First job/warning signs

[geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA]

 I got my first job the same way some others have
 recommended: when IBM (Toronto Lab) was hiring programmers,
 I sent in my resume along with a cover letter that said
 "since you're hiring lots of new staff, you'll probably
 need writers too, so drop me a line if that's the case". I
 got my current job the same way (FERIC was building its own
 building, which suggested they were expanding, which
 suggested that I send a letter...).

 Getting the IBM job was a particularly bizarre occurrence.
 One day, I got a standard "don't call us, we won't call
 you" rejection letter from IBM's personnel department, and
 as I was filing it, the phone rang. It was a manager from
 IBM who'd seen my resume. "No offence, Geoff, but I don't
 see anything on your resume that would suggest we should
 hire you as a writer. Why'd a forestry grad student with no
 technical writing experience ask for a job as a technical
 writer?" I spent 5 minutes telling him why, referring to my
 resume as I did (and as I'd done in the cover letter, which
 had evidently been removed by Personnel). I was in his
 office for a formal interview an hour later (barely time to
 dust off my suit and run for the subway), I was filling out
 forms for Personnel two hours later, and I was working for
 IBM the next week. To me, that's criterion number one for a
 good boss: willingness to think outside the box, and to
 take things beyond face value.

 When I informally interviewed at FERIC, I was on vacation
 at the time: hair down to my shoulders, disreputable beard,
 and no business suit. I got a call that said if I could be
 there in an hour, I could talk to the research director. I
 borrowed Dad's suit (too short in the arms and legs) and
 his dress shoes (too tight), trimmed the beard, and hit the
 road running. Talked to the RD for an hour and went out to
 lunch, and made sure he knew that I was opinionated and
 stood up for my opinions. I don't recommend this approach
 (really!), but I figured if my looks and my attitude would
 stop him from hiring me, I wasn't going to fit in at that
 company anyway. He hired me based on my knowledge and my
 skills and my references. Criterion number 2 for a good
 boss: they read the book, not just the cover, and they
 respect intelligence more than conformity.

 --Geoff Hart     @8^{)}     geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
 Disclaimer: Speaking for myself, not FERIC.

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