A few years back, I was working in a department store. I was sitting at my station and a young lady waltzes in to ask about our application process. She was wearing torn jeans, her shirt was falling off of her shoulders and she was wearing dirty flip flops. She looked like she had been up all night so I asked her where she came from. She proudly told me her sole purpose for coming to our store was to apply for a job. I happened to be lucky enough to work the next day when she turned in her app-wrinkled and folded. While I was not present in her interview, I can say without reservation that she did not get the job because of the impression she left on my supervisor.
I still meet people like the young lady described above on a weekly basis. Yes in 2010! I figured its because they don't know any better, and so this post was born. Although there are several ways to inquire about a job opening, the old fashioned way is to visit the place of business and inquire in person. Understand if you decide to do it this way, your visit will be an informal addition to your application process.
Sidenote: Before you make the trip look up the company's info and call to make sure the manager/HR employee is available. You do not want to make an unecessary trip.
While you have the option of calling in (with a pleasant and articulate phone voice of course), if you decide to visit the business, regardless of the position you seek there are a few crucial things you should double check first. Keep in mind that first impressions last long and once made are difficult to change. Here are 4 things you should check:
1. Clothes. While most companies do not look for you to wear a $2000 tailored suit from Brooks Brothers to pick up an app or to speak to their HR department, your clothes should be neat and presentable. This means no wrinkled jeans, no baggy shirts, no [visible] holes ANYWHERE. You may want to scout out the place a day or two before you officially go and speak with the appropriate people to get a feel for how the employees dress. Your clothes are a representation of your judgment. Also, employers want to know you can dress the part of an employee. If they are ill-fitted or dirty, employers may view this negatively. You can never go wrong with business casual and a smile. This leads to...
2. Teeth. Make sure you do not have anthing in your teeth and that your breath is fresh. Im not trying to be facetious. I have spoken with people who's breath was less than fresh and who have had things lodged in their teeth that ranged from spinach to pizza sauce. Check your smile before you walk in or avoid eating foods that may get stuck in your teeth or ruin your breath.
3. Hair. The "messy bed head" look is not ok. Make sure your hair looks groomed and well kept. Combs, brushes and lite amounts of hair gel are friends to us all.
4. Attitude. You want to make your visit a pleasant one. You do not want to strike the management/HR employees as an unpleasant person. Enter with a smile and ask one of the employees if you can speak with a manager/HR employee. Patiently wait for the person to come to meet you and explain the reason for your visit. Ask about their application process and what your experience will be like. Once you've grasped an understanding, smile and walk away.
Sidenote: Do NOT under any circumstances return a paper application with spelling mistakes or several scribble marks. Do not fold it, wrinkle it, or destroy it in any way. Politely ask for another application and fill it out (free of mistakes) again.
I know people are tired of hearing about our terrible economy (which is arguably recovering), but we have to be more mindful of every step of the application process. If you decide to inquire about a job in person, make sure you look presentable.
What do you think? Should inquiring about a position be considered another part of the application process? The floor is yours....
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