Letter to Potential Employees

Hi, All You Potential Employees, April 11, 2013 Everyone at some time in their life either is looking for a job (or will be soon), working at a job, or knows someone who is. The job market is “tight” and employers are looking for the best candidate for the job they want done, that one could be you! So pray, pray, pray. Being in God’s will for a job is the first step to success! First impressions are very important when looking for a job. Your appearance is of prime importance! Your hair and nails should be clean and well kept. You should dress appropriately for the job you are seeking, don’t overdress or under-dress. Make sure your clothing is clean and ironed and colored coordinated. Don’t be super-faddish in your dress (some fads are completely inappropriate in the workplace). Keep your language and attitude polite and pleasant. Be confident in your answers but not “cocky.” When shaking hands, be firm in your grasp, not with a limp grasp. Exhibit a “willing to learn” attitude. Guys, don’t go with baggy pants, or leave your shirt unbuttoned half-way down, but wear clothes that fit. If you wear a tee shirt, make sure it isn’t covered with vulgar, offensive or controversial language or pictures. Be clean shaven and with a fresh hair cut. Gals, dress appealingly but not seductive. Whatever the style or fad is, don’t ever wear clothes that are too tight. Whether you are too thin or too overweight, wear clothes that fit your build. Too tight clothes detracts from your overall appearance, and gives the impression that you have poor taste, or are wanting to draw attention to yourself; and they are just “tacky” and are not attractive for anyone. Too tight clothes for very thin girls just accentuates your thinness, just as tight clothes accentuate the overweight of the heavy girls. Don’t show everyone your negative body features when it is so much more attractive to hide those features with correct fitting clothes, but accentuate your positive features like: attractive well kept hair styles, moderate make-up (not clownish), and well kept fingernails (without wild colored polish). If you have a nice complexion you may need very little make-up. Accentuate your eyes with natural looking eye make-up. Wildly colored hair, extreme make-up and clothes speak so loudly that it is hard to hear what you say. Fads are “fun” sometimes, but not when you are wanting to give a good impression to a potential employer (and to everyone). Legitimate work is honorable no matter what it may be. Nothing is "below" us if it is legal and moral. There are some very important things to know about working for others. In real-estate, when you want to buy a house, they say the most important thing is, "location, location, location." In being an employee the most important thing is, "attitude, attitude, attitude." You may be the most intelligent, the most educated, the best experienced, the best trained and the best looking, but if you have a bad attitude toward others, yourself, the job, etc., you probably won't get the job or keep it long if you get it. A “know it all,” prideful attitude is a big "red light" to an employer who is looking for someone who will be a team player with a teachable spirit. When applying for a job, apply only at appropriate businesses and for people who are reputable, and apply for the kind of work you are capable of performing, and/or are willing to be trained, if necessary. Always go dressed appropriately – no weird outfits, hairstyles, make-up or jewelry (most work places have a dress code). Always be respectful and show a confident and/or willing to learn attitude. This kind of attitude and appearance will make that potential employer feel that you will be an asset to his business. And lastly, be on time for your interview. As a Christian, we are told in God's Word what our attitude should be in an employee/employer relationship (Eph.6:5-8). Whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God. All these principles apply as well to students in school, those still living at home under parental authority, or whatever situation we may be in. Work (serving others) can become a joy when: 1. We do it as if Jesus was the beneficiary of the work (He is). He gets the glory and praise for a work done well; or poor work or attitude in and at your work brings a reproach on, not only you, but on Him. 2. We should strive to please those in authority over us, not just ourselves. Our boss may want the job done a certain way, so, unless it is dishonest, illegal or immoral, we should try our best to please, with a good attitude. We may think we have a better way but until the time we can privately, with a good spirit, share that better way we should do our job exactly as instructed. If you get an opportune time to share your "better way" do it with kindness and a humble spirit. A genuine suggestion will seldom be ignored. The boss may not agree with you but he can see you are innovative and truly interested in doing a good job and wanting his business to succeed. I am a small-time employer. I use some of our young friends to help me with my yard work. Because of much experience working with plants, I like things done a certain way. They try very hard to go by my instructions, and they do everything with a good attitude. I appreciate their efforts and attitude very much and would recommend them to anyone for any job, and someday there will be an opportunity for them for a better paying job. 3. We should do our best at any task, however small or what we think is insignificant. Do our best whether the boss is watching or not, and do it with a good attitude. This is part of integrity. Being a person of integrity starts with our thought-life. There is an old saying that states: “Sow a thought, reap an act; Sow an act, reap a habit; Sow a habit; reap a character; Sow a character, reap a life.” They say that, “personality is what people think we are, but character is what we really are when no-one is watching.” Satan may put all kinds of negative thoughts into our mind but we don’t have to leave them there (II Cor.10:3-5). Intentionally “guard your mind (heart), for out of it comes the issues of life,”- your attitude and your integrity. 4. We should try to bring order and beauty into our world, this includes our job. God is a god of order and beauty. Having everything in order in our lives cuts down immensely on stress and problems. Start when very young to keep everything in order for which we are made responsible – our room, cleaning the table after meals, helping clean the house or yard, etc. It will become a habit that will affect everything else in our lives for the rest of our lives, and will become a part of our character. This even carries over into our spiritual life. Get in the habit of prayer (praise, thanksgiving, confession of sins and supplication for our needs and the needs of others); of Bible reading & study and appropriating what we learn, and choosing to do what we know is right. If our spiritual lives are out of order there is usually not much order in our natural lives. Order brings beauty and beauty brings us, and others, pleasure, not stress and problems. As we are intentional in our jobs to bring order and beauty, as much as possible, it brings pleasure and joy to others. The boss will notice, and may even learn from you. Remember, we leave a record behind, forever! 5. We need to learn what the boss expects and then do that, and more. Think and plan ahead about how to do a great job. Go to work a few minutes early to prepare for your job that day. Stay a little late to finish and clean up after your work. Don’t waste (or steal) the company’s time or resources. Go the extra mile to be a person of excellence in your work. Work as if the boss is standing and watching you, the real “Boss” is watching. 6. Have a teachable spirit, respectfully show your knowledge of the subject at hand, and if you think of a better way, politely suggest an idea that would make the situation even better. No one, especially a boss, likes a “know-it-all,” so remember, “attitude.” Be willing to learn and grow. Be faithful in a little job and you will be given a bigger job (Matt.25:21). Be the solution to a problem, don’t become a problem. 7. Respect those in authority over you and those you work with. Don’t criticize or undercut your boss or your fellow worker. Don’t talk or act in a condescending way to anyone, whatever role you or they may have. In Romans 13:1, 3 and I Pet 2:13, God tells us to submissive to all those in authority over us. Pray for those with whom we work and those who are in authority over us (I Tim.2:8). When it all comes down to it, we should desire and work at growing into the perfect image of Jesus (Rom.8:29). 8. We should try our best to provide for ourselves and others to whom we are responsible. Pray for God to lead us to the job He wants us to have, and when: 1) a door of opportunity is opened, 2) and after seeking wise and godly counsel regarding that open door, and 3) we have peace about that particular job, then take it. Remember, your enemy, Satan (the angel of light), will open doors which may seem good but we must follow the above three test to be sure it is God’s will for us. Be faithful in it and God will bless you with more and better. God has the right job for you at this time. He is just waiting to get you ready to receive it. Keep asking, seeking and knocking (Matt.7:7), also remember Eccl.3:11. My prayer for you is for God’s best for you in all aspects of your life. Remember to go with God and He will go with you. (Blog address: http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com)