To clarify, I was not at this event as a hiring authority. I volunteered my time to assist job seekers with their resumes and offer interview guidance.

You and I agree on the fact a person’s clothes don’t determine an individual’s value. I’m just as smart sitting in my office in shorts and bare feet and as I am dressed to the nines, attending a business function.

However, if I want to be perceived as a professional by my peers, I know not to show up at a business function wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I can “tell” them all day long I’m a professional with over-the-top skills and professionalism … as I stand there looking bedraggled or I can “sell” them with an entire package of polish and panache.

As I said in my response to David, a job fair is a great place to rehearse. In my book, a full-blown dress rehearsal, complete with “costume” ensures stellar performance when it’s show time. Why not take advantage of the opportunity to rehearse a complete presentation, regardless the outcome.

As I said earlier too, job fairs aren’t always the best place to land an interview. That’s where employers should be more respectful of the attendees and their time. Why drive, park and wait in line to be told to go to a Web site to see what’s available and apply?

From a “taking things seriously” standpoint, all the booth attendants were dressed professionally, ready to promote their particular company, venture or opportunity. They took the time to present a complete package, including some with tabletop displays and brochures. It appears, these potential employers were taking things seriously and did what they could to put their best foot forward.

More startling than the apparel was an inability to communicate value or articulate career path desires.

True, hiring is subjective. And yes, emotions play into things, probably frequently, but this is the process we use. A successful job seeker adapts to the subjective side of hiring and does what he can to circumvent possible negatives before they occur. It’s difficult enough out there right now without throwing up self-created roadblocks to success.

So what if a person came to an interview with you with shorts on – big deal.. if their resume demonstrated that they had worked several years in a professional environment in a professional job, that is all that one needs to be able to determine that they can be able to dress for success for the professional interview and on the job.

I find that Recruiters and HR have gotten Way to personal and definitely too emotionally caught up in aspects that have NOTHING to do with teh ability of the candidates or employees; especially in today’s work environment.

Maybe if the employers were to take the employees more seriously today, the employees would take the employers seriously as well.

Oh, and I am coming to the table, and make these comments as a business owner in the Human Resource Industry.

Thanks for stopping by … You’re so right. Common sense isn’t so common and not imparting important coping skills from early on promises more of what I witnessed.

I share your sadness.

Not only are they “setting them up to fail” in some instances, they often provide them with a daily example of the same!

Pretty sad when you think about it that way.