Looking for a Job?

[sasvermont]

Yes, that is the email address of one person I interviewed while at that nasty law firm, years ago.

I am in the process now, but in the other chair. I am being interviewed. My email address is simple and I always send a thank you note.

I cannot tell you how many times just someone's name is enough to make you want to never hire them. I won't go into details, since I might step on toes, here.

Thanks for the advice!

[kitten645]

Excellent advice ladies. I got my very first job out of high school by saying Thank you when I was offered a seat to be interviewed. The lady looked at me and said "You know you are the FIRST person to thank me." I was amazed. You'd think if you WANT a job, you'd be on your best behaviour!
I've interviewed many people since. I'm in retail and have had people interview in flip flops, tube tops and carrying a crumpled shopping bag from a competitor! I'm talking about interviewing for a store on the level of Tiffany's!
In this age of "entitlement", I'm amazed at how many "assume" they deserve the job. with no effort at all!
Claudia

[slick]

Sara:
Is it OK to email in the thank you or should it be a personal phone call?

I'm at a crossroad now. I don't know what I'm going to do. It's too long to get into but I am updating my resume and sending some out just to see what happens. Would you hire a 56 year old IT professional knowing that I only have 9 more working years left?

[Suki Wingy]

THANK YOU. I am very much looking for a job right now. I also really, really, don't want to change my hair color. Would you automatically rule me out? (I am the one with pink hair in my signature.)

[Uabassoon]

THANK YOU. I am very much looking for a job right now. I also really, really, don't want to change my hair color. Would you automatically rule me out? (I am the one with pink hair in my signature.)

I hate admit that I would automatically rule you out. I would put your application in my TBNT (thanks but no thanks) folder.

I'm also shocked at how people don't know how to dress for an interview. You should dress nicer than the dress code of the place you are interviewing for. If you show up in jeans, shorts or flip flops you are not getting hired.

I second #3 I will not leave a message if I don't know who I am calling.

[Aspen and Misty]

So I've recently applied for a job. I did an informal over the phone interview (the job is in Haines Alaska, I'm in Atlanta Georgia) and after that she asked me to send in my resume via email. When I emailed her I told her how nice it was to get to talk to her, thanked her for her time, included my resume and told her I looked forward to hearing from her soon (or something along those lines, it was very nice professional and well written). I then did a formal, over the phone interview with several board members, afterwards they asked for me to send them my references again via email. In my email I again thanked all of them for their time, told them I really enjoyed learning more about the job and that I look forward to speaking with them in the near future (or something along those lines, again it was very nice, professional and well written).

Now my question is do I send another thank you? Or was the one sent with my references sufficient enough? Is there anything else I could do that would help me to possibly land this job?

Ashley

[Miss Z]

Thanks for posting this, I'm astounded that the majority of people out there don't think that it's obvious to consider all the points you have made.

I'm considering looking for some employment soon. I know that I would never show up to a serious interview in anything other than a suit. I would keep make-up natural and jewelry to a minimum. I never plan to dye my hair all the colours of the rainbow, or get any form of tattoos. I just think someone in a well-cut, crisp business suit with natural features looks so professional, and a lot of jobs are secured on first impressions.

[Randi]

Sara, that's good advice! I will only add, that if you send an application by e-mail, send it as a .pdf. That way, you're sure it will look the same when they open it. Also, a nice layout is a good idea!

In Denmark, it's not very common to send a Thank You note though, some would consider it too much "grease" for their taste.

Unemployed people in Denmark now have to apply for at least 4 jobs a week, and be able to prove it. Because of this, companies get so many unserious applications. I noticed in an add the other day, that a company had asked people that are not serious about it, to send their application to this address: [email protected]

Would you hire a 56 year old IT professional knowing that I only have 9 more working years left?

Slick, you know I'm looking for jobs, and that's my way of thinking too, but you have the advantage of having been in the same Company for so many years - and getting a new job when you already have one, is so much easier. Good luck girl!!

[Edwina's Secretary]

Slick - an email is actually better than a phone call. It gets passed around (really -- with "wow, isn't this nice!") and doesn't put the person "on the spot."

The average tenure right now is three years -- probably less for IT folk. Someone want to work for me for 9 years. Great! And maybe you should use that to market yourself. Youngster who will leave in two years or seasoned pro who understand loyalty and hard work!

Suki Wing...the hard honest truth? Unless I was recruiting for some way out artistic company or something theatrical - yes, your hair would be a knock out factor. Sorry, but most companies would find it distracting.

[kitten645]

Again, completely on the spot I think a hand written note is fine as is an email. A hand written note gets put into my file with the application so I remember the person better. I would try to remember to print out an email but life gets busy!
I had the conversation with a friend of mine the other day about how the employment value of women over 50 diminishes so quickly. It's nice to know that there's a field that would like someone to stay on more than two years.
The hard fact in this economy is that alot of people that thought they could retire at 65 are finding it's not a reality. Sad but many figure they'll have to keep working past their retirement age.
On the flip side, 65 isn't what it was in our parents day. I see so many people who would have been considered "elderly" back then that I'd LOVE to have as an employee. Some 65 year olds seem to be 40! As they say, age is in the mind...the trick is not letting it creep down to the body!
Claudia