Dec. 22 Be interview- savvy: I
got this Alberta Job Centre newsletter on Sept.
15, 2011. It compares job
interviews with dates. I have read a
couple of articles where they’re compared. Well,
you are meeting new people and seeing if this will be a long-term match. This article breaks it down on how to act in
each interview stage:
You just landed an interview. You’re
excited. You’re nervous. And, your head is full of questions about how to come
across as the perfect candidate: What should I wear? What should I say? What
are the frequently asked interview questions are they may throw at me?
Most of these first questions revolve around
marketing yourself to the company and answering the question, “What does an
employer expect in an interview?” But, hang on a second. Take a moment and
remember, it’s also important to use the interview process to answer the most
important question of all: Is this the job I want?
To answer that crucial question, you must
pay close attention during the interview and actively engage your potential
employer. That doesn’t mean you should throw all your hard-hitting questions
out at the beginning. The key is to strategize by asking questions that fit in
with the goals of the various stages of the interview process.
So, how do you know what to ask and when? Mark Stevens,
CEO of marketing and public relations firm MSCO and author of 25 books,
including Your Marketing Stinks, suggests viewing the stages of an interview
like different stages of dating – falling in love, going steady and engaged to
be married. As with dating, you don’t jump in asking about finances or other
uncomfortable topics. After all, putting the cart before the horse can kill a
good thing. Keep in mind the company’s concerns as well as your own when asking
questions and you might find yourself getting swept off your feet by the
perfect new job.
Initial Interview: The Falling in Love Stage
Asking for and discussing a bureaucratic checklist of benefits or responsibilities is no way to entice a new employer to fall in love with you. The goal of the first interview is mostly to figure out if you like the company and if they like you and could use your skills. Also, this is a time to look for subtle clues about the workplace – take note of the office mood, corporate culture, and how you are treated. Did anyone offer you a coffee or water? Do people make eye contact or say, “Hello”? Can you hear laughter anywhere?
Once the interview starts, the questions you
pose to your interviewer should open up dialogue on broader topics such as your
professional values and goals, and how they all might align with company goals.
Keep the tone personable and look for ways to convey your passions. Doing so
will help you come across as confident and knowledgeable, and that can set you
apart from other candidates. Furthermore, the depth of information you’ll be
able to discuss will leave the interviewer with a much clearer picture about
who you are every day.
For example, Stevens advises people to avoid
the question, “What will my duties be?” Instead, he suggests posing a similar
question this way: “I visited your Web site, and I liked what I saw. How would
I be able to contribute to those values in this position?”
Changing the way you ask a rather standard
question can lead to a more interesting dialogue and give you a more complete
idea of the job. It also shows your potential employer that you are aware of
the company goals and that you are someone who will find ways to make them
happen. On top of that, by preparing ahead of time, you show the employer that
you understand the importance of questions for employer during interview. This
puts some of the power of the interview back in your hands.
Second Interview: The Going Steady Stage
If you’re asked in for a second interview, you’ve obviously struck the company’s fancy, and you can begin to ask some of the more difficult questions – tactfully, of course.
Your goal in this stage is to add detail to
the broad picture that was painted earlier and to answer any doubts or concerns
that you may have about the job. If your research has found a black mark in the
company’s record, ask about how that’s been corrected. If you’ve found that the
company’s financial situation is a little rocky, ask how that’s being
addressed.
Keep in mind, though, that the formats of
follow-up interviews vary widely. You may be meeting with more people than you
did in the first interview, or you might just meet with the same people to
further explore some topics previously discussed. Either way, you may be asked
some of the same questions you were asked before, and you may want to ask some
of the same questions as well.
If everything is going well at the end of
this stage, you should feel fairly comfortable with this company and
envisioning a future with them should be positive and without too many doubts
or unknowns.
Job Offer: The Engagement Stage
Congratulations! They want you to join their company – and no matter how excited you may be, don’t jump too soon. This is the time to negotiate the nitty-gritty of numbers and benefits. If you have any remaining concerns, is this company willing to bend to meet them? Are you willing to compromise something in return? Explore how. To ask critical interview questions shows that you care about yourself. Don’t stop looking at this as a relationship at this point – neither party should be asked to sacrifice too much.
If negotiations begin to feel uncomfortable,
ask about the larger concern of the employer. Is it that you might be earning
more than a supervisor? Are they nervous about giving you the responsibility
you’d like to take on? Find out the root of any concerns, ask critical
interview questions, and see if there are compromises that can be made so both
you and your employer feel like you’re being treated fairly.
Remember, as with dating, one interview
process is never the same as the next, and you may have to trust your gut to
know when the time is right to ask some of the more difficult questions. Tread
softly but confidently through the sticky topics – succeeding in this will
likely set you up for a rewarding relationship with your next employer.
Jan. 13 Make the most of lost
opportunity: I cut out this Globe and Mail article called “How to
make the most of a lost opportunity” by Eileen Chadnick on Apr. 16, 2011. Now
this is good career advice that could be applied.
This is a common situation. I find reading it inspirational and
motivational. Here’s the whole article:
THE SCENARIO: I thought I was in line for a
promotion to a leadership role, and with my supervisor's encouragement, I
invested my time and money in developing my skills and took on more
responsibility. My supervisor just told me the promotion is on hold due to
unforeseen organizational changes and not my abilities. I am feeling frustrated
and wondering if my efforts were wasted and if I should consider moving to
another employer.
THE ADVICE: I understand your
disappointment, but don't
let this setback derail your career aspirations. Your investment in your
professional development is not lost. You can still put it to good work.
Here are a few thoughts to get you back on track:
Clarify your goal: Don't limit your goal to just one
particular opportunity. If the goal is strictly to get "this
promotion," then it stops there. But if it's a broader objective of
obtaining a leadership role, then there are other avenues to explore.
Reflect on the lost opportunity What did you find attractive
in the role that you would want to include in your next job? If you could
design the most optimal next step, what would be included?
Write a goal statement: Write a detailed goal
statement that identifies what you want in your next role. What stretch
opportunities would entice you? In what kind of work culture do you thrive
best? What areas of responsibility do you want to take on? Consider both
leadership and other aspects of work - for example, leading a bigger team?
Being involved in marketing or research? Obtaining international experience?
Getting into a new sector or industry?
Take stock: You've been
working hard this past year - identify the skills,
strengths and notable accomplishments that are now part of your leadership
capacity. Write it out and refer back to this list often - and update it as you
continue to develop. You will need this to update your résumé and engage in
career conversations, interviews, and so on.
Update your résumé: You have a more compelling story to tell.
Be ready! Update your
résumé to reflect this enhanced capacity and experience. Whether you seek
opportunities elsewhere or focus within your existing organization, updating
your résumé will give you more confidence and self-awareness so that you can
better promote yourself.
Make your aspirations known: Your supervisor
was supportive of your promotion and may still be an ally in your career
development. Talk to her
about your career aspirations (beyond the promotion) and collaboratively
explore a career development path that would be meaningful for you. Are there
other roles in the organization you hadn't considered? New projects to further
develop specific skills? Would your employer be willing to sponsor additional
training? Whether you choose to grow your career internally or
eventually look elsewhere, having a career plan that
recognizes your potential and supports your development will engage you more
fully. You will also feel assured that you are moving forward on a path and not
stagnating.
Cast a wider net: With clarity on your goal
and what you now have to offer, you may decide to cast a wider net beyond your
organization as you explore career opportunities. Create a plan to network and
research opportunities that would be attractive to you. No matter how
comfortable you are in a role or organization, it is always a good idea to keep
the radar open to opportunities and to develop a strong network of professional
and personal relationships that may be valuable in your career and professional
development.
Acknowledge the lesson: When we don't get
something we want very much, there can be a silver lining. The retrenching and
re-evaluation the disappointment forces us to do can reveal other
possibilities. If you go through this reflection and planning process, you will
have more clarity and may even end up with a much more meaningful goal than the
one you started out with.
Ultimately it's up to you. Go to it!
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