Oh my mother(board), how I love thee. Since the day you entered the case that became your home, you’ve been what held my computer together and made my computer, well, compute!

You carried the data from the CPU and memory, expertly displayed graphics on the monitor and read data from my mechanical drives, no matter what the hour, with the care and compassion that only a mother can show (and often simultaneously when I added another video card). I know we’ll be replacing that mechanical hard drive with an SSD and it will give you that bounce in the step you’ve been longing for. You’ve been through so many hard drives over the years, and this will probably be your last so I want to make it the best!

You’ve had so many upgrades to help you keep up with the rest of the world. Even though I, completely filled you with PCI cards, you never complained (though sometimes your BIOS would gently warn me of the changes). You accepted these changes and made them part of your own. I never worried about interrupts and dip switches like children of previous generations. The became a part of the family just like the ones springing directly from your original specifications.

I know I overloaded your USB ports and had to expand them and for that, I am truly sorry. It was greedy of me to install all those devices and ask you to do so much. In retrospect, you had Bluetooth and wireless and I shouldn’t have been so cheap all the time. I promise I’ll remember that the next time I need a mouse or printer. Bluetooth is there for a reason, use it.

Through your ethernet port you carried me to places both profound and profane, never questioning my choices or my judgment. Any hour of the day or night, you’d take me to my home page from anywhere I was. Drunk or sober, in my Sunday best or just my birthday suit, I always relied on you and you always delivered. That’s what a motherboard is for. When a motherboard is doing her job, you never have to think about it.

After the power supplied died, you accepted the new one as if nothing had changed because you knew that it wasn’t your fault, but the storms fault. These things happen and you didn’t fail (though I was worried that you had). You preserve even after members of the family have long since gone. You hold the entire system together. Without you, we have no way of connecting all the parts.

Your BIOS has gone through multiple versions and upgrades and you never went corrupt in the process (the stories my friends tell me about their BIOS upgrades going bad!). That one Winflash was scary and you waited so long to reboot, I’ll admit I got scared though I didn’t want you to see it. All your children sat patiently by awaiting your instructions (though that wake on lan Ethernet card was flashing the whole time.

I know all those Microsoft updates became difficult to handle and those hot flashes were a tough time for us all. Everything started crashing and we thought we’d have to say goodbye. I admit, I started looking through the newegg catalog. I didn’t think you’d make it through, but with some new fans, some changes to the MSCONFIG file, you were back to your old self. I promise to always check to make sure you aren’t running any needless processes. In your final years, let some other computer handle all that. I wouldn’t need as strong a antivirus if I was more responsible on the net.

I know you won’t be with me much longer, but know that the places you took me made me who I am today. I’ll persevere long after you are gone. While I did the service calls for DoctorDave, it was you that I trusted my data and computations to. You are the brains behind the operation. The information you transferred from your hard drive and memory to the Internet was shared with the world and will forever be part of Google’s cache.

Mother(board). Happy Mother’s Day from all your components, and from me.

Hi @smclawrence members (and others reading this blog).

Today at our meeting, a number of questions came up about backups, synchronization, and security. Fortunately, these are subjects I’ve already written about for GigaOM and you all inspired some more blog posts by yours truly so watch this space and subscribe to it!

First, we talked about services like Dropbox to synchronize information among devices such as your computer, iPhone, and Android devices. However, in this blog post I explain the difference between syncrhonization and backup. Because a synchronization has the potential to destroy data, I don’t consider it a true backup solution.

For online backups, I’ve written about a few services such as Mozy vs Carbonite and Backblaze vs Crashplan. I have specific suggestions about which services I recommend and under which circumstances. I’ll write about that in the next few weeks. I mentioned for many users that Mozy’s 2 Gigabyte backup service for free might be a good place to start.

When you start with one of these services, a few members mentioned how long it takes to run the backup and the fact they bump into data caps with Knology (formerly Sunflower Broadband). There is a way around this I wrote about and although it’s written for a Mac audience, it’s just as applicable for PC users.

The issues of passwords came up and some people mentioned products such as mSecure and another popular one such as 1Password and even using Evernote via Dropbox. I discussed an article I wrote about using your address book to “hide” your passwords.

At the end, we discussed hosting a website via Dropbox for free (which is great for MobileMe users losing their webhosting on June 30th, 2012).

At the end, the one “take away” tip I gave was how to backup your Facebook account. It’s simple

When in Facebook, go to the dropdown triangle on the far right hand side:

Choose Account Settings

Then click at the bottom where it says “Download a copy”

You’ll get this screen next and just click “Start my Archive”

Confirm it’s “Okay”

and then you’ll get an email that is a zip file that includes all your Facebook info. You can’t restore off of it, but at least if your account gets hacked or corrupt you can reconstruct your digital life.

Please feel free to be a fan of ours on Facebook or follow us on Twitter

Oops, they did it again. Knology, formerly Sunflower Broadband, will soon be owned by WideOpenWest (WOW!) as has been reported both nationally and locally.

When reports first surfaced about Knology’s buyout of Sunflower, I was excited and later admitted I was wrong about my enthusiasm . Now that Knology is being sold to WOW! I have no optimism and about the situation and this will ultimately result in higher prices and continued job losses in the community.

In particular, WOW! is privately owned by Avista Capital Partners and the public aspects of Knology’s ownership I was so excited about is completely lost. Sunflower was a privately owned local company and we as Lawrencians had very little leverage to see change at the company. Knology being publically owned at least gave us an opportunity to formally get our voice heard.

From my initial research, WOW! sounds like a good company. They consistently win J.D. Power awards for customer service and are big industry player. Compared to Knology, pricing appears to be much higher. Taking Evansville, Indiana pricing as an example:

Knology’s Bronze internet is $19.95 with 3MB down and 256K up (and a cap of 3 gig)
WOW! minimum service is $40 with 2Mb down and 1Mb up (no bandwidth cap)

the fastest Internet service comparison is as follows

Knology’s Gold internet is $59.95 with 50Mb down and 1Mb up (and a cap of 250 gig)
WOW! fastest service is $90 with 50Mb down and 1MB up (no bandwidth cap)

As a vocal opponent of bandwidth caps, I’d like to see them removed in Lawrence but Knology didn’t remove them when they took over in Lawrence. This pricing is a major shock especially considering the cost of living in Evansville is lower than Lawrence. Given this information we can expect major price increases.

Theoretically a bigger cable company means more channels but Evanville’s lineup is pretty darn similiar to Knology of Kansas.

The impact to the local job market will be minimal after Knology “rightsized”. Left open according to the LJworld article is the status of Channel 6 news and though unmentioned in the article is the status on on-site computer support from Geeks on Wheels and the business computer support division. Obviously I’m very interested in what will happen to Geeks on Wheels and have a vested interested in the decision, but I do believe they’ll phase out these ancillary products. As a private company they will look to optimize and standardize operation. These divisions require a significant local presence that may not provide enough return on investment and would hinder standardization of WOW services in all markets.

Speaking of standardization, the LJworld article hints at, if not direct implies, that at some point our sunflower.com email addresses are going away. If you haven’t moved your important emails off of sunflower.com, now is the time. I warned about this back in January and I’m delighted Knology hasn’t forced a change. However I wouldn’t bet my important emails, especially my business related emails, on a hope that WOW! won’t make the change. Maintaining a separate email system unique to Lawrence will cost money and require additional management. WOW and Avista’s focus will be on maximizing profits and that requires more standardization and consolidation. Keep your eyes open for a special deal we will be offering to help you move from your sunflower.com email address.

This buyout signals the fundamental shift in how we receive information and entertainment. With Google Fiber coming to Kansas City, Google has already been approved to carry TV signals via IPTV. The business model of the cable company is becoming as old and antiquated as a “home phone.” As we shifted from radio to TV, dial-up to broadband, and landlines to wireless, the way we get these services will continue to change.

Cable companies as well as telecom providers like AT&T focus on packages and force us into little cubbyholes. Consumers prefer choices, plan and simple. Could you imagine the power company forcing you to pay extra for a “toaster” package because you want to make toast and coffee at the same time or making you buy your energy consumption in advance? That’s still the model of telecommunications and I think future generations will find that approach as archaic as having to use an “operator” to make a call (all apologies to Ernestine and no I did not make those calls to Topeka Kansas).

I wrote about this scam back in September, but both my clients and the Douglas County Attorney are telling me that it’s back in full force. While the scam varies, it usually goes something like this:

You receive a call supposedly from Microsoft, Dell, or your ISP (Knology, Time Warner, AT&T, etc) telling you they have detected a problem with your computer or are simply calling to inform you about an important security update to your system. Sometimes the caller ID will even say “Microsoft.”

Considering how often security updates and problems are in the news (and the risks thereof), as a good consumer you want to be proactive and enthusiastically take their advice and go to the website they recommend. Some will even be “kind” enough to remotely control your computer and fix the problem for you.

DON”T GO TO THE WEBSITE

Sometimes the website will install a virus on your computer but the latest version of this scam is the installation of remote control software that allows them to “fix” the problem for you. They might even encourage you to watch. You just gave a complete stranger complete access to all the personal, private and confidential information on your computer! Behind the scenes, they can transfer files right off your computer, steal your passwords and even leave behind software to help others break into your computer. You just handed over the keys to everything on your computer to a stranger. Pictures of your children, your credit cards. Do I need to continue?

I won’t say 100% for certain that your ISP won’t call you with a problem, but before you install or do anything be sure to call them back and verify what’s up – and never give remote access to your computer to a stranger. All our technicians identify themselves and go through a background check and security screen to make sure they are trustworthy. We aren’t “badge numbers” or “extensions”, we are Dave, Noah, and Devin (currently, but we are hiring).

Other support companies have warned me about a terrifying variation of this scam. Since I’m the top result for “computer repair Lawrence KS’ the bad guys might pose as one of my technicians over the phone and request remote access to your system. Fortunately I doubt many of our clients will fall for that. We keep strong personal relationships with clients and they know the sound of our voices. If I thought a security breach had occurred in a customer’s system, I call the customer personally and discuss it with them. Typically, I am clued in via spam I’ve received,or maybe I noticed something amiss on their Facebook. We’ll always offer to set up an appointment to take a look at it rather than simply refer them to a website. It’s part of the personal service we provide and why we are successful at what we do. If someone calls at random claiming to be from DoctorDave and asks you to do something with your computer, hang up and call us immediately–it most likely isn’t us. Mention Tova too, because the scammers hate cute dogs

Typical of most crowdsourced projects like Kickstarter (or to an extent eBay which operates under the same principles), most of the action happens at either the beginning or the end. Little in the middle. Within a few days of announcing the project, I already had an interview with a technician. He didn’t make it through the evaluation process and then things were pretty much silent until the last week of January. I only received two actual resumes from the entire project, though the http://www.workfordave.com page had over 300 hits during the month of January.

After six months of actively searching to replace a technician who was moving out of the area, I was suddenly faced with dozens of qualified applicants. These applicants weren’t coming to us through the crowdsourced project. They didn’t mention the project nor did they know about it. Interesting!

My analysis: it’s all about the effort you put into it. Like joining a weight loss contest (see my experiences with Scale Down), the idea of a deadline and measurable results makes us most accountable as the deadline approaches. Personally, I found myself telling everyone and their sister by the end of the project. At the gym, at the restaurant, at the doctor’s office, you name it. I was telling everyone I was looking for a technician.

Knowing January 31st was approaching made me extremely outgoing and it paid off! I had a number of great people apply with me. As I mentioned, I already brought one on board and when he’s fully trained and ready to go, I’ll be looking for more. Guess it’s a Lawrence tradition to have your best performance at the very end?

The biggest takeaway from the crowdsourced project wasn’t the applicants, but rather the lessons and feedback I got from random people. I realized many things I was doing wrong with my hiring efforts. These weren’t big things, but rather the small nuisances that often are what make the difference between success and failure. I tweaked my ads as well as the venues I was telling others about it.

The best lesson I learned was from a great meeting with Wil Katz, director at the KU Small Business Development Center. If you don’t know about this free resources in Lawrence, you need to follow this link now. Will tends to ask the right questions rather than give you answers. I love that. What I realized from this meeting is that I tend to have good skills marketing and growing my business. Customers love what we do and I easily tell others about it. However, I wasn’t actively telling others about the fact that we were looking for technicians nor was I recruiting. I recruit potential clients on a daily basis by answering computer questions in person and online via social media. I’m always seeking out people and need and offering help. I’m not doing that with potential technicians and I need to start doing that. When I get great customer service somewhere, I need to ask “By the way , do you know anyone that works on computers that has your attitude towards customer service?” Good idea! Ultimately, I need to use the tools I’ve developed over the years to grow my client base and focus them on growing my applicants pool.

This just makes sense and fits into our overall philosophy here, so if you know someone that is great with people and computers (it’s always people first), tell them about us. We are always accepting applications and for the right person, we’ll be able to find them a position with us.

Thank you EVERYONE for the advise you’ve given me and the word of mouth buzz you created about us. I’m extremely grateful.

With great delight I’d like to announce the newest member of the DoctorDave team, Noah Benham. He’s learning some of our procedures for delivering outstanding service, and I’m fully confident you will just love him.

You’ve probably seen Noah around town. He’s had his own computer repair business for over three years and has advertised in the Merc newsletter. You might have also seen him in the Lawrence Journal World, but not for his business but rather his athletic and academic performance. He’s been a top student at Free State High School and an outstanding swimmer. He can only do service calls right now in the afternoon and evenings since he’s still in school. Yes, he’s a high school student!

Over the years I’ve interviewed many technicians and can confidently say he’s one of the best I’ve seen. I can describe him as a cross between a young Bill Gates and a slightly older Doogie Howser. Of course, when I told Noah this, he didn’t know who Doogie was! If for some reason if that’s before your time, you can click on this link. Part of Noah’s skill relates to the fact he’s run his own computer repair business for three years while managing to be a top student at Free State. Most important, he’s a genuinely nice guy and I know you’ll just love working with him.

I can completely understand why employers want this information. I talked about things applicants often do wrong to tank their employment efforts , but many times it’s more about learning the nuances of the applicant that can’t be derived from a simple interview. I learn as much about the person as I can before I send an email for an interview. We have no need to ask for passwords because all the info is right there in plain sight. Here’s my process (which you are free to use)–and we absolutely never ask for a password. Employers that ask for social media passwords are lazy in my opinion.

1) Facebook

That’s where I start. I search first for their email address so I find the correct person. I use the email on their resume and if that doesn’t show results, I then go by the email they used to send the resume (sometimes it’s different). If all else fails I search by name and often Facebook is pretty good at finding the right person. To verify I have that right person, I’ll use cues from the resume to see if it all matches up (relative age, job experience, college, high school etc.)

Once I have the right person on Facebook, I’ll then look to see if we have any mutual friends. That’s really important because I can get references from people I already know and trust. Since friends often have a similar world view and mindset, I know if they are friends with some of my friends, it might be a good match.

I then look at their privacy settings. Are they professional? What are they portraying to the general public? More privacy and a professional page facing the general public is a big plus. I also use their public Facebook info as a way of learning what type of person they are. What are their hobbies and interests? On a very basic level, the info in their profile gives us topics to talk about in a job interview (“I saw on Facebook you are a Doctor Who fan. Which Doctor is your favorite?”).

2) LinkedIn

LinkedIn is all about professionalism. If the profile isn’t on their resume I’ll use the same search techniques I did on Facebook. The more filled out their profile is, the better image they portray. Is the picture professional or the same “fun” picture from Facebook? How extensive is their network? Are they connected with coworkers from previous jobs? The more connections with previous employers or other similar professionals the better. This isn’t about numbers but rather the quality of the connections. I wrote all about how to use LinkedIn for your job search here (http://www.calldrdave.com/wp/2011/06/using-linkedin-to-get-a-job-lessons-from-the-kcitp-career-fair/) but in general I’m looking for consistency with their resume, what groups they belong to and the comments they make in those groups. On occasion I’ll bring that information up during an interview (“I agree with your opinion about the need for certification.”)

3) Twitter

Here I’m looking for both a personal and professional account as some people have both. Often the personal account is “protected”. I won’t request to follow them because I respect their privacy. Similar to Facebook I am looking for their public face. I try to see whom they are following and who follows them to find those mutual connections.

Unlike Facebook, Twitter is generally all or none privacy so if the account is unprotected I get a more complete image of the applicant. Since Twitter is “in the moment” I get a keener picture of their personality. Are they hotheaded? Are they a complainer? What do they choose to share and why?

4) Google +, Pinterest and all the other social media profiles

I’ll look on Google + especially if they have a Gmail account and I’ll use the same techniques above for evaluating them: looking at their public face and the connections.

Ultimately social media creates a digital fingerprint of our personalities. This helps me as an employer to get a more complete picture then a short interview or a background check can provide. If you are an applying for a job, it’s something to consider not just to prevent “tanking” your interview but as a way of communicating information to your employer that isn’t always available during a job interview.

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve blogged and I apologize for that. At the end of our crowd-sourcing hiring project, we got a large number of applicants to sort through. My evaluation proocess for appplicants is extremely throrough and it takes time. Additionally, after attending Macworld/iWorld at the end of the month my mailbox is overflowing with stuff to write about for GigaOM and other outlets.

In fact, I got busy enough I needed to take a bit of a break and took a mini vacation to St. Louis. Why St. Louis? Besides the fact it’s close, I got to see Star Trek: The Exhibition (pictures here) and got to go to an Islanders vs. Blues game. Being a kid from Long Island, I was a big fan as a kid and often went to games with my father. I realized after the fact that was almost 30 years ago. I wore a Islanders jersey, which I realize it isn’t the smartest thing to wear the opposing team’s jersey at a sporting event. The final score was Blues 5 and Islanders 1 so the fans weren’t too obnoxious. Finally, I researched a bit about Square’s Card Case service for automatic payments at vendors like pizza shops and coffee shops. Did that make it tax deductible? That’s between me and my accountant.

So about that hiring? We did bring someone on board and I’ll be blogging about that next as well as more lessons and results I learned from the hiring process.

The past few weeks I’ve been blogging about job search strategies and practices from the small business employer end. With our $500 crowdsourcing employment challenge closing today, we’ve been seeing lots of applicants, though few meet our exact needs. What I’ve been seeing is lots of mistakes that I’m hoping others can learn from. While none of these are the sole reason for rejection, they are factors

1) Failing to follow instructions

Read the job post carefully and follow the instructions. Some are in there just to see if you are detailed oriented. The most famous example of this the band Van Halen (http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/vanhalen.asp). Their contract called for no brown M&Ms back stage. Was this a subtle form of racism? No. This was to make sure they read the instructions thoroughly. I posted a job on Craigslist and asked for 2 things: “Craigslist Submission” in the subject (so I can sort applications via a filter) and a cover letter. After a week only 20% followed those two simple guidelines. Of the applicants 50% didn’t include a cover letter and 25% didn’t use the proper subject.

2) A lousy email address

I wrote about this before, but your email address sends a message. A email address tied to your ISP (sunflower.com, aol.com, kc.rr.com) or with a silly name (football_stud, catlover57) tells me you aren’t professional or have a profound lack of understanding of technology. Either doesn’t send a good impression and in my field, it’s a really bad sign. Best to set up a free Gmail, Hotmail, or yahoo account (or even better an account on your own domain) that has a professional name and sends a professional image. This shouldn’t be the same one you use on Facebook because sure as heck I always check email address via social media to learn more about the applicant.

3) Unprofessional filename and format of submissions

When you attach your resume and cover letter to an email, it’s important to give it a professional sounding name. I get many many submissions that say “Genericresume.doc” or “basiccoverletter”. That tells me you are blindly submitting to anyone who will take your information. Take the two seconds to rename the files to something like “resumeforDoctorDave.doc” and you’ll be sending a better message to your potential employer.

Speaking of that document, be sure your employer can read it. The .doc file format is standard. Some people will send it in .pdf format which is also fine. The problem with .doc files is issues with fonts and formatting, so .pdf is usually your safest bet. The problem with .pdf is that companies that use resume databases may have trouble scanning it. Want to get the A+? Including both formats and explain that you are doing that so that way they don’t wonder what the difference is.

Avoid archaic formats like WordPerfect or unprofessional programs like Microsoft Works or Open Office. While those may be fine for personal use, the currency of business today is .doc and .pdf. To play it safe, email your file to a friend to make sure it’s readable on their computer.

4) An outdated resume

Unless you’ve never used a computer in your life (in which you wouldn’t be reading this anyway), you should know how to modify a Microsoft Word document. A common question I ask any applicant is “Why are you looking to leave your current position”. The most common response :”Oh I left there a few months ago and haven’t had a chance to update my resume”. Oops. What does that tell your potential employer: you are not detail oriented bordering on lazy. Send a complete and current resume. Speaking of that current resume…

5) Things left out

When an employer sees a gap, they’ll naturally ask the reason for the gap and you need to be prepared to explain. When you mention an employer that you didn’t list on your resume, it shows signs of dishonesty and may taint the entire interview. I think it’s better to put it on there and then if asked, explained why you left. Most likely you will have to explain anyways and simply head it off at the pass. I blogged about an applicant who did this once and I simply couldn’t get over the “what else was he hiding?” question. Fact is, in any industry people know each other and many employers do background and credit checks so previous employers do come up. If you got fired or the boss was a total butt-head, noncommittal phrases like “it wasn’t a good fit”, “it didn’t work out”, or plain old “I made a mistake working there” shows the honesty, maturity and professionalism any employer will appreciate.

6) Poor reference checks

If you list references, be sure to know what they will say. Today, many employers are afraid to give a reference yet employers crave them. We want to know more about you that isn’t directly covered in the process. Employment verification isn’t a reference. If your previous employer won’t give a reference, then don’t list them. Ideally you want to list a previous supervisor’s personal phone and be sure they are willing to give that unofficial reference. It’s a waste of my time as an employer to call your old boss and find out they have nothing to say. When a supervisor leaves a company or you leave a previous employer, try to obtain personal contact information and ask them if you can list them as a reference. Remember that during that background or reference check, I don’t need your permission to call those previous employers. If you are “ineligible for rehire” you better explain it during the interview rather than have me find out via phone call. Simply not listing someone there as a reference won’t work.

Don’t just list quality references: know what they are going to say and keep in touch. If someone said they’d be your reference five years ago, call them before your job search and make sure the contact info is up to date. Again, it’s an annoyance to call references only to find out the numbers have changed. In a competitive position, we may simply move onto another applicant whose references do check out before we go on the wild goose chase trying to find these people.

Ideally, after an interview it’s a good idea to call the reference proactively and let them know a company may be calling them. This can be your final chance to correct anything during the interview. For example, let’s say during the interview they were really looking for X and you are deficient in that. While you never want to tell a reference what to say, you can coach them. You might say to them you are concerned you don’t have X. Your reference might state what a quick learner you are, the fact you pick up on new things or simply that while you aren’t good at X, your skills at Y more than compensate. Only have them say this if it’s true though.

Last week I got a call from a coworker I haven’t heard from in almost 8 years. We sorta kept in touch but when an employer called me for a reference check I couldn’t confirm anything she said. It had been so long I barely remembered the guy and I know he didn’t get a job. He called me afterwards and asked what I must have said to have him not get the job. I told him that I said the truth: I barely remembered you.

Best to keep in touch!

There you have six mistakes I see applicants make. If you’ve done one of those, now you know why your search may be failing!

With our busy lives and the ubiquity of technology, an in-person interview as the primary way of selecting an employee is wasteful and inefficient A combination of email and phone interviews are a norm. Here we do email, phone, and in-person (did I mention our $500 hiring bonus for referring a qualified applicant we hire?) Besides being more efficient, phone and email interviews also keeps us and other employees free of any bias situation. While I may be able to guess your gender by your name and voice, other biases based on nuances such as physical appearance and ethnicity can be minimized. Humans make assumptions about people and naturally “like” people similar to us. Email and voice interviews focus on the skills of the applicant.

For email interviews, don’t treat it like you would an informal email to family and friends. This is a formal process and you’ll be judged on multiple criteria. The time of the email reply can speak volumes about you. What time did you send it? Did you send it during the work day of your current job (bad sign!) or did you send it at some off hour like 2am (what were you doing up at 2am?) Most important is how quickly you replied. That shows how much thought you gave the questions and how eager you were. Reply too soon and it shows you didn’t think out your answers well. Wait days and it shows lack of interest as well as general unprofessionalism. One business day would be an acceptable time frame and replying before or after work if you are currently employed is best.

In the body of the email don’t use abbreviations, shortcuts or informal language such as “LOL” and “FWIW” even if your interviewer used such informalities. Try to send from a professional email account. Catlover57@yahoo.com doesn’t send the right image. Email addresses are free, so set one up that communicates professionalism. Also, if you send via your phone or tablet, remove the signature at the bottom that promotes the device. This should advertise you, not the devices you own. Moreover, simply don’t use those devices to reply to the email. The risk of “autocorrect” fail is simply too high. The only time this may be acceptable is to send a message like “I’m very interested in responding however I’ve got a family emergency and won’t be back until late tomorrow”. If you can’t reply within that 24 hour time frame, reply letting the employer know when to expect a reply and a reason why you are delayed. “Family emergency”, “school deadlines” or “personal reasons” is fully acceptable. Not responding is not acceptable.

Similar to an email interview, phone interviews should be treated as a formal occasion and done professionally. Don’t do it at a coffeeshop or standing outside your current employer during break on your mobile phone. Whenever possible do it on a landline. Mobile phones simply can’t be counted on like they should. A low battery, a dropped call, or a text coming in makes the difference between getting the job and the employer getting annoyed they can’t hear you or keep calling back. If you must use your mobile, put it on vibrate so text messages and other notifications aren’t heard during the interview.

Pick a quiet spot that is noise and distraction free. In front of your computer is fine, but be sure to mute it. Again an employer might get annoyed with your chat ding or your email alert during the interview. I recommend during the interview to keep careful notes either via the computer or by hand. Know what you talked about and what the employer was interested in. That helps you in the next stage. Whenever possible, repeat the question of the interviewer either directly: “Why am I interested in working for you…” or “I’m interested in working for you because….” With phones especially you may not always hear the question correctly so letting the interviewer know what you are responding to makes sure they get the answer they desire.

I won’t talk hear about in-person interview techniques because there are so many tips regarding these already out there, but I’ll share things I’ve seen over the years that make applicants stand out:

1) Professional appearance that’s one step above

If you’ve done your research you know the attire of the workplace. I often see applicants try to match the style of the workplace. That isn’t always a good idea. As an employer, I want your best foot forward and that means dressing one level above current staff. Rarely can you be overdressed, but you can frequently be underdressed. Probably a tuxedo is a bit much, but a classic suit works in most occasions. A tip: try it on every few weeks in your job search. Our bodies fluctuate and without working, our eating habits change. You either decided to use the extra time to exercise or maybe sit on the couch. Either way your clothes may not fit the same. The morning of the interview is not the time to find this out. If for some reason you have a wardrobe malfunction, acknowledge it and apologize (“I’m sorry I’m not dressed more appropriately but the cleaners lost my suit”).

2) Bring multiple printed copies of the resume

Your resume – when submitted either electronically or via paper (or both as I suggest earlier), is often copied and is on flimsy paper. Bring a copy on quality paper and present it to each interviewer. That make you literally stand out from that stack on their desk

3) Have a business card

Even if you are unemployed, business cards are still the way business is done. Include your name and how they may reach you. Best ones I’ve seen include a QR code or URL to your LinkedIn profile or other resume service. Giving your business card also encourages them to give you theirs. That’s gold because it’s a way of thanking them and following up

4) Remember you are being watched

Your interview starts at 11:00am, so you get there a few minutes early. How you treat the receptionist and other staff may be observed. Don’t just think of the interviewer as the decision maker. That person sitting at the reception desk will report positive or negative impressions. That person in the bathroom could be the CEO. Be “on” the moment you approach the building. How you park, for whom you open the door, and whom you bump into leaves an impression. Even across the street when you get lunch afterwards, you don’t know who is sitting at the table next to you. If you dressed the same way you did during the interview and you are nearby, assume it’s still part of it. True story: when I was on an interview team for a large company we all went out to eat afterwards. Applicant was at the next table over make a big stink about his meal being served cold. The way he treated the waitstaff told us he wasn’t a good fit in a customer service position.

5) Always thank the interviewers

When someone takes the time to interview, they are showing an interest in you. It’s polite to thank them for that valuable gift. Hopefully you got their business card in step 2. An email “thanks” is fine without a sales pitch. If you think you made a mistake in the interview or answered a question wrong, now might be a good time to try to make a save. Something like “During the interview you asked me about X and upon reflection I realized I should have mentioned…” Keep it short and sweet because your primary goal is to thank them. If you really want the job, send them the letter overnight with signature required. That will help insure it gets to them and it’s a way of saying “I’m really serious about working here.” The $15 it costs is a small investment in your career. Obviously do it for only jobs you really want as it can get expensive to do this each time.

I’m almost done writing about getting a job, especially from the “hidden” job market. Next post will be the top mistakes I see applicants make