Smokin’Up a Storm: Clothing
, Smokers, and the Job Interview
by: Jerry Carmack
You’re nervous. You’re so nervous
that you crave a smoke. So you light up, and as you puff away,
it feels so relaxing, right? Well, what’s good for your
nerves is not so good to when you’re job hunting.
What?! What does smoking have to do with job
hunting? It has to do with the fact that if you-the job hunter-are
a smoker, and your interviewer is a non-smoker, then your
chances of getting hired are very slim.
And yes, legally, an employer can’t
say “You’re a smoker, I’m not going to hire
you!”However, it is an unofficial fact that if all things
are equal, a non-smoker will be hired over a smoker every
time. If you’re a smoker, this is a disadvantage to
you.
So if you’re not going to quit smoking,
then get into the habit of doing so outside! This is especially
important during your job hunt. Why? Because if your interviewer
is a non-smoker, he or she *will* know you are a smoker. You
will reek of smoke IF you smoke inside (I, the author, am
a non-smoker—I know what I’m talking about).
Because of this employer prejudice, while
job hunting and especially before an interview, be sure that
you dry clean all of your clothes (I’m talking: your
suit jacket, shirt, and pants-male. And skits or dress pants-female).
Buy new neckties (or bowties), socks, underwear, t-shirts,
and hosiery (female) and keep all these clothes in some kind
of air-tight bag. Put all these clothing items in a part of
your home that the farthest away from all the smoking.
And if you do smoke with your interview clothes
on, do so outside only! NOT in the car before the interview
and NOT while going straight home afterwards. Wait until you
are home and strip naked (seriously), put all these clothes
in your “smoke-free zone.”Only then can you smoke
freely. And only then do your shopping, visiting, etc. If
you don’t, you’ll reek of smoke and will have
to dry clean after each and every interview.
By keeping all clothes away from the tobacco
smell and smoking outside, you reduce most (but not all) of
the smoke odor. This will give you one more edge over non-smokers.
And this may help you get that job!
About The Author
© 2005 by Jerry Carmack. You may use this article without
my permission *if* you use it in its entirety (including this
footnote). If you wish to use portions of this article, you
must email him at carmackpublishing@yahoo.com for permission.
Thank you.
Jerry Carmack is a freelance, self-publishing,
non-fiction writer living in Hot Springs, AR USA. This article
is a part of an ebook, “How to Tie a Tie: Everything
You Wanted to Know About Neckties and Bowties, but Didn’t
Think to Ask.”(http://carmackpublishing.tripod.com/how_to_tie_a_tie.htm).
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