Utah Blogger/Geek Dinner May 2008 by Laura Moncur

Looking for the Utah geeks, bloggers and coders? You’ll find them at the Utah Geek/Blogger Dinner. This month, we’re meeting at Paradise Bakery. If you have been feeling lonely for computer conversation in the Salt Lake Valley, you’ll find it all here!

THEY HAVE WI-FI, so you can bring your laptop if you want!

RSVP at Upcoming.org: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/857123

Utah Blogger/Geek Dinner
Thursday, July 31, 2008
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Paradise Bakery
1010 E 2100 S
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106

Website: http://codeaway.org/

There’s no question something interesting is happening with Utah’s professional/technical workforce right now, and I think there are no less than four competing factors at play any business-owner should be paying very close attention to:

1. Real and Wage Inflation
2. Intense Competition for Talent
3. Corporate cost-cutting
4. High Energy/Commute Costs

The hardest part to pin-down is that the economic indicators show a market that is schizophrenic. Utah’s high tech job market is part recessionary and part booming. There’s both signs of weakness, but signs of boom-cycle madness.

If there were ever a time to unveil the invisible hand and see what’s really going to happen to this economy over the next six-12 months, now is the time… those who navigate this juncture well stand to gain a lot of opportunity, while these massive icebergs of clashing forces might very well crush entire sections of our economy and workforce if we’re not paying close attention.

Real and Wage Inflation

The Fed won’t admit there’s inflation yet, even though everyone else is worried about it… but one trip to the grocery store tells you a dollar doesn’t go as far these days. This plays into issues 3 and 4, and is the driver for issue 2.

Bottom-line: If the same amount of money you made last year isn’t cutting it, talented people will demand higher wages for the same jobs they were doing a year ago.

If the company they currently work for won’t pay up, no problem, they’ll just move.

Intense Competition for Talent

As a recruiter, I use every tool I can find. The job boards, these days, are as silent and un-exciting as a Hillary Clinton rally in Payson. The war for top-talent has moved from remote, tactical operations using unmanned email probes and remote-controlled resume submittal to (continuing the analogy) hand-to-hand, street fighting. Candidates are being approached at every angle, from every recruiter, in very creative ways…. and they’re getting hired, too!

At the Blogger Dinner last Thursday, Steve Spencer quipped something like: This is just like the late 90s. It doesn’t matter if you can actually do any of the stuff on your resume, but if you have the right acronyms, you’re hired!

(And, yes, Steve’s company is hiring… tell ‘em I sent ya)

Corporate Cost-Cutting

Client after client of mine has issued cost-cutting warnings. Several more companies are putting in-place hiring freezes, readjusting their priorities, laying people off or closing down all together.

This hyper-sensitive focus on costs can be unacceptable to a workforce already in high-demand.

One jobseeker for a Salt Lake-based IT Outsourcing firm told me last Thursday that his current employer has”implemented a new performance-based pay plan where you get a “very low base wage” and, if you hit certain quotas every day, you will get paid more.

The story goes that these employees, if they are industrious little busy bees, can earn even more than they have been making, but the employees don’t quite see it that way.

“Its a joke,” my jobseeker friend told me. “I’ve done the math. It is impossible to make anything close to what I have been making. I am outta here.”

There’s bound to be losses when a company needs to refocus. A recent article by Tiffany Hsu in the Baltimore Sun explains this very well:

“It costs a lot to let someone go,” said Don McNamara, president of Heritage Associates Inc., a management consultant company based in Laguna Niguel, Calif. “So we’ve got to circle the wagons and pull in a little bit.”

Businesses, he said, can cross-train employees in multiple roles to boost productivity and restructure to remove inefficiencies…. but employers can’t cut too many expenses and perks without risking driving workers away.

“You’ve got to be sensitive to your people and make sure morale isn’t one of the things you cut,” McNamara said. “If this comes as a surprise to them, they might be tempted to update their resumes at another company.”

High Energy/Commute Costs

Even thinking about high gas/energy prices makes me exhausted, but the simple fact is we are receiving regular calls and updates from our candidates seeking more commute-friendly work options, telecomuting, shorter commutes, or other benefits to offset the incredible rise in fuel costs this last year has seen. For once, the State has taken a lead here, generating (I predict) pressure on many new fronts to allow employees to have more control over when, where and how much they work.

On the flip-side, a lot of people who otherwise want to keep their current job are interested right now in part-time, flexible, contract-based work options too. That is an unforeseen consequence of these higher prices.

Summary

At the end of the day, companies are asking their employees to do more with less, while these same high-demand employees are not afraid of feeling out their options and making a more lucrative move if needed.

I fear, for companies too cost-conscious, this will become a race to mediocrity unless they very creatively examine their work demands, and be very open and honest with their employees. Find out what they need/want and even while cutting costs, you can make work fun and, heck, maybe even more productive.

On August 4th, Utah will begin its move to a four-day work week, a move that should save up to about 20% of the state’s expenses by 2015.

The change will apply to about 17,000 employees, roughly 80% of the state workforce, [Utah State Governor] Huntsman says. Public universities, the state court system, prisons and other critical services will be exempt. Residents still will have sufficient access to state offices, many staying open from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m., and more than 800 state services are available online, he says.
[USA TODAY: Most state workers in Utah shifting to 4-day week]

The move, which will have employees working the same number of hours, but just cramming those hours into a 4-day week, should help save state employees money, keep some cars off the road, and reduce the other energy expenses they have just to keep doors open and lights on.

The green work blog, TreeHugger, noted the states’ move, as the first state in the US to try and do this across the board:

By shutting down 1,000 buildings statewide on Fridays, an estimated 3,000 metric tons in carbon emissions will also be cut. Admittedly, though the energy and fuel savings is not as great as telecommuting, the idea of a four-day work week is probably more appealing to reluctant employers who are willing to test more moderate, but still viable, alternatives.

My thoughts on the 4-day work week move is that, as long as crucial state services are still available when needed, this is a good thing. For a long time, the biggest problem I personally have with the “public good” is that there is so much over-availability required to make sure that services are always available to everyone.

It does make sense, however, to keep offices open later than normal 8-5 business hours… I have often been annoyed that I need to take time off work to take care of something at the government.

What do YOU think about the 4 day week?

One of my favorite events each month is coming up tomorrow (Friday, 5/30). Phil Windley’s CTO Forum/Breakfast at the Novell Cafeteria in Provo (map).

Anyone interested in how information technology is used to build products or run companies. Despite it’s name, you don’t have to be a CTO to attend—just interested in technology, where it’s headed, and the problems of starting and building a high-tech business in Utah.

If you’ve seen something cool or just want to discuss a current topic, come prepared to bring it up.

Put these future meetings on your calendar:

* June 27 (Friday)
* July 18 (Friday)
* No breakfast in August
* Sept 26 (Friday)

Today, on the couch, we have Brad Baldwin of Rocky Mountain Voices. He’s interviewed some very interesting companies lately, and he’s coming on the show today to talk to us about it.

Showtime is HIGH NOON (Mountain). Listen in at (347) 324-3797 (limited lines) or stream online with a chat-room at couchcast.org. Download the show as a podcast, or you can also follow us on twitter @couchcast

Contact Brad by visiting Rocky Mountain Voices or on twitter @bradbaldwin

Details from Laura Moncur:

Thom Allen and Brad Baldwin are sponsoring PodCampSLC in Salt Lake City THIS Saturday March 15, 2008 a10am – 4pm at the Neumont University.

10701 S. River Front Parkway, Suite 300

South Jordan, UT 84095

http://podcamp.pbwiki.com/PodCampSLC

It’s a BarCamp for new media: blogging, podcasting, vlogging, etc. If you are a blogger, this is the event that you really want to be part of.

If you don’t know what BarCamp is, here’s a video that explains it:

Make sure you sign up to attend (it’s free) at Upcoming.org

The CodeAway will be this Saturday at WasatchWingz in SLC.  This is a TON OF FUN. You should come!  $15 gets you in the door, a plate full of amazing WINGS and hours of geeking, RockBand and games, and a lot of fun.

RSVP on Upcoming.org

Here is a very specific Google Map targeting exactly the location (lat long) of the front door.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Wasatch Wingz

2020 East 3300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84109

40.6997, -111.833

Description

We have reserved the whole place to ourselves, but that doesn’t come free. There is a $15 entry fee, which includes your choice of wings and fries or Ceasar’s Salad and unlimited drinks.

Wasatch Wingz has a huge television, so we’ll be able to play Rock Band in style. They also have enough wi-fi (and wired ports) to house three times as many people who usually come to CodeAway, so they are equipped to take care of us. Additionally, if you don’t have a laptop, they have a bank of really cool gaming computers that should be serviceable. Don’t forget to bring your Nintendo DS if you prefer to play less rock-based games.

There is a $15 entry fee (cash only please) that includes your choice of wings and fries or a Ceasar’s salad and unlimited drinks.

http://www.codeaway.org

SPOILER: I am going to talk about religion (namely mormonism) and business and millenial generation differences all in the same blog post. If this offends you, may I suggest lolcats instead of the following.

No, these aren’t a group of Mormon Missionaries.

They’re high school “kids”. And they’re also not dressing up for career-day, or college admissions or anything else that you might think a 16 or 17 year old might get excited enough about to actually tuck. in. his. shirt.

But they might teach you something about the next generation, often called Millenials or “Gen Y”. They’re not the disrespecting slackers you might think they are. But, in fact, given the chance, they’re more passionate–possibly much more–about things they care about than any generation before them.

They spontaneously dressed up in “Sunday best” to show honor and respect to a man they may have never met and who was “seven times their age and several generations their senior”. Michael Otterson said in the Washington Post on Tuesday.

The man they’re paying tribute to? Gordon B. Hinckley, who died Sunday evening at his Salt Lake City home, at about 7pm., and was the prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons),

Hinckley, 97, had more of a right, maybe, to have been called “out of touch” with these young adults than most. But he seemed to be one of the most-optimistic about these youth in his lifetime, and those youth responded.

…Resoundingly.

How did all this happen? Without hardly a verbal word being said, the word about Hinckley’s death resulted in a flurry of text messages (incidentally which is how I learned the news–via twitter) youth around the country told each other to dress up for school to show their respect for a man who both led them to good things, and loved them along the way:

“I love the youth of the Church. I have said again and again that I think we have never had a better generation than this. How grateful I am for your integrity, for your ambition to train your minds and your hands to do good work, for your love for the word of the Lord, and for your desire to walk in paths of virtue and truth and goodness.” – Gordon B. Hinckley, Enzign, May 1995

What does this mean for YOU (a manager of millenials)?

1. Respect if you want Respect
   I know you clawed your way up the corporate ladder to get where you are. Get over yourself.
2. Embrace Technology
   You might learn something about how to simplify your life and get things done if you watch how this generation can mobilize, coordinate and communicate using the simplest of tools.
3. Its not that they don’t care, they just don’t care about you.
   Do you really care about the things your boss cares about? Do you dream about them? Well, cut them some slack. The next generation cares very deeply about things… just not things you might expect. For example, ask them about their 401(k) or IRA. They probably not only have one, but you might learn a thing or two if you actually listened once in a while.

Thom Allen, notes on his blog that the Podcamp SLC has been scheduled for:

PodcampSLC
March 29th, 2008, from 10AM to 4PM. at Neumont University
Check in will take place from 9AM-10AM.

For more information, see podcampSLC.org or the event page at upcoming.org

The Blogging for Business conference will be next Monday. Click below to see the Rocky Mountain Voices vidcast with Matt Reinbold and Brad Baldwin

Take a breather Thursday and go check out Doba, courtesy of the jockeys over at TwelveHorses. P.S. Don’t forget that Doba is hosting Guy Kawasaki in a few weeks:

“Not only has Jeremy been very successful in building his company here in Utah (currently ranked the 23rd fastest growing privately held business in the Nation), but what Jeremy brings goes far beyond his business savvy and incredible success.”

Go to the Utah Tech Events site to RSVP

Date: Thursday, October 11th
Time: 1:00 – 2:00
Location: Bohemian Brewery And Grill
(94 East and 7200 South, right off of State Street, SLC)

I noticed in my Connect email this morning that Guy Kawasaki will be speaking in Utah (brief autobiography) on November 1st, 2007 (). He will be speaking on business, and it’s expected that he reveal everything unknown in the known universe… or, at lease a few cool things about How to Innovate and Change the World, for sure.

From the Connect Press Release:

Best-selling author and business visionary Guy Kawasaki will speak to Utah executives on November 1 at an event presented by Doba and co-sponsored by Connect magazine and the Utah Technology Council (UTC) at the Health Science Center at Salt Lake Community College’s Jordan Campus, 3491 West, 9000 South. Guy Kawasaki serves on the Advisory Board of Doba, the leader in online product sourcing solutions for small to medium-size retailers, and, in that capacity, has agreed to make a presentation in Utah. In this session from 3:00-5:00 p.m., Kawasaki will discuss “How to Innovate and Change the World.”

 

Kawasaki’s speech, “How to Innovate and Change the World,” is based, in part, on his best-selling book Rules for Revolutionaries and is aimed at inspiring and informing individuals who work at innovative companies. During his presentation, Kawasaki will lay out the strategic steps necessary to create new products and services and will answer questions from the audience afterward. To register, visit http://www.doba.com/guy.

 

Guy Kawasaki is widely regarded in Silicon Valley and beyond as a leading business start-up thought leader. He is the managing director of Garage Technology Ventures; the author of eight books, including The Art of the Start and Rules for Revolutionaries; a columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine; and the co-founder of Truemors.com.

 

“Bringing Guy Kawasaki to Salt Lake City is a real win for the many thriving businesses and start-ups that call Utah home,” says Doba co-founder and CEO, Jeremy Hanks. “Working with Guy as a member of our Advisory Board has been an enlightening experience. His experience and insights are helping our company advance on so many fronts that we felt it would be a disservice to all of us if we didn’t ask Guy to address the entire business community in Utah.”

Notes:

• It’s kinda cool to see that Jeremy of Doba met Guy back in 2006, apparently thanks to blogging. Guy is currently on the Doba board.
• If you’re EVER in a situation where you have to HIRE SOMEONE, read Guy’s The Art of Recruiting post FIRST, rinse and repeat often!
• Reading How to Drive Your Competition Crazy got me hooked on his ideas and out-of-the-box thinking from day one.
• I’ve blogged about Guy a few times, including using his BOZO TEST to point out some silly things local companies have been up to lately.
• You should search YouTube for Guy Kawasaki to see more.

Books and Stuff:

The Utah Open Source Conference kicked off Thursday evening with a dinner/reception followed by the Utah Open Source Awards and keynote addresses by Matt Asay and Bruce Perens.

Of course, since the conference is happening at Novell’s Open Source Technology Center, there’s an interesting spike in the blogs about Novell and Microsoft’s recent partnership and how open source advocates feel about it.

Checkout jobs in Austin at itzbig.

Ash has the scoop

…our geek dinner has been moved to this Thursday, August 30.

Join us at Applebees in Draper, Utah at 6 pm:

123 E. 12300 S.
Draper, UT 84020
(801) 495-4460

View Larger Map

• TinyURL to this post for your twittering (or other) pleasure: http://tinyurl.com/284plq

VIEW and ADD to your GOOGLE CALENDAR — Utah Tech Events

Wednesday this week, I am speaking on Mid-Career Development at the Provo Linux User’s Group, which meets at United Online in Orem (directions, etc).

Date: Wednesday Aug 8, 2007
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: United Online

PLUG:
This month we have a unique guest presenter coming to PLUG. Robert Merrill from SOS Technical is coming to address the group. Robert is the Technical Account Manager for Utah county. He will be discussing mid-career development, including:

• What are recruiters good for?
• Why are recruiters HATED? (Open source-style feedback loop).
• Careering.
• How to be irreplaceable (protect yourself against layoffs).

Robert has a background as a programmer and web developer. Like many of us he was caught in the dot-com burst. Frustrated with recruiters that undervalued his position and never got him a job, Robert set out to tackle the way business was done. Come take advantage of this unique opportunity that may significantly change your career. Bring your suggestions regarding Open Source and technical recruiting in our area. Come learn the secrets of salary negotiation and more. See you there!!

NUPM:
6:30pm – Meeting details were not returned in time, but if you’re a monger you instinctively know where to be and when. If not, just follow the camel.

I am looking forward to the chance to talk about the frustrations I’ve had on the candidate’s side of the recruiter’s desk, and how I would do it all differently today, if I could.

I am also enjoying the feedback I am getting on Why Geeks Hate Recruiters (which is still open for comments, please!)

After a couple months off, we’re finally getting a bunch of bloggers together again to recap Summer 2007.

Goodwood BBQ Draper

133 E 12300 S
Draper, Utah 84020
United States

40.5061 -111.87

Thursday, July 26, 2007 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm MST

Map: Google | Yahoo | MapQuest

RSVP on Eventful

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UPDATE 8/14/2007 — This has all mostly changed.

There’s a booming meetup community in Utah — user-groups, techies, geeks, entrepreneurs, bloggers and all sorts of other types of people getting together to talk shop, talk dirt, or just talk.

But getting a clear picture of who is meeting… and when… is pretty hard.

So, to try and help, I have created a group on Eventful called “Utah Geek Meets“ I found that there’s a Google Calendar called “Utah Tech Events” being managed (in true open-source style) by several people around the valley including Matt and Jordy, and it attempts to simply be a one-stop repository for the kind of things a geek in Utah would like to attend. I’m also now an admin for the calendar, too.

This group is technology agnostic, so a “Helping Your Dog Podcast” meetup would have the same weight as a “Business Case for PASCAL” group.

I NEED YOUR HELP
This isn’t my thing… I amit is, so-called, open-sourced it to the whole Utah Tech Community… so you gotta contribute if it’s going to live.

• Join Eventful (come on, just one more registration wont kill you) and then
• Or, if the fear of another login is too great, just email me your event information (robertmerrill AT gmail DOT com) with “Add to Eventful” “Event For Calendar” in the subject line and I will be your dutiful servant. I need title, description, place & time (begin & end)
• USE the Utah Tech Events calendar, either online, by RSS or by iCal/webcalendar.
• LINK to the Utah Geek Meets group Tech Events Calendar from your link-roll for publicity:
  http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=hhhlln87p4icc8q3c2bndmbjok%40group.calendar.google.com
• PUBLISH the Utah Geek Meets Tech Events calendar on your blog/website for others to see. Just cut-and-paste this code into your website someplace.If you’re quite the hacker, consider this feedburner feed (ideal for mashups) or Get this widget (above) (cut to the code here).

Let’s get meeting, people!

“No matter how cheery your customer service and sales associates are, when you don’t deliver basic services, you’re doomed to failure.”

Working with iProvo was great until they actually needed to deliver on something promised.

Yes, this is a rant, and I am hopping mad. If you are a blogger, your linkback is appreciated to help me voice my opinion to this otherwise deaf city utility. Please link back with the text iProvo.

Here’s the code to link back:
<a href=”http://www.utahtechjobs.com/index.php/2007/07/08/say-hell-no-to-iprovo/”>iProvo</a>

I am blogging this because iProvo has failed to complete the installation of my service, which was started on June 18th. AND, my repeated calls and scheduling appointments has generated cheerful customer service agents with great big promise, but absolutely no action that I know of.

• Tomorrow, Monday July 9th, that will be 14 business days after they began the installation, which the installer promised he would complete within 24 hours.
• On July 2nd, I had an appointment with iProvo to come out and complete the project. They never showed.
• Everytime I call I get very empathetic, gracious customer service people who apologize for my inconvenience, can understand why I would be upset, promise to do “everything in [their] power” to get this resolved”
  …and then nothing happens.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I STILL HAVE A FIBER OPTIC CABLE (WHICH I AM GUESSING ARE NOT CHEAP) LAYING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND SNAKED THROUGH MY YARD AND OVER MY FENCE.

It’s not only an eyesore, but it’s just begging to be cut by a lawn mower, or to cause a severe accident to someone walking or running through the yard.

For the last two years, I have been watching the city of Provo tout its amazing new fiber-optic network (that I paid for as a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen). I was overjoyed to hear that the construction project was completed, and the cheery salespeople on my front porch coaxed and coddled me away from my other high-speed internet provider.

For a year, I laid off the trigger… leery of reports of bad service, bad business, latent connectivity, and generally poor installation services. Even the city realizes the kinks are a problem:

“I know many have said they are waiting to sign up until the kinks are out. I’m hoping that is the next big wave of subscribers, those people who have said they want to support the community network but have waited because of the stories that are out there.� iProvo director Kevin Garlick said.

Finally, a month ago I signed the EIGHTEEN MONTH CONTRACT with Nuvont Communications. I crossed my fingers and promised my wife it would be worth it. Sure, the Internet is fast, but for this customer I am looking to cancel my contract due to their failure to provide service unless the cable is underground in the next 48 hours.

Is ANYBODY at iProvo interested in actually DOING what they SAY they will DO?

UPDATE: Please leave comments about BOZO things you have experienced at your or other companies! Anonymous submissions OK

I hate to say it, but I am seeing some of the most foolish and downright stupid things coming from Utah companies these days. These things may not be approaching the Yee-Haw ‘Bozofication’ problems that Guy Kawasaki ranted about from his blog-base in Silicon Valley, but there are some wildly dumb things going on out there.

According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, May 2007′s unemployment rate is 2.5%, where the national rate is currently 4.5%. BYU’s Newsnet validates the data with their recent article, More Jobs … Less Money: Utah Unemployment Rate at 2.4%.

With such unprecedented job-growth and such a freakishly tight labor market (I have interviewed three people this week who “just up and moved here” knowing they would get a job), you would think companies in the area would be tripping over themselves to train and retain the talent they have, knowing that it costs up to 80% of an employees annual salary in recruiting fees and lost productivity to replace an employee once they go.

But, no.

In fact, as I see the market tighten, companies seem to be getting stupider and stupider with their retention systems. In fact, they may as well be paying their employees to leave, rolling out the red carpet for them, and tossing in a trip for them and the fam to Disney Land while they’re at it.

Here are five things that have consistently surfaced in my interviews over the past few weeks when I ask, “Why are you looking to leave your current job.”

1. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: “I am continually being micro-managed. I have been doing this for 15 years. I think I know what I am doing. But, my boss is new, and I think they’re trying to look good. Now, I have them to manage as well as the rest of my job. “
2. INTEGRITY: “I was told in my annual review that I would get a raise. That was January. This is almost July. I haven’t received a cent.”
3. PAY: “I have been getting fed the line that ‘Utah County is Different’ for seven years. I don’t believe it any more. My living expenses are just as much here as anybody I know in Salt Lake County, and I am earning $15K less than people doing my same job, for smaller companies, with less responsibility.”
4. INSULT TO INJURY: “I am already underpaid by $10K for the same job in Salt Lake. I was told to hang on through the rest of the year and I’d get ‘taken care of’. They gave me a raise of 14 cents per hour over last year. You’ve gotta be kidding me. That’s not even worth my time.”
5. HONESTY: “They promised to pay my tuition if I went to school and got my degree. Their only stipulation was that I had to pay for it, then they would pay me back when I graduated. I thought that was dumb, but I did it. Now, I’ve graduated, and when I turned in my bills, they told me that ‘the policy just changed’ and they don’t do tuition reimbursement anymore.”

At the end of the day, the trend I am seeing simply stems from BAD MANAGEMENT. I wonder if the tight labor market is actually exposing fissures in the infrastructure of these companies to the point that they are letting any Tom, Jane or Harry run the place?

If you are caught working for any of these companies, I would RUN, not walk to your favorite recruiter or job-board and doggedly search for the next opportunity for yourself… or you may be the last comic standing when the walls come tumblin’ down… and it will surely not be funny.

Related Items:

• Want to know if your company is going Bozo? See the GBAT – Guys Bozofication Aptitude Test
  • (PDF Version)
  • Here’s a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ version of the above test. What’s your score?
• Want to PREVENT a Bozo Explosion?
• Is your company going BOZO? Leave a comment and PLEASE tell me about it!

EmployeescreenIQ provides background checks to employers globally.

I walked into the Salt Lake City Best Buy today at 5000-ish South State Street in SLC, hopeful. I am looking for the needed stuff to hook up my iPod to my VW Passat’s factory stereo. I am expecting to spend about $500 on these adapters and wires and stuff, when I can finally find them.

I was there literally 30 minutes self-educating myself about the available products since nobody talked to me.

The only two people who spoke to me were the person greeting me when I walked in (very nice, thank you) and the person who said, “thanks for coming” as I walked out… ominously scanning my hands & pockets for any potential thievery.

Could I have done more? Maybe:

• I worried that I looked “too smart” in my business attire, so I stood blankly by the “car audio” desk where two Best Buy associates talked and joked with eachother about some interesting conversations overheard about two other employees.
• I worried that maybe Best Buy doesn’t do a good job at selling products, so maybe their employees didn’t know HOW to sell, and avoided me because of fear… until I overheard two employees giving each other high-fives because “yesterday [they] were the number three store in the district! Woo-hoo!“
• I could have dropped to my knees and begged for someone to help me… but I didn’t want to scuff their newly polished floor.

Who can explain what happened here. I surely can not. As a fan of Best Buy, I am stunned at the cold reception. No matter. I walked out, nodded to the “thank you” person at the door, and patted my wallet, knowing that my $500.00 was safe… yet to be used for another day.

They were third in sales yesterday… I wonder what their rankings will be for today??

Get the latest Internet recruiting scoop at Cheezhead.