Teach your children well.....

Being a manager, interviewing, hiring, and training people over the years has shown me what a great job my parents really did. Not that I doubt them, but all those little things they added in to daily life really did justice with me. Yes it was their job to tell me and model for me their work ethic.
My dad was an engineer for several years, and then owned his own business until just a few years ago. My mom was a stay at home mom until my younger sister was in high school, she then joined the work force again.

So here is a list that has been compiled by my parents and myself:
1. When filling out an application bring your own pen, read ALL print, and firmly shake the managers hand, thank them for their time. Ask when to follow up, follow up if you are interested.
2. Leave references that are contactable. If the application says non family or friends can be a reference they mean it, be prepared to leave phone numbers for job references.
3. Dress the part, even when getting an application. I don't need to see the latest fashion. You shouldn't look like you rolled out of bed, just woke up, etc.
4. Interviewing. Show up 5 minutes early, again dress the part, don't drown yourself in perfume or any other over powering smells, make eye contact, answer all interview questions (it would be a good idea to prepare for questions harder than what is your availability), practice your interview with family or a friend, if you aren't sure how to answer a question ask for clarity take a deep breathe and calmly answer and never tell the person you are interviewing with that at your last job you were in a fight, hate your co-workers, your boss sucked, etc.
5. After the interview follow up in a few days, check and see if they can get ahold of your references.
6. When hired give it your all. (No you are not going to make $60,000 on your first job) Show up on time, actually as one of my teachers from high school would say "If you're early you're on time, if you're on time you're late, and if you're late there is no excuse", don't call in sick for a cold, a runny nose or a sneeze, don't have your mom or dad call for you. Don't text your boss to call in sick. Don't be a job hopper, it doesn't look good.
7. If you need to move on, do it on good terms. Give proper notice, show up EVERYDAY of that notice and still give it your all.

I feel like we are missing the mark with our kids. Things are handed to you for nothing, you have to work hard for them. You still have to clean toilets, do laundry, sweep floors, mop, vacuum, sometimes you have to do them at work you should already be dong this at home. Earn your keep.