For nine years I worked in a college career center and had come to
assume there is a
"common sense" when it comes to job searches, but an
experience I had eight years ago
taught me differently. I was
working in the front office of a small manufacturing facility in
Hagerstown when the owners advertised for a few open production
positions. In just three
days I handed out and accepted over 300 applications, which meant I had
the opportunity
to observe and interact with over 300 applicants. One would think the people desperate for
jobs would realize they should offer a good first impression and should
avoid putting any
obstacles in the prospective employer's path, but I learned that's not
so.
Here are a few of my thoughts about what I observed, and some advice:
1. Don't bring your family with you. Don't let your kids run around the
waiting room, climb
on your lap, and play all the ring tones on your phone. Don't let your
wife help you fill out
the application.
2. Read the sign on the door, and also the one posted on the window
(and also the ad in the
newspaper) that tells you when you can and can not apply. If you come
during a time when
you aren't supposed to apply (because the company is short staffed at
that time), don't ask
if you can anyway. Don't pretend you don't see the sign or that you
can't read it. Employers
don't want employees who can't follow directions or read, or who expect
special treatment.
3. Don't complain if you are told you have to complete the application
in the waiting room,
not in your car (we want to make sure you, not your girlfriend, can
complete it). Employers
need to make sure their prospective employees can read and write. They
don't want
employees who complain when they are given instructions.
4. Don't complain if there are fewer chairs than people in the waiting
room and you have to
stand up to complete the application, especially if the 200 people
before you didn't
complain. Employers don't want employees who are negative or who won't
put effort into
their work.
5. Do not wear clothing with paint splatters or grease stains, or that
smell strongly of
smoke, body odor, or gasoline. Please wipe the mud, or whatever that
brown stuff is, off
your feet before entering. The other 10 people standing with you in the
waiting room will
be grateful if you wear fresh clothing.
6. Don't wear t-shirts that advertise nude dancing or that have
pictures of marijuana plants.
Also don't dress as if you are heading to the night club. Wear clean,
neat clothing that you
would wear to work. For a factory job that might mean jeans and a plain
t-shirt, polo, or
button down shirt, with clean tennis shoes or work boots.
7. Don't ask if you really need phone numbers for your references.
Don't ask if you really
need to fill in the employment history if you have your resume. Make it
as easy as possible
for the employer to scan your work history and contact your references.
Don't put any
obstacles in their way.
8. Don't ask the employer to make copies of your resume, work permits,
certifications, test
scores, or anything else. Bring extra copies of all these to attach to
your application.
Employers really appreciate these supplements, but not when they have
to pay to copy
them.
9. Don't ask for a phone book so you can look up the phone numbers for
your references or
former employers. Have your list of references and employers (with the
dates you worked
there) and their phone numbers ready ahead of time. Employers want
employees who
think ahead and come prepared.
10. Don't ask if the employer will hire someone who has committed a
felony, but if the
question is asked on the application, answer it honestly. Don't leave
the answer blank
because the employer will assume you have committed a felony and are
trying to hide it.
11. Don't be rude in any way. Smile, say please, say thank you. A
person who has handed
out and accepted hundreds of applications in three days will not
appreciate rudeness and
may bury rude applicant's materials at the bottom of the pile.
12. Don't call the very next day to check on your application. Don't
call every day for the
next 2 weeks, 2 months, or 6 months. When you turn in your application,
ask when the
employer expects to begin making calls for interviews. At that time,
call once to check on
your application. If you haven't heard in a week, call again. If the
employer hires other
people but not you, or hasn't hired anyone yet still advertises for the
position, ask the
employer to let you know what qualifications you are lacking. Quit
calling.
13. Don't expect "I really, really need a job bad!" to trump
the qualifications of all the good
applicants, then get mad when others with direct experience are hired
and you are not.
In summary, dress in fresh, neat clothing. Be prepared. Follow
directions. Smile and be
polite. Don't complain and do anything to take up the employer's time
and effort. Make
your first impression that of a model employee, and don't do anything
to make the
employer want to throw your application in the "no" pile as
soon as you walk
out the door.
