The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, IN), Monday, 9/2/2024
Heloise Column

Dear Heloise: I’ve been the director of human resources in my company for about 12 years. I’ve seen just about everything come through my office door at one time or another, and I wanted to give your readers some hints on how to improve their chances of getting a job:

• Bring a clean copy of your resume. Please don’t think it’s cool to tell me that resumes are boring or out-of-date. No resume, no job. You’ve just shown me how lazy you are.
• Dress the part. Have enough self-respect to bathe, wear a clean outfit and polish your shoes. You shouldn’t wear anything expensive, but showing up in ripped jeans and a stained sweatshirt (yes, it’s happened) does not impress anyone.
• At the end of the interview, do not ask if you are hired. We might have other candidates to see. We’ll let you know our decision one way or another.
• Don’t insult your former employer(s).
• Don’t make veiled threats that you’ll sue if you don’t get the job.
• Please don’t tell us about your financial woes, We don’t hire employees based on personal problems.
• Do your research. We usually ask candidates why they want to work for our company.
• If you were in an interview, could you answer this question easily? Or, you might be asked an off-the-wall question such as: “Were you ever involved in any extracurricular activities in school?” We normally ask this to see if you can answer an unexpected question intelligently and calmly.
• And as a final note, don’t drink alcohol before an interview to calm your nerves. (It happens more than you might expect.) If we suspect that you’ve been drinking or smell alcohol on you,chances are very good that you won’t be hired.

Take a deep breath and go in smiling with your head held high and shoulders back. Give it your best shot!

Elizabeth, in Pennsylvania