WorkAlpha

Career and Job Search Tips

  • HOME
  • JOB SEARCH
    • Job Search eBook
    • Job Search Tips
    • Dealing with Recruiters
    • Dealing with Unemployment
    • Internships
    • Job Applications
    • Job Search Mistakes
    • Job Offer
    • FAQ About Job Search
  • NETWORKING
    • Networking Basics
    • Networking Etiquette
    • Networking Possibilities
    • Networking Tips
    • Networking Mistakes
    • FAQ About Networking
  • RESUME
    • Resume Template
    • Resume Formats
    • Resume Layout
    • Resume Tips
    • Resume Samples
    • Resume Ideas
    • Resume Mistakes
    • Resume Writers
    • FAQ About Resume Writing
  • COVER LETTER
    • Cover Letter Format
    • Cover Letter Tips
    • Cover Letter Samples
    • Cover Letter Mistakes
    • FAQ About Cover Letter Writing
  • INTERVIEW
    • Interview Attire
    • Interview Preparation
    • Interview Process
    • Interview Psychology
    • Interview Types
    • Interview Tips
    • Interview Questions and Answers
    • Interview Follow-Up
    • Interview Mistakes
    • References
    • FAQ About Interviewing
  • CAREER
    • Career Path
    • Career Advancement
    • Career Insights
    • Continuing Education
    • Career Coaching
    • Freelancing
  • WORKPLACE
    • Workplace Politics
    • Workplace Insights
    • Workplace Attire
    • Work Environment
    • Performance Evaluation
    • Human Resources
  • PRODUCTIVITY
    • Productivity Tips
    • Productivity Insights
    • Productivity Mistakes
  • LIFESTYLE
    • Healthy Habits
    • Managing Stress
    • Work Life Balance
    • Retirement
  • Home
  • Career
  • Career Insights
  • Passing the Smell Test
post

Passing the Smell Test

You’ve heard the phrase before. You might have even used it yourself, “… doesn’t pass the smell test.”

It’s generally employed when something – an explanation, a business offer – makes you suspicious.

To be very literal about it, when something doesn’t pass the smell test, it usually seems fishy or rotten.

At least, those are the two smells that come to my mind when I think of odors deserving a failing grade.

I like thinking in terms of a “smell test,” because it encourages right-brain thinking. And right-brain thinking helps you get in touch with your intuition, which in turn can lead to better decision-making.

If you get a job offer or a business deal, and you’re wondering whether or not to take it, accessing your intuition by implementing the old smell test can be a big help.

But why limit the smell test to seafood past its prime or those scary things I sometimes find in the back of my refrigerator? I think there are lots of other smells that can cue us in to the essential nature of something.

Take the old basement smell… You know what I’m talking about. It’s a mixture of wet cement and storage, with a little dirt and dis-use mixed in. Variations include the old attic scent and the library smell.

I once worked for an organization housed in a wonderful old building, with an office that seemed stuck in time and really did smell like an old library. The charm wore off when I realized that those comfy feelings were the off gasses of an organization which had no idea of what to do with itself.

If you walk into a business and get a similar feeling, walk right back out again. That place put its ambition in shoe boxes long ago, and you won’t do your career any good by staying.

What about fried foods? There’s nothing like the scent of a deep fat fryer to activate the part of your brain entranced by the quick and easy. Of course, it’s also not good for you. If you get a fast-foody feeling at a job interview, take a closer look at what the company actually does. Maybe there’s not enough nutritional content in its mission…

And I really mean that. I briefly worked in an office where everyone went about his or her business in a crisp, “we’re a business-like business” kind of way. They seemed very focused and energized. After a while, as I was struggling to determine their mission and reason for existence, I started wondering what they were focused on and energized about.

Eventually, I decided they were focused and energized on looking focused and energized, and that was it. That’s what I’d call the business equivalent of empty calories, and I’d avoid it.

Have you noticed any other smells that take you back or clue you in?

Author Iconby Danielle Dresden

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Career Center

  • Career
  • Career Path
  • Career Advancement
  • Career Insights
  • Continuing Education
  • Career Coaching
  • Freelancing

Search the Vast Resources on WorkAlpha About Job Search and Career Advancement

SHARE

Featured Articles About Career

  • What the Heck Is a Career Plan?
  • How Long Is Long Term?
  • Series on Creating a Custom Job Out of Thin Air
  • Career Change Insights: Four Tips for Making a Switch
  • Three Tips for Career Advancement that People Often Ignore
  • Ten Ways to Get a Promotion
  • How to Build a Personal Brand Inside a Company
  • Overnight Tips to Be More Presentable at Work
  • What Your Boss’ Political Capital Has to Do with Job Security and Career Advancement
  • Individual Performer Versus Leadership: Interviewing for the Next Level

Interested in Becoming a Contributor?

You are a career coach, a resume writer or an HR professional looking to gain exposure and build your expertise? Become a contributor and earn your badge!

Free Job Search Ebook Featuring Contributions from Top Career Experts

Search WorkAlpha

Job Search Resources

  • Job Search Center
  • Networking Center
  • Resume Writing Center
  • Cover Letter Writing Center
  • Interview Center

Career Resources

  • Career Center
  • Workplace Center
  • Productivity Center
  • Lifestyle Center

Copyright © 2019 WorkAlpha · All Rights Reserved · About · Contributors · Contact · Privacy