FIRST PLACE
A few words with winner, Dr. Ronald Shultz of Cleburne, TX:
What do you do for a living? I am a Desktop Engineer Associate for Cook Childrens Medical Center. I am also an ordained minister currently doing ministry at the Johnson County Jail.
Has your sense of humor ever helped you on the job? I have done customer service for many years and try to inject some humor in every contact. When I have to wait for a password to authenticate I ask the user to tell me their favorite limerick or sing the first verse of their favorite song since I do not have hold music. Most won’t sing and I had to censor one limerick reminding them we are being recorded.
Ever used humor in a job search? Only if I felt that it fit into the interview, but most interviewers have been stern to austere so I don’t try to break down their facade.
What’s your best advice for jobseekers? Relax, be yourself unless you crazy then you may wish to assume another role.
What do you find funny and not funny about job search? The mind game. I have gotten jobs where I felt like I had never been in the career field and have not gotten jobs where I knew I could be an asset. Once spent an hour on the phone and never felt so stupid in my life and got the job. If you are not aggressive some think you lack confidence and if you are confident some think that is a bad thing. Interviewing is my weakness because I do not play the mind game very well.
SECOND PLACE
by Tom Wood