Pongo Resume

In the summer of 1983, I graduated from college and moved into a tiny studio apartment with two friends. I desperately needed income, but had no clue what kind of job I wanted.

My brand new B.A. in Psychology was nice to look at, but qualified me for nothing in particular. And my work experience consisted of several years of part-time cashiering in my dad's store. Needless to say, I had not exactly been proactive in my career planning, and I had no resume.

To make matters worse, I knew exactly seven things about job interviews:

1. Be polite.
2. Don't be late.
3. Wear a suit.
4. Give a firm handshake.
5. Make eye contact.
6. Don't take the seat at the head of the table.
7. Write a thank-you note.

Unprepared but determined, I sat down with the Help Wanted section of The Boston Globe and tried to find a job. When I spotted the ad for a "People Person," I got all excited. I didn't know exactly what a people person was, but I was pretty sure I was qualified to be one.

I called the number in the ad and, believe it or not, it was a legitimate job opening for a front-desk assistant in a very reputable dental practice in Boston. The dentist's wife Arline managed the office. Arline and I clicked on the phone, and scheduled a time to meet the very next day. My first real job interview!

Just one problem: My electric typewriter was in storage, and no one I knew had a computer yet, so I had no choice but to sit down and literally write my resume.

On paper.

With a pen.

So I did.

And I got the job!

Months later, Arline told me she'd been ready to make me an offer almost as soon as I walked through the door, because I was the first candidate to arrive on time, wearing a suit. And my embarrassing handwritten resume? That's actually what sold her. When she saw my neat handwriting, she knew her appointment book would never be messy again. And, she figured if I would go to the trouble to hand-write an entire resume, I would probably be a good worker.

What's my point?

In a job interview, it's important to realize you're being evaluated in ways you might not expect. Every little thing you do or say contributes to the overall impression you're making. Seemingly insignificant details can make a big difference. Nobody likes to shake hands with a bone crusher or a dead fish. That was true in 1983, and it's still true today.

Despite all the changes in the hiring process over the past quarter century, I believe most hiring managers still place a lot of importance on the little niceties embodied in the 7-point list. Do you agree?

Cast your vote in this Pongo Poll, and feel free to express your opinion by posting a comment below.

RELATED LINKS
Transitioning from Student to Professional: What They Don't Teach in School
Career Journaling for the Future
Yes, You Still Need Paper Resumes for Your Interviews

Is wearing a suit imperative. What about a nice blouse and dress pants. Because honestly, I don't have a suit, and can't find one affordable enough to look right on me.

How long should you wait before you send out a thank you note, especially when you're not sure of how the interview went. I liked the job, the people, the place and the salary range and would like the job but did not get a 'feel' either way. I was only the second person interviewed and I know there were many others still scheduled. Also, what if I don't have either of the two interviewers' email addresses, only the HR dept email where the resume went by email? Is it ok to send it there to the interviewer's attention? Tks for your help.

@Andrea L

Hi Andrea: You needn't wait at all to send a thank you note! The sooner the better. Whether or not you got a good "feel" about the interview doesn't matter. Many interviewers purposely don't reveal any emotional reactions.

Yes, it is OK to send your thank you notes via the HR person, if you can't find out the interviewers' e-mails. That's better than nothing. BUT FIRST, try to find out the interviewers' e-mails. Call the company and explain that you interviewed with these people and would like to send them a thank you, and ask for their e-mail addresses. They may or may not simply give them to you.

Another option is to check their web site to find someone's (anyone's) personal e-mail, and figure it out from there. Let's say you find an e-mail address jsmith@companyname.com. That tells you the company uses first-initial-last-name, followed by the @ information. If you interviewed with Mike Jones, then you can safely assume his e-mail is mjones@companyname.com.

Hint for next time: ALWAYS GET A BUSINESS CARD FROM EVERY INTERVIEWER :)

Good luck,

Julie

In regards to sending a thank you after an interview, if an email address cannot be determined, what about the old fashioned way - through the mail? Is this still an acceptable way of corresponding? I sent a thank you letter through the post office to an interviewer hoping that she would be impressed that I took the time to type a letter and envelope and mail it. I still did not get the job though so maybe it didn't matter.

@GERRI -- I think that really depends on the type of company. If you're applying at a high-tech organization that uses cutting-edge online technology for everything, then a handwritten note might make you look old-school. (Regardless, it's highly unlikely it would be a deal-breaker!)

In a smaller, more personal type of business, a handwritten note might be a refreshing change, and something that sets you apart. Or not :) This is one of those rules that has changed in the past 10 or so years. Hand-written thank you notes used to be a MUST, but today, e-mail thank you's are the standard. Employers can easily forward them to other decision makers, and archive them electronically with the rest of your documents.

Good luck in your search!

--Julie