Business Professional vs. Business Casual

There are always new fashion trends in the magazines and media, so it is easy to confuse the difference between how to dress in business professional attire versus business casual. Even though it’s currently fashionable to wear colorful blazers, my advice would be to stick to the basics when it comes to interviewing! Employers expect you to be in your most impressive state during an interview. So, when deciding what you should and shouldn’t wear to an interview, be safe and dress business professional to make the best impression! After all, it would be a bummer if a simple wardrobe change would have landed you the job.



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BUSINESS CASUAL

• Oxford shirts that button down

• Polo-style shirts with collars

• Sweater vests

• Sports jackets

• Chinos-type pants

• Khakis

• Dress slacks

Also, you have more leeway when it comes to color selection. For instance, various shades from beige to green to pink are all perfectly appropriate colors.

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BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL

• Suit

• Skirt Suit (knee-length)

• Dress slacks

• Tie

• Dress Shoes (closed-toed ladies)

• Button down collared shirt

No matter what suit you wear, your attire should be neat. The suit should be free of wrinkles and not have any tears or stains. Shoes should be cleaned and polished. Men should avoid a silly tie and stick to conservative designs with solids or stripes. Women should avoid revealing too much cleavage or wearing too much jewelry or accessories.

ashley.gonzales@mattressfirm.com



Career Fairs: How to Succeed & Leave a Lasting Impression



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Career fairs offer job seekers the opportunity to meet many employers in a very short time. This encounter typically will determine whether or not you will make it to the first step of the interview process, which could be a phone interview or a face to face interview. To ensure that you will make it to the next step, I have included a list that will help you leave a lasting impression with the employers you meet.



Look the part: A sure way to get noticed is to look sharp! This typically means a dark suit, matching shoes, ironed shirt and a nice tie. In addition, as you approach the employer, don’t forget to smile and give a firm, confident handshake.

Know what employers will attend the career fair and research the ones you like: Knowing what employers are attending helps you maneuver through the career fair and helps you manage your time efficiently. Once you’ve identified the employers you will approach, visit their websites and social media sites to show the employers, through your knowledge, that you are genuinely interested in a position with them.

Have your 30 second commercial ready: Sell yourself! Treat the career fair as a series of very brief interviews and let the employers know about your educational background, relevant experience and any qualifications that you think are important. Practicing your 30 second commercial out loud guarantees that it will be delivered smoothly.

Follow up: Ask the recruiter you met with for their card and follow up within 48 hours. Emails are a great way to follow up because it allows you to thank the recruiter for their time, reiterate your strengths and interest in the company and attach your resume.

Following these steps will really allow you to differentiate yourself from your competition and will leave a lasting impression with the employers you meet.

Share your 30 second commercial with edith.botello@mattressfirm.com

Are you just laying bricks or are you building the future you always dreamed of?

While visiting China this summer, I got the chance to visit with several companies and hear from different managers. Each of them provided a different perspective on leadership and how they motivated their teams. One of the managers that really stuck out to me told a great story that resonated with me in regards to motivation and finding a greater purpose at work.



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The story goes….

There were three brick layers in Beijing. When you asked the first brick layer what his job was each and every day he simply responded, “I am a brick layer, I simply lay bricks.”

When he asked the second brick layer what his job was he responded, “I am building the streets of Beijing.” This response was a little more promising and showed that the brick layer had a little more motivation and satisfaction in his job.

When he asked the third brick layer what his job was he replied, “I am building the future of China!” Wow! This really made me think. This person, whom one could feel sorry for, barley scrapping bye each day, working in the blistering heat and putting his body through physical pain each and every day, was truly grateful and motivated by his job! He had a bigger purpose.

When I heard this story it made me realize that this can apply to everything you do. I am not just a member of the talent acquisition team with Mattress Firm; I am building the future of my company. So I ask you to think about your current career or your job search. Are you taking the approach of the first brick layer- simply looking at the surface of your current job? Are you more like brick layer number two -you see a little value in your daily work? Or, are you like brick layer number three-motivated to not only do the best you can do each and every day, but motivated to build a better future for yourself, your family and your company?

In the end there is only one person who can change the way you perceive your life and how you view your work each and every day… and that person is you!

Make it a great day and go build that future you have always dreamed of…. one brick at a time!

amanda.robbins@mattressfirm.com

Say Cheese! Or, should you?



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Working for an organization where first impressions truly are everything, I understand the pressure some may feel to make it a great one. Your resume happens to be the first impression you make with an organization and let’s be clear; a photo on a resume is more of a distraction.

We’ve all seen those awkward family photos on the Internet (if you haven’t, you can check out www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com  for a nice laugh) and that can be the impression you give. A resume is meant to market your skills, employment history and educational background. Unless you are applying for a job where physical appearances are a requirement, go ahead and leave that cheesy smile for a formal interview!

Hoarding



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Hoarding (n) – (hawr-ding)



1. The act of a person who hoards

2. Things that are hoarded

I know what you are thinking, “why am I reading a blog about hoarding on a hiring tips blog spot?” I have had the pleasure of being considered a “hoarder” by my friends and coworkers; it seems that I am an individual that happens to keep every single piece of paper ever given to them. Recently, I had to move desk and it gave me an opportunity to purge a lot of old, outdated and useless items and it got me thinking, how many of us are hoarding on our resumes? Or during an interview?

If you can answer YES to any of the questions below then you may be a hoarder.

1. Is your resume over 1 page in length?

2. Do you have a college education and are still listing your high school alma mater?

3. Have you been listing classes taken in college?

4. Are you listing your computer proficiency skills?

5. Do you have your glamour shots copy and pasted on your resume?

Are you possibly hoarding during an interview?
1. Did you spend 20 minutes talking about your last 10 jobs?
2. While you are answering a question do you forget the question?
3. Have you ever said, “oh, that happens plenty of time” and then don’t provide a specific answer because you can’t pull one out of your experiences?

Again, if you have answered YES to any of these questions, you may be a hoarder. It’s time to unclutter your resume and practice interviewing. Utilize your friends and family members to proofread and critique your resume before it is submitted. Schedule a time to have a practice interview so you do not over talk during the important one. Research interview questions online and write out specific examples you can use and rehears speaking them out loud. If you have been having a hard time landing your favorite job it’s time to take some ownership and get organized!

Unclutter with Brandee directly at brandee.baker@mattressfirm.com

Is Your Dream Job Seeming More Like a Nightmare

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Have you ever felt like your career wasn’t satisfying? You studied so hard in school, and you felt sure you made the right decision. Or, you’ve been in your career for years, but you feel like there could be something better.

I had a very outgoing and people-oriented friend that wanted to pursue his career in accounting. After 5 years in school, he found that first job in his field. But something was missing. He enjoyed working one on one with people. Cubicle life wasn’t for him. He felt like he wasted so many years in school and even in his career.

There isn’t a definite way to avoid going into the wrong career. However, there are preventative ways such as online career aptitude tests. My co-worker, Haley Hoskins, worked in the Counseling and Careers services at Stephen F Austin State University. They used TypeFocus and Strong Interests as their aptitude test. There are also free online tests like Visit sixwise.com or livecareer.com.

Whether you are in college trying to figure out your future, or have been working for many years, it’s not too late. Taking a career aptitude test could be a good way to get you that much closer to finding your dream job and keeping your dreams from being a nightmare.

daja.pope@mattressfirm.com

Professional Affirmations

When should you use a letter of recommendation? Should job seekers even use them at all? The answer is… Yes! Use them!

The power of a written or typed personal recommendation from a previous supervisor, boss or professor is a strong tool in the interviewing process. Letters of recommendation say that a professional in your past thought highly enough of you to take the time out of their schedule to write some meaningful words, recommending you for your new position. The entire interview process is basically a chance to try and get to know you in a few short sittings. Unfortunately, your honest personality, work ethic and your overall reputation do not always come off the way you would want it to during those interviews, so why not have your colleagues put in a good word for you? After all, the hard work and dedication put into your path that led you to this point should be recognized and spoken of by others who you previously worked with. On a side note, using letters of recommendation is another resource for the employer to use during the hiring decision, which may give you that extra leg up on the competition!

ashley.gonzales@mattressfirm.com