Tuesday, March 19, 2013

It's a Small World and Other Overused Cliches


It may be cliché but the older I get, the truer it seems. Is it because I have “been around the block”? "The past is catching up with me"?

Generally speaking, “it’s a small world” is viewed positively.

Take today’s job market, for instance. I have a college kid who’s looking for a summer internship. It’s nearly impossible to get a job after school these days without having a notable, successful internship. In days past, you sent a resume, had an interview and got the job based purely on your skill set and personality.

Not so these days.

The world revolves, good or bad, around whom you know. So living in a small community and having parents who went to large schools can make a big world seem a teensy bit smaller. That is definitely the positive side of “it’s a small world.”

My daughter previously refused to “use” anyone so she stubbornly made the job fair circuit. I admire her determination. However, there are times when people are pleased to help you like those who’ve bowled with you every New Year’s Eve while growing up and lived across the street for years. They’d rather hire a kid with whom they have history, a known commodity, instead of someone they’ve just met.

As days towards summer tick off the calendar and possibly a little applied pressure, we encouraged her to send her resume to a few dear friends who have successful businesses. Within an hour she received a reply. 


“Hello Miss Amanda-

It is very ironic, but we are looking for a marketing / advertising intern for the summer. The potential candidate must have the following skill set:



                Female
                Big Ten Conference
                Young, energetic, outgoing personality
                Creative
                Family history of good athletic genes

Let me know when you are available to interview with my sales manager, Tom Johnson.

Steve”


(Note: I went to college with him and we were very good (platonic!) friends. I swear.)

“Mom, it sounds like he’s joking!”

“He’s not joking. Just having fun with you. That’s what he thinks of you. Cool, right? Follow up with a date to meet his sales manager.”

It’s a small world.

Recently I had a conversation with “Steve” and he told me he hired T.J. Johnson, a guy from college.

While in the end, we ultimately became friends,T.J. and I weren’t just "friends" for several months our sophomore year. And the reason we stopped hanging out was that he wasn’t a good kisser. Very shallow of me, I know. 

There’re times when the phrase “it’s a small world” is awkward. This is one of those times.

By now, T.J. knows Gina’s daughter is coming in for an interview, which makes it necessary to tell her that I know him. Details will be conveniently left out. Hopefully he has a poor memory.

“You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince” is a great cliché as well.

************************

If you aren't hanging out at Yeah Write, you should be. It's more fun than...a barrel of monkeys (they're fun, aren't they?).  Awesome writers!!!

56 comments:

Kenya G. Johnson said...

LOL!!! That's funny and "AWKWARD" as the kids say. Things haven't changed much. I got my first professional job at the company my dad worked at. And while it was true I had a connection to get in, I always hoped the my promotions were by my own merit. Still not sure that was always the case. I'd probably would have still been there if I didn't marry a Marine.

Natalie DeYoung said...

Ha! So funny! And it's true, it's all about who you know...

Just Keepin It Real, Folks! said...

Oh so true my friend. My son got his summer job because the sleazy owner of the place hits on me every day at the gym. I'll keep bending over and stretching in front of him as long as my kid keeps his job. Mama's gotta do what Mama's gotta do!!!!

christie said...

I laughed out loud. You are so funny. I hope he reads your blog.

Unknown said...

That's too funny. I wonder what th frog to prince ratio is anyways?

Gina said...

That handsome Marine! That's what we've told her all along. She still has to interview. It just may be a decent first job out of college as well. But first she needs to interview with the sales manager ;-) The funny thing is she looks quite a bit like I did when I was her age. Everyone comments on it. It will be interesting to see if he does. Crazy!

Gina said...

Pretty much everything is these days. My dad is/was an engineer. I couldn't have worked for him even if I wanted to unless it was to sort the mail.

Gina said...

You are one of the funniest people I know! I guess if it helps ;-) But you are so right that a Mama's got to put forth the effort her little chicks! Plus they gots to have summer jobs. Period!!!

Gina said...

I will accept that compliment enthusiastically. Especially coming from you! I hope he DOESN'T!!!

Gina said...

I'm glad you enjoyed! For me or in general???

Thanks for the follow, dude! Always try my best to entertain.

Dana said...

Oh, yes, sometimes those cliches can backfire! I never cease to be amazed at how small the world really is.

Mind Of Mine said...

I live in a big city, the chances of me being able to name drop to assist in getting an internship, are pretty slim. Oh well what can you do.

Tomekha said...

It's so true "It's a small world". Increasingly I'm realizing that we do live in a global village...everybody's interconnected somehow.

Kinley Dane said...

All of the jobs I had as a teen came because I knew someone. It's the way the world works! Especially if you are a good kid, like you said, people appreciate that.

I hope she gets the internship and loves it!! But too funny about the bad kisser interviewing her :)

IASoupMama said...

Yep, it's all about who you know. I help college students find internships and we tap into our alumni network all.the.time. I hope she has a great interview!

Anonymous said...

OMG! So funny! I hope Mr. TJ doesn't hold you dumping him for bad kissing against your daughter! Not that I blame you for kicking him to the curb. Nothing worse than bad kissing! ;-) Great story - love how you weaved in the anecdotes for "it's a small world." Go, mama!

Rogue Wino said...

Networking is so important. Just about to start a new job myself that I found out about through a friend. I don't blame people though, having seen things on the hiring side, there are far too many flaky people out there, and having some kind of accountability is nice!

Barb said...

I ended up going to a smaller school as an undergrad because I went to a really small high school and couldn't adjust to a huge college, but I went to a Big Ten school for graduate studies. There are so many opportunities to meet people and network through a bigger school because there are alumni associations all over the country. I think these days, networking is key. Although my husband says he would never hire me lol

Jack said...

Two comments:

1) I once blogged about a woman I dated who was a bad kisser too. I don't know what was going on, but the few times we made out it felt like a St. Bernard was licking my face.

I found out a while back she referred to me as one of the sloppy kissers of her past. It made me laugh and I wondered if she ever knew that she ranked pretty low on my scale too.

2)In a perfect world everyone would get hired and compensated based upon their skills and abilities, but that is not how it works.

When I was 29 I was a finalist for a position as a pharmaceutical rep but lost to the other candidate. I knew some of the details because I had a friend at the company.

Had I been a tall brunette I might have actually gotten the position, but the hiring managers believed her assets were better than mine.

Connections help and there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of them.

Jamie Miles said...

Yes, cliches are cliches for that reason. They ring so true. A long time ago my husband was a young associate responsible for screening applicants for a newbie lawyer at the firm. I was looking over the resumes and saw one guy went to University of Florida undergrad and law. Long story short (is that a saying or cliche?) they have had a working relationship for almost 20 years. It's true. You never know what will speak to someone on a resume and if it's someone you have familiarity with, all the better.

Samantha Brinn Merel said...

Almost every job or internship I have ever had has come because of some connection. It really is all about who you know, and I've come to realize that there is nothing at all wrong with taking advantage of a connection when you have them. The connection gets your foot in the door, and after that its up to you to earn it.

Anonymous said...

I had to have the "not just friends" discussion with my son when he was 18 and coincidentally was interviewed by a college flame. He flat out asked my son if he was related but thankfully left out all the details and just told him we were old college friends. M could see by the look on my face that it was more than that. I'm sure I turned 50 shades of red. Fortunately, he was offered another position with better pay. Thank God for small favors (yet another great cliche!)

Daniel Nest said...

Indeed, kissing frogs is serious business...wait, what? Well put! Hope your daughter finds a great internship spot.

Michelle Longo said...

It really IS a small world!! The industry I work in is one where all the local people do business and know all the local people. It's hard to meet people who don't know people you used to know. Of course, I never kissed any of them ;)

Good luck to your daughter!

Stacie @ Snaps and Bits said...

Haha, so funny! But true connections make a big difference. I hope your daughter gets the job.

Gina said...

Me too. We can be somewhere remote and somebody seems to know somebody we know...

Gina said...

Hey Mind of Mine! We live in a small suburb of a big city. In the city, you can be anonymous. Out here, everyone knows everyone. And that really helps. Use what you can I say.

Gina said...

I agree!

Gina said...

I think it's more that way now. I don't really remember it being that way. I think you need to embrace the fact and use it to your advantage. That's what we kept telling her.

It would be a very fun internship and it's PAID, which many are not. Sort of funny and I think he will let it slip by but she would be working for him. Just a little weird.

Gina said...

I just hope she finds something that pays her...

It's all about networking.

Gina said...

Well, I didn't tell him the reason. Just stopped hanging out (rather abruptly). NOTHING worse than bad kissing. I'm sorry. There just isn't.

Thank you for your kind comments! I'm her biggest cheerleader!

Gina said...

I totally agree. You can really pretend to be anyone in an interview from a personality standpoint and your resume should reflect the experience side. I'd be checking all kinds of references. The head honcho knows her well but she has to get approved by "bad kisser" first.

Gina said...

LOL about your husband saying that. Indiana University has so many recruiting resources and she still has some opportunities through those avenues in the works. You have to throw a lot of spaghetti against the wall...

Gina said...

1. Hilarious! Hey wait...maybe he thinks I"M the bad kisser. I have more than enough backup to support the contrary however ;-)

2. I hear you. I think I sold more software to insurance company executives (guys) because I was a woman. Didn't care because I was cashing fat paychecks. But I also got laid off before a man when the rumor mill told my boss I was pregnant (didn't have the cash for the lawyer's retainer to pursue).

I believe she's learning that using her connections is making things a wee bit easier especially in this job market. Now she just needs to get it. Fingers crossed.

Gina said...

"Long story short" I'd say yes.

A connection helps with any kind of relationships. You don't start from square one.

Gina said...

I think my daughter has put two and two together as well. She will have to work her butt off because this friend of ours worked his off to get were he is. Took him years! Use what you can.

Gina said...

She would be working directly for him. He's a good guy. I think he will be discreet. I'm just sticking with the basics on my end. Good for your son getting a better paying job. Yes, thank God for small favors (another good one.)

Gina said...

Totally serious!!! It's how you find your guy ;-) Well it is certainly one way to weed them out and narrow down your choices. Thanks, Daniel!!! Me too.

Gina said...

Come on Michelle. Not even one? ;-) I had some fun in college. Our small community is pretty tight and where we all live but most of the jobs end up in the big city.

Gina said...

She has a connection with the owner and I have the connection with both. Yikes! What can I say...her mom happens to know a lot of people!

Larks said...

LOL at your last line! So true!

Unknown said...

Oh Gina this was great! I happen to really like cliches and puns, so this was right up my alley. lol
I agree with the whole "who you know" thing. None of the jobs I have had in my adult life involved a resume, because I had already known the people from other parts of my life. It's been great and I know that I've been lucky.
I wish your daughter the best of luck!

Daffodil Campbell said...

We live on a small island - 6 degrees are more like 2 here. Sometimes you just have to embrace it! Love this post, it's a good reminder.

Gina said...

Not many things truer but taxes and change!

Gina said...

I like them too. They just pop out of my mouth. I think she is finally realizing the benefit of knowing people that will gladly help a girl out. She's pretty cool so I hope she pulls off the interview with flying colors.

Gina said...

Thanks, Daff. Our village, which is a suburb of Chicago, is just over one square mile. Everyone knows everyone including their business. Most times I like it and others times it's far too small and I wish to crawl in a hole and hide but there are no holes here. I want to live on a small island. Taking anyone in???

Linda Roy said...

hahaha! Oh man! It is not shallow to stop seeing someone because they're a bad kisser! Nobody wants to have to deal with a lifetime of bad kisses. That stuff's important. The social circle gods were having a field day with you, weren't they? lol

Anonymous said...

Bad kisser = dealbreaker!!! And my goodness, what a small world indeed. Would love to overhear that conversation with your daughter! :)

www.icescreammama.com said...

well, the cliches are cliche for a reason. they're true. so funny!! did your daughter get the job - not that i'd read into your kissing skills or anything like that. :)

Anonymous said...

Haha. I agree with ditching the bad kissers!! Nice wrapping together all of the cliches. Fun post!

Gina said...

So important. It's some sort of primal connection and means a ton! Yes, many people have a field day with me for past behavior. I just suck it up and deal with the consequences or backlash.

Gina said...

Yes, it is a definite deal breaker and if this guy wasn't so cutely naive and darling, he wouldn't have lasted as long as he did (two months, big deal). I want to secretly wire her for the interview.

Gina said...

I know they are what they are! She interviews on Good Friday when she comes home for Easter. Fingers crossed but I'd find it hard to believe our friend wouldn't hire her. My kissing skills are quite polished and practiced (from an early age I'm afraid) which is obvious because we are currently in this position.

Gina said...

Thank you for your kind comment. Well sometimes I feel like my life is one big cliche! I seem to be stuck in the "what goes around comes around" cycle which is generally working out quite well for me.

Anne said...

It is indeed a small world. Reminds me to be careful of what I say and who I say things to or like you said, it will catch up with me one way or another.

Jaxson corey said...

This article clears all the doubts and confusions that will have issues while pretending & not getting there where they want to. Excellent Article!!!
Great interview! Read Me Dead sounds like it has a really good story in there!
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