Sense of humor required, not optional
So...I'm looking for a job.
Ideally: in my field (writing).
Realistically: any job.
Because, my son's education needs are looming on the horizon,
and then there all those increased medical insurance out of pocket costs,
and gas prices.
Gosh, I sound like the evening news, don't I?
Gosh, I sound like the evening news, don't I?
Anyway, have you looked for a job lately?
Oh my goodness -- it is not for the weak of heart.
And one thing you had better be sure to have in your bag of tricks is a sense of humor.
Me, demonstrating my sense of humor |
So, here is the actual text of an ad I saw yesterday:
Brainy, fast, over-qualified entry-level office admin
We are a small, booming Consulting company, 5 years old with 52 consultants and 4 back office people.
You are brainy, fast, calm, focused.
You graduated from a terrific college.
You are professional in your appearance and your conduct.
We have one full time person handling our Finance, Operations and HR, and one full time person handling our recruiting.
You will be supporting our recruiting function 3/4 of the time, and the Fin-Ops-HR function 1/4 of the time.
We will train you on everything you need to know.
You need to be *very* adept at Microsoft Office, and very comfortable with online technologies. We'll teach you our specific tools and processes.
You need people skills and phone skills.
You need to be the most organized person in the room, the tidiest, the least forgetful.
Start date is ASAP. But we are not going to hire the first ordinary person who fits our requirements. We intend to find someone who will grow with our company, so we keep looking until we find someone special who is over-qualified for this position. This is how we hire. We recently lost another entry-level hire because she decided to get her MBA from Stanford. That's what we're talking about!
Your cover letter needs to capture our imagination, and needs to convey the characteristics we describe above.
And just to test if you're paying attention, please include the word "blue" in the document title of your resume.
You are brainy, fast, calm, focused.
You graduated from a terrific college.
You are professional in your appearance and your conduct.
We have one full time person handling our Finance, Operations and HR, and one full time person handling our recruiting.
You will be supporting our recruiting function 3/4 of the time, and the Fin-Ops-HR function 1/4 of the time.
We will train you on everything you need to know.
You need to be *very* adept at Microsoft Office, and very comfortable with online technologies. We'll teach you our specific tools and processes.
You need people skills and phone skills.
You need to be the most organized person in the room, the tidiest, the least forgetful.
Start date is ASAP. But we are not going to hire the first ordinary person who fits our requirements. We intend to find someone who will grow with our company, so we keep looking until we find someone special who is over-qualified for this position. This is how we hire. We recently lost another entry-level hire because she decided to get her MBA from Stanford. That's what we're talking about!
Your cover letter needs to capture our imagination, and needs to convey the characteristics we describe above.
And just to test if you're paying attention, please include the word "blue" in the document title of your resume.
So, the thing is, I saved the ad thinking it was rather creatively written, and, because I have tons of HR experience, kind of up my alley.
And then later I opened it again, thinking I might go ahead and apply.
But then...
I imagined myself meeting the person who wrote it...
and all I could see was me smacking him/her. Or, wanting to.
I guess I have a long way to go.
Comments
The thing that irks me about these kinds of things right now is it seems like employers are using the recession as an excuse to hire well-educated, over qualified people for cheap money. Oops! I didn't mean to get started!
I bought a repo Kenmore sewing machine, taught myself how to sew, opened a small boutique- success! You are ahead of the game with your talents and "stuff"... Make goodies packaged cleverly- Laurie's Lollies- whatever- Ben will get a scholarship- you will be fine.
Good luck with the job hunt- its a job in itself, but I know you'll find something- donwithout running off to Stanford to get your MBA
Job hunting.....oh wow how scary! I'm with Terri & Linda Sue I think you need to put your creative cap on and 'create' something! You a brilliantly talented...& keep up the job hunt....but I suspect Ben will earn oodles of scholarship $$$$ he seems like such a bright kid!!! Have him get ACT flash cards....the helped Lindsey SO much!!!
Love,
LuLu~*xoxo