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Butternut Squash and Bacon Pot Pie & Job Interview Tips

This has been a long week for me. I’ve been in the process of hiring a new person at work. Through out the interview process, from reading resumes to second interviews, I’ve been able to learn quite a bit about the behind-the-scenes-process. It is incredible what people think is completelyΒ acceptableΒ behavior in an interview, here are some examples:

In response to the question, "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" Here are some of the responses I got:

"Oh…I’m going to win the lottery. I am. But don’t worry, I’ll give you a big donation, It’s a tax write off."

"Ummm…A lawyer? I think maybe I’ll be a lawyer." (I don’t work for law firm and we don’t employ lawyers)

"I don’t know. I mean, I only want this job for like…18 months? But don’t worry, I’ll help you find someone really good to replace me!"

I’ve never been a "tell me what I want to hear" kind of person, but this really comes down to professionalism and good judgement. If you aren’t able to answer that question correctly, It makes me worry about how you will answer more difficultΒ questionsΒ that clients may ask you.Β 

The correct response, in one form or another: "I am looking to find a company that I can work for long-term. I want to be at my next job, hopefully, for the rest of my career so I’m looking for a place that has opportunities for advancement and will allow me to grow as a professional."

Proper attire:

Don’t wear a shirt that intentionally shows your bra. I don’t care if it is La Perla.Β 

6-inch platform Lucite heels are not a good choice for interview footwear.Β 

For the LOVE OF GOD do not, under any circumstances, wear a BLUETOOTH in an interview. Unless you hold the keys toΒ missileΒ defense, you are not that important. IΒ promise.Β 

Written communication, the firstΒ impression:

Before you even get an interview, your resume, cover letter and initial email will give the first impression. Here are some tips to make sure you aren’t weeded out right of the bat:

Make sure everything is spelled correctly.Β 

Write a cover letter, this alone will put you above half of the other applicants and give you a voice.Β 

Change the "Objective" field to fit the company you are applying for. It is a huge red flag if it does not match who we are. Either you are sloppy and have no attention to detail, or you really don’t want to work for us.Β 

If you have a email address, such as ChicanaSkank69@[domain].com don’t put it on your resume, take the ten minutes to set up a free, more professional looking email address using your name, for instance: [email protected]. That was an actual email address I got from one of the applicants (domain has been changed to protect the obviously not so innocent).Β 

If I call you for an interview, don’t wait 3 days to respond. I’m not some chick you banged in the bathroom of a TGIFridays, the three day rule does not apply.Β 

If you say that you are "Detail Oriented" at least spell both words correctly.Β 

Ugh. I have lost a bit of my faith in man kind after this week. But I have not lost my faith in a good soup with a pastry crust. And bacon makes everything better.Β 

This recipe was inspired by a Butternut Squash Recipe from Giada De Laurentiis.

Butternut Squash and Bacon Pot Pie

Pot Pie crust:

Pie dough (enough from one pie crust)

OR

1 sheet puff pastry

Pot Pie Filling:

6 strips of bacon, cut in half

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces (about 7 to 8 cups)

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup chopped fresh sage leaves

Β½ tsp smoked paprika

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400.

In a dutch oven, over medium heat cook the bacon until most of the fat has been rendered. Remove from heat, allowing to drain and cool on a stack of 2-3 paper towels.

Drain off most of the bacon fat, leaving only about 3 tbs in the pot.

Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the onions and carrots to the pot, cooking in the bacon grease until opaque. Add the garlic and cook just until you are able to smell them, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and squash, allowing to simmer until the squash is very tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. Add the smoked paprika, and sage, stir to combined. Add the salt and pepper, seasoning to taste.

Chop the bacon into small pieces, add to the pot and stir.

Place four ceramic, oven safe bowls on a baking sheet. Divide the filling equally between the four bowls.

Place desire pot pie crust on a well floured surface, add flour to the top of the disk as well. Roll out into an even thickness.

Cut out 4 circles that will cover the dishes with at least a one-inch overhang on each side.

To prevent sticking, spray the rim of the baking dish with cooking spray.Β Top each dish with the dough circle, pressing into shape. Cut a few slits in the top to vent heat.Β Brush with melted butter.

Cook at 400 for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Allow to cool a bit before serving.Β 

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Comments


Anita at Hungry Couple February 24, 2012 um 12:32 pm

Hahahahaha. I’ve been in charge of hiring many times and you are absolutely correct. It is amazing to me how easy people make it to weed them out. As for the recipe, that’s my kind of pot pie! Happy Friday πŸ™‚

Reply

Blog is the New BLack February 24, 2012 um 1:21 pm

Cracking up at this post! πŸ˜‰ You can’t make this stuff up!

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Tina@flourtrader February 24, 2012 um 1:40 pm

Ha! Having been on interviews, I can think of many things I got asked that were inappropriate, such as:
Do you plan to have kids anytime soon?
If I was the only man in this office, would it make a
difference to you?
Lack of professionalism exists on both sides and I doubt if anyone considers giving or having an interview a fun thing,so I hope you find the right person soon.
Your pot pie does look like a delicious diversion from that! Enjoy the weekend.

Reply

Jackie February 24, 2012 um 3:30 pm

I’ve been asked some pretty crazy things in the past too! It is true, unprofessional people are everywhere.
I was interviewing for a job when I was 23 and I had the male interviewer ask me: "How sensitive are you to 'Sexual Harasment'?"

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Liz February 24, 2012 um 3:44 pm

Gosh, it’s hard to believe that people don’t have more common sense. My 25 y/o son was just updating his resume to reflect his qualifications for the specific job opening…I’m very relieved he seems to know what he is doing! I think the funniest was the email address…duh!

Your pot pie looks amazing…I could not resist the squash and bacon combo!

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BusyWorkingMama February 24, 2012 um 4:28 pm

Bacon and butternut squash…mmmm!

Reply

Cassie February 24, 2012 um 5:05 pm

You poor thing! You definitely deserve a pot pie (and a glass of wine) after those interviews! This sounds perfect!

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Jackie February 24, 2012 um 5:42 pm

I’m pretty sure I went through a bottle of wine this week! But husband thought it was hilarious πŸ™‚

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Julie at Burnt Carrots February 24, 2012 um 5:13 pm

I’m still laughing!! I use to sell recruitment advertisements and always heard the funniest stories about what people would say and do!!! Its amazing…… and makes me question the human race!

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Jackie February 24, 2012 um 5:41 pm

All I could do was laugh! Good thing the Director of Operations has a sense of humor and we could just laugh about it afterwards πŸ™‚ I guess it makes it easier to weed people out. The CRAZY thing was that most of the people I interviewed had Masters Degrees!

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Brooke (Crackers on the Couch) February 24, 2012 um 6:42 pm

How dare you be so biased against that poor unfortunately named Ms. Skank?! Hahaha! Wow. It’s amazing what some people think they can get away with! I loved the missile defense thing, too! The recipe looks super yummy, too! πŸ™‚

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Jackie February 24, 2012 um 6:50 pm

I kind of felt bad for her! She clearly had no idea that it was a bad idea to include that. Poor thing, hope she figures it out soon, unless she wants to be a stripper….

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Valerie @ From Valerie’s Kitchen February 24, 2012 um 6:47 pm

Butternut squash and bacon? Yes, please.

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Lynn @ I’ll Have What She’s Having February 24, 2012 um 7:12 pm

I wonder how it is that people don’t know these things… how do you respond to someone who says they plan to win the lottery?
Thankfully, bacon really does make everything better!

Reply

Jackie February 25, 2012 um 10:42 am

I know! It’s shocking. To the girl that said she was going to win the lottery, I just said, "Well, you must be very lucky then!" and I even said it without being sarcastic, I think I deserve an Oscar for that πŸ˜‰

Reply

Michelle February 24, 2012 um 7:21 pm

Why hello Butternut Squash and Bacon Pot Pie!!! YUM!! And, those responses are insane. Too bad I don’t live in LA, I think we would work well together πŸ˜‰

ps: and if I win the lottery, I would totally give you a big donation… LOL

Reply

Jackie February 26, 2012 um 10:34 am

If you ever ARE in LA, let me know! We’ll go grab a drink πŸ˜‰ Oh, and thanks for the donation SOOOOOO generous πŸ˜›

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Chris February 25, 2012 um 7:28 am

Your post cracked me up and it is spot on! I have been interviewing candidates for an open position in our test kitchen and it has been eye opening! Lovely recipe, by the way!

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Jackie February 25, 2012 um 10:43 am

Thank you Chris! It is so crazy how different someone is from their resume and their interview.

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Rebecca@A Dusting of Sugar February 25, 2012 um 9:41 am

Hahaha, people behave like that in interviews? I’m so sorry. It makes me a bit relieved for my upcoming interview though, since I would never dream of doing any of those things. Also, that pot pie looks amazing. I love squash and bacon.

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Kim Bee February 26, 2012 um 4:03 pm

These pot pies look absolutely amazing. Signed, ChicanaSkank69 xx

Reply

Tiffany February 26, 2012 um 5:55 pm

This pot pie looks delish and your advice re: interviewing cracked me up! Also, totally random… I just got back from working out of town for the week and do you know what my "welcome home" gift was from my boyfriend? A butternut squash! LOL. How funny, no? πŸ˜€

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chinmayie @ love food eat February 27, 2012 um 1:34 am

LOL!!! enjoyed reading your 'tips' Jackie! Though some of then sound funny it’s amazing how some people actually need it!

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Bree February 27, 2012 um 8:52 am

OMG-LOL! We do a lot of interviewing too and I am constantly shocked at applicants. We once had an applicant in response to being asked to bring to references to the interview, "What if my Spanish professor and former boss are not available to attend?" Seriously they need a nationally required college class for the basics since common sense seems to have dissapeared ;)! BTW–Pot pie looks amazing!

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Jackie February 27, 2012 um 9:32 am

HA! "Bring references"! That is a hilarious interpretation. You just never know how people are going to interpret basic requests. There really should be an Interview 101 class in college, and WE should teach it πŸ˜‰

Reply

James Sakoas March 1, 2012 um 7:19 am

Long live the hard working Chicano skanks all over the world!

Reply

fatpiginthemarket March 5, 2012 um 4:37 pm

I just cracked up at your "the three day rule does not apply" advice. Sounds like you definitely deserve the comfort of pastry and bacon.

Reply

Zina Willame March 9, 2012 um 6:38 pm

Holly Smnokes Batman!@#$

Reply

BigFatBaker March 12, 2012 um 7:07 am

Lol I am so sorry you are having such troubles!! I can not imagine acting like that in an interview.. I’m a college junior and you’d hire me in an instant over any of the people that acted like that based purely on what you’ve said. It blows my mind that people think they can get away with something like that. I’d be hard pressed to not laugh in their face after the first bad response and say "thank you, but no thank you" – hope things get better from here on out! And thankfully you have a delicious pot pie to ease your troubles πŸ™‚

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Jackie March 12, 2012 um 3:58 pm

I’d hire you in a second because you’re so adorable!
And I sort of felt bad for these people, even though I also trying hard not to laugh!

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Fabiane October 31, 2012 um 5:21 am

HAHAHA! I laughed through this whole thing!

Reply

Zora Rambert March 19, 2012 um 1:23 am

Hey! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.

Reply

Jackie March 19, 2012 um 9:16 am

Yep! you can follow me @domesticfits

Reply

curt holgtret April 2, 2012 um 10:05 pm

You are my inspiration

Reply

Olympia May 25, 2012 um 6:36 pm

LOL,Truly brilliant!

Reply

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