There’s a current debate in the media asking if it’s okay to bring an ice coffee to a job interview.
Based on articles I’ve read half of those responding say: “It’s fine, no problem,” while the other half said, “No, the ice, stirring, and sipping are a distraction.” Some responded saying they prefer the person bring hot coffee.
The only thing people should bring to a job interview is knowledge of the company, the job they’re interviewing for and answers to why they’re the best qualified person to fill the position, not hot OR ice coffee.
Do these people understand they aren’t joining the interviewer for breakfast, but to land a job?
When I was interviewing applicants for an open position the first impression the applicant made on me was a lasting one. If they walked through the door sipping on iced coffee or any other drink that would have been the first thing I noticed. And I wouldn’t have been impressed.
Most applicants are offered coffee or a cold beverage when seated. If they can’t wait until the interview is over then grab a cup at the lobby snack bar and then go out the same way you came in. Don’t call back to check if the job is still open.
Taking a drink of any kind to a job interview is a no-brainer…don’t! The applicant’s total focus should be on impressing the person conducting the interview.
Speaking of workplace etiquette, why do many working people look like they got dressed in a wind storm and their hair, especially men, looks like it was combed with an egg beater? I don’t mean those that are actually “working” such as welders, mechanics, HVAC technicians, truck drivers, plumbers, electricians, etc. I’m talking about those that work in offices, sell stuff to others that work in offices or write the sales material, sit in air conditioned and heated HR workplaces, among others.
I haven’t worked for a corporation for more than 15 years now and from what I see there are no longer any dress codes.
I see business travelers on planes dressed as if they’ve just left the beach or a drunken bachelor party. I know they’re traveling for work because they loudly discuss tomorrow’s meeting schedule or a coworker’s poor attitude with colleagues on their cellphones.
The book “Dress for Success” appears to be outdated nowadays.
Whenever I traveled on business I always wore a coat and tie. At the time it was considered de rigueur. I felt more comfortable and discovered, no matter what section of the plane I was in, that I was treated with respect and courtesy by the cabin crew..
In addition, the inside pockets of a sports or suit coat are perfect for neatly stashing airline tickets, itineraries, a pen, a small notebook, and a cell phone. Today I wear sports jackets and suits when traveling for the same reason.
A few times in Atlanta I’ve walked into a large office building wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt, tie and highly shined shoes, strolled past the security guard nodding hello, and went straight to the elevator.
After entering a client’s office sans visitor’s badge my client would ask how I got in without signing in and having the guard call them to escort me. I told them, “Because they weren’t sure if I owned the building or not.”
However, the ruse didn’t always work, and occasionally I’d hear the security guard hollering: “SIR!” and turn to see him motioning me to come back to the front desk.
Regardless, I’d rather be chastised for dressing up rather than dressing down.
***
City’s Paid Parking Pickpockets Won’t Quit! Just seven weeks after voters voiced their objection of paid parking by a margin of 4,175 to 1,398, the quartet rogue majority of City Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to advance an ordinance that would repeal and replace the citizen paid parking initiative approved by city voters.
The lone reasonable dissenting vote came as usual from level-headed Commissioner Darron Ayscue, who said commissioners should leave the voter-approved ordinance as is rather than repeal and replace it without another public vote.
Commissioner Joyce Tuten responding with her traditional clarity and logic said: “I want $1 million for the city that doesn’t come out of resident pockets, that comes out of the million tourists who come here in their pockets.” Huh?
Ayscue questioned why the commission was acting now when it had previous opportunities to incorporate the citizen initiative into the city code.
“I’m not in favor of repealing this. It should stay as it is,” Ayscue said.
Commissioner and apparent paid parking spokesman Tim Poynter defended the replacement, arguing that the referendum was intended to give residents control over future paid parking decisions, not permanently prohibit parking fees.
Poynter said he expects paid parking to return eventually because of the growing costs of maintaining city services used by visitors. Has he ever considered trimming staff, cutting department budgets, stifling the purchasing of new cars, consultants, and non-revenue producing real estate?
The proposed changes drew objections from residents involved in the citizen initiative campaign that led to the August referendum.
Paul Lore, the original author of the no paid parking initiative, told commissioners he was concerned that rewriting the measure could undermine what voters had approved.
It’s obvious the money grubbers just can’t keep their hands out of our pockets.
The 4 commissioners are absolutely clueless and when election time rolls around please remember their incompetence and vote accordingly.
David, used to wear a coat and tie to travel and to interviews. However, now I wear a short sleeve shirt to show off my new tattoos.
This city commission is unbelievable!
Fernandina Beach has an annual budget of $228 million. Granted, much of that money is held in reserves or restricted funds. But even if we look only at the city’s roughly $50 million General Fund, finding $1 million in savings means trimming just 2%.
Surely there are expenses that can be reduced, projects that can be postponed, and programs that deserve a closer look.
Before asking taxpayers to pay more, the City Commission owes us a serious examination of what we’re already spending. Finding two cents out of every dollar hardly seems an unreasonable place to start.
Back & forth……aren’t we sick of all this??
Sometimes, when I see the city commissioners’ actions, I find myself wishing we lived in a third-world country where rogue politicians are easier to depose, one way or another.
That said, the etiquette article was fantastic. There is little class left on either side of the desk or table—guests or professionals—and nowhere is this more obvious than in hospitality. Most restaurateurs no longer know the difference between a fish knife and a butter knife. Dinner guests at your own home no longer understand what “fashionably late” means and often arrive even earlier than the invitation time (a serious breach of etiquette in a private home). At the five-diamond restaurant Salt at the Ritz-Carlton, the manager wears leather-top tennis shoes with thick white rubber soles better suited to a tugboat, and the tables no longer even have tablecloths. You might expect the clientele to object to such lowered standards, yet Salt’s 4.8 rating on OpenTable from roughly 4,000 reviews suggests that most guests simply don’t know any better.
In most other places, one can expect aloof millennials or zoomers adorned with snot rings and little interest in caring service. It has become purely transactional.
The best restaurant in town where you are still treated with class—on padded white tablecloths—is David’s at the corner of 8th and Ash.
Outside of David’s, your best odds of hosting with genuine style and no fear of embarrassment are through Homespitality. If you’ve never heard the term, visit Homespitality.com.
Amendment 3 to increase the Homestead Exemption looks likely to fail.
The Florida Legislature fabricated a package that is specifically designed to fail,
given the “draconian” implications to public safety should it pass.
The more reasonable idea to gradually increase the exemption would be less frightening and might have won approval–but that was never the goal.
The goal was to quash any discussion of reducing property taxes–period.
And that goal will be achieved, it seems. Vote YES on Amendment 3.
The whole parking thing was a Shakedown City scam from the outset. The premise that the City needs funds for improvements is false. They have plenty of capital. Simply go to the Nassau County Appraiser’s site and enter “City of Fernandina Beach” as the property owner. Then scroll down through all the nonperforming assets owned by Shakedown City. They should do what any family would do. Monetize the stuff you don’t use to acquire the things you want.
Years ago when I was a trustee for one of the City pension boards then City Manager Czymbor asked for a town hall meeting to discuss the City’s financial problem in meeting its annual contribution. At the meeting we gave him a three ring binder with the data on the Appraiser’s site and offered to monetize it for him to meet their obligation. Result? The shortest town hall meeting ever and Czymbor found the money..
If Tuten wants to get money from the tourist then she should work to readjust how the TDC disperses tourist dollars. It’s time for them to stop marketing and advertising Amelia Island so much and contribute more for upkeep and repairs of our facilities and infrastructure.
And to think one of these idiots is going to be your next mayor.