Can you say awkward? Lesson in staying in the interview game

While I was driving to Sacramento for an education policy conference yesterday (aka something to fill the time of unemployment), I got a call about a job interview as a counselor at a middle school in Oakland. Since the interview was the next day it meant that had to leave the conference early and go straight from the conference to the interview. I was slightly paranoid about getting to the interview on time for two reasons: first, I spoke with the principal about the interview while I was in an obnoxiously loud Starbucks so I was worried about whether she had actually said 2pm (which is what I heard) and second, the 80 freeway in Richmond can often be a disaster of traffic to which you never know how long it will take to get through. So to ease this strife, I gave myself more than enough time and took my bagged lunch to go. After an interview pump up song – “Saturday in the Park” (by Chicago), I got to the interview and was feeling good in my suit, heels, and straightened hair. I walked in confidently, smiling at the people in the school lobby, and sat at the waiting chair. All of a sudden, the (amazing) security guard walked up to me and I froze. She pointed at me to go down the hallway with her – which could seem that I was getting in trouble for some mysterious reason, but I knew exactly what she meant. THERE WAS A FEMALE INSTICT BETWEEN OUR EYES and I knew = there was something on my ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She told me there was a blood spot “right on my crack.” Although I was embarrassed, I totally didn’t believe it because I wasn’t on my period. Walking down the hall to the batrhroom was f-ing mortifing, particularly because the four ladies who were sitting with the secutiry guard in the lobby must have seen “my situation” as well! In the bathroom I look and there is a big visible red spot on the outside (mysteriously not on the inside) of my tight khaki dress pants. I want to laugh at the fact that I walked so confidently in my heels & suit passed those ladies! Now I have nothing else to wear since I’ve just come straight from the conference (thank God I was early so the saint of a security guard could save my life). I had a huge computer messenger bag which I had to lower to cover my bum, but I tried to hold it together and not sprint out of the school to run and hide. As I continued to wait, the security guard again walked up to me and pointed to the back of the office where she handed me two huge pads packaged in bright pink cardboard. I am (still) not on my period so I don’t know what to say to her; I cringed in accepting one of the pad, fearful that something way more terrible might happen in the actual interview, like these huge pads, that only middle schools pass out, might fall out of my bag! Meanwhile it’s 85 degrees and I’m in a suit, so I’m already bright red! So I sit and try to act as normal as possible. Holding my bag over my ass at all times, I went in to the interview. (Next – you can imagine me sliding in and out of a middle school-sized chair in the makeshift interview room.) Somehow I rocked the interview and felt slightly confident knowing that these school personnel across the table didn’t know what was going down on my backside. Afterwards, I sheepishly walked out of the building, wave with non-verbal graciousness to the security guard, while continuing to  clutch my bag over my ass. I basically sprint to my car, dying to be alone and to not feel like such an awkward middle schooler! Yet, before I hopped in the car, I found the culprit – a sundried tomato from the sandwich I was eating while driving to the interview!

Moral of the story – Always stay present during in your interview – regardless of the circumstances around you or “upon” you. Thank the people who help you in awkward times, mostly for averting you from facing even greater mortification than them having to point out the embarrassing spinach in your teeth, spot on your ass, sliding tupe, or exposed breast beneath an unbuttoned blouse. Avoiding sun dried tomatoes in general might also be good too.

Advice from a Recruiter

I recently had the chance to discuss the recruiting process, resume advice and the amazing city of San Francisco with Danielle Becks, Recruiter at agency360. She has been working at agency360 for about a year and has a lot of experience working with entry level and senior level candidates.

She gave a lot of advice to the job seeker (you!), so I’d like to highlight them here:

1.       LinkedIn is your Friend

A large part of a recruiters job is to connect with as many as people as possible. They do this through emailing past clients and their connections on LinkedIn. Key thing to remember:

• Keep your profile up to date
• If a recruiter contacts you for referrals, don’t just delete the email. Think about who you know that is unhappy with their job and let them know. Your friend will remember the gesture next time you are unhappy in your job and will do the same.  

2.       Format and Spelling

Why people think that formatting and spelling mistakes are fine on a resume but not in an English class just fascinates me! Did you know that these are still the most common problems with resumes today?

• Spell check is there for a reason.
• Google “resume templates” to find ways to make yours easier to read
• Ask your friends to look at your resume!
• Keep your resume 1 page!

3.       Be Picky

There are a lot of recruiters out there, so it’s important that you find one that you can really connect with and who has your best interests in mind. If you feel pressured to interview for a job you aren’t interested in, then you have the wrong recruiter!

• Ask friends who they’ve used before and meet 3-4 recruiters before you make a decision. 
• Ask your recruiter how many successful candidates they have in your industry, title, location, etc.

For those in the bay area, I would definitely recommend Danielle at agency360. If you are interested in finding a new passion or know someone who is looking, send them to Danielle’s LinkedIn profile!

Move out from the tragedy

Amidst the current economic times, there are many examples of success and tragedy. If you have recently lost your job or have had a hard time getting back on the job train, don’t let this get you down. As with any tragedy, eventually there becomes a positive effect. Whether this will happen today or in a few weeks, I hope you all stay strong and keep your thoughts positive. Please share your current successes in our comments below, and help encourage and motivate someone! If you are in need to a resume writer, check out Gayle Howard.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is known as the “Apple guy”. For many younger people growing up in today’s high-tech world, Apple is the company that makes the iPod, iPhone, and other leading handheld computer applications. Some graphics aficionados also use the Macintosh, the company’s graphics-driven computer interface.

Jobs initially co-founded Apple in the late 1970s and created one of the first successful commercial computers. Jobs is widely credited with conceiving the mouse-driven graphical user interface. He also expressed the belief that one day, computers would be common place in homes all over the United States, and the world. Unfortunately, Jobs was not able to fully commercialize his innovative ideas after being dismissed by the Apple Board in 1985 over a difference of opinions.

Human nature might suggest that Jobs would feel vengeful and angry and perhaps dwell on his misfortune. Instead, Jobs remained convicted about his ideas and started a new computer platform company, NeXT. Ironically, NeXT was bought by Apple Computers Inc. in 1997. Jobs was reinstated as Chairman and CEO. He has persevered and helped drive the company to new heights as a major player in technology and entertainment. Jobs helped hone his entertainment prowess after becoming CEO of the 1986 Lucasfilm spin-off, Pixar Animation. Walt Disney acquired Pixar and 2006 and Jobs is the largest individual stockholder in Disney, and a member of its Board.

Steve Jobs has proven that innovative ideas and a forward-looking mind will always have a place in the forefront of companies looking to stay ahead of the competition. In industries like technology, entertainment, and business, ideas and concepts and successful commercialization of them, are what creates success. Jobs stayed the course with his ideas even when others could not picture the opportunities. He demonstrates that the best form of revenge in business is to prove your worth and to work through obstacles.