Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Davidson the managing editor of Keystone Edge to discuss IQ Inc.  Here is a link to the interview!

 http://www.keystoneedge.com/features/vankirk0507.aspx

Last Thursday did not start as one of my better days.  I had spent the entire morning in a long stream of meetings…most not very pleasant.  But, there was one bright light that I was looking forward to…meeting the newest addition to the IQ Team…four day old Riley Dobson.  So, you can image my surprise when into the conference room walked two total strangers, bearing balloons and flowers and asking for “Barbara VanKirk”.  I am not sure what was going through my mind, but I looked at the woman and said very emphatically (heart pounding) “YES?” as she presented me with the flowers.  I quickly told her that I was not the one that just had the baby!  Obviously my “advanced” professional appearance hadn’t clued her in!  Imagine my surprise when she congratulated me on being named the 2009 ATHENA Award Winner!  WOW! 

For those unaware, the ATHENA Award is presented to an individual who devotes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others; mentors other women to reach their full leadership potential and demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in business or their profession.  I was so taken by surprise that it took me several days to even comprehend that I was selected as the actual award winner!   I guess you could say my reaction was “priceless”, the tears came and I looked at every face in the room and said “I was expecting a baby…does this mean no baby is coming?”  While Riley did not make an appearance that day, she did visit us today, a bright ray of sunshine on this rainy day!

Writing “THE PLAN”….Writing a business plan, sounds so daunting!  But, it’s really no different than setting career objectives.  You can find many templates and reading materials on building a business plan.   To be successful the first step in writing the plan is deciding what you want your business to be… whether you are providing a service or a product.  What are you trying to do?  Is the plan to duplicate a service that is already being provided or is it a new and innovative idea?  Determine what it is you want to do then organize your thoughts, set the objectives and start to write a very detailed plan, including a budget!

In my previous position I sold consulting services to local businesses, which provided me with a jump start on the planning of IQ.   I spent a lot of time researching my competitors, and set out to create a distinguishing factor, something that would really set IQ apart from all other consulting companies!  I didn’t want IQ to be like all the others…I wanted to be “personally” involved with my clients and candidates.   Writing the plan was not so hard, but making that first “offer” to an employee and signing the first “contract” with a customer….well, that’s another story…

When the subject of interviewing attire comes up, we have seen it ALL...  from blue jeans to the dreaded combination of navy blue and black (guys please note…this is a big NO).

You would think that in today’s world there are enough business resources out there (and fashion magazines) that people can look at before they dress for a professional interview.  Sadly, there isn’t.

Here are some of our favorites that have walked through our doors:

If you are going to wear a brand new suit/outfit make sure you remove all of the tags Before the Interview.  We were interviewing a candidate and he had tags sticking out on his suit…guess he was going to return it after the interview if he thought it didn’t go well!  Either that…or he was trying to make his own fashion statement…needless to say, it didn’t catch on!

Dress in clothing that fits your body:  Once a candidate came in with a shirt and tie… great interviewing attire, right?  Yes, except that his tie was too short… really short…kind of like Yogi Bear…it came up to the middle of his chest.  Not only was the tie bad, but the shirt was too small…about two sizes too small!  Throughout the interview our thoughts were… if he moves too fast will a button pop and shoot into my eye?  Ouch!

Here is a quick list of NO’s we came up with:

• Flip-flops or sneakers.
• Underwear (bras, bra straps, briefs, boxers, etc.) on the outside…they don’t call it UNDERWEAR for nothing!
• Shorts.
• Jeans.
• Skirts that are too short.  If you think it’s good for clubbing…it’s a sure thing it’s not good for interviewing!
• Pants that are too low-rise or too tight (see Skirts!).
• Blouses that are too low-cut or too short (see Skirts and Blouses!).

Trendy vs. Classic:  Opting for a classic interview suit that will last for years is a better investment than the latest trendy attire that will only last a season.  Your idea of trendy might not match the interviewer's perspective on what's fashionable, so err on the side of dressing conservatively when you interview.

This Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday, Steelers vs. the Cardinals… Since of course this blog is written by a Pittsburgher, this post is dedicated to the Steeler Nation. 

Every city loves their football team, but Pittsburgh fans take it to the next level.  I of course have a slighted view, growing up in western PA and having lived through the era of the Steel Curtain, but it is not only the locals who have recognized there is something special about Steeler Football.  Earlier this season Steeler Fans were voted/recognized as the best fans in the league, not once, but twice, by authorities in the industry- ESPN and Sports Illustrated.  Interestingly the Cardinal's fans were voted the worst, number 32 out of 32 clubs… ouch.

So for those “out of towners” what is it like in the Steel City in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl???  Steeler Mania!!!  For the past two weeks the city has exploded in black and gold fever… the typical Sunday uniform of Steelers gear can be seen throughout the week.  There are Steeler stands along the highways, t-shirts being sold at Giant Eagle and Sheetz and you cannot go an hour at the office without looking at a Steeler email containing a picture of a slain cardinal or the latest Steeler fight song!    

I know in our office there was a rigorous debate as to whether the “black and gold flu” was an acceptable excuse for the Monday after the Super Bowl… Surprisingly I left everyone speechless with my response (I believe this was the first time ever).

Sunday’s game will show plenty of Terrible Towels waving in Tampa’s stadium, by black and gold clad fans who traveled hundreds of miles to see their beloved team.  Steeler bars across the country (STEELER BARS) will be packed with fans cheering for a win from New York to California!!!  HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!