BREAKING NEWS SPECIAL GENERATIONAL

MONDAY – TUESDAY 10-11 FEBRUARY 2014

Over many years, people have consistently raved (in detail) about how nice Skymall's people are and how nice of a company they are to work for...

THAT IS WHY, WE TAKE NOTICE (HERE AT THE USED JOB SHACK)

WHEN THEY SAY THEY ARE HIRING…. Job Status: Full and Part-Time Positions – Flexible scheduling options Job Type: Call Center Sales & Service Support Representatives

SkyMall is hosting a Job Fair: Thursday, February 13, 2014 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

1520 E. Pima Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034 Pima Street is one block south of Buckeye off 16th Street, near the airport

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To save time go to www.SkyMall.com and click on 'CAREERS' to submit

your application prior to the day of the Job Fair. * MAX YOUR CHANCES BE USING RULE # 4 – SEE BACK OF BOOK

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SKYMALL IS HOSTING A

They are an interesting company by the very nature of what they market and sell. And do NOT

have that many hiring events. Mark this in your calander...today was that day! If you like talking on the phone, if most people say that you have a nice personality, you go out of your way to help cats, dogs stuck in trees or people for that matter and you want a long term position where people will recognize/reward your skills, effort and ability; then why are you reading this... You’ve seen the SkyMall catalog in the seat back pocket of the airplane. Be a part of the cool team where Work = Fun! Our products are innovative, our call center is open, and we are looking for polished and professional representatives to WOW our deserving customers. This position is responsible for answering calls in an inbound call center environment. You will be required to address the needs of the caller by establishing rapport and building trust with professionalism and courtesy. In this position you will not only be required to provide accurate information about products and status of orders but you must also demonstrate the ability to recognize a sales opportunity by finding a need, recommending a solution and closing the sale. You must demonstrate enthusiasm for the position while maintaining productivity goals of the department and meeting quality, sales and customer service standards.

GET DOWN THERE BEFORE THEY GIVE YOUR JOB WAY!!!! -------------------------------------------

When you look at the requirements of 6 months experience dealing with people and type 20 wpm, you say piece of cake. But, why do 8 out of 10 people get turned away? Why do very qualified people not make the cut? Want to know? Do you want to be one of the 2 out of 10 that gets a second interview/hired?

8 out of 10 applicants are cut because they didn’t know how to fill the application CORRECTLY and then how to transfer the application information back into their resume (so that they match)

8 out of 10 applicants confused experience with skills. They assumed that

because the position does not require experience that it didn’t require a lot of skills and abilities.

8 out of 10 applicants never read the employer’s job description in any detail or actual took the time to highlight the skills that the employer wanted rather than what they had.

1 out of 10 used our formula (Rule Number 4) to create an application and then transferred this information into their resume (which then mirrors the application) to show that they had all of the skills and abilities that the employer wanted.

1 out of 10 applicants got there based upon Old Lady Luck. But, luck runs out by the time they get to the interview because they did not do their homework (research on the company).

WITH MANY LARGE COMPANIES…it is important that you know that for the first two levels of review a real person does not see your application because the company’s computer system scans your application. The computer is a very bright 6 year old…very smart but, not a lick of logic. Getting selected for an interview is very difficult when the company screens your application with the computer and you do not have the cheat sheet (full job description). The computer scans for key words and phrases, it does not read or understand the content. Your application is given a number score 0-100 (you can get over 100 but at 100 you are on the A List) and the closer you are to 100, the better you chances are in getting an interview. So, if you didn’t have the specific words or phrases that the computer was looking for, then, would you be selected? If you had all the key words and phrases worked into your application, then, what are your chances? Get it?

STEP ONE & TWO: WE DID THIS FOR YOU TO SAVE TIME We found the job description for you (STEP 1) and we have done the heavy lifting to do the breakdown of key words, phrases, skills and abilities. The highlighted word and phrases have been moved into a breakdown to see what they employer REALLY needs.

STEP THREE: To start Step Three, you must understand that the ONLY thing(s)

that the employer is interested in are on the breakdown. So, if it’s not on the list then why would I waste time/space talking about things that they employer is not interested in? You MUST switch your mind from “I did…I did…” to what the employer said they “I need…I need…” Your job is to show the employer that you have the ability to do the job that they need you to do (not what you are capible of doing). It’s time to start with the reading, slicing, dicing and tearing about this job description. We will pick you up on the backside of this exercise after you have seen how it is done. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OUR CALL CENTER IS HIRING CUSTOMER SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVES Our products are innovative, our call center is open, and we are looking for polished and professional representatives to WOW our deserving customers This position is responsible for answering inbound calls for our Loyalty accounts. You will be required to address the needs of the caller by establishing rapport, building trust,

representing the partner’s brand and culture with professionalism and courtesy. In this position there is a need to make a personal connection while following a script, showing ability to convert questions into resolutions and redemptions. You must demonstrate enthusiasm for the position while maintaining productivity goals of the department and meeting quality and customer service standards …..

SKILLS REQUIREMENTS: Proven sales or service experience in a service-oriented, or Contact Center

environment.

Proven success in resolving a wide range of guest situations while working in a diverse yet structured environment.

The ability to follow through on commitments while maintaining flexibility with assignments and scheduling needs.

Proven ability to multi-task in a fast paced environment, ability to provide product information, using sales skills to multiple Guests simultaneously and maintain productivity goals of department.

Proven ability to communicate in a conversational manner that promotes dialogue and establishes rapport.

Proven success working on a computer, navigating through multiple computer systems, professional e-mail etiquette, strong written (typing) and verbal communication skills to avoid poor grammar and misstatements,

Proven ability to maintain a high level of accuracy, attention to detail and handle multiple priorities.

The ability to consistently meet or exceed established performance goals

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: High School diploma or equivalent

Requires 6 months of Customer Relations experience or a transferrable skills

Strong Communication skills, Written, Verbal, Listening

Typing and data entry skills of 20 WPM with 80% accuracy

Computer literacy in windows environment, Navigating Internet site via web browser software

Great attitude and must enjoy working with others

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS: Able to respond to upset customers in a positive manner, Able to sit down for long periods, Able to handle constant call flow without rest between calls, Must be able to remain in a stationary position most of the time, Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer, Flexibility, scheduling is based on business/seasonal need

Maintain a positive work atmosphere, act and behave in a manner that promotes a positive experience for customers, clients, co-workers and management, Be ready for work every day at prescribed time; punctuality a must. Health & Safety Concerns (Environment), Open cubicle environment Important Notes: Current Government Issued Photo I.D. required for consideration Please click on the link: http://tbe.taleo.net/CH06/ats/careers/jobSearch.jsp?org=SKYMALL&cws=1 This will direct you to the SkyMall career site. Choose the ‘Call Center’ option. Choose the appropriate position and complete the application before the day of the All schedules require

weekend work. All offers contingent on satisfactory background checks.

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BREAKDOWN:

(5) DEAL MAKERS/KILLERS: High School diploma or equivalent - Requires 6 months of

Customer Relations experience or a transferrable skills – Typing and data entry skills of 20 WPM with 80% accuracy – ready for work every day at prescribed time; punctuality a must – enthusiasm for the position.

(51) SALES ABILITIES – CUSTOMER SERVICE {DEALING WITH PEOPLE} SKILLS : innovative –

polished – professional – WOW – professionalism – courtesy – answering inbound calls – address the needs of the caller – establishing rapport – building trust – representing – make a personal connection – following a script – convert questions – resolutions – redemptions – enthusiasm for the position – maintain{ing} – productivity goals – meeting quality – customer service standards – sales or service experience – guest situations – follow through – commitments – flexibility – assignments – scheduling – multi-task – fast paced – provide product information – sales skills – multiple Guests simultaneously – productivity goals – communicate – promotes dialogue – conversational manner – establishes rapport – written – typing – verbal – communication skills – consistently meet or exceed – performance goals – Communication skills – Written, Verbal, Listening – Great attitude – enjoy working with others - respond to upset customers in a positive manner – handle constant call flow

(17) COMPUTER SKILLS: working on a computer – navigating through multiple computer

systems – multi-task – provide product information – e-mail etiquette – Typing and data entry skills of 20 WPM with 80% accuracy – high level of accuracy – attention to detail – operates a computer – handle multiple priorities – consistently meet or exceed – performance goals – Computer literacy in windows – office productivity machinery – copy machine – computer printer =========================================================================

HOW MANY OF THESE WORDS AND PHRASES ARE IN YOUR KILLER RESUME?

STEP THREE (CONTINUED): How many of these key words or phrases from the job description did you have? Count them up and that is your core score. How far are you from 100? Do you now see how to get to 100? You re-write you job descriptions (talking only about the skills that you know the employer is looking for…everything else is wasting time) based upon the what the employer needs. No luck needed here! You know, it is in the breakdown.

ANALYSIS: Ok, there are a few deal makers or killers here that you can not side step.

You must have a GED/HS (some people have used the fact that they were in a GED Class and that they expected to be graduating in a couple of months to get in…it works sometimes…sometimes no).

You must be able to past a typing test @ 20wpm (with at least a 80% accuracy rate). You know this up front and have a couple of days to practice.

ENTHUSIASM FOR THE POSITION – You must really want this job and take your “A” Game to this application and then, to the interview.

Most of the sales skills are just customer service and dealing with people abilities. This employer is less concerned with the years of experience that you need and they are more interested in you ability to do this job. If they were concerned with experience they would have asked for 3-5 years (to cover their bases). They are looking for the above highlighted skills and abilities. It is your job to showcase those skills and abilities to the employer.

You have two options: Ignore this formula and advice and have a 1 in 10 chance of getting this job.

Use the Rule Number Four Formula and have (up to) an 8 out 10 chance of getting an interview (depending upon how well you did your job).

Use as many of these key word, phrases, abilities and skills as you can as you re-write each of your job descriptions. Write a new narriative (put the words into sentences instead of just adding them as a billet) for each job. Now recount your key words, phrases, skills and abilities in your new resume. How many do you have now? 100? If not, go back, re-write by adding more till you are saftely over 100.

SAMPLE:

“…Although the company, that I represented, utilized polished and professional scripts to answer inbound call dealing with sales or service issues because it was a

fast pace, high volume center, we had the flexibility in our customer service standards to take extra time to address the needs of our caller by establishing a rapport based upon professionalism and courtsey to promote a dialogue of building trust that we would follow through and we were able to constantly meet or exceed our performance goals by being able to respond to our upset customers in a positive manner of using a great, friendly attitute to turn frowns into smiles…”

HOW MANY OF THE KEY WORDS ARE IN HERE? DOES THIS MAKE SENSE???? ==================================================================

FULL TIME & PART TIME INSIDE SALES & SUPPORT AGENTS The way that SkyMall explained it to us is that "...We sell Really Cool stuff to people who call to order out of our SkyMall Catalog. We are an inbound call center. We are looking for energetic, enthusiastic staff who love to work with other people. Customer Service & Sales experience a PLUS! But, we offer paid training..."

=========================== IMPORTANT: DO NOT APPLY FOR FT UNLESS YOU DO HAVE OPEN AVAILABLITY!!! This is an important part if you get hired or not is your availbility. If you can’t work certain hours or days (and you applied for full time) then you went from the “A” List to the “Don’t Bother to CALL” List. If you have restrictions then apply for part-time and remember, the more restrictions you have the less likely is that they are going to hire you. Open availability candidates are the first called and only if they can not fill the positions with this group will they call you.

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CRITICAL: INSTANT CONTACT NUMBER…IT’S YOUR DUTY! TIPSTER: DIRECTLY CONTACT MEANS... ...it means that they call and talk to you DIRECTLY without leaving a message or where you can return their call within 20 minutes. 30 minutes is your window before they call someone else...

Over the past weeks, I have seen 10 people lose a direct hire because the employee could not reach them because the applicant gave a bogus number, a number for a phone with no minutes, a phone with the voice mail full or turned off, voice mail with 15 minutes of Toby Keith or where the applicant didn't return the employer's call till days later (the job by then had been filled by another applicant that answers their phone). Sad because this employer was calling to offer them the job...these same applicants are back (now) crying how they can't get a job, how much they need (want) to work...but when opportunity called them...they refused to pick up...go figure...I shed a tear...NOT!!!

================================================ IF YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU WILL SHINE @ THE INTERVIEW…IF NOT…STAY HOME… You have created the PERFECT Application that you transferred into you resume and now you have the PERFECT Resume. Congrats on getting the interview! But, now the real work (homework = research about “who the company is, what they do and why do they do it the way that they do?”) The first (last question that you be asked seriously) question that they will ask you is “tell me what you know about my company?” This is a serious screening question to determine “HOW SERIOUS YOU ARE” as a candidate. The employer is only interested in SERIOUS CANDIDATES that want to do a specific (not anything) job for this specific employer. They are not interested in the person who “NEEDS A JOB” nor in the person who might want a job. They are busy people and actual resent the applicant who shows up without any knowledge about the job and about the company that they are applying. Had an employer explain “if the applicant is not willing to invest 10-15-20 minutes to learn who we are and what we do…if they are not willing to invest time in themselves (their own future) then, I don’t need them. If they are not willing to invest in themselves, that makes me wonder what would they invest in my company or even into what they would invest in doing this job for me…I feel insulted when an applicant shows up and I have to explain to them what we do. These are not serious applicants who waste my time…that I resent!” That says it all, doesn’t it? Direct from the lips of an employer who was upset by the quality of applicants being sent. When you show up looking like you are ready to go to work, where you can have an intelligent conversation about the

employer’s company (and/or the industry) and you have the availability that you need; you become a “A” List candidate. Combine this with your PERFECT Application (and/or your PERFECT Resume) and you are the PERFECT Candidate. If you are the PERFECT Applicant, why would the employer let you walk without making you an offer? If you have done your job correctly then, they wouldn’t. Would you let the PERFECT Candidate walk out of your office? I think not.

HOMEWORK? Homework means that it is YOUR JOB to learn as much as you can about:

Who is this Company?

What do they do?

Why do they do what they do (why are they successful)? You must not look at this as a cost (of your time) but as an investment in you (near) future. It makes the difference in getting hired or having to get up tomorrow and having to try again. If you do not have the time to do this, if you are too busy to put in this extra effort or you have too many appointments; then, maybe you are too busy to work? The truth is something that is within you, if you have excuses for not doing something, the truth is that you don’t want to do that and this you must work out with yourself. We can’t help you with that!

CHECK THIS OUT…MAY BE A CONVERSATION AT INTERVIEW? http://100k.skymall.com/

THE CATALOG: IT IS WHAT THEY DO… Man…you need to check out the catalog(s) and all of the neat products that they sell (which they consider to be the coolist things on the planet). Pick out several items that you think are cool and how much they cost. They will ask you:

Have you seen our catalogs?

What are your favorite items?

Have you ever bought something from us?

If you did, how was the process? What could you do to improve or make it better?

Spent a little time going through the catalogs. Pick out your items (that you liked) and scan the “NEW ARRIVAL” Sections so you have a few new items to mention. http://www.skymall.com/

Personalized Owl

Backpack Details http://www.skymall.com/personalized-owl-backpack/343417.html Miles Kimball SKU: 343417

Price: $19.99

============================ THEY HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/SkyMall ============================ NEW CATALOG HERE: https://www.facebook.com/SkyMall/app_121528334670554 ============================

SkyMall is a specialty publishing firm headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. SkyMall produces a quarterly in-flight publication, SkyMall, with an annual circulation of approximately 20 million copies distributed in airplane seat pockets. SkyMall is a multi-channel, direct marketer offering products through direct marketers and manufacturers through its SkyMall catalog and web site, skymall.com. The SkyMall catalog is seen by approximately 88% of all domestic air passengers in the United States, reaching more than 650 million air travelers annually. SkyMall also offers turn-key merchandise and fulfillment solutions for loyalty marketing programs.

In 2012, SkyMall was purchased by Najafi Companies, the largest private equity firm in Arizona. SkyMall, Inc. was founded in 1990 by Bob Worsley, Alan Lobock, Matthew Del Bianco, and Graham Alcock. It originally offered goods from other companies' catalogs for same-day delivery to customers arriving at select U.S. airports or, if the customer preferred, to their home or office via express shipment. To accomplish the same-day delivery promise, SkyMall operated its own warehouses located near the selected airports. Shortly after launching, the company purchased contracts from another company that allowed it to offer catalog merchandise to travelers flying many of the nation's air carriers. This move, which did not receive the support of all of the founders, required a significant shift in SkyMall's focus and operations, ultimately forcing the company to abandon its same-day delivery service and nearly bankrupting the company. The company now offers goods from other companies' catalogs for drop-ship to the customer via third-party transport firms. SkyMall is often parodied for selling sometimes unusual products. For instance, comedy troupe Kasper Hauser released the book "SkyMaul: Happy Crap You Can Buy from a Plane" as an unauthorized parody of the Sky Mall catalogue. It features absurd products such as the Banana-ganizer, Self-Pepper Spray, Llamacycle, and Living-Room Beluga Aquarium. References in music and TV include:

"SkyMall" by Jonathan Coulton. In the third Blue Collar Comedy Tour film, One for the Road, Bill Engvall jokes

about the addictive nature the magazine has on him, calling the magazine, "my crack".

SkyMall was referenced on Weeds (Season 6); however, the episodes cast the company in a negative light.

It has also been parodied by Penny Arcade ( http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/9/26/).

SkyMall was also referenced on the Breaking Bad episodes Negro y Azul, when a cartel member (Danny Trejo) is demanding a list of items from the magazine in turn for helping out the DEA, and Hermanos, when a DEA agent (Dean Norris) unveils a GPS tracking device purchased from SkyMall.

Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) was seen reading a SkyMall catalog on the plane in the movie "Get Smart."

An article on cracked.com, written by an official columnist, lists "The 7 Most Useless Skymall Products", which lists 7 comically, seemingly pointless, products previously sold through SkyMall.

Mitzi from Shin Chan has also referenced SkyMall in the show several times, (claiming she's read and owns every SkyMall magazine from 1987 and onward), in the episodes, "Hima Nohara in "The Creeping Terror" and in the episode, "The Girls of 34C".

It is also featured in a segment, called "Crap I found on SkyMall" on the show The Giz Wiz on the TWiT network.

In the television show How I Met Your Mother, Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris' character) claims that everything he owns in his office and apartment comes from SkyMall's catalogue.

In a Hanes t-shirt commercial touting the softness of their shirts, the one man not wearing a Hanes shirt is wearing a shirt made of live kittens. After being derided by the others, he says "But I got it off SkyMall!"

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TAKEOFF Christine A. Aguilera of SkyMall says buyers are looking for laughs. NOT recession-proof: The Peeing Boy of Brussels Sculpture and Fountain. The Marshmallow Shooter. The Bunion Regulator.

And yet, the Zombie of Montclaire Moors, at $89.95, a ghoulish, 13-pound lawn sculpture, is still a top seller in the SkyMall catalog, the advertiser of unusual gadgets and other products you never knew you needed.

The Pet Observation Porthole ($29.95), a clear plastic dome that can be mounted in a fence to “give an inquisitive canine a panoramic view of the world,” was so popular that it sold out. There also remains a huge demand for the cordless Keep Your Distance Bug Vacuum ($49.95), which can suction up flies, bees and spiders from up to two feet away.

The catalog’s annual circulation — via the seat pocket in front of you — is 20 million. Each year as many as 688 million bored and restless airline passengers can flip through its pages to ponder, in the latest edition, 2,000 products.

“If there is any piece of writing that defines our culture, I submit it’s the SkyMall catalog,” the author Bill McKibben wrote in a 2006 essay in Orion magazine, a nature and culture magazine published every two months. “To browse its pages is to understand the essential secret of American consumer life: That we’ve officially run out not only of things we need, but even of things we might plausibly desire.” In its 19 years, the SkyMall catalog has served not only as a reflection of consumer behavior, but as a symbol of Americans’ love of shopping and curious delight with oddball items. SkyMall pulls together merchandise from hundreds of retailers, including Brookstone, Hammacher Schlemmer and Frontgate.

With fewer people flying or spending money, the economic downturn may have tilted the catalog’s sales slightly more toward utilitarian items — the No. 1 best seller this year is a 10-by-22-foot square of polyvinyl floor covering for the garage ($359), and the first truly frivolous item, the Giant Cupcake Pan, comes in at No. 17.

But last year, the Bunion Regulator, which costs $15.99 and straps onto the toe overnight to ease bunion pain, came in at No. 9 on the best-seller list, after the Breathe Fit Snoring Aid ($29.95) with the Marshmallow Shooter not far behind. Still, the recession does not appear to have diminished the catalog’s kitschy appeal. “Some may think that what we provide is just a good laugh,” Christine A. Aguilera, SkyMall’s president, said in an e-mail message after a phone interview. “There’s nothing wrong with that. But when you are standing eye to eye with a giant spider, you will be thankful you bought the Keep Your Distance Bug Vacuum.” She added, “Even when times are tough, I think Americans are still optimistic about the future and interested in products that can make their lives a little easier.

There is no secret category or line of goods that are recession-proof. What is recession resistant is innovation.”

In 2007, SkyMall embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign that drove up its Web sales. In January, SkyMall ventured into social networking territory, hiring an official corporate Twitterer. The tweets generated enough interest in the Wonder Woman Cuff bracelet ($24.95) that sales of

the item more than doubled, Ms. Aguilera said. “Philosophically, Americans like to have products, they like to have new things, they like to have things the neighbors don’t have,” Ms. Aguilera said in the phone interview. “I know that some of the products people find a little entertaining, comical, whimsical, but I don’t think there’s anything bad about that.” Although there are plenty of practical items in the catalog, including suitcases and sneakers, it is the weird and wacky ones that tend to get the attention. Last year, one humor blog, Cracked.com, listed “The 5 most ridiculous SkyMall Products Money Can Buy,” putting at No. 4 “a baffling array of lawn ornaments” like the Zombie and the Peeing Boy of Brussels. “What it does: Makes your house look like it’s occupied by a complete lunatic,” the post said.

Kit Yarrow, a professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University, said that the SkyMall catalog could have a particular appeal in the recession. “Their audience is really looking for relief, not just something to alleviate boredom, but also a little bit of fantasy,” she said. “If you look at the products in there, they are lifestyle and gadget-oriented, both the sort of thing that transports you in a way. You can imagine a different lifestyle, imagining yourself out in the backyard barbecuing, with the kids shooting marshmallows, the birds chirping and life is good.”

Technically, SkyMall is an advertising company. Retailers pay to have their products listed in the catalog, which is published four times a year and changes most of its product selection each time. SkyMall has a variety of financial arrangements with its retailers, Ms. Aguilera said, and sometimes gets a cut of sales in addition to charging for advertising.

Some top-selling items, like the Bug Vacuum and the Edge Baking Pan ($39.95), which is meant to prevent burnt edges and gooey centers in brownies, appear regularly in consecutive catalogs, or else remain available on SkyMall.com. The products are advertised in the catalog, which is distributed through 13 airlines and Amtrak and on SkyMall.com. SkyMall, which is privately held and based in Phoenix, would not release information on its profitability or total sales. Forty percent of SkyMall customers order merchandise through the company’s toll-free telephone number and the rest order through the SkyMall Web site; SkyMall said sales from the Web site alone were up last year, to $81.5 million from $75 million in 2007. The top-selling categories for SkyMall include housewares and pet products, such as gates, indoor dog restrooms, pet drinking fountains and feeders, and the Bark Free Pro ($89.95), which uses ultrasonic tones heard only by dogs to stop them from barking. It’s No. 4 on the list of the 60 top sellers on sale in the late spring 2009 catalog. Among Ms. Aguilera’s top five all-time favorite products in the SkyMall catalog: The Bug Vacuum, currently the No. 5 best seller. She uses it to rid her home of any desert insects that survive the exterminator. “I gave this to all my sisters one year at Christmas,” she said. “They are still sucking up scorpions. Now if they could only invent one that would suck up small snakes.” =================================================================

TO GET A JOB AT SKYMALL, PREPARATION AND PERSISTENCE IS KEY. You have to present your qualifications through the whole application process (targeted resume and cover letter, well-prepared interview) to demonstrate your skills and qualifications. You should always highlight relevant skills, education background and work experience in preparing your Skymall job application, resume and interview when you are applying jobs at Skymall. These days, if you can find alumni, friends who work at Skymall that are willing to help you with the referral, it will greatly increase your chance to get a job at Skymall. You need to search and find connections at Skymall via your school alumni network, your professional and personal network. Networking is key these days to get a job at Skymall and for job search in general. It is better than a random job application. Besides, you can gain inside information to facilitate your job application for Skymall. That said, if you couldn't find a referral from Skymall,

you should still apply via Skymall website, Skymall recruiters, etc. These traditional ways still work some time. Majority of job applicants apply for jobs at Skymall this way. It is impossible for anyone to find connections at all the companies they are interested in.

SKYMALL JOB APPLICATION STATUS? I applied for a job at Skymall. Other than the confirmation email, I haven't heard from them for several weeks now. I also found out that the job listing at Skymall company website is gone and a slightly different job was posted. Does that mean the job was filled? Who I should contact? What I need to do? Any suggestions or feedback is appreciated. ANSWER 1: Job posting vary a lot. It all depends on the company HR and hiring group or hiring manager at Skymall. I would suggest you follow up with your contact to inquire about your application status. Meantime, continue applying for jobs at other companies. Persistency, consistency and preparation are key for any job search, including for jobs at Skymall. ANSWER 2: Follow up! It is very important for Skymall job application and any job search. You can send them email or call them to ask them about your application status after about two weeks. IMPORTANT! Follow up after your interview at Skymall, thank the interviewer and HR for their time, and mention things you might have missed or forgot to emphasize in the interview.

WHAT IS THE SKYMALL COMPANY CULTURE? There is no typical day at Skymall. Every group is different at Skymall. Most of groups are decent while there will always be tough ones. Make sure you find out if they will work you to death or not because if you get in the wrong group, you could be dealing with a ton of abuse. You can always ask interviewer about performance review, turnover rates and the hours involved. Better ways to know is to find connections at Skymall, ask them. It all depends on groups and boss that you are going to work with at Skymall. If you get a good boss then life is good. Best/safe advice to start is to not too different from your colleagues in dress code, work and communication style.

What are career development opportunities at Skymall? Companies like Skymall usually provide a clear career path for entry-level or junior-level employees. It all comes down to performance and track record since your

first day at Skymall. In Skymall, management level or executive level employees have different and better career choice and career path than junior-level ones. If you are working at Skymall already, I would think you can check your HR website, contact HR, or discuss with a career mentor with more experience. Also you can gain lots of knowledge and insights by sharing and discussing with your peer group.

QUESTION NORMALLY ASKED @ THE INTERVIEW: 1. So, tell me a little about yourself. I'd be very surprised if you haven't been asked this one at every interview. It's probably the most asked question because it sets the stage for the interview and it gets you talking. Be careful not to give the interviewer your life story here. You don't need to explain everything from birth to present day. Relevant facts about education, your career and your current life situation are fine.

2. Why are you looking (or why did you leave you last job)? This should be a straightforward question to answer, but it can trip you up. Presumably you are looking for a new job (or any job) because you want to advance your career and get a position that allows you to grow as a person and an employee. It's not a good idea to mention money here; it can make you sound mercenary. And if you are in the unfortunate situation of having been downsized, stay positive and be as brief as possible about it. If you were fired, you'll need a good explanation. But once again, stay positive.

3. Tell me what you know about this company. Do your homework before you go to any interview. Whether it's being the VP of marketing or the mailroom clerk, you should know about the company or business you're going to work for. Has this company been in the news lately? Who are the people in the company you should know about? Do the background work, it will make you stand out as someone who comes prepared, and is genuinely interested in the company and the job.

4. Why do you want to work at X Company? This should be directly related to the last question. Any research you've done on the company should have led you to the conclusion that you'd want to work there. After all, you're at the interview, right? Put some thought into this answer before you have your interview, mention your career goals and highlight forward-thinking goals and career plans.

5. What relevant experience do you have? Hopefully if you're applying for this position you have bags of related experience, and if that's the case you should mention it all. But if you're switching careers or trying something a little different, your experience may initially not look like it's matching up. That's when you need a little honest creativity to match the experiences required with the ones you have. People skills are people skills after all, you just need to show how customer service skills can apply to internal management positions, and so on.

6. If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you? Ok, this is not the time for full disclosure. If some people from your past are going to say you're a boring A-hole, you don't need to bring that up. Stay positive, always, and maybe have a few specific quotes in mind. "They'd say I was a hard worker" or even better "John Doe has always said I was the most reliable, creative problem-solver he'd ever met."

7. Have you done anything to further your experience? This could include anything from night classes to hobbies and sports. If it's related, it's worth mentioning. Obviously anything to do with further education is great, but maybe you're spending time on a home improvement project to work on skills such as self-sufficiency, time management and motivation.

8. Where else have you applied? This is a good way to hint that you're in demand, without sounding like you're whoring yourself all over town. So, be honest and mention a few other companies but don't go into detail. The fact that you're seriously looking and keeping your options open is what the interviewer is driving at.

9. How are you when you're working under pressure? Once again, there are a few ways to answer this but they should all be positive. You may work well under pressure, you may thrive under pressure, and you may actually PREFER working under pressure. If you say you crumble like aged blue cheese, this is not going to help you get your foot in the door.

10. What motivates you to do a good job? The answer to this one is not money, even if it is. You should be motivated by life's noble pursuits. You want recognition for a job well done. You want to become better at your job. You want to help others or be a leader in your field.

11. What's your greatest strength? This is your chance to shine. You're being asked to explain why you are a great employee, so don't hold back and stay do stay positive. You could be someone who thrives under pressure, a great motivator, an amazing problem solver or someone with extraordinary attention to detail. If your greatest strength, however, is to drink anyone under the table or get a top score on Mario Kart, keep it to yourself. The interviewer is looking for work-related strengths.

12. What's your biggest weakness?

If you're completely honest, you may be kicking yourself in the butt. If you say you don't have one, you're obviously lying. This is a horrible question and one that politicians have become masters at answering. They say things like "I'm perhaps too committed to my work and don't spend enough time with my family." Oh, there's a fireable offense. I've even heard "I think I'm too good at my job, it can often make people jealous." Please, let's keep our feet on the ground. If you're asked this question, give a small, work-related flaw that you're working hard to improve. Example: "I've been told I occasionally focus on details and miss the bigger picture, so I've been spending time laying out the complete project every day to see my overall progress."

13. Let's talk about salary. What are you looking for? Run for cover! This is one tricky game to play in an interview. Even if you know the salary range for the job, if you answer first you're already showing all your cards. You want as much as possible, the employer wants you for as little as you're willing to take. Before you apply, take a look at salary.com for a good idea of what someone with your specific experience should be paid. You may want to say, "well, that's something I've thought long and hard about and I think someone with my experience should get between X & Y." Or, you could be sly and say, "right now, I'm more interested in talking more about what the position can offer my career." That could at least buy you a little time to scope out the situation. But if you do have a specific figure in mind and you are confident that you can get it, I'd say go for it. I have on many occasions, and every time I got very close to that figure (both below and sometimes above).

14. Are you good at working in a team? Unless you have the I.Q. of a houseplant, you'll always answer YES to this one. It's the only answer. How can anyone function inside an organization if they are a

loner? You may want to mention what part you like to play in a team though; it's a great chance to explain that you're a natural leader.

15. Tell me a suggestion you have made that was implemented. It's important here to focus on the word "implemented." There's nothing wrong with having a thousand great ideas, but if the only place they live is on your notepad what's the point? Better still, you need a good ending. If your previous company took your advice and ended up going bankrupt, that's not such a great example either. Be prepared with a story about an idea of yours that was taken from idea to implementation, and considered successful. 16. Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with? Of course, you have a list as long as your arm. But you can't say that, it shows you as being negative and difficult to work with. The best way to answer this one is to think for a while and then say something like "I've always got on just fine with my co-workers actually."

17. Is there anyone you just could not work with? No. Well, unless you're talking about murderers, racists, rapists, thieves or other dastardly characters, you can work with anyone. Otherwise you could be flagged as someone who's picky and difficult if you say, "I can't work with anyone who's a Bronco's fan. Sorry."

18. Tell me about any issues you've had with a previous boss. Arrgh! If you fall for this one you shouldn't be hired anyway. The interviewer is testing you to see if you'll speak badly about your previous supervisor. Simply answer this question with extreme tact, diplomacy and if necessary, a big fat loss of memory. In short, you've never had any issues.

19. Would you rather work for money or job satisfaction? It's not a very fair question is it? We'd all love to get paid a Trump-like salary doing a job we love but that's rare indeed. It's fine to say money is important, but remember that NOTHING is more important to you than the job. Otherwise, you're just someone looking for a bigger paycheck.

20. Would you rather be liked or feared?

I have been asked this a lot, in various incarnations. The first time I just drew a blank and said, "I don't know." That went over badly, but it was right at the start of

my career when I had little to no experience. Since then I've realized that my genuine answer is "Neither, I'd rather be respected." You don't want to be feared because fear is no way to motivate a team. You may got the job done but at what cost? Similarly, if you're everyone's best friend you'll find it difficult to make tough decisions or hit deadlines. But when you're respected, you don't have to be a complete bastard or a lame duck to get the job done.

21. Are you willing to put the interests of X Company ahead of your own? Again, another nasty question. If you say yes, you're a corporate whore who doesn't care about family. If you say no, you're disloyal to the company. I'm afraid that you'll probably have to say yes to this one though, because you're trying to be the perfect employee at this point, and perfect employees don't cut out early for Jimmy's baseball game.

22. So, explain why I should hire you. As I'm sure you know, "because I'm great" or "I really need a job" are not good answers here. This is a time to give the employer a laundry list of your greatest talents that just so happen to match the job description. It's also good to avoid taking potshots at other potential candidates here. Focus on yourself and your talents, not other people's flaws.

23. Finally, do you have any questions to ask me? I'll finish the way I started, with one of the most common questions asked in interviews. This directly relates to the research you've done on the company and also gives you a chance to show how eager and prepared you are. You'll probably want to ask about benefits if they haven't been covered already. A good generic one is "how soon could I start, if I were offered the job of course." You may also ask what you'd be working on. Specifically, in the role you're applying for and how that affects the rest of the company. ================================================================ THE ROAD MAP TO YOUR NEW JOB (CAREER) IS AS EASY AS “A, B, C” AND IT ALL STARTS WITH: POINT A: (STARTING HERE) Go to a computer and submit your application at www.skymall.com/careers. Make sure you select “Call Center” POINT B: (THE HALF WAY POINT) Dress up...AZ Casual...don't need a suit...it's impressive but, it doesn't help that much. No tee-Shirts or flip-flops please! POINT C: (YOU HAVE ARRIVED) Take a deep breath and Come to our Open House/Job Fair this Thursday, February 13, 2014 9:00 am to 3:00 pm - where you will be assessed and interviewed (NAW! it won't hurt...just be yourself!) conducted! SkyMall is Located at 1520 E. Pima Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034 that is Just off of 16th Street, 1 block south of Buckeye Rd. in Phoenix, next to the airport...

SKYMALL THURSDAY:

An Interview with SkyMall CEO Christine Aguilera Ms. Aguilera was kind enough to answer my questions. Even after learning that Ms. Aguilera was not the

multiplatinum recording sensation, I was still eager to get her thoughts on the inner workings of SkyMall, its

most popular products and who in their right mind would buy medical supplies from an airplane catalog.

What is the best-selling product in SkyMall's history?

The Mosquito Magnet, an electronic device to attract and kill mosquitoes. It debuted in

SkyMall and is our top seller to date. We've also sold a ton of nose hair trimmers.

What is currently the most popular product in terms of recent sales? Top-selling products change from week to week. Some of the recent top sellers include: The

Edge Baking Pan, the iPhone iPod battery, the upside-down tomato garden, and the spy pen.

Currently, how many different products does SkyMall offer?

There are approximately 2,000 products in our in-flight catalog and 15,000 products online.

Do vendors approach SkyMall to carry their products?

We receive approximately 100 inquiries per week regarding featuring product in the SkyMall catalog and on

SkyMall.com. We also have a team of merchandisers that work directly manufacturers and attend trade shows

to find new and interesting products.

Is there a giant SkyMall warehouse with all of the products or do you partner with your vendors to

handle the shipment of orders? SkyMall does not warehouse any inventory; all merchandise is shipped directly by the product supplier.

How many airlines carry SkyMall? SkyMall is on 13 airlines and Amtrak. The title of the catalog on Amtrak is "TravelMall" but it features the

same products as the SkyMall catalog.

Who vets potential products to make sure that they are suitable for SkyMall?

We have a team of merchandisers that review each product.

Could I be the official SkyMall product tester? How does one get such a job?

We don't really have one official product tester but you are more than welcome to buy a bunch products and

post reviews on SkyMall.com. We would LOVE that!

Has SkyMall ever refused to carry a product? SkyMall carries products that are innovative, unique, or solution oriented. If something doesn't fit that

description, it won't be considered. We also make sure that products are appropriate for "family friendly"

viewing.

Who writes the product descriptions for SkyMall? Most descriptions come directly from the catalog partner. Some are written by SkyMall staff.

How often is the paper catalog updated? The inflight catalog is updated four times each year. We are constantly adding new product to SkyMall.com

How many catalogs are printed annually? About 20 million.

How has the popularity of internet shopping affected SkyMall's business? The internet has been great for us. We've had a site since 1996. On SkyMall.com we can feature more products,

include product reviews, and interact with customers in new ways.

What percentage of SkyMall sales come from the catalog vs. the website?

60% website, 40% catalog

What is the "Mobile Virtual Store" that SkyMall has launched?

SkyMall has a mobile shopping site. Customers can view product and make purchases directly from their

mobile devices. They can also SMS an item number to 49432 to make a purchase.

Has Snuggie's direct marketing campaign affected SkyMall's sales of the Slanket? The Slanket was very popular this past winter. We don't really have a way to gauge if its sales were impacted by

competing products.