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A Call for Courtesy at Work
Tweet Share on Facebook November 14, 2008 CommentI know that some of the following sins may seem obvious, but apparently that clarity has still not reached a sizable number of people in the workplace. I keep hearing from workshop participants about the friction these issues continue to create.
1. Text-messaging during conversations. Do we even need to explain why this is rude?
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When Your Job Search Gets No Traction
Tweet Share on Facebook November 13, 2008 Comment (1)I have been job searching the past few months and have landed a few phone interviews. All have gone very well, with plans for follow-up phone calls to schedule interviews. Great, right? Well, wrong. These HR people are not calling me back. I sent thank you E- mails and check in once a week or so, but I'm not getting anywhere. But they aren't saying, "Sorry, we are moving ahead with other candidates," either. So, what's going on?
What's going on is that you are under the mistaken impression that these companies' priorities lie in filling the posted job. This is not an illogical assumption, by the way.
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Networking Tip: Ask 'How Can I Help You?'
Tweet Share on Facebook November 13, 2008 Comment (15)With today's economic uncertainty, relationships and the potential doors they open are more important than ever. So it's a wise investment to put time and energy into expanding their reach. And that means networking.
Contrary to a common perception, good networking isn't about who can help you and how. In fact, it's not about you at all. It's about the people you meet. The most amazing networkers I know constantly keep this one question in mind:
"How can I help you?"
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How to Stop Worrying, Even in a Recession
Tweet Share on Facebook November 12, 2008 Comment (6)Maybe you have a good job. Maybe you have money in the bank, under your mattress, or buried in a very deep hole in your backyard. But even if you do, it's still hard not to get caught up in the general tenor of the economic times—and start to worry.
Worry at night. Worry in the morning. Worry all day long.
Worry distorts your vision of reality. And it interferes with your work, your family life, and your health. Which only makes you worry more.
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At the Job Interview, Beware of Gotcha Questions
Tweet Share on Facebook November 11, 2008 Comment (2)Job interviews are tough because the applicant is trying hard to impress the interviewer, who often has a lot more experience with interviewing. The interviewer has likely interviewed hundreds of applicants, while most job seekers are thrilled to get, what, one interview a week? It is easy to mess up.
Gotcha questions are not questions like: "What is the square root of 144?" The kind of gotcha questions I am talking about are those that just take a bit of experience in handling. A favorite gotcha question might be, "Where would you really like to work?" Now is not the time to give some other company's name—your sought-after place to work is right here. No one wants to be the candidate's second choice. Often these gotcha questions are not really designed to trip you up, they are simply the getting-to-know-you type of questions that you must handle correctly or they will have "gotcha."
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Why Companies Don't Respond to Job Seekers
Tweet Share on Facebook November 10, 2008 Comment (24)One of the biggest complaints I hear from job seekers who write to me at Ask a Manager is about companies that don't respond to job applicants: no rejection, nothing.
There's a real divide on the issue. Job seekers think it's incredibly rude, while many companies feel perfectly justified in not putting resources into dealing with candidates they're no longer interested in hiring.
Personally, I think it's inexcusable—throughout the hiring process but particularly after a company has engaged with an applicant in some way, like a phone interview or an in-person interview. It's callous and dismissive and lacks any appreciation for the fact that the candidate is anxiously waiting to hear an answer—any answer—and keeps waiting and waiting, long after a decision has been made.
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How to Blow the Interview With Bad Questions
Tweet Share on Facebook November 7, 2008 Comment (6)The moment arrives in the job interview when the interviewer leans forward and asks: "Do you have any questions?"
This is one of the most dangerous moments for the job applicant.
What the question (often) really means is: "Do you have any simple questions that I can easily answer and which will not make me reconsider my tentative decision to offer you the job?"
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5 Things the Election Taught Us About Job Interviews
Tweet Share on Facebook November 6, 2008 Comment (1)We've just completed the world's longest job interview, otherwise known as the presidential election. Everybody I know is elated—that the election is over. What they don't realize is that watching an election is a fabulous way to learn what not to do in a job interview, regardless of your political affiliation.
Here are 5 things not to do if you're up for election, ummm, a new job:
1. Go negative on your opponent. You may think it will make you sound knowledgeable if you are able to detail the faults of other candidates who are vying for the same job. "Hey, I worked with Bob before, and he's light on statistical abilities," you might mention. If an interviewer hears this, he or she might (might) believe you and investigate Bob's skills, but it's more likely he or she will think you are a jerk who is trying to hide your own lack of skills in some other area.
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The Career Change Kiss of Death
Tweet Share on Facebook November 6, 2008 Comment (4)When it comes to pursuing your dreams, the notion that "the time isn't right" is the kiss of death. Instead of taking action to move toward the career you really want, you end up sitting and waiting, hoping that things will change and the time will be right...someday.
The trouble is—that perfect day when the stars align and everything is ready for comfortable change almost never comes. There is always something getting in the way. There is always something less than preferable about your circumstances. There is always something that you need to know, or do, or have, or...well, you get the picture.
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How Obama Got Hired
Tweet Share on Facebook November 5, 2008 Comment (3)We've just witnessed one of the longest and most arduous job hunts in the history of job hunts. Thousands of interviews. A résumé-vetting process from hell. Reference-checking you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.
Not many people would or could work that hard to get a job. But Sen. Barack Obama did, and congratulations to him. Job hunting yourself? Here are three tips you can pick up from President-elect Obama:
