# Job Applicants - Try not to be an idiot on your first impression **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 24, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257 "2009-02-24T19:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/41 "2009-02-25T00:32:54Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I just went through the process of hiring another secretary. Can’t tell you how many folks list their email address as some variation of “[SexyMcHottie@freeisp.com](mailto:SexyMcHottie@freeisp.com)”. Made my first round of cuts much easier. I understand what you are saying. So, was Miss Sexy Machottie sexy and hot? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/42 "2009-02-25T00:36:09Z")
Yeah, but she can’t type for shit. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/43 "2009-02-25T00:41:44Z")
And she wasn’t Scottish. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/44 "2009-02-25T00:42:19Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > In fact, what I’ve been hearing lately is apply on-line, fax resume, call, AND show up in person unannounced! Even if you’re specifically told not to do any of the above, you must still do all of the above to impress a prospective employer with how much you want the job and how much you really, really, really love them. Far as I can see, that would only work for jobs as a paparazzi or a stalker (like there’s a difference?) See, this is the kind of advice i’m having to ignore during my soul-crushing job search (although I think that may be redundant). Friends and the odd family member saying, “Oh, it says you should apply through their system, but you should send in a couple of emails too, to show you’re serious. And write letters as well! Them saying not too is just to weed out the people who don’t care as much”. I’m afraid you would have to count me in as one of the idiot annoyances in the past (though the more sane approach doesn’t seem to be doing much better so far, alas). ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/45 "2009-02-25T00:43:52Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > Personally, I find it insulting that any employer thinks I should spend my time filling out their generic online application. Obviously, they don’t want to bother actually looking at resumes, so they shift the work of sorting potential employees into a computerized format that allows them to eliminate people based on pre-determined criteria. I’m sure this works out quite well for them, but not for any intelligent person out there looking to get ahead by learning something new, or trying a different field than the one they’re in. Companies looking for people this way are sending a clear message at the outset: Our employees are interchangeable, and we don’t care to work very hard in finding them. Wow, we have a new candidate for the poster with the most well-developed sense of entitlement. The last part of your post makes some sense (i.e., by arguing that the employer is hurting itself by using an online application), but the first part is pure entitled whining (“but I don’t WANNA fill out an online application, wah!”). ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/46 "2009-02-25T00:48:59Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Another put his Hotmail email address right on the very top. At least, I think it was Hotmail, since the address was [hisname@hotmial.com](mailto:hisname@hotmial.com). Perhaps it’s a freudian slip - he’s willing to work for 3 hot-mi-als a day. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/47 "2009-02-25T00:49:42Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > Got a resume last week. Looked good and professional, but the listed email address was HighLyfe420@[somefreeisp]. > > Binned. Is it that hard to just get a throwaway that looks professional just for resumes? And does the job in question require drug testing? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/48 "2009-02-25T00:54:10Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > But you’ll STILL get phone calls because the current job hunting gurus say ALWAYS make a phone call _even if you’re told not to call!_ > > In fact, what I’ve been hearing lately is apply on-line, fax resume, call, AND show up in person unannounced! Even if you’re specifically told not to do any of the above, you must still do all of the above to impress a prospective employer with how much you want the job and how much you really, really, really love them. Far as I can see, that would only work for jobs as a paparazzi or a stalker (like there’s a difference?) I’ve been job hunting since the beginning of December and the best job interview I got was due to me applying online, then going to the local office and speaking with the office manager and dropping off a resume. The regional manager happened to be in IL that week so he called me in two days later. Unfortunately the company put in a hiring freeze across the board (I checked, one day there were 40 jobs up on Monster and Careerbuilder, the next there were none) but he says when the freeze is lifted I’m going to be the first one hired. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/49 "2009-02-25T01:26:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I just went through the process of hiring another secretary. Can’t tell you how many folks list their email address as some variation of “[SexyMcHottie@freeisp.com](mailto:SexyMcHottie@freeisp.com)”. Made my first round of cuts much easier. Oh, God, yes. I’m the secretarial services and word processing manager for a fair-sized Manhattan law firm, so I’m involved in quite a bit of secretarial hiring. I see quite a bit of this. And even when I don’t, I’ll get an e-mail from some secretary who’s going to be late or out sick, and it will be from some address like “[HQQTRS@freebie.com](mailto:HQQTRS@freebie.com)”, or (more likely) “[luvzfuzzykutekittens@makemesick.com](mailto:luvzfuzzykutekittens@makemesick.com)”. The e-mail will say “hi! I’m not feeling well today and won’t be coming in.” If I’m lucky, she’ll include her actual real name somewhere so I’ll know exactly which cute kitty lover won’t be in today. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/50 "2009-02-25T01:29:45Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > But you’ll STILL get phone calls because the current job hunting gurus say ALWAYS make a phone call _even if you’re told not to call!_ > > In fact, what I’ve been hearing lately is apply on-line, fax resume, call, AND show up in person unannounced! Even if you’re specifically told not to do any of the above, you must still do all of the above to impress a prospective employer with how much you want the job and how much you really, really, really love them. Oh, crap, I should’ve been doing all of that all this time??? My instincts were wrong! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/51 "2009-02-25T01:37:54Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Oh, God, yes. I’m the secretarial services and word processing manager for a fair-sized Manhattan law firm, so I’m involved in quite a bit of secretarial hiring. I see quite a bit of this. And even when I don’t, I’ll get an e-mail from some secretary who’s going to be late or out sick, and it will be from some address like “[HQQTRS@freebie.com](mailto:HQQTRS@freebie.com)”, or (more likely) “[luvzfuzzykutekittens@makemesick.com](mailto:luvzfuzzykutekittens@makemesick.com)”. The e-mail will say “hi! I’m not feeling well today and won’t be coming in.” If I’m lucky, she’ll include her actual real name somewhere so I’ll know exactly which cute kitty lover won’t be in today. Can you PM (or email me) whether I can send you my resume; if so, can you say in the message what firm you’re with (I promise I won’t call or come 'round)? I’m looking in that field. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/52 "2009-02-25T01:55:29Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I just went through the process of hiring another secretary. Can’t tell you how many folks list their email address as some variation of “[SexyMcHottie@freeisp.com](mailto:SexyMcHottie@freeisp.com)”. Made my first round of cuts much easier. Is it the “sexymchottie” part or the “@freeisp” part that annoyed you? (I’m guessing the sexymchottie). Dunno about your part of the world, but here it is highly unusual to have a paid email account - and even if I did, I still have my yahoo from 14 years ago that I use…but I do also have yahoo2, gmail and hotmail addresses. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/53 "2009-02-25T01:59:48Z")
My dad, when he was working in a government-funded research institute, once got a resume with “Thank you so much for your time! ^\_^” on the bottom of it. ^\_^? Really? Who puts emoticons on _resumes_? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/54 "2009-02-25T02:03:50Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > so instead of hitting control+a and clicking off strike through you tossed it out? Heh, > > of course if she did it on purpose sure but if it was a formatting bug then I think this makes you the weak link here…😛 Yeah, if I got a resume with all strikethrough, my first instinct would be to assume that something got screwed up in the translation along the way. That is, unless there were other things in the resume to make me conclude this was done on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/55 "2009-02-25T02:14:11Z")
One of my roommates had a job interview today. The person in front of him was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. He was called into the interview room and walked out thirty seconds later. The recruiter came out and said “I wish people would brush their teeth before coming to an interview.” My roommate, who was wearing a suit and had showered, shaved, and brushed his teeth before coming in, not only got a job, he got a better job than the one he had originally applied for. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/56 "2009-02-25T03:03:49Z")
Hay! I cn do Tek Spport! Higher me, plz! u cn e-m me at [doggiestylemaster@dumbass.com](mailto:doggiestylemaster@dumbass.com). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/57 "2009-02-25T03:14:38Z")
Would you believe I signed on tonight with the intention of starting an HR horror stories thread? Just to give the Dopers that are looking something to feel good about. My worst doesn’t come anywhere near some of these, excepting the inappropriate email addresses. But the most amusing. I was managing a PC tech shop and needed to replace someone that was moving across country. The most memorable resume was from a young lady whose most recent job was as an aerobics instructor. And the rest of her work history was just about as relevant to computer diagnostics as that. Still almost called her in for an interview just to see if she was a hottie. 😃 Almost. ---
**Author:** ![Ro\_Carter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7feea3/32.png) [@Ro\_Carter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ro_Carter)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/58 "2009-02-25T03:49:13Z")
As an addendum to the inappropriate and unprofessional email addresses, don’t get an email address that professes to anyone who sees the name that you are a “god”, “whiz”, “guru”, or anything else similar in a specialty in a particular field (for example, ISPgod). This will make the people looking at your resume laugh, and not in a good way. If you do get called in for an interview, be sure that you will be getting the hardest questions possible about your area of “god”-hood. Similar to the Aparche incident above, please do not use buzzwords that you don’t actually know the meaning of. If you say you have experience with a “distributed” database, I had better not find out that it was an Access 2003 DB located on a single server that was apparently set up by drunken squirrels, judging from the table design. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blue-Sighted_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/59 "2009-02-25T04:58:15Z")
This was from a while ago: If the company sends you a cease and desist letter, you’re not going to get the job. Seriously. I mean it. Stop calling. And writing. And stalking our employees to shove your resume in their face. Next time, we will call the cops. There’s a line between persistent and crazy and this guy blew right past it. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/60 "2009-02-25T05:07:50Z")
> [@Ro\_Carter](#): > > Similar to the Aparche incident above… Och! I cannae believe ye durn ‘Mericans alwess be harping un oor proonsyatin’! And afore, when ye was insultin’ the rite honrble name o’ the MacHottie Clan! Fer _shame_, ye! Truly, we’s be living’ in an age o’ th’ignorance and th’prejidish, we do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257.md?page=4)