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Welcome to the Garrison Organization Blog

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary at the Garrison Organization. This year we are excited to start blogging on our website. Our objective will be to inform and educate both our clients and candidates in a conversational format. We invite you to bookmark this site or make use of RSS feeds so that you can read and comment on new content as it is added.

Thanks for checking us out and have a great 2007!

Randall:

Many people in the job search haven't done this in a while and haven't kept up with how to dress in interview situations. In the conservative insurance industry, is it still the prevalent practice to attend the interview in a white shirt or is there more mainstream acceptance for blue or other light colors. Is there any advice you can give?-Randall

Jeff Garrison:

It is unpredictable what to wear these days. In fact, I had a client in California call me out of frustration because a candidate called one day asking to come in a day early because he was in the area. The fact is, he had been in the area surfing and wore his dripping wet swim trunks and flip-flops to the interview. (Note that this was not one of our candidates.) As it regards what to wear, our advice is to ask your recruiter or someone at the company how the interviewer will be dressed and then dress one step more formally. Of course, a suit that fits and is in style is never wrong.

Too much personal flare can cost you the opportunity. In fact, I spoke with a Director at a company last night who was telling about a great young man that he interviewed who clearly had a ton of character. He told him that if he would cut his long hair, the job was his. The candidate was lucky that the Director has character enough to say that rather than just pass on him altogether. The point is, don't assume that what is OK with one employer is OK with all of them.