Re: Professionalism on lists

[Beth Agnew <beth -dot- agnew -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>]

I don't think it's the spelling and typing that is going to get an 
employer's notice, but the professionalism of the content, how one 
responds to others, the lucidity of argument or explanation, and the 
breadth or focus of knowledge evident in the post. A good employer will 
review more than one message and overlook typos.

You never know when your behavior is being observed by someone you would 
otherwise want to impress. I have declined to interview someone I met at 
an STC meeting because their conduct was unprofessional during the 
meeting. It was a networking event, with some small group discussion on 
various topics and trends. During introductions at the meeting, I 
recognized the individual's name as one of the applicants passed on to 
me by our HR department. I had intended to speak informally to them 
during the meeting, but before I had a chance, I observed them being 
overly aggressive in a discussion, stating incorrect information, and 
putting down other peoples' opinions. If this was the behavior in a 
casual meeting, what could I anticipate in a pressure situation on the 
job? Corporate fit was an important criterion for the position, and it 
was clear this person was not right for our team. Definitely not the 
kind of behavior that would be revealed in an interview, no matter how 
acute the questioning.

Word of mouth can also be a powerful support or deterrent in this 
profession. I wonder how many of us have been recommended or passed over 
without even knowing it, because of what a colleague thought about us, 
even from casual interaction? Right or wrong, all it takes is one thing 
to change someone's mind about you.
--Beth

arroxaneullman -at- aol -dot- com wrote: