4 Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 7

We are nearing the end of January -- where has the time gone?  Since December is the month of giving, January always seems like a bit of a let down, but for someone like me who craves alone time (sitting in front of the TV or with a good book, of course), January is one of my favorite months...

The world moves a little more slowly in January (at least for the first couple of weeks of the month), so I really feel like I have time to think and reflect on the past and the future.  So for the Four Faves this month, I started thinking about some stuff that friends told me about, gifted me, etc.

1. Cucina Coriander and Olive Tree Kitchen Soap -- Lynn McBee gave me this as a gift many years ago and I have never stopped buying it.  The scent is heavenly and you can buy it at Sur la Table or on amazon http://www.amazon.com/CUCINA-Purifying-Hand-Wash-Refill/dp/B00023DIBI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1358970135&sr=1-1&keywords=cucina+kitchen+soap
2. Tervis Tumblers -- Yes, I know that everyone has these insulated modern miracles http://www.amazon.com/Tervis-oz-Big-Clear-Tumbler/dp/B0002MR2WU/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1358970395&sr=1-2&keywords=tervis+tumblers, but my friend and co-worker Ann McCurdy gave me one with my name on it for the office and I drink out of it every single day -- I can't live without iced tea in a Tervis Tumbler.  Neither can Ann!
3. May Books -- I have an iPhone, and iPad, and write this blog on a computer or one of the aforementioned devices, but I still like to take notes or make lists with a pen and paper.  That is why when Emily Loper found these darling books, many of us ordered them and started writing!  The one pictured above is my 2013 thought book -- for Community Partners of Dallas stuff, quotes, lists of events, places to visit, etc.  This 2013 one has the checker-board pages, but I think I prefer the dot pages I had for my 2012 book.  No matter what, they are great!  Design your own at:  http://www.maybooks.com/
4. Ina Garten's Oven Risotto -- this is one of my go-to recipes given to me by my friend Ina (like Oprah and Maya Angelou, Ina is my friend -- if only in my mind).  I make a half making about every two weeks and have it for dinner for about 3 nights.  I always keep the stuff to make it, so it can be my dinner pronto.  Here's the recipe:

Ina Garten's Easy Parmesan "Risotto"

1 1/2 cups Arborio rice

5 cups simmering chicken stock, preferably homemade, divided (I use store-bought)

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I do really grate the reggiano myself on my box grater)

1/2 cup dry white wine

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup frozen peas

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the rice and 4 cups of the chicken stock in a Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente. Remove from the oven, add the remaining cup of chicken stock, the Parmesan, wine, butter, salt, and pepper, and stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Add the peas and stir until heated through. Serve hot.

 

Tips for Interviewing with Me

Unfortunately, I have to interview people periodically.  I use the word unfortunately because that usually means that one of our great employees at Community Partners of Dallas has left us.  And that is unfortunate.  I really love all of the people with whom I work and when someone leaves, it is sad for me.  But, I am always happy to have some fresh blood – and a new person who hasn’t heard all my stories nor been the recipient of my sage advice!

So back to interviewing... 

I thought I’d give you some tips for applying for a job and interviewing.  It’s all stuff that you’ve probably heard before, but these are my tips, so if you’re interviewing with me, this is the way to stand out from the pack:

Before the Interview

1. Do what the job notice says to do.  If it says to send an email with a cover letter with your salary requirements and resume, do that.  As a small employer with no HR department, I am the one looking at hundreds of emails for every job we post.  Don’t give me a reason to just delete you right off the bat.
2. For me, it is the cover letter that interests me in even looking at the resume.  The one paragraph cover letter referring me to your resume is probably not going to get you an interview. 
3. Show me that you have done a little research in your letter – mention something about the agency, me, or why you would like to work for me.  Also, be sure that you try to find the name of the person to whom you are applying if possible.  Since my work email is paige@whatever.com,  any applicant can easily go to our website and find out who I am, my last name, and my job title.  I know that this is not always easy at a larger company, but just show the potential employer that you tried.
4. If you are called for the interview, don’t make the person who called to set the appointment give you directions to the agency.  Let them give you the address, but that is all you need.  This is the digital age – you can look up the directions to get yourself there on time.  If you are able, do a practice drive-by in advance.  Of course, if you have trouble finding us or are lost, please call.

At the Interview

1. Don’t come too early.  I know, I know – they told all of us in school to arrive 30 minutes early, but I disagree.  I really like it when the person comes on time or maybe just 3 minutes early.  Certainly don’t be late – that is a killer.
2. CPD is a super-casual place to work.  Does that mean you should interview that way?  Absolutely not.  Come in business casual.  No flip flops.  No low-cut or too tight clothing.  I always wear a jacket and pants to conduct our interviews. 
3. Be yourself – or maybe a notch or two better.  The most recent person that I hired, Emily Loper (our new Program Director), came back with the best line ever when I went to get her from our reception area.  It was my birthday that week and my co-workers had surprised me by decorating my office and providing me with a crown and sash to wear.  We had just eaten birthday cake, so I was still wearing my crown.  I greeted Emily by saying “I guess you never expected you’d be interviewed by someone in a crown” to which she quickly responded “Gee, I’d hoped that I would be!”  Now, did this alone land Emily the job?  No.  But it sure helped her to stand out and get noticed. 
4. Don't bad mouth your current or former employers or bosses.  It would be really hard for me to hire someone who did that.  Back when I was younger and interviewing, people always liked to ask why I left each job on my resume (I don't really do this for people I'm interviewing, but I might, so don't hold me to it!).  Anyway, I did have one job that I quit after 1 year, and I always got asked about it.  Of course, what I wanted to say was that the boss was crazy and the company was horrible, but the most I ever said was that "Well, I stayed in that job longer than anyone ever had before."  That always seemed to satisfy people!
5. Back to research – know what we do at CPD.  Be ready to ask a few (but not too many) questions.  Don’t ask me about salary and benefits at the first interview – unless I bring it up.  We will discuss that when I offer you the job.  Emily did another great thing at her interview.  She told me that she read my blog. The other people I interviewed may have read it too, but if they did they didn’t tell me.  You not only have to do your research, you have to make sure that I know that you did your research!

I know that many people won’t agree with all this advice – and that is ok.  These are tips for a successful interview with me.  And I hope that I won’t be interviewing anyone soon.  I’m sick of good-byes.

P.S.  My friend Tami Cannizzaro writes a great blog called Tales of the Terminated and I know that she has addressed a lot of this  -- check it out at http://talesoftheterminated.blogspot.com/