Do you really want your "Foot" in the door?

After 14 years in the Recruiting business, I have had the opportunity to interview a lot of people with a lot of varied backgrounds.
I have heard some interesting answers to questions and have seen some candidates do some interesting things in interviews.

"You haven't lived till you've been serenaded by a candidate"

I am always interested though, to see what college grads are doing with those prized diplomas they are carrying around, and how their degrees relate to the positions they are applying for.

I grew up in a time when you were told to go to college, get a degree, and get a job that related to your degree. Then you would make a lot of money, have a lot of kids, give all your money to your kids, and die happy.

"Okay, I got the give all your money to your kids part right"

But then times changed, kids were told to get a degree, any kind of degree, because they would be more marketable. They were told that they would not have a chance against others in the job market without a degree.

"Employers want that piece of paper or they won't talk to you"

And so, off they went, to get their degrees in anything they could think of, just so they could get that piece of paper that was so coveted.

But then it came time for the job hunt, and the interview, and some guy like me....................who just got serenaded by the last applicant......................

asks you why you want to be a customer service representative when you have a degree in Archeology?

And here comes my favorite answer of all time..................

"I just want to get my foot in the door"

Let's think about that answer for a minute. What exactly does that mean?

Does that mean you don't really want to be a customer service rep but you know anybody can do it and it's the only way to get hired by my company?

Or does it mean that you know that being a customer service rep is a great way to gain experience and advance within the company?

I'd like to think that it's the latter but I'm not sure sometimes.

Getting your foot in the door requires a lot of patience.

Moving up takes time.

This is my favorite, my kids love this one.............."Good things come to those who work hard".

Listen, I know you've been told that you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Just don't go to an interview and tell me that the bottom is just a "Foot in the door" position.

Ive got about 600 "Foot in the door" workers here that I think are pretty special.

I'm going to leave you with one last thing, just because I always do.

The best answer I ever got from a college grad to my question about the degree was............

"I have no intentions of being a customer service rep for the rest of my life however; this a great company that provides great opportunities. I would like the opportunity to move up within your organization but understand that I must start with one of the most important positions you have".

Not much you can say to that but "Welcome aboard".