Easily, Breezily, Beautifully Being Prepared

There is nothing worse then waking up the day of your interview to have everything go wrong. I woke up one morning, on the day of an interview, and bumped my shin on the side of my bed causing an instant bruise that a) did not match with the outfit I intended to wear and b) displayed its brilliant colours just under the hem of my new pencil skirt, ugh. “If this is any indication of how my day is going to go” I thought, “I am not going to get this job.” Well, my morning did not get much better: The cowlick in my hair made it impossible to have a good hair day; I poured cereal and sliced a banana to learn I did not have my typical almond milk…so I settled for a protein shake; and after choosing a new outfit (due to my early morning melee with my bed causing the bruise), I spilled protein shake on my blouse!

My saving grace was that I afforded myself enough time, in the event of a disaster (or two or three), and I performed a dry-run of my route to the interview; so, I knew how much time to allow myself to eliminate at least one morning stressor. A few days prior, I set my GPS, timed myself, and then tacked on an extra half an hour just in case a train should attempt to derail my morning or heavy traffic should arise. Further, when I arrived at my POI, I walked around familiarizing myself with the area and the building so I knew exactly where I was going on that day; and thank Gucci I did because I arrived early with enough time to relax in the waiting area and review my documentation. Lesson of the day: Afford yourself enough time in the morning, both in getting ready and in the commute, so that you eliminate added stress. The morning of an interview is never easy and why burden yourself with additional anxiety? Remember anxiety shows and you want to be an easy, breezy, beautiful cover girl for your big day.


Happy job shopping!

To Flare or not to Flare

I am often asked what type of font to use for a cover letter and resume. Here’s my take on it: Picking a font is much like picking an outfit for an event—it must be acceptable. You are likely not going to wear your best purse, heels, and jewels from New York’s runway to your friends BBQ, right? So, pick a font that suits the intention. There are two fonts frequently used by writers: serif and sans serif. I like the word serif as it represents letters with flare; meaning, letters that have semi-structural details at the corners of the letters like Times New Roman font (My opinion? Times New Roman is also more feminine). Sans serif font, sans meaning “without” in French, is very simple, stick-like, and uninteresting like Arial font. When determining which font to use, ask yourself the following questions Will I be faxing my documentation? Will I be emailing my documentation? or Will I be handing out my documentation in person?


Typically, if you are handing out your resumes and cover letters in person, a serif font like Times New Roman is a great choice; the serifs propel the reader to move forward and studies state that a serif font is easier to read in print. On the contrary, if you will be primarily faxing or emailing your resume and cover letter, you may want to choose a sans serif font which may look clean and crisp once received by the employer (most notably when faxing as fax machines tend to smear or blur the content with a serif font).

My choice is clearly a font with flare. Characteristic of my personality? Definitely!

Happy job shopping!

YOUNIQUELY YOU - Your Personal Job Search Assistant: Bait the Hook to Suit the Fish. Don't use wasabi!

YOUNIQUELY YOU - Your Personal Job Search Assistant: Bait the Hook to Suit the Fish. Don't use wasabi!

Bait the Hook to Suit the Fish. Don't use Wasabi!

I was invited on a fishing trip and figured, I haven’t been adventurous in awhile, so I accepted. Standing in my walk-in closet staring at Coach Purses, Rock and Republic Jeans, and my Valentino Sunglasses I wondered what I was thinking in accepting this invitation—I have nothing to wear! I managed to find some old Guess Jeans at the bottom of my drawer, a sweatshirt, and a couple of t-shirts to sustain my fishing weekend. I also took a pair of heels…just in case.

Holding the hook, I asked, “what do I put on it?” My girlfriend replies, “what the fish wants,” and pulls out a wriggling worm—yuck! “Can’t I put the hook in the water bare like this fall season’s fashion trends?” I was not going to touch that slimy worm. My girlfriend then says to me, “you can, and you may snag something, but your chances of attracting a fish increase greatly if you lure them with what they want.” Ah (chandelier bulb), at that time, I had a hankering for sushi but I wasn’t going to put some wasabi on the hook because that’s not going to attract a fish. I thought this is what I try to teach my job search clients; you can’t apply for any job, you have to do some research and find out what the employer wants. The dilemma most job seekers face is that they write their resumes for themselves, adding achievements or certifications that they are proud of, but in that the employer takes no interest. Thus, we have to identify our target audience, what they want to see, and how we attract them? When writing your resume, the page is your hook; the content, your bait.

I caught a couple of fish that trip, with the assistance of my friend’s fearlessness of slimy animals, and took home a valuable lesson: Bait the hook to suit the fish. Now, I have to do my research on what a handsome real estate agent with a great car and an excellent physique wants.

Happy job shopping!

This is the Year to Meet Your Soul…..Job?

Ladies, have you ever used a dating site to meet your soul mate? I can’t count the number of individuals I know who have found the love of their life by utilizing a dating site. I suppose it makes sense as dating sites work at matching up individuals with similar likes, interests, values, personality traits, etc. When the successful matches are high in numbers, it makes me wonder why we don’t employ the same theories in our job search. If you discover an available job in a company whose interests, culture, and values align with your own, you may have found your perfect match. You may have found your…soul job, in other words. Ah, love is grand.

When evaluating a potential employer, do your research. Go to the company’s website and click on the “About Us” section. Often times this section will contain the company’s mission statement, vision statement, and values. Perhaps you may set up an informational interview to discuss how the company will advance in the future, what the employer likes about working there, and how the hiring manager began working for the company. It could be like your first date to see if you would like to continue the relationship. When getting into the field of career development, I conducted three informational interviews with companies for whom I thought I might like to work. Wouldn’t you know, all three companies contacted me within the next three months to offer me an interview. Luckily, I found my soul job…we’ve been in love ever since.

Happy job shopping!

Interests: Fashion, etc.

I like Coach Purses, Mary Jane Shoes, Gucci Sunglasses, and Juicy Jewelry. I thought that after the employer was finished devouring my employment experience, extensive education, and professional development she might want some dessert. Thus, I added my interests that I am passionate about: Coach Purses, Mary Jane Shoes, Gucci Sunglasses, and Juicy Jewelry. I cogitated that it would be nice for the hiring manager to know something about me as a unique individual rather than simply learning about my dry employment related past. Whoops!


A couple of weeks went by with no contact from the hiring manager; so I called her to learn that she had filled the position. I set up a time with her to call back and receive some feedback. She asked how my interest in purses, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry were relevant to the marketing position for which I was applying. Um, hmm. I was stymied! She explained to me that she is not interested in what I fancy and that I ought to leave it off my professional document. After working for years in the career development field, I learned that many hiring managers do not care about your interests, they are concerned with their own—which at the time, is to hire the right candidate for the position. Had I been applying for a position with Holt Renfrew for a retail salesperson position, it may have been acceptable for me to add my interests to fill some white space; but, I was applying for a marketing position! Lesson learned: Keep the interests off, unless you have some white space to furnish and some relevant interests to satisfy that space. I’ll save the purses, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry conversation for my weekend expeditions with the ladies.
Happy job shopping!

Leading from the Heart

Well, I am back from my educational hiatus. I have recently completed my Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology. Thus, I have time on my hands to write.

I went to a conference recently on leadership and was utterly inspired. I would like to start off 2011 with an inspirational story that touched my heart and taught me an important lesson. The lesson is: Lead with your heart. For all you ladies seeking managerial or supervisory positions, this message will be particularly important for you and how you approach your resumes, cover letters, and interviews. A manager is efficient, knows where and when to cut costs, knows how to write proposals, and attains goals; a leader on the other hand, knows her team, inspires, encourages, motivates, listens, takes time to problem solve how to move individuals forward, and leads with the heart. You never know whose life you will change in doing so. Please find below the story that inspired me; it is long, but worth it!

There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And as she stood in front of her fifth grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie? Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same? But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade Teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed, how pretty the bracelet was. She put it on and dabbed some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "pets".

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."