I guess there are times when you need to be reminded that there are very superficial business people out there.
Last week I got an email in response to my resume posted on Craig’s List. This is what it said:
“Can you send references and salary history?”
That’s it. No mention about what kind of work this person was interested in. It was signed by a lawyer.
So I replied that I wanted know what this was in regards to before I sent such information. This was the response:
“I am looking for an executive assistant who can proof read, knows grammar, and is conscientious, organized, has excellent people skills. Would this be you?”
Now, lets step back a bit. The headline for my resume is, “Editorial Professional with 10+ Years Experience.” I’ve been in marketing for more than 15 years. So, I’m thinking why would this person think I’d be interested in an executive assistant position. So I reply:
“Well, yes I do have those qualities, however I’m not really an executive assistant. I’m more of a marketer or publications editor. But thank you for thinking of me.”
Later that day, he calls me. Apparently he’s having difficulty finding someone who can read and write. So he convinces me to come in for an interview at 1:30 pm today. He even confirms this time in writing via email.
So today, I’m en-route to the interview and at around 1:15pm he calls me again and says our interview was at 1pm. I said I had 1:30 and I was on my way. He said it was probably his mistake and looked forward to meeting with me.
So I get there. I’m wearing my typical interview outfit: my nicest trousers (beige cotton linen) and a nice blue knit top. I’ve worn this outfit to interviews where I’ve been offered the job. I’ve been dressing this way for more than 15 years and no one has ever commented on it.
What is this lawyer’s first comment to me? First, that he knew he made the appointment for 1pm because he was seeing a client at 2pm. And then, asked me what kind of job I was looking for because I wasn’t dressed nicely enough. He had clients coming into the office and expected a certain “image.”
I told him that I had been dressing this way to corporate positions for years without comment and that I would not be comfortable in a place that required more. I was out the door and out of the parking lot before the 20 minute deadline for free parking was up.
I mean really, if I had showed up in flip flops and a skirt with no nylons I would understand. Oh, and to make matters worse, his front office assistant was wearing a casual, almost hippy-ish dress. I was definitely dressed more professionally than her.
What a waste of my time. I’d much rather work with people who appreciate my skills and talents and not how I dress — not that I dress like a bum or anything. But my philosophy is life it too short for uncomfortable clothes and threw off that yoke years ago and never intend on looking back.
Something I am learning about my annual goals process is that they are a lot more fluid than I thought. Life changes so much in a year that those things you set to accomplish for the year can cease to have meaning just a few months later and new goals take their place.
Last night I caught up on some old The Simpsons episodes recorded by our Tivo. One of them was “Rosebud” where Mr. Burns longs for his childhood teddy bear, Bobo. It made me think of something that happened during our recent move out to Phoenix, Az.
This thought ran across my mind the other day as I was walking the dog. I currently live in a neighborhood with a high percentage of Mexicans and they love to have family parties with the music blaring and the bounce tent set up in the front yard for the kids.
