Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 26, 1992 TAG: 9201270170
SECTION: NEW RIVER VALLEY ECONOMY PAGE: 8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE AND KIM SUNDERLAND NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
SOME PRETTY BASIC ADVICE
A few personnel managers in the New River Valley had some telling stories about job interviews that went wrong - and some free advice to applicants.Al Katz at Hoechst Celanese Corp. in Giles County suggests job seekers "at least brush their teeth and gargle with something."
Katz helped interview about 80 new hires at the synthetic-fiber factory last year and ran into some folks who had, well, bad breath.
"You're sitting up close and apparently they're a smoker or something, and they lean across the table and - whoaa," he said.
"Suddenly you lose your train of thought when you're trying to conduct an interview."
In general, applicants should pay attention to personal grooming - such things as taking a bath and wearing clothes without holes.
One guy, Katz said, must have been out hunting before coming in for an interview because he kept scratching like he was crawling with chiggers.
"After a while you start scratching yourself," Katz said. "It's very distracting."
His advice may sound elementary, even maternal - take a bath, wear clean clothes, brush your teeth.
But it could make a difference, he said.
"It all kind of gives you a sense of, if they can't take care of themselves, what kind of person am I getting? Is he going to be safe? Is he going to be conscientious?"
Other negative factors that are sure to turn off prospective employers include impolite or arrogant attitudes.
And don't talk about your own needs and problems, advises Barnett, who is the interviewer supervisor with the Job Service Division. An employer doesn't want to hear you whine about how your mother-in-law moved in and is eating you out of house and home.
Another sure way to impress a future boss is by leaving the kids at home. No one has the time or patience to deal with a small child crawling around the office in need of a clean diaper.
"Don't take people with you to interviews," Barnett said. "Get a baby sitter."