May 28, 2010 Edition

Question: I missed a call yesterday from a number I didn’t know.  I called right back and told the person who answered that I had gotten a call from that number.  The receptionist acted like I was stupid because I didn’t know who called.  I thought that calling back quickly was better than listening to the message before I called.  Should I waste the time listening to the message or just call back right away?

-Houston, TX Reader

Answer: You know, it’s not really a waste of time to be informed before making a call.  Most companies have more than one phone line and more than one person making phone calls.  It could be anyone there who called you, and the receptionist doesn’t know who it is.  AND it makes you look careless and indifferent.  Listen to the message before you return the call. 

Question: I am a recruiter and interview a lot of people every week, and I have to confess that I don’t remember each and every person’s voice.  Lately, candidates have been calling and without giving a name, they just start talking with anybody who answers the phone.  It’s just so rude, and I know I’m acting short with them.  Can you tell your readers to say who is calling?

-Houston, TX Reader

Answer: Here’s the way it goes:  “Hi, this is Jane Doe.  Is Mabel there?”  You have to substitute the correct names, but seriously it’s just common sense to tell people who you are before you start talking.  Since you know your own name and you should know the name of the person who interviewed you, this is going to be easy.  You can make it hard by telling your story to the first person who answers, and then telling it again to the right person.  Identifying yourself is just common sense and common courtesy.  The problem is that common sense and common courtesy don’t seem all that common anymore.

Question: I am currently having a dilemma.  I need a second job, and the only days off are Wednesdays and Thursdays.  I spoke with my boss, and he said to let them know that I could only work Wednesdays and Thursdays!  How can I land a second job for those days?

-Rosenberg, TX Reader

Answer: You can’t.  You need to interview on Wednesdays and Thursdays to find a better job so that you can quit the one you currently have.

May 21, 2010 Edition

Question: I interviewed on Friday and immediately sent a thank you note.  How long should I wait to call?

-Houston, TX Reader

Answer: You can call within about 2 days after mailing the note.  Hope you get the job.

Question: I interviewed with a really great company last week.  The recruiter and I had a lot of things in common and got along so well that it was really like talking with a friend.  After leaving the interview, I knew I had nailed it and feel sure that I’ll get the job.  As a thank you for the interview, I sent a bottle of wine along with a note to the recruiter by courier.  I got a call from the delivery service saying that the recruiter refused delivery of the package.  I couldn’t believe it!  Do you think I should call and try to figure out why she didn’t accept the wine?

-Houston, TX Reader

Answer: I think you should call and apologize.  She didn’t accept the wine because she can’t accept bribes.  If one candidate sends you wine, you might give them preference over another candidate who sends you cheese.  Or you might give them preference over the candidate who just sends a nice thank you note.  Each candidate has to be evaluated on her/his merits only and not on what kind of gift was sent.  It’s a recruiter’s job to make you feel comfortable and like you’re talking with a friend, and you might actually become friends if you get hired.   Until you’re hired, realize that you’re not part of the team.  You may have ruined your chances for this job!!

Question: I need a job where I don’t have to work weekends because I have to visit my son on weekends.  I’ve been applying for jobs that say Monday – Friday, and I really don’t care what kind of job it is.  I applied for a sales job, and when the lady called me, she asked a bunch of questions and she asked why I wanted sales.  I told her I needed to get off on weekends, and she said that it didn’t sound like I really wanted a sales job.    That was the last straw – I hung up on her.  Why did she make such a big deal out of it?

-Magnolia, TX Reader

Answer: She knows you don’t really want a sales job.

May 14, 2010 Edition

Question: I am looking for a part time job I work at one already put im needing another job to support myself im 19 and about to finsih high school.

im not sure which job it is i wrote this email and didnt write down what it was for it was in a newspaper is all i remeber i have sent so many emails  

This text message is printed as it was received.

-College Station, TX Reader

Answer: When you are looking for a job, keep a written record of the ads that you have answered, the date that you responded, and where you saw the ad (JobSparx.) Many companies have more than one job, and if you don’t give the correct information, they will just ignore you.  You can’t blame them - they are busy people and don’t have time for all the follow-up.

If you want to increase your chances of getting a job, don’t text the company.  Texting is great for friends, but it isn’t good for job applications.  When you are so casual about your job search, you will not get results.  If you worked harder on your job search, you might actually get a job.

Question: I was in an interview the other day, and the guy started talking about his children. He then asked me if I have children. I replied that I have two kids, and he asked me if I have someone to watch them while I work. He said that he knew it can be a problem for working moms. I was surprised and just said “that isn’t a problem.” I thought it was illegal to ask questions like that.

-Garland, TX Reader

Answer: It IS illegal to ask questions like that. I guess he thought he was being subtle because he mentioned his children first. You do not have to answer this kind of question. Simply say that you are not comfortable discussing child care in an interview. Or maybe you should have asked him if childcare is a problem for him. I’d think long and hard about working for someone who flaunts simple interviewing laws.

Question: Can you stand another letter about what to wear to an interview? Is it all right to wear sandals?

-Houston, TX Reader

Answer: I love that kind of question. The answer is no.

May 7, 2010 Edition

Question: Let me ask you this, how is it that entry level offshore oil rig workers don’t require tons of experience - much less a fancy degree - to work on a oil rig and still make decent income?  I wanted to work on an offshore oil rig, but since the accident in the Gulf, I don’t know.

-Houston, TX Reader

Answer: Offshore rig workers make more money because it’s hard work, and it can be dangerous. Most rigs don’t have this kind of accident, but there are all sorts of injuries on rigs. The Gulf tragedy is a worst-case scenario, but I know lots of guys with missing fingers from mishaps. Most people who work on rigs are careful, but sometimes things happen that you can’t predict.

Question: I graduate next year with a degree in Fashion, and I’m thinking ahead about interviewing. My mother says that it’s okay to wear a skirt for interviews, but I think you’re supposed to wear a pants suit. Who is right?

-Tomball, TX Reader

Answer: You are smart to be proactive and think ahead. Your mother is right. (I just love saying that: your mother is right.) Although some recruiters still don’t like pant suits, in the last few years they’ve have been accepted by most interviewers. The word “suit” has not always included the word “pants.”

Question: My husband is a truck driver who had a perfect driving record for 22 years. For the last 5 years, he has owned his own truck and worked contract. He had an accident recently and lost his job as a result. He doesn’t resent the company letting him go because he knew their policy, but he doesn’t know if he should have the insurance company pay for another truck or just take the settlement. If he gets a new truck, do you know if there are any companies that will contract a driver who has had a wreck?

-Baytown, TX Reader

Answer: First of all: Wow, what a great driving record! Secondly: You should not be calling companies on his behalf. Employers want to talk with the actual candidate. You don’t want it to seem like he doesn’t want to work, but you want to get him out of the house. Third: Have him call the trucking companies and ask about their policies.

April 30, 2010 Edition

Question: I graduate in May with an Electrical Engineering degree and have been interviewing with a lot of companies. I sent a text message to thank a recruiter for the interview, and she emailed me that a text message wasn’t appropriate. I have texted every single interviewer and no one else has said that. I haven’t heard from her again, and it’s been three weeks. I’m irritated because it’s the job I wanted. What’s her problem?

-College Station, TX Reader

Answer: I don’t know if she has a problem, but you sure do. You made a mistake texting the thank you, and then you made a HUGE mistake when you didn’t follow up with a verbal or written apology. Texting is great for keeping in touch, but it isn’t good for most business communication. When you texted a thank you, you gave the impression that you either didn’t know the rules, or you didn’t care. She’s trying to hire a professional for this position, and texting gives the impression that you’re not professional. (Did you notice that I cleaned up your text to me and used complete words with commas, capitalized letters and all of that other crazy grammatical stuff?)

Question: I was laid off twice in 2009 but have had several interviews. Every time I interview I always make sure that I also have questions with one of them being if I will hear back from somebody. I always get told that I will get a phone call the following week but never hear anything back. When I call the person that I interviewed with to follow up I get a voice mail and never get a return call. I don't know why companies don't call back but it is frustrating. The last company that I interviewed with said that they were impressed with all of my experience but still no return call. What should I do at this point?

-Pearland, TX Reader

Answer: Did you send a Thank You note to the last company that interviewed you?  Do you have their email address?  You can sometimes get around the voice mail-jail syndrome by mailing or emailing.  If you do all of that, and no one responds, ask yourself if you want to work at a company that would treat people disrespectfully. 

I don’t know why they don’t call, either.  I think that there are several factors involved:

1. No one likes to be the bearer of bad news.  They may feel uncomfortable if it’s a “No.”
2. They get so busy that they let things slip through their fingers.  That’s a lazy excuse.
3. They don’t believe they are being rude, but how would feel they feel if they were in your shoes?

The bottom line is that you need to move on.  Don’t fret and worry about why they didn’t call; interview at another company.  Good luck.

April 23, 2010 Edition

Question: I noticed that you have printed letters from recruiters in the past, and I have a question. I have been recruiting for the same large company for five years. When I receive an interesting resume that looks like a match for our job, I call the candidate for a phone interview to see if they are a good fit. The last three months or so, I have been so frustrated by the conversations that I’m having with the candidates. Many of the calls consist of the candidate complaining about how hard it is to get a job. They continue griping throughout the whole call. It’s so irritating because I am trying to interview them. What is the best way to handle this?

Answer: Wow, I know exactly what you mean because it’s been happening to me, too. The candidate doesn’t realize that you are trying to find a good fit for your company, and a person who constantly gripes is not someone you want to hire. I don’t think candidates understand that we are interviewing them when we call. They seem to think it’s just a nice conversation and don’t put their best foot forward. The best way I’ve found to handle it is to sympathize briefly, and then say, “I hope I haven’t caught you on a bad day. I want to conduct a phone interview with you, but I can always call back at another time.” That statement usually clarifies your purpose. If the candidate continues to complain, I just realize that I am wasting my time and cut it short.

Question: I work at a really nice company and have been there for more than 6 months. I have not received a raise in all that time, and I wonder how I should go about asking for one. I like the job and want to stay here.

Answer: You’ve been there only half a year, and you think you need a raise? Were you promised a raise within 6 months? Most people feel that they are still getting accustomed to the job when they’ve been there only 6 months. I believe I would wait until the one year anniversary and see what happens.

Question: I told my sister that a DWI means Driving Without Insurance and she laughed at me. She won’t tell me what it means so I’m texting you to find out

Answer: “DWI” means Driving While Intoxicated. “DUI” means Driving Under the Influence. If you are driving without insurance, you’re probably going to have a big problem one of these days.

April 16, 2010 Edition

Question: I know a lot of college graduates who have degrees in all kinds of fields and a lot of them have spent weeks if not months waiting to land a job!  What a lot of them tell me is that it’s not what you know but rather who you know!  If you know someone that will give a rookie a chance that’s an enormous A+, but if not you will be miserable even with a degree since you will have an extremely hard time landing a job simply because you may have the degree but lack the real life world experience!!!  Someone who doesn’t have real world experience will have to face an uphill battle because they lack it!  If someone has a degree from Harvard in some career field but lacks real world experience, what should they do if they go months without landing a job that they majored in?  I got certified from a California state university in the field of legal interpretation and translation but never landed a full time job doing translation!  No one really hires translators to work full time in this country!  I have given up ever since!  "Buying" a degree is easy; landing the job which you majored in can be bad if you lack real world experience!!!! 

Answer:  I’m not sure what type of certification you have.  Sometimes one attends a short term course and gets certification for specific jobs, but the employer wants someone with more in depth education in the field. I guess it all depends.  The smart thing to do before getting any type of certification is to research the field and find out if there are actually jobs available.

You’re right, there are people out there struggling and not getting a job.  You’re wrong though when you think that the way you present yourself, your background and experience, your skill sets and tenure at previous jobs aren’t important.  Believe me they are important. 

Real world experience is important in getting a job, but it has to be relevant experience.  If you continue to believe that the only thing that matters is who you know, I guess you need to meet some important people pretty quick so that they can get you a job.  :)

Question: I have a secretarial support business. For the last 2 months, I’ve been cold-calling companies from the phone book to see if the want to hire me contract to do secretarial duties or other short-term duties. So far I have had no luck. I worked at a huge oil company for 9 years and got laid off in January. I am on unemployment and finally just decided to start my own business because I can’t find a job. I am getting very discouraged and don’t know where to go from here.

Answer: You need to keep on plugging, but you also need to be more directed in your search.  When you call a company, refine your sales pitch to identify yourself as “Agnes with Texas XYZ.”  You need to tell them that your company provides short-term or long-term secretarial support.  When you say that you can work on a contract basis, it tells us that you are the only “employee.”  I love your proactive approach, and I know you’re going to do well.

April 9, 2010 Edition

Question: I would love to have a “work from home” job that paid well. I found a Secret Shopper job, but they just started charging my charge card and didn’t give me any work. Do you know of any good jobs I could do from home?

       - Reader in Friendswood, TX

Answer: I don’t. You have to research any “job” like that before you commit. There are probably some good “work from home” jobs out there, but I am not aware of any. Don’t give them financial info.

Question: I sent a resume to a recruiter yesterday, and she told me that I shouldn’t have put my age on it. Do you think that’s true? Why would it be a problem?

       - Reader in Houston, TX

Answer: It’s true. Including your age on a resume might bias the interviewer. I received a resume not long ago that included the candidate’s date of birth, Social Security number, wife’s name, children’s names, the church he attends and the type of car he drives. That is waaaaay too much information. Your resume should have your name, address, contact information (land line, cell phone, email address), and that’s the only personal information you should include.

Question: I got very irritated at an interview yesterday and wonder how I should have handled it. When I went in for my interview, the receptionist handed me an application to fill out, but I told her that I already have a resume. She said that I still had to complete the application. I filled out the application except for previous jobs and just put “See Resume” on those lines. I handed the application to the receptionist, and she sighed and acted angry. She gave me back the application and said, “Fill out those spaces. I don’t care if you have a resume.” I just sat down and completed it, but she was rude. I didn’t say anything but I’d like to tell the manager how rude his receptionist is. What do you think?

Answer: She was rude. She should have politely told you that you must always complete the application. It is a legal document (your resume is not), and they need it for their records. The rule is: Unless your hand is broken, complete the application. Don’t tell the manager that she was rude, because I hope you get the job and then you’ll have to work with that receptionist. She may have been having a bad day.
 

April 2, 2010 Edition

Question: Who are the best companies for offshore oil rig workers?  How much do entry level people make a year?  What are the duties? In what type of climates do they work? 

       - Reader in Houston, TX

Answer: The “best” company for one person would not be the “best” company for another. Entry level is usually a Roustabout - the person who handles equipment and rig supplies. Rigs run in various climates.  We have a lot of offshore drilling here in the Gulf of Mexico. Be careful: there are lots of scams on the Internet that pretend to recruit for different companies. NEVER pay anyone for work permits, insurance policies or give your bank account information to anyone to get a job. In fact, never disclose your personal or financial information to anyone you don’t know! JobSparx does not accept ads from entities that require you to pay to get a job.
 

Question: Ok let me share something with you.  I graduated from high school like 10 years ago and decided not to go to college/trade school because of common sense.  What I mean by common sense is that nowadays most if not all careers are customer service oriented. I simply don’t enjoy doing customer service even if it pays well!  Not my cup of tea!  So why waste my time at a trade school/college?  Apart from oil rig workers, truck drivers, etc...., what are some good paying jobs in America that don’t require trade schools/college?  Between offshore oil rig workers and truck drivers, which one is more hard labor?  Which careers in America don’t require further education than high school to make some good money?  Do you know where I’m coming from? 

       - Same Reader in Houston, TX

Answer: First, it wasn’t common sense to not get more education.  You surely don’t believe that chemical engineers, chemists, architects, accountants and astronomers are “customer service.”  If you believe that, think again.  Trust me on this! The average yearly earnings for HS grads are about $27K.  The average income for college grads is $51K.  That means that you chose to earn about $24K less per year.  If you started working at 18 and retire at 67, you will earn $1,176,000 less in your career.  That’s more than $1 MILLION dollars less.  Where I come from, a million dollars is real money.

Two year colleges like Lone Star College can train you to be a diesel mechanic, a CNC machinist, welder, land surveyor, electrician or automotive tech.  Here’s what I would do if I were you: go to Lone Star or Houston Community College and take the courses that will get you certified.  Quit trying to find a mythical good paying job that does not require any effort, work or education.  If you continue on your current path, you will be behind the eight ball for the rest of your work life.  Get your ducks in a row and start working toward success.

March 26, 2010 Edition

Question: I’ve worked at this company for about 5 months, and I really like the management and my coworkers. I’ve become friendly with one guy who is just a super person. For the last three weeks or so, I’ve noticed that there is alcohol on his breath when he comes back from lunch, and sometimes I can smell it when he comes back from his break. He missed work the last two Mondays, and it all just adds up to a real problem. I don’t want to betray him by going to the supervisor, but I don’t know how to handle this situation. Do you have any advice?

       - Reader in Houston, TX

Answer: Talk with your friend first. Let him know that his drinking is not smart, not a secret and not acceptable. I’m sure that management is aware of the situation and will act with or without your input, but you need to tell them. I’m sure others have noticed and will wonder about you if you continue to spend a lot of time with him. The sad fact is that your friend may be an alcoholic. If he is, nothing you can say or do will impact him until he makes the choice to quit drinking.

Question: I interviewed with a horrible guy the other day. I like everything I read about the company, and they have an excellent reputation, but the interviewer was an arrogant jerk. He called me this morning to ask me to come back for a second interview, but I’m not sure that I want to work for a company that would hire him. I wouldn’t be reporting to him and this interview is with the actual manager. Do you think I should go on the second interview?

       - Reader in Conroe, TX

Answer: Sure. You don’t even know whether you would like the manager or not. If you are not going to be working with or for the arrogant jerk, you may really like the job. As to why a company would hire someone like that: it just happens sometimes.

Question: One of my coworkers wears so much perfume that it gives me headaches. She’s a nice person, and I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but this is getting really bad. She puts on more perfume during the day and the whole office stinks of it. Should I tell the manager?

       - Reader in Houston, TX

Answer: Tell your coworker that you must be allergic to her perfume because it gives you headaches. If she’s really a nice person, she won’t wear it anymore. If she keeps wearing it, she isn’t quite as nice as you think - tell the manager.

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