I went to a job interview today. During the interview, the manager I met with told me how to dress, what fabric I should wear, how to behave professionally, what to do when I am not going to make it to work, acceptable reasons for missing work, etc. I have been told by potential employers how to dress for the interview, what to bring with me (including a specific number of resumes), how to behave, and that I should make sure I am at least 15 minutes early. Being someone who comes from a professional point of view, I feel annoyed and insulted by potential employers' need to tell me this stuff that I know it is only normal behavior. I would NEVER go to a job interview wearing jeans, flip flops, or other inappropriate attire. I wear office-appropriate clothing, as a minimum standard, to my interviews. I ALWAYS bring extra copies of my resume with me. I make sure I am clean, neat, teeth brushed, not chewing gum, etc.
Why do employers say this stuff? Because so many people have shown up to interviews wearing flip flops. Or showed up late. Or acted in some other manner that is unprofessional. Employers don't want their time wasted any more than you or I do, so they are going to make sure the people they interview are dressed and acting appropriately. The fact that employers need to do this is a sad reflection on the values that we as a society have today. Is it a sense of entitlement? I think that's part of the problem. Is it that kids just haven't learned how to dress/act? Again, I would have to say that's part of the problem. Many people today expect to be told what to do and wear, and how to act. Parents of this generation apparently did not teach their children how to dress professionally. Or how to act professionally. I think another part of the problem is the lack of accountability. Because employers assume potential employees need to be told how to dress/act, they spell it all out in detail, and don't give the employees-to-be a chance to prove their own professionalism. This assumption takes the burden off of the would-be employee and places it on the employers' shoulders.
The sense of entitlement that is part of the problem needs to be changed. Today's employees need to take responsibility for their own actions. If you don't know how to dress or what to say, look it up! There is a boatload of advice on the Internet detailing interview components, including: what "business casual" clothing is, how many copies of a resume to bring, what to put on the resume, how early to arrive for the interview, and how to behave during the interview. Would-be employees have to prove their worth, and not wait for employers to tell them. Every business has its own specific culture and way of doing business, but showcasing a core set of standards will help the potential employee stand out and, if enough people act appropriately, business managers will eventually come to realize that the current generation is more professional and does not need to be dictated to before they are even hired.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Veteran's Day 2015
Today is November 11th, a.k.a. Veteran's Day. This is the day set aside for remembering our veterans; those who are alive and well (in theory, anyway), those who fought and died, and those who were captured or disappeared with no trace. Banks and governmental offices are closed. Schools and, of course, stores are open for business today. The local news channel will most likely be showcasing a list of Veteran's Day deals, bargains, and freebies that people can take advantage of today. In some cases, these deals, bargains, and freebies may even be extended through the weekend. Time to C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E!
When did such an important holiday become so thoroughly commercialized? People complain about Christmas being commercialized. "Let's keep the Christ in Christmas!" is one slogan that is popularly displayed on the backs of cars, Facebook pages, and spoken by many. A great number of people enjoy Black Friday shopping; this has escalated to the point that some stores are open on Thanksgiving night, or even throughout the day on Thanksgiving Day. A popular vow/pledge/saying that people spout is that they will not talk or think about Christmas before Thanksgiving is over. Buying Christmas presents is, naturally, the exception to this pronouncement, as Christmas shopping must be begun in July.
Our military men and women, (past, present, and future) get this holiday when it is deemed "acceptable" to Thank A Veteran. Having an official Veteran's Day is all well and good, but why should we only be grateful for the sacrifices made by our vets and their families on this one day each year? Parents remember it is Veteran's Day when they see the poppy being handed out at the entrance to the grocery stores. Kids barely, if at all, recognize the day; they don't get the day off, so what's the point? People who do have the day off just see it as a day off from work. Considering the employer they work for, they very likely are being paid to sit around at home or do whatever they choose to do. As I write this, I am looking around at all the traffic going past my window: people in a hurry to get somewhere. People who are thinking about what they need to buy or do today; maybe they are thinking about Thanksgiving plans. Or Christmas presents. Christmasy songs are on the music piped in on the store loudspeakers. Can this important holiday be any more commercialized? Does it hold any importance for anyone anymore?
We should be grateful for our veterans EVERY day of the year. Our veterans joined the military for a variety of reasons, but they have fought for our new or continued freedoms in each and every war. Some of these wars have been popular and the vets who fought in these wars were treated wonderfully upon their return. Other wars have not been well-supported, and the vets who fought in those wars, treated terribly (think Vietnam). Because of of the willingness exhibited by our men and women in uniform to fight for our ideals and safety, I am proud to be an American. Regardless of who is in office, who my President is, and whether or not I like him or agree with his policies, I am still proud because I come from a country that has produced these brave people who joined the military. The only thing that makes me feel NOT proud to be an American is the shameful way that we treat our veterans. The VA is a shambles; it needs to be recreated and work for the benefit of the veterans who need its assistance. Although I was born in 1973, knowing how badly our returning Vietnam vets were treated--spit on, things thrown at them, other horrible treatment--makes me want to cringe and hang my own head in shame.
I make it a point to thank a veteran for his or her sacrifice every day of the year. Especially our Vietnam vets, although I suspect gratitude is now too little, too late. But it is important to me to share my gratitude with these brave men and women. I find myself hesitant to say anything, however, on or just before/after Veteran's Day, for fear the veteran will think I'm only saying thanks because it is the holiday, and I have been reminded to do so. Our veterans (and current military members) need to know that they and their sacrifices are valued. That we care about them, and appreciate all they are willing to do on our behalf. That they are supported and valued, even if the governmental policies or war they are fighting (or did fight) in is not supported. If asked what it means to be patriotic, I would have to say that a main characteristic of patriotism is supporting our military personnel. Past, present, and future.
Instead of simply letting the meaning of Veteran's Day flit through your head for all of 5-10 seconds today, instead of simply focusing on what must be done today, how about making a conscious effort to remember our veterans, even if in a generally grateful way, all year long? Use today to participate in an activity that will benefit our veterans. By all means, take the poppy being handed to you. Wear it proudly. Thank a veteran for his or her service. But also do it tomorrow, and the next day, and the next... All year long. Let your actions speak more loudly than your words if you say you agree with the sentiment that our vets must be appreciated. Because they need that. They need to know that their lost leg or arm, their sense of personal security, their patriotism is appreciated. Truly and sincerely.
When did such an important holiday become so thoroughly commercialized? People complain about Christmas being commercialized. "Let's keep the Christ in Christmas!" is one slogan that is popularly displayed on the backs of cars, Facebook pages, and spoken by many. A great number of people enjoy Black Friday shopping; this has escalated to the point that some stores are open on Thanksgiving night, or even throughout the day on Thanksgiving Day. A popular vow/pledge/saying that people spout is that they will not talk or think about Christmas before Thanksgiving is over. Buying Christmas presents is, naturally, the exception to this pronouncement, as Christmas shopping must be begun in July.
Our military men and women, (past, present, and future) get this holiday when it is deemed "acceptable" to Thank A Veteran. Having an official Veteran's Day is all well and good, but why should we only be grateful for the sacrifices made by our vets and their families on this one day each year? Parents remember it is Veteran's Day when they see the poppy being handed out at the entrance to the grocery stores. Kids barely, if at all, recognize the day; they don't get the day off, so what's the point? People who do have the day off just see it as a day off from work. Considering the employer they work for, they very likely are being paid to sit around at home or do whatever they choose to do. As I write this, I am looking around at all the traffic going past my window: people in a hurry to get somewhere. People who are thinking about what they need to buy or do today; maybe they are thinking about Thanksgiving plans. Or Christmas presents. Christmasy songs are on the music piped in on the store loudspeakers. Can this important holiday be any more commercialized? Does it hold any importance for anyone anymore?
We should be grateful for our veterans EVERY day of the year. Our veterans joined the military for a variety of reasons, but they have fought for our new or continued freedoms in each and every war. Some of these wars have been popular and the vets who fought in these wars were treated wonderfully upon their return. Other wars have not been well-supported, and the vets who fought in those wars, treated terribly (think Vietnam). Because of of the willingness exhibited by our men and women in uniform to fight for our ideals and safety, I am proud to be an American. Regardless of who is in office, who my President is, and whether or not I like him or agree with his policies, I am still proud because I come from a country that has produced these brave people who joined the military. The only thing that makes me feel NOT proud to be an American is the shameful way that we treat our veterans. The VA is a shambles; it needs to be recreated and work for the benefit of the veterans who need its assistance. Although I was born in 1973, knowing how badly our returning Vietnam vets were treated--spit on, things thrown at them, other horrible treatment--makes me want to cringe and hang my own head in shame.
I make it a point to thank a veteran for his or her sacrifice every day of the year. Especially our Vietnam vets, although I suspect gratitude is now too little, too late. But it is important to me to share my gratitude with these brave men and women. I find myself hesitant to say anything, however, on or just before/after Veteran's Day, for fear the veteran will think I'm only saying thanks because it is the holiday, and I have been reminded to do so. Our veterans (and current military members) need to know that they and their sacrifices are valued. That we care about them, and appreciate all they are willing to do on our behalf. That they are supported and valued, even if the governmental policies or war they are fighting (or did fight) in is not supported. If asked what it means to be patriotic, I would have to say that a main characteristic of patriotism is supporting our military personnel. Past, present, and future.
Instead of simply letting the meaning of Veteran's Day flit through your head for all of 5-10 seconds today, instead of simply focusing on what must be done today, how about making a conscious effort to remember our veterans, even if in a generally grateful way, all year long? Use today to participate in an activity that will benefit our veterans. By all means, take the poppy being handed to you. Wear it proudly. Thank a veteran for his or her service. But also do it tomorrow, and the next day, and the next... All year long. Let your actions speak more loudly than your words if you say you agree with the sentiment that our vets must be appreciated. Because they need that. They need to know that their lost leg or arm, their sense of personal security, their patriotism is appreciated. Truly and sincerely.
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