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Boobs & Jobsearching

I’m no stickpin, and I don’t need any reminders of that, thank you very much. But the point was driven home the other day when I was forced to follow gorgeous TV star Wendy Williams at a live, on-stage radio interview in front of 300 women in New Jersey.

That would be the blunt, LOL funny, surgically-enhanced double DD Wendy Williams, who stands 6-4 in four-inch Gucci slides and has a surgically-tucked and taut tummy — details that she offered during a hysterical, 15-minute interview with radio legend Joan Hamburg.
What to do?

The answer, I decided, was NOT to schlep up there like a loser with my head hanging low. When my turn came, after Hamburg’s gracious introduction about my new book Fired to Hired, I blurted out to her that she had forgotten the most important part.

Hamburg looked stunned. The audience got oh-so-quiet.

“What you forgot to say,” I told Hamburg straight-faced, “is that your next guest faces the unenviable task of diving into a downer (unemployment) to a roomful of women who have been wowed by an outrageously funny gal who batted her oh-so-long eyelashes, flipped her long locks and talked non-stop about her gigantic boobs and flashy high heels.”

The crowd roared.

Then, they listened — and laughed — as I talked for my 15 minutes about job searching in a dismal economy. We managed to find plenty of humor in what it takes to get hired today – and plenty of similarities between Wendy’s words and my own.

You don’t need big boobs, big hair, or big heels to get hired, but you definitely have to find ways to stand out from the crowd and differentiate yourself from the competition.

Tell us what YOU’RE doing to get noticed in a big way — and to separate yourself from the pack.

Comments

  1. A friendly Auditor.

    Thank goodness, I don’t have to have big boobs.
    From my experience of observing male interviewers, they have difficulty staying focused with an interviewee who shows some cleavage.
    I would say not blatant cleavage. However, slight cleavage with a slight hint. It helps to be dressed in expert business clothes for most jobs.
    Though I think an older female interviewer would not be influenced by cleavage.

  2. That is too funny!! I’m disappointed I missed the event but it sounds like it was a great interview. Depending on the job, big boobs can sometimes be a hindrance, but if it gives you a confidence boost, then maybe it’s not such a bad thing.

  3. Kats

    Okay, I am one of those people that have huge boobs. Not so great for the back or the mind set. I have dressed appropriately every single time as a grandma. Shouldn’t have to explain after a while what to wear to interviews. Dress to match the job. You wouldn’t wear a $500. suit to a job interview for a janitor. People wake up!
    By the way have been looking for 5 years.

  4. My new degree (a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications) is a newer degree on the marketing scene, as it combines many traditional factors of the marketing dept. into one awesomely bundled program of knowledge. I highlight the 2.5 years I spent immersed in the program to differentiate myself, as well as my adaptability. I worked for 2 years in a marketing department in Italy where none of my vendors spoke English. I learned Italian through my Xerox man!
    PS-I JUST was offered a great job yesterday! I’m calling this morning to accept the offer!!! Thank you, Tory!

  5. VLT

    I am exceptional good in developing the bottom line(people and funds)and I have been kicked out of many jobs – not because of inability but because I was good. I brought a lot of attention to the work(nat’l, media and funds). In my last job. I was asked “if I pay you for three months will you leave”. Even though I had the only viable program in the agency I was ask to quit. I accepted, not because I wanted to leave my job, but in non-profit business a job is a relationship and I obviously did not have a relationship. Today, I have developed and is founder of my nonprofit organization for 11 years. I found that most Directors in non-profit businesses were leaders with strong social prejudice and used command-and-control leadership style in both black and white led organizations. Where control is more important than getting the job done.

  6. OPS MGR

    I agree with VLT and I invite others to check my profile as well. My experience spans from Wall Street (World Financial Center) in New York to the DC Metropolitan. I worked for brokerage, telecommunications and non-profit organizations. It’s unbelievable to me how threatened even senior managers are — when one presents with a strong and intelligent presence. I had a mentor that told me once “self respect will come to mean more than the honor of others”. It’s true getting things done and doing them right at the end of the day should be the goal, but I believe cohesion matters. Such that my roles have been primarily within executive management, I feel that if senior managers demonstrated more confidence and not arrogance in their roles that corporate america might not be so cut throat and companies would stand stronger. A good example of how the devide devastates is what’s occurred recently in the market and its’ effect on economy. I worked for many of the firms in question — the so called BEST. I salute all of you that have maintained work ethics despite losses. I consider mine a gain because it’s forced me to really focus more on what’s important to me and not just the paycheck.
    Best regards ALL

  7. Tory – – your ability to laugh at yourself made all the difference…. you were able to connect with the audience. Likewise, in an interview, the ability to connect with the interviewer(s) is critical. Certainly physical attritubes can be a challenge (boobs, legs, stunningly beautiful). Finding someone to be your cheerleader inside the company can make the difference. It has never been easier to find a connection, thanks to Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Xing – et al.

  8. Polina Perdue

    I’m in south Florida where IT market non existent. It’s never ending struggle for me to find a stable we paying job and I’m a single mom. I didn’t get hired many times because I sense my appearance intimidated mostly male panel. I’m 5’10” blond, athletic with large breaths. I have the highest professional ethics, excellent references and phenomenal dynamic experience and yet everywhere I go companies hire man! I’m so sick of it I’m about to move back to NYC where market is fantastic and you not being discriminated and judged upon your looks.

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