after a practice interview (although, on a separate note, any interview is good practice). So if you really want to stand out among the crowd of applicants - send a thank you letter. Your prospective employer will be impressed and you might just find your self with a document of your own - an offer letter.

Interview Attire

Following up on the Hooters post from yesterday, it occured to me that there was another place "Hooters" were not appropriate: the office! Last year I interviewed a few college women and out of the 4 of them, 3 came in wearing very low cut dresses or shirts, and hence, half the time I just stared at their boobs! Here I am (with my Art Director [who agrees with me btw], since it was a design internship) and all I can do is think about the cleavage in front of me. Sure, I was a little jealous too, since I couldn't show cleavage if someone paid me to, but it was very distracting. If I was uncomfortable just interviewing these girls, there is no way I could take them to a client meeting or presentation. So please, girls, when going for a job interview - unless its at Hooters - please keep the "twins" covered! They may be nice for a Friday night out, but come Monday morning, they need to go back under wraps.

Hooters

And yes, I am talking those kinds of hooters. Today, I read a resume - for an intern position - that stated her work experience as "Hooters." Mind you, this woman also had DOD and DOJ experience, but all I could focus on was the Hooters term of employment. After having a very good laugh I have come to this conclusion: unless you have corporate management experience, or are looking for a related field - i.e. restauranter, stripper, etc. - never ever put Hooters on your resume. Say you worked in a food service field or something similiar, but I'm not sure how many people will take you seriously if you say you worked at Hooters. Especially after the movie Big Daddy when Adam Sandler's ex-girlfriend winds up working at Hooters with her much older "I have a life plan" boyfriend.

I think it's wise to tell an interviewer the truth (and perhaps unethical if you don't) when/if he or she asks, but it's really hard to get past the mental picture of a dumb blonde with her tits hanging out of her "Hooters" tank top serving beer and wings to guys who are just there for the "wings." Not that its not a nice mental picture (if you're of that persuasion) but it's hard to take a candidate seriously with Hooters on her resume.

It Hurts My Eyes!

I don't know how other people feel about this, but if you want me to read your resume, and I literally mean read - where my eyeballs go from left to right all the way down the page, and my brain absorbs the information - then for heaven's sake, use proper spacing!! A resume came across my desk today that was so squeezed together I couldn't understand it without highlighting things to change colors. It was like trying to look at the Declaration of Independence after it floated in the Tidal Basin for a week. You know how you feel when someone gets too close when talking? That's how this resume was; only the lines were the ones too close for comfort. Make sure you have at least a hard return between each major event in your resume. I would rather read a two page resume that is pleasant to look at, than a one page CV that makes my head hurt and my eyes bulge out of my sockets like a cartoon.

Bottom line, if it looks wonky then chances are a person who's a little older or a lot older is going to find it very unappealing to read and you should reformat poste haste!

Proofreading

Although this is a new blog, I feel like a broken record because proofreading is my thing. In full disclosure, I too, need to proofread and often stupid mistakes slip by my eyes, but the most important thing you can do for your resume is to proof it, proof it, proof it. And not just you, but someone else. It may be embarassing to admit you need help, but it is much more embarassing to pass out a resume (or any other job related work) with mistakes in it.

If I'm reading a resume, and it has mistakes in it, its going to take one heck of a stroke of luck for me to bring that person in for an interview. If they can't take the time to care about their own work, how can I be sure they will dedicate time to the job? I can't, and that is a risk I am not willing to take. Because if an intern puts out a poor work product, it's reflected on me. I'll take responsibility for my own stupid mistakes, but not someone elses.

Interns are supposed to learn, grow, and hopefully, teach the employer a little something too. Worrying about whether the intern ran spell check is something most of us can do with out.

Cover Letters

The mere fact that if I don't request a cover letter and resume, I will only get a resume scares me. I mean seriously, who in their right mind wouldn't send a cover letter along with a resume! It doesn't matter if it is all in one document, two separate attachments or just an email introduction, but every time you apply for a job, always include a cover letter. It doesn't need to be a life history, just a few paragraphs stating why you want to work at XYZ, what makes you qualified and a little bit of what a great asset you would be. No one wants to read a page long cover letter, and it is hard to talk about yourself without sounding pompous, but it's even harder to get an interview with no cover letter. Personally, if I receive a resume with no cover letter, I trash it. And I'm sure there are a lot of hiring managers who follow the same routine. No cover letter, no interview.

Paying Attention and Following Directions

I posted a few job openings on Craigslist the other day - since the local Universities were giving me zero candidates - and have been barraged with applicants ever since. I'm not sure how many employers look for a cover letter, resume, and writing sample, portfolio, etc. but I would guess that a fair amount do. Especially in the communications world. How can I know if someone is a good writer if I don't read any of her material? Or a strong graphic designer if I don't see his work? Cover letters and resumes are, for all intensive purposes, each very similar to one another. But, if I can read a press release or see a portfolio from an applicant, I have a much better idea of what his or her capabilities will be.

For example take one listing I posted "Graphic Design Intern Wanted: please submit a cover letter, resume and portfolio to XYZ if interested." You would think, since a designer designers things, that I would have a lot of portfolios to complement the resumes I received. Wrong! I cannot tell you how many resumes and cover letters I received with no portfolio. Not even a little graphic or logo at the end of their letter. If you cannot follow simple directions - in this case 1 sentence - why in the world would I want to call you in for an interview. You could have a dynamite portfolio, but I'll never know because you didn't follow directions and send me what I requested.

Seriously, what is wrong with people today? Is the education system that bad that students can't follow directions? Not to mention the amount of applicants who responded even though the ad specifically states that I am looking for a student. Some of these people have been out of school for 10 years! Not only are they too old to be an intern (unless I am requesting more experienced interns, which I am not) they too cannot follow directions!

Inauguration

Although this blog is intended to tell stories and offer advice on Interning, it is also meant as a what not to do when searching for a job. It doesn't matter if you are applying for your first job out of college or gunning for the next "big thing". Everyone should be polite, smart and original. Stupid mistakes can cost an otherwise perfect candidate a chance at proving themselves.

The age old saying of "Everyone deserves a second chance" can only be applied if people get a first chance. Promoting yourself with a great cover letter, spotless resume, and requested materials (if any) is the only way to guarentee that first chance.

Over the past few years, the resumes, blunders, questions and people I have encountered have amazed me. From the intern who wrote "BINDER" when I asked for a cover to a presentation binder to the interns who left thank you letters on my chair the day they left, each has left an impression on not only myself (otherwise, why would I write this?!) but my colleagues as well.

So enjoy the posts for what they are worth. My hope is that not only will people cringe and laugh, but that they will also learn a little, and in the process put themselves at the top of the stack when submitting a resume.