Networking Is Not Just for Creeps
LinkedIn has made it easier than ever before to connect with people who can help you get ahead. Whether they are doing what you want to be doing, or working where you want to be working, it can be as simple as a “Hey! I came across your profile and would love to grab a coffee sometime. Your experience is really interesting.” You can go into a little detail about why you think they’re interesting, or what you’re working on, but some flattery never hurts. As an admitted “beast” on LinkedIn, I know this from experience. I’ve hired C-level executives on LinkedIn, creatives on Facebook, and even an intern on Instagram. Treat your LinkedIn profile like an online résumé. Please do not wear sunglasses in your profile photo or self-identify as “visionary.” No profile at all is better than a half-completed one that you stopped caring about after getting thirteen connections. Again, a LinkedIn profile can be a first impression, so if it looks like you don’t pay much attention to detail, a recruiter can only assume that you’d take the same approach with your job.
I will tell you that networking is yet another subject where my mantra of “You don’t get what you don’t ask for” applies. I’m friends with Mickey Drexler, the CEO of J.Crew, not because we were introduced (though that would have been much cooler), but because I hunted him down, and hunted him down again. He’s a great friend and mentor now, and all it took was a nice e-mail to get some of the best business advice I’ll ever have.
Be Prepared to Get Real
I didn’t always get the jobs that I applied for. When I applied at Nordstrom, I didn’t get the job because they asked me real questions, such as What did I want out of my career? If you’re going into a job interview, you should always be prepared to have smart answers to smart questions but also smart answers to dumb questions, and it doesn’t hurt to practice. Someone will likely ask you, “What do you like to do in your free time?” and even if your hobbies include watching reruns of Roseanne, you should have a more appropriate answer prepared. The more interesting, memorable, and even unusual that answer is, the better, because as much as your potential employer wants you to be a total rock star at your job, she is also considering you as someone with whom she is going to end up spending eight hours a day.
One of the most standard interview questions is “What do you think is your biggest weakness?” It’s a question that I ask often, and I want people to answer honestly. Do not answer this question by disguising one of your strengths as a weakness. When people answer me with “My biggest weakness is that I’m a perfectionist,” or “I’m always early to meetings,” I just groan (but only on the inside; I’m not that rude) and figure that these are people who aren’t really being honest with themselves. I like honesty and I value curiosity, and people who are honest and curious aren’t generally impeccable. A #GIRLBOSS knows where she excels and where she could use some work, so get to know yourself and your weaknesses. And as you can’t predict every question you’re going to be asked, become familiar with the role you are interviewing for and prepare. Research the company and the job itself, and spend some time thinking about what you, personally, can bring to the table. Also, be up-front about what you want. Employment is a two-way agreement, so let’s be adults. If you are looking for a job that doesn’t include certain factors, speak up. The last thing you want is to show up on day one and find out that the job you thought you wanted was in fact the total opposite.
But Not Too Real
I’ve interviewed so many people by now that I swear I can smell crazy a mile away. If you go into too much detail about how you parted with your previous employer, it’s a red flag. Even if your boss was a raging lunatic, or you found yourself in a position where you had to work twenty-hour days, if you launch into this in an interview, you will come across as an entitled complainer—and an indiscreet one, to boot. I recently interviewed someone who described why she had left her previous two jobs: She left one because she got tired of going to the same place every day, and she left the other one because she asked for an assistant and her boss said no. Hello? If we hire you, you’re going to have to come here every day, and you basically just explained that you bail whenever you don’t get what you want.
Also, even though our office is a pretty casual environment, don’t interpret this as a free pass to be informal. One of our employees recently interviewed someone, and the first thing the candidate said to her when she walked in the room was, “Oh, you look comfy.” And . . . done. If you’re nervous and don’t know what to say, just say nothing. Making small talk about what someone is wearing is just another form of unsolicited feedback. Knowing when to speak up and when to shut up will get you very far not only in business, but in life.
It also always causes me to raise an eyebrow when someone says he or she has been a consultant for the past few years, but can’t elaborate on that or put it into concrete accomplishments. It’s a mistake to try to bluff about your experience because such posturing usually starts to crack after a few smart questions. But if you were legitimately freelancing, consulting, or running your own business for a while, that says a lot about you. As an entrepreneur, I have a ton of respect for anyone who’s willing to give working for themselves a go. Even if you eventually decided it wasn’t for you, this kind of experience can still make you stand out.
Interview No-No’s That May Doom You to Unemployment
Chewing gum
Bringing things with you—a beverage, a pet, a boyfriend, a child
Leaning back in your chair and crossing your arms
Staring at the floor, out the window, or at the interviewer’s boobs
Picking your nose or your nails
Having your phone even visible
Having zero questions
Asking so many questions that it seems like you’re interviewing the interviewer
Not writing a thank-you e-mail or note—I especially love a handwritten note because to me, someone who knows to have good manners knows how to get what she wants in this world
Dressing like you’re headed to a nightclub instead of a job interview
As a female, thinking that you don’t have to wear a bra, even if you’re interviewing at a company with a name like Nasty Gal
So You Got a Job? Awesome! Now Keep It!
That’s when I first learned that it wasn’t enough to just do your job, you had to have an interest in it, even a passion for it.
—Charles Bukowski
Nasty Gal is not a traditional nine-to-five company. Everyone here is very passionate about Nasty Gal and believes in what we’re doing. We work hard because we’re a bunch of #GIRLBOSSes (and some #DUDEBOSSes) and we know that we’re working on something that’s bigger than just us. If you’re looking for a job where you can show up, make no impact on the world, and watch a lot of cat videos, this is not the place for you. However, I do know an art school lobby in San Francisco that might be hiring. . . .
As a #GIRLBOSS is ambitious by nature, I’m going to assume that once you get a job, you want to do it well and eventually move up. And though every company is different, here are a few pointers on how to make that happen.
The Four Words Thou Shalt Never Mutter
You want to know what four words I probably hate the most? “That’s not my job.” Nasty Gal is not a place where these four words fly. At the end of the day, we’re all here for one reason and one reason only—to make the company succeed—and there will undoubtedly be a day (perhaps every day) when you will have to roll up your sleeves and dive in where you’re needed. When a company is growing quickly, there will be times when there are holes—there is a job that needs to be done, and there is no one there to do it.