If the company isn’t giving you the email address or phone numbers of the people interviewing you, it means they are basing their hiring decisions on your resume, your performance in the interview and any references they might call. That’s what most good companies do, they judge all candidates equally, based on a set way of selecting people. Judgemend is not based on things like who is sending little thank you notes after the interview.

Many of us here at GRS are paying off debts and cutting corners wherever possible, and we know first-hand that there’s only so much you can cut without suffering physically and morally. All around the US we’re still suffering from the wake of a huge recession, so yes, your philosophical musings are a very out of touch with what’s going on.

I haven’t shared a meal with my parents in 10 years because I can’t afford the travel to see them (we talk in skype all the time, but it’s not the same), and I’d like a better health insurance that covers dental. Also, I’d like to pay off my debts. My budget is down to the bone at this point. Oh, and this is my first day off in 3 weeks. And my wife and I are delaying the making of children because we’d like to be in a more secure position.

So can I use more income? You bet. But don’t mind me– I have a couple of friends on unemployment if you’d like to send them money instead, plus a whole extra lot of people barely making ends meet with part-time and minimum-wage work. Please, let them eat cake.

Really? We aren’t talking about having him show up outside their homes, or calling their families, or following them in their cars.

People really need to get a grip on reality!

No thank you notes, no presents is my rule. If you don’t even appreciate the time, money and thought that I put into your gift to thank me, well, I question how much I value you. All human beings respond positively to praise and appreciation. Indifference reaps the same.

Good points and nice try on the challenge to give you my money. I didn’t say I don’t need any money. I just choose not to chase it for the sole purpose of buying more “stuff.”

I’ll give you this: I do have “enough” but I am by no means financially wealthy. Any “extra” money I earn goes to provide for “extra” needs later, such as education for my children.

Beyond those extras, I’ll give money to charity, not a clever commenter on GRS!

Also, if the law of diminishing returns is “kindergarten stuff,” I will assume you clearly understand my points made previously.

Thanks for provoking thought. I enjoyed the exchange…

Oh yes, and good post April. I’ve always enjoyed your writing…

Personally, I think the mentor tip is golden. Everyone has heard “it’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know”, but don’t take action with that knowledge!

Most of us are too afraid or caught up in doing our own things, but having a successful career is just a few intentional lunches (or happy hours) away.

I can meet my personal physiological needs; however, I’d like to eat better and travel a bit. Also, I’d love a beach house and time to spend there. That would make me happy. I have plenty of happiness to increase until the returns are negligible. A few hundred thousand a year would cut it at first glance, but I have enough imagination to handle millions, trust me.

We can keep talking until we’re blue in the face; you clearly have more than you need to meet your physiological needs, send me your money now and prove yourself right.

I did not say in absolute terms that money does not buy happiness. I stated that “MORE money does not buy MORE happiness.” There is a difference.

You may benefit by learning about the law of diminishing returns (although I suspect you’ll quickly dismiss it).

Here’s a synopsis: For those who are not able to pay for the basic physiological needs (food, shelter, clothing), more money will certainly provide more “happiness.” However, once all physiological needs are met the utility for money diminishes.

For example, if you need $50,000 to pay your bills (plus a few of life’s small pleasures) but you only earn $40,000, each extra dollar you earn will make you “happier.” In other words, one unit of money will provide at least one unit of happiness.

However, earning 100 times $50,000 ($5 million) will not make you 100 times happier. Translation: Each unit of money above what you truly need does not provide one unit of happiness.

Because you likely won’t take my word for it, or from thousands of years of written works, just keep chasing the money and you can learn the “empirical” way as you suggest.

Good luck…

By the way, thanks for calling me “Mr. Heidegger.” I received that as a tremendous compliment.

If you’re still reading, I can recommend some books:

Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel Gilbert
Personality and Motivation, by Abraham Maslow
Your Money or Your Life, by Dominguez & Robin
Tao Te Ching, by Lau Tzu
Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl

For more on the diminishing utility of money, here’s a web link:

http://www.thefinancialphilosopher.com/2008/08/the-diminishing-marginal-utility-of-wealth.html

I advise caution on this though! I only use my Twitter account for professional reasons, but my colleagues often mix personal and professional. It can be a useful tool if you’re smart about it.

When my company hired, we didn’t give out emails either even though we didn’t use a recruiting agency.

Suggestions, anyone?

A brief, professional email, and did I say very very brief? saying how much you are still interested in the job, is much better and indicates that at least you know this is how people in the business really communicate.

But let’s be real here–nobody is ever given the job unless they’re got the right tickets–the thank you note makes zero difference.

When you are awaiting an interview you have a lot of pressures and stress. So why not keep those interview skills up to date? Practice some of your “war stories” every few months to keep them fresh. You’ll be far more prepared for that last minute interview.

I agree on the lunch with a mentor and keeping your resume up to date.

My wife is the queen of the thank-you note and those little cards have opened her doors to scholarships, grants and freelance gigs. Same thing with updated resumes (required when you apply for grants), schmoozing with mentors and funders, portfolio & reviews (“brag folder”), books and subscriptions (deductible business expenses).

This is all good kung fu, and thanks for the reminders, please keep them coming.

If money doesn’t help your happiness please part with your funds and find bliss today– I’ll take the pain off your hands via Paypal.

I’m serious. Please tell me where to send a request for payment and for how much. I trust you’ll stand by your words with a financial commitment..

Thanks in advance!

Mine completely saved me when I had an impaired boss that couldn’t remember this morning – let alone yesterday, last week, month or quarter. It also helped catapult me out of there…

That file also came in handy when I left that job and was writing my resume.. I had an impressive list of my job duties along with my accomplishments from my career. It was also helpful to review before interviews because then I could more easily recall job-related stories on the fly since I had just reviewed my notes!

That really can be key in terms of opportunities within your current position. You should learn to excel at managing up without being a kiss @ss. Become the go-to person by making the boss’s priorities yours and becoming the expert your boss can depend on to make the right things happen and according to their wants/needs. Be the expert (knowledge/skill). Make your boss look good. Fill them in on your successes, framed as win’s for the department/company.

Figure out your boss’s “style” and tailor-fit your style to theirs. If they email, you email. If they prefer weekly check-ins, come prepared with talking points that matter to your boss. Stay in contact, but don’t overwhelm with the minutia or with complaints. Bosses don’t like surprises, so make sure you keep them abreast of developing situations and notify them immediately of potential delays or problems. Stay focused on their needs and priorities – anything outside of those should be vetted by your boss first.

Think about your boss as a client. They can often make or break your success in the company.

I remember one old guys advice. “Find out what your boss cares about and wants done and do it!” This can be hard when you have a new boss and everybody is having a hard time changing with the times.

But be careful – the note should be addressed and tailored individually to each interviewer. A group note will not do (unless you interviewed with several people at the same time)! Each person should get their own note referenceing the unique conversation.