The Word 'Mage BlogUnder the Employer/Client Category » http://thewordmage.com/blog Shari's Writing & Editing Break Room Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:11:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Mock Intimidation Ads http://thewordmage.com/blog/2010/01/mock-intimidation-ads/ http://thewordmage.com/blog/2010/01/mock-intimidation-ads/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000 Shari Smothers http://thewordmage.com/blog/?p=1048 Recently, I got in the mail an ad tactic that really blows. It’s based on intimidation. And while it may get some clients who are fearful when you touch their pressure points. It’s definitely the low road. And one I would suggest you not take.

I got this flier in the mail. It looked like a letter. It was an URGENT NOTICE with a File Number and  RE: DELIQUENT AUTO LOAN. The opening for the letter read STATUS: DEFAULT. By the way, I didn’t spell delinquent wrong, it was wrong on the letter.

The letter came from a company that wants to revitalize your loans to get you out of default status and reduce your payments. Their letter depicts how bad it could be by showing you what your letters might already look like. This is what you want to stop coming to your house. Even the envelope had an FINAL NOTICE on the outside.

Personally, I think this selling tool is wholly inappropriate. Really, if I were in trouble with a loan, they are the last people I would sign up with. Cheesy tactics to me indicate a cheesy company. Maybe even desperate. Certainly they are a company with less than the best ethical decision making process.

Perhaps they should get points for being frugal. And that’s only assuming they were smart enough not to have paid for this visually unattractive, content-poor marketing tool.

What’s your take? What do you think of intimidation as a tool to attract business? Do you ever get ads in the mail that you’re sure you can improve?

]]> http://thewordmage.com/blog/2010/01/mock-intimidation-ads/feed/ 0 Hiring the Right Employer http://thewordmage.com/blog/2009/06/hiring-the-right-employer/ http://thewordmage.com/blog/2009/06/hiring-the-right-employer/#comments Sun, 07 Jun 2009 04:49:46 +0000 Shari Smothers http://www.thewordmage.com/wptester1/?p=119 Interview your prospective boss. There are ways to answer questions to cast yourself in a good light. Did you know that there are ways to ask questions so that you can learn about the company and the work environment. Of course not all questions will be acceptable to all interviewers. And that should tell you something as well. Six questions you might ask are:
  1. What is the advancement path for this position?
  2. How many others on staff do what I will be doing?
  3. Will I be training with my predecessor?
  4. What is the company’s policy for ongoing training?
  5. What personal skills do you place great value on?
  6. How did this position become available?
What you can learn from answers to these questions Honest answers to these questions will tell you several important things. You will learn how the company regards employee advancement. If you’re told that jobs are offered externally, then you know that they don’t put their employees first. It’s then probably likely that they don’t promote skills training. But don’t assume anything. Ask the questions to get the fullest picture you can. You can also learn how the company and employees get along. If you’re not being trained by a predecessor, what happened to them will tell you a lot. Did they run screaming from the building? Did they get fired? Did they get promoted? Is your interviewer not at liberty to say? Finally, when your interviewer lets you know the personal skills that they value, you have yet another piece to the puzzle. What skill do they cherish? How you interpret it says a lot about you and your experiences too. So be wary.
  • I need someone who can be really calm under pressure.
  • I need someone who can get along with diverse personalities.
  • I need someone who I can count on to be a team player.
These statements can all be seen as positive or potentially negative. The question to ask after each of these responses can be and should be “Why is this skill important?” If you are a positive person, you will likely see the upside of all this. And that’s a good thing. Make a decision on the best case scenario, and you will be making the best choice you can. One thing about the last statement: I am never trusting of a company that needs to know “you’re a team player.” For myself, I am put on guard when an interviewer says those words to me. But, the choice is yours to respond with similar skepticism. In this economy, bosses want to forget that they still have to do right by current and potential employees. Yes, people are grateful to have jobs. But, you should indicate that you’re not desparate—even if you are. You have to make an estimate of whether or not you will be a good fit from the beginning. So ask the questions; it may keep you from hiring on only to leave quickly—or worse, abruptly. Remember, you are not looking for the right answers; you want the answers, period. Insight into the company is your objective. Deciding to hire on or not is your goal. You choose. Tell me, do you remember that you are part of this decision? What are questions that you’ve asked to help you make your decision to hire on?]]> http://thewordmage.com/blog/2009/06/hiring-the-right-employer/feed/ 0