1.  Don’t do any research about the company: With today’s technology there is no excuse for anyone to go into an interview without all sorts of information about the company.  You should know their mission statement, size, organizational chart, competitors, job description, and anything else that would help you in the interview.  Not only is this information important for the interview but you may find after conducting this research that this company isn’t for you. Do your homework.

2.  Don’t proofread your resume: This is a sure signal that your work quality should be questioned.  Job applications and resumes should be the best work that you can produce.  If you don’t care enough about submitting quality documents to get the job, you probably won’t do quality work after you get the job. Many interview committees throw away application materials with typos.  You’ll never even get an interview with substandard application documents.

3.  Ask about salary and vacation time during your first interview: This is always a good indication that you really aren’t motivated by the job but are simply looking for money and time off. The interview committee will even suspect that you will jump to a higher paying job at the first opportunity.

4.  Tell the committee terrible things about your current employer: All interview committees know that if you say negative things about your current employer it’s only a matter of time until you say negative things about them.

5.  Ramble on aimlessly when asked a question: When someone from the committee asks you a question, make eye contact with everyone on the committee and directly answer the question.  Don’t go off on tangents. You should know some of the basic questions most committees will ask. Prepare for them and have polished responses.

This list could go on but I’ll stop here.  Fixing just these five things will improve your chances of getting a job anywhere.  Happy hunting!

1.  A great church: Sooner Park Wesleyan church under the leadership of Pastor Greg McNall has enriched my family tremendously.  Have you ever found that church where you feel like you’re just in the right spot?  Well…this is the place.

2.  Friends: I actually get to work everyday with my friends doing meaningful work I love.  Who could ask for more.

3.  A wonderful community: I can’t think of a place where I could enjoy life more than Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  It’s just good for your health.

4.  Good health: I thank God each day I run that I have the strength to do it.  As simple as that sounds, I know there are many who would give anything just to be able to go for a run.

5.  A wonderful family: Tonight I watched my kids eat popcorn at the movies and just have a great time.  It won’t be long before they will be off to college and this chapter of my life will end.  I’m thankful for these moments.

6.  A wife who really loves me: I was thinking tonight about Cheri who has stood with me for 23 years.  I have watched her teach our children, cook more meals than I could count, herd horses, cows, goats, and chickens in freezing temps and sweltering heat, kill snakes and scorpions, and just laugh and enjoy life more than anyone I know.  I couldn’t ask for more.

So you see, I’m blessed.  This is a wonderful Thanksgiving.  How does that old hymn of the church go…”count your blessing name them one by one”. Are you counting?

Happy Thanksgiving.