How “Weirdness” Can Get You a Job

Either you said it, you’ve heard it said, or it’s being said behind your back:
“My friends are the weirdest people in the world.”

Well, fine citizens of Earth, this can help you stand out when looking for a job.  Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com spoke in a New York Times article with Adam Bryant about how he looks for “weirdness” when searching for employees.  He views it as establishing culture for his company, establishing a creative and pleasant workplace for all.  An example question in the interview would be, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how weird are you?”  The importance of the question is less of what you answer, but more of how you respond.

Although many companies are going to be more traditional like we’re used to, there are going to be several others, like Zappos.com, that are searching for a more “weird” employee.  So don’t be afraid you trekies, bandos, WoW players, and others to be yourself when applying to these companies that welcome you to be you!  Just make sure to do some research in advance…

Full New York Times Article

21 Eppley: Appearance is Everything [Episode 2]

How to “Mane”tain That Static Hair

We all know first impressions are incredibly important and that’s even more true if you’re interviewing for a job. So next time you’re auditioning for that dream position, make sure you look your best. That means taking care of that crazy bedhead or the albert einstein fro you’ve been rocking. It’s getting to be that time of year when the weather is changing and those ions are becoming negatively charged. Here are some quick tips on how to stop your hair from becoming an electrifying nightmare:

1.    Increase humidity levels in your home. You can do this by buying a humidifier.
2.    Rub a dryer sheet in your hair. It’s a quick, easy, and cheap solution to knock out that static cling. (Also works on getting rid of static in clothes).
3.    Spray your hair brush with hairspray before using it.
4.    Rub a small amount of gel in your hair.
5.    Get your hands wet and pat down your hair with damp hands.
6.    Use the excess lotion from your hands to smooth through your hair. (this is easy and makes your hair smell good, but be careful you don’t make it look greasy)
7.    Buy anti-static hair products
8.    Use the ion setting on your hairdryer if you have one.

Remember….don’t be static for your interviews, be estatic! =)

http://www.ehow.com/how_4830450_rid-static-cling-hair.html

By: Ashley Raymond

Stain On Your Power Suit? No Worries.

It’s the morning of your interview, you’re dressed and eating your cereal, when to your horror you somehow miscalculate the trajectory of your spoon and see your cereal end up on your shirt rather than in your mouth. This kind of event can cause massive shock and panic  like none other, but there is hope for you still. Try these quick tips to erase your clothing stain worries and get back to nailing that interview.

Tips and Tricks to Get Rid of Those Nasty Little Stains

1.    Timing Is Crucial! Get to the stain as soon as possible
2.    Blot don’t rub using a clean white cloth or white paper towel.
3.    Check garments before throwing them into the wash and treat with stain removal agents (but test a small area first).
4.    Rub stained fabric gently, so you don’t spread stain or ruin the fabric.
5.    Use cold water. Hot water will set in the stain.

For more information on removing certain types of stains check out the stain removal index:
http://housekeeping.about.com/od/stainremoval/a/stainsindex.htm

Talk Job Interviews with Spartans & Target Recruiters