The interview advice I got in 2005 vs what my nephew hears today

I remember walking into my first real interview in Portland with a paper resume and a firm handshake. My uncle told me to dress in a suit, look them in the eye, and lie about my GPA if they asked. Now my nephew is applying for the same type of construction office job and his prep is about his LinkedIn photo and a video intro. Nobody even asks for a resume anymore, they just want to see his portfolio on a tablet. Is the old school approach completely dead or does it still matter in some industries?

1 comments

1 Comment

joel_jones21d ago

Man, that's a wild shift to see. But honestly, the old school stuff like showing up on time and dressing decent still matters in construction office jobs. The problem is nobody teaches the basics anymore, they just load up on tech crap. Your nephew's tablet portfolio won't save him if he can't look a foreman in the eye and talk about a hard day on site. The real trick is both, you know. Use the video intro to get your foot in the door, but then bring that firm handshake energy when you actually sit down. That's what separates the kids who get hired from the ones who just get a lot of views.