Proofing Stage
Proofing Stage examines the origins, progress, struggles, and setbacks of entrepreneurs through the lens of its founders, who, among other things, have run a bagel business for the past 8 years.
Join us, as we share wins and cautionary tales from that space between “atta girl” and “I told you so!” Co-hosted by Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond, with Season 1 contributions by Amanda Schwarz.
Proofing Stage
BONUS: The Great Cover Letter Cover Up - Is that Ideal Candidate for Real?
As the Roadshow rolls on, Bottoms Up Bagels (BUB) begins to hire locally for stops in various cities. In our next full episode, we'll relive some of those hits, but today's clip is decidedly about the misses.
From would-be employees with a penchant for grand theft to those who've taken a swing at law enforcement (literally), we're exposing the hilarious, often alarming disconnect between cover letters (AI-generated ones to be specific) and the actual individuals behind them.
Speaking of AI, the Proofing Stage crew doubles down on the tomes of future bonus content we're collecting. Enjoy!
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Joan: 0:00
I will say, just for shits and giggles, that some of the people we did not interview for the position, they had really good… I should have known this, when they had really good cover letters… Not to say it makes you a bad person or whatever, but like there's something weird, like it was just a really, really good cover letter. One woman - I did have to like “the Google” her - and didn't take long to find her. She is someone who was in the news for getting like drunk driving, hitting into stuff. Then, when a cop stopped her, she punched out the cop. That was one person.
And the other person, even almost … this other woman who, again, like [had a] really good cover letter, clearly got assistance with it. I'm assuming, right? Again, like that kind of tripped me off and I was just like “something is not right here.” It doesn't… my gut's telling me, “no.” I “the Google” her and or you can “duckduckgo” - whatever you guys use - I honor what our audience does.
Michelle:
[laughs]
Joan:
I looked her up and there's something even potentially more foul when it comes to being a business owner. She went to jail for doing what? Stealing from the company she was working for. I mean, come on, lady. That's an absolute “no.” Punching out a cop? Maybe that can show some I don't know, bad judgment of a different sort… [but] like don't steal from me man.
Amanda: 1:25
Man, it's so funny. I was listening to, no, I was reading Threads. Because I'm on Threads now.
Joan: 1:31
Oh yeah, girl.
Michelle:
All right.
Amanda: 1:34
[I] love Threads. And someone was talking about how they get really frustrated that they are applying to like 300 jobs and everybody wants a cover letter. And you know, and she said “So, I just started going to ChatGPT, that's what I was gonna say.”
Michelle: 1:46
I'm sure.
Joan:
Dang.
Amanda: 1:48
Mm-hmm, and I'm like, well, you know, this isn't the, you know these folks. I don't know if they had that kind of, you know wherewithal, or if we were quite there right around that time. But yeah, and then that gets me into the conversation about ChatGPT and AI, and maybe that's our bonus episode is the glory of yeah…
Michelle:
Like I was gonna say…
Amanda
…content. [laughs]
Michelle: 2:11
Was it written as well as the descriptions to our episodes that we, I mean, it’s never used? Keep for humor, but don't use.
Amanda: 2:19
Oh, my goodness, yes, I think there's. I think there's a whole other, there's a whole other bonus episode, just to tell you that the descriptions that are provided versus the ones we've received from AI, yeah, but just going back to those cover letters, that's. You know when you need help for a cover letter…
Michelle: 2:36
Yeah.
Amanda: 2:36
…sometimes you really need help for a cover letter.
Joan: 2:38
I just assumed a parole officer, or like organizations meant to help people go back into society, which is a good thing… [helped the candidates with their cover letters]
Amanda:
Oh, fantastic, absolutely.
Joan:
But we did not need that for our very brief event. I mean, we couldn't give them a full-time gig there. You got to understand.
Michelle:
Yeah.
Amanda: 2:57
Once it's on the internet, folks don't be doing things that are going to get on the internet cause, once it's on the internet…
Michelle:
Yeah.
Amanda:
…regardless of your cover letter, you can find out.
Michelle:
Right, it's all searchable.
Amanda: 3:07
Take care of yourselves, kids.
Joan:
[laughs]
Amanda: 3:09
Be good, out there be good.
