We thought this gentleman was going to be a character when he told us that he was going to be sporting a non-traditional haircut (Travis Bickel, anyone?). He confirmed the suspicion when he brought his mom to the interview.

First off, what was the thought process of bringing your mother to the interview, no less having her actually sit in the same room throughout? “As you can tell by her appearance and mannerism, my mom is a character. She came along to vouch for me because I lost my Official Character Identification Card.” Or was it, “Yes.  I know that I should have brought my father, but he was unavailable”? 

Unless you need a ride from mommy or daddy, there is no reason to bring your parents along for a job interview. If you have to, crack a window and lock them in the car in the parking lot. Accept a kiss on the cheek and have them drop you off a block away from the building to avoid the shame and embarrassment of the wood-paneled station wagon that you and your high-school buddies nicknamed the “Shaggin’ Wagon”. Anything. Please. Just don’t bring them into the interview. I don’t even think I need to say why.   

Okay. This gentleman slipped up on the aforementioned rule. It happens. The kicker of this morning’s interview is the fact that this gentleman’s mother actually (and obviously) looked at her son and said “Taxi-Driver-esque haircut? Check. Tattoos? Check. Wrinkly, un-tucked shirt? Check. Okay, you’re all set for your interview!”

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love people who express themselves through personal appearance. Really, I do. Full-sleeve tattoos and those damn ear-pluggy-thingies just scream self-confidence. They also scream “I hope I make enough money in my part-time job so that I can pay a plastic surgeon to undo all this self-mutilation once I realize that I will not be able to work in a business environment until I can conform to a reasonable level of professionalism.”

I am a dad. My wife and I have two great kids who are at the point where they are starting to express a personal sense of style. Our daughter dresses like Taylor Swift, while our son lives and breathes Abercrombie and Fitch (he smells like it, too). It is our responsibility as parents, however, to make certain that they dress appropriately when we go out in public. When they are old enough to make decisions about tattoos and piercings, it will also be our job to provide them with the guidance they need to make smart decisions. Heck. I will probably drive them to their job interviews to make sure they get there early. And I will make damn certain that I don’t go in!

You talkin’ to me? Yes I am. 

It is Mother's Day on Sunday.  You still have time to shop!