markewicken in featuredTips and Advice

SMOKERS NEED NOT APPLY

“Smokers Need Not Apply” is not a sign you are apt to see but rest assured, the sentiment is always present. If you have just graduated and you are a smoker, you need to know that your chances of landing a job will be diminshed.

The Reasons?

1. Most people today do not smoke, so chances are the person interviewing you is a non-smoker.

2. Most non-smokers react negatively to being around smoke and smokers.

3. All of the medical statistics indicate that smokers take more time off work (sick-days) than non-smokers.

4. If you are applying for a job, you will not be the only person interviewing for it.

The result: 1+2+3+4 = the employer has choices. You draw the conclusion. If you smoke, you give the employer a big reason not to pick you.

But how can they tell? If you are a smoker, you smell like smoke to a non-smoker…sorry you do. There are of course more profound health reasons to not smoke.

Your choice.

Next Read: The most qualified, most experienced and most educated student always gets the job. »

job search tips

markewicken: Mark Wicken is a marketing professional with over 30 years of advertising, communications and strategic planning experience within the retail and packaged goods industries. He has been a senior member of agency management teams with both account and brand management responsibilities. His strengths have always been on innovative thinking, solid organization and strong interpersonal skills. Starting in the advertising agency industry, Mark held senior account management positions at several multinational agencies including Leo Burnett, Foster, Caledon, Vickers & Benson and Saffer Advertising, and has been responsible for the management of accounts like IBM, McDonald’s, Esso and General Motors. Mark moved from his agency roles to the Client side and held the position of Divisional Vice President of Marketing for Domino’s Pizza International and Director of Marketing for KFC, Hardee’s and Sbarro restaurants in the Middle East. In 2002 he established The Mark Wicken Group, a business specializing in executive search, training and consulting within the marketing, advertising and communications industries. In addition to executive search, Mark has devoted much of his lifetime to teaching, education and youth development. He is President of MusicFest Canada ‘The Largest Annual Music Festival in North America’ and has been an instructor at the International Academy of Design and The Toronto Film School since 1998. Mark graduated from The University of Toronto, took post-graduate studies at Northwestern University, and is married with two sons.