Tip of the Week: Be Open to the Possibilities

I was sitting in my office the other day, actually a large cube with a view, thinking about what I’d write about this week about career success. And, what came to mind for job seekers is keeping an open mind to the possibilities when they’re searching for a job.

During an interview, or even when you have a job, be certain to be open to the suggestion of various job duties you might not have thought of before. For example, I’ve been a trainer at a biotech company for a few years, and before that had worked as a technical writer. In my current position, I conduct trainings, do some instructional design work, handle logistics relating to project management, and am in the process of backing up other client managers when they’re away.

The point of all this is that in a tough job market, it will always pay off to say that you’ll do more than just what you’re hired to do. If an interviewer asks you if you’d be willing to do certain job duties, in addition to the position you’re interviewing for, it’s usually a good idea to say “yes” or “let me think about it”. You must be true to yourself, but be open to the possibilities. And, if the job you have doesn’t suit you, you can always work with management/human resources to try and tailor your position to suit your needs.

Have a great week!

Top 10 Questions You Should Never Ask in a Job Interview

I recently came across this great article by Liz Ryan on Yahoo Hotjobs, so thought I’d share with you as she has some great advice for what NOT to ask during a job interview. Let’s assume this would be either a phone interview or in-person interview: 

“You know enough to bring a list of questions to a job interview. When the interviewer asks you, “So, do you have any questions for me?” the last thing? You want to say is “No.” But that could be the best option if you’re at a loss for words, because some interview questions are better left unasked.Here are 10 highly unsuitable interview questions that should never make an appearance, unless you don’t want the job:

1. “What does your company do?”
This was a reasonable interview question in 1950 or in 1980, before the Internet existed. Today, it’s your job to research any company you’re interviewing with before setting foot in the door. We need to show up for a job interview knowing what the employer does, who its competitors are, and which of its accomplishments (or challenges) have made the news lately.

2. “Are you going to do a background check?”
It is amazing how many job candidates ask this question, which provokes alarm on the part of the interviewer, instead of the more general, “Can you please tell me a little about your selection process, from this point on?” Lots of people have credit issues that cause them worry during a job search, or aren’t sure how solid their references from a previous job might be. If you’re invited for a second interview, you can broach any sensitive topics from your past then. Asking “Will you do a background check?” makes you look like a person with something to hide.

3. “When will I be eligible for a raise?”
Companies fear underpaying people almost as much as they fear overpaying them, because a person who’s underpaid vis-a-vis his counterparts in the job market is a person with one eye on the career sites. Instead of asking about your first raise before you’ve got the job, you can ask (at a second interview) “Does your organization do a conventional one-year performance and salary review?”

4. “Do you have any other jobs available?”
A job search requires quick thinking about straight talk, and if a job is far below your abilities, you’re better off saying so than beating around the bush with this question. You don’t have to take yourself out of the running; you can say, “The job sounds interesting, but frankly I was earning 30% more and supervising people in my last job. Could you help me understand the career path for this role?” That’s the cue for the interviewer, if he or she is on the ball, to highlight another job opening that might exist.

5. “How soon can I transfer to another position?”
You’re broadcasting “I’m outta here at the first chance” when you ask this question. If you like the job, take the job. If it’s not for you, wait for the right opportunity. Almost every employer will keep you in your seat for at least one year before approving an internal transfer, so a job-search bait-and-switch probably won’t work out the way you’d hoped.

6. “Can you tell me about bus lines to your facility?”
Get online and research this yourself. It’s not your employer’s problem to figure out how you get to work.

7. “Do you have smoking breaks?”
If you’re working in retail or in a call center, you could ask about breaks. Everyone else, keep mum; if your need to smoke intrudes so much on your work life that you feel the need to ask about it, ask your best friend or significant other for smoking-cessation help as a new-job present. Lots of companies don’t permit smoking anywhere on the premises, and some don’t like to hire smokers at all. Why give an employer a reason to turn you down?

8. “Is my medical condition covered under your insurance?”
This is a bad question on two counts. You don’t want to tell a perfect stranger about your medical issues, especially one who’s deciding whether or not to hire you. Ask to see a copy of the company’s benefits booklet when an offer has been extended. This is also a bad question from a judgment standpoint; no department managers and only a tiny percentage of HR people could be expected to know on a condition-by-condition basis what’s covered under the health plan. Anyway, your pre-existing condition won’t be covered under most corporate plans for at least a year.

9. “Do you do a drug test?”
If you have a philosophical objection to drug tests, wait until they ask you to take a drug test and tell them about your objection. Otherwise, your question sounds like, “I’d fail a drug test,” so don’t ask.

10. “If you hire me, can I wait until more than three weeks from now to start the job?”
Employers expect you to give two weeks’ notice. If you’re not working, they’d love to see you more quickly. If you ask for tons of time off before you start working — unless you have a very good reason — the employer may think, “How serious is this candidate about working?” In any case, a start-date extension is something to request after you’ve got the offer in hand, not before.”

A TALE OF TWO COMPANIES (AND VISITS TO NEW YORK)

After graduating college with a degree in broadcasting, in the early 1990s, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Months of driving around Texas to various television stations left me with an empty tank of gas, little money in the bank, and a lot of rejection from news directors. Ethnic reporters were “in”, and I was just too white with too little experience and nobody willing to give me a chance. 

So, one afternoon, I wrote down a list of all the companies I wanted to work for as well as listed of all the people I knew that worked in the same city as those companies, whom I could use to network and see if they had any contacts I could, well, contact. 

Viacom, the parent company of both MTV networks and VH-1, was at the top of my list. If I wasn’t going to work as a news reporter, I could darn well work as an entertainment reporter, producer, or coffee maker in New York. The details of how I was going to afford to live there, or even where I was going to live, hadn’t entered the picture yet. I just knew I needed to move and would regret not trying!

MTV Networks

I wrote a letter to the chairman of Viacom, Sumner Redstone, who in turn passed my inquiry to Tom Freston, who in turn passed my letter to a Dwight Tierney, a VP of Marketing. His administrative assistant was a real piece of work, not the nicest person on the phone. But, in reflection, I suppose she was just protecting her boss. Or maybe she really was a real dragon. After several months of back-and-forth phone calls (I don’t think there was email back then), as well as a video audition tape, and many clever in-the-mail gifts, I decided it was better if I flew to New York to try and score an interview with Mr. Tierney. Of course, I didn’t have one when I flew to New York with my friend Suzanne, but ingenuity sometimes leads to great results.

While Suzanne was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art one afternoon, I went to Dean and Deluca, dressed in a suit, borrowed one of their aprons, bought a large glass of iced tea and a brownie, which I put into a box with my resume, cover letter, and hotel information and the bottom, and proceeded to take them to the delivery entrance of the Viacom building. 

This was before September 11, so security proceeded to assume I was a delivery man and took me to Dwight Tierney’s office, where I presented my box of goodies to his very surprised secretary. Unfortunately, he was out of the office, but a week after I returned home to Texas, I was invited to return to New York to meet with Mr. Tierney, which I did, as he was impressed by my efforts. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a job for me, despite all of my suggestions of what I could do for the company and his department, but in the end, I felt the satisfaction of knowing I tried my best, pursued every avenue, made all the necessary calls, and never gave up. You might not always get the job, but you will definitely have expanded your career network!

VH-1

A few years later, and having built up my career network, I decided to see if I could get an informational interview with the Director of Marketing for VH-1. As it turned out, my wonderful friend Kimberly, who was working as a corporate concierge in Manhattan, kindly sent me his contact information, along with the contact information for many other people she had met while at various cocktail parties and work functions. Cold calling is never easy, but I did manage get him on the phone (and not hang up). It’s always a good idea to have some sort of reason to be calling a person, and luckily he remembered Kimberly and was happy to set up a time for us to meet for half an hour to discuss his career and VH-1.

I flew to New York, with my updated resume (just in case he wanted to see it). Our conversation was informative and professional, but despite his high position, he did take the time to discuss what it took to get a job at VH-1, and other interesting facets of his career. Remember, an informational interview is always about the person you are speaking to, unless at some point they do ask to see your resume. 

After our chat, he told me to please keep in touch (there wasn’t an opening in his department), which I did for several years, until we eventually we lost touch. Did I regret going to New York twice in search of a job with Viacom? Absolutely not! Was I a bit disappointed that I didn’t get a job? Certainly, but because I did what I wanted to do, and TRIED, it gave me the courage to ask for other informational interviews, be bolder on the phone, learn better interview techniques, and allowed me to have more confidence than I’d ever had before.

Remember, keep on keeping on! 

No Luck Yet? What Now?

So you’ve done everything you can to find a job and still no luck? Not a problem. We’ve all been there.

One great idea is to work with a temp agency to get you through the tough economic times, while you continue to look for a job at a company you really want to work for. The best part is that you may end of working temporarily at a company you really like, and through networking, may be hired for a long-term contract or full time job!

The first time I used a temp agency was after I was laid off from a company that was downsizing. I’d heard through friends that Office Team (http://www.officeteam.com) was a reputable agency, so I thought I’d give them a try. At the time I was just looking for administrative/reception work, which was exactly what they needed. For most agencies, you’ll give them a call, schedule an appointment, interview, and then, hopefully, be placed in a job arranged by your agency contact. 

Here are a few tips to help you if you decide to use a temp agency:

1) You should never pay an agency to find you a job. Companies pay a large percentage of your negotiated hourly rate to the temp agency. If they ask you to pay a fee, politely decline and walk out. 

2) When asked to come in for an interview, dress in business attire (neatness counts), have several copies of your updated resume handy, and bring your list of current references!

3) Most temp agencies who place administrative staff will ask you to “test” your aptitude with different computer programs. Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are always good to know. For more creative placement agencies, Photshop and Illustrator are useful. Not sure? Just ask!

4) Many agencies offer benefits depending on how long you work for them.

5) if you’re not happy with a temp assignment, you can always let your agency rep know and they can try to find you a new opportunity. Be flexible, friendly, and open to new jobs.

6) Never accept a temp assignment if you know you won’t be happy. For instance, if you don’t like answering the phone and talking to people, a receptionist position won’t be ideal.

7) Never ask the company you’re working for if they’re hiring when you first start your temp assignment. It might rub someone the wrong way and they might ask you to not return.

Some of my temp jobs (to give you an idea of what’s out there):

1) Receptionist at a large property management company: field phone calls and emails

2) Senior Copywriter for Banana Republic: wrote men’s and women’s copy for company website

3) Executive Assistant for the president of a large hotel chain: creating PowerPoint presentations, answering phone calls, scheduling, various writing assignments, etc. 

4) Receptionist and administrative assistant at several law firms: answering phones, fielding incoming phone calls, sorting and delivering mail, typing memos, and much more!

FOLLOWING UP

So you’ve had a great job interview, and now are waiting to hear back from the hiring manager, HR representative, or other company member. Well, guess what? In most cases, you should either call or send them a polite email to check the status of the job they’re considering you for.

In many cases, after an interview, you should have some sense of the timeline for the hiring date for the position. If not, ask! Following up is a sign that you’re really interested in the position and will help you leave a positive impression for those in a position of hiring power. Mind you, I’m not saying be obnoxious about it, but one email, or one phone call will certainly do nicely. Thank the person you speak to or receive an email from. If you hear nothing, understand that they might be busy with interviews etc. and just don’t have time to follow up. Don’t take it personally. If you’re their number one candidate, you will hear from them. In the meantime, continue your job search, and if you never hear back, no worries. As my stepfather often says, “Keep on keeping on!”

Finally, you may receive a letter in the mail, phone call, or email letting you know you weren’t chosen to come in for further interviews or the position. I like to tell the hiring person that if their number one choice doesn’t work out, to please keep me in mind. In three months, check back with them to see if perhaps another opportunity has become available if it’s a company you really want to work for.

THANK YOU LETTER

Nothing says “I appreciate the time you gave me” like a well written thank you letter after an interview and especially after a job offer. Whether you send it via email or snail mail, it’s a definite must in the realm of career success. I’ve heard many stories from hiring managers who said they had two perfect candidates for one job. One candidate sent a thank you letter, the other did not. Can you guess which one got the job?

A few thank you letter tips:

1) Be brief: A short “thank you for the time you spent speaking with me about the wonderful opportunity” would suffice if you have nothing else to say.  A paragraph or less is perfect!

2) Timeframe: Send the day of or after your interview. If you don’t know the person’s email address, ask for one of their business cards at the end of your interview. If you forgot, simply call the receptionist at the company and they should be happy to provide it. If they won’t give it to you, explain you interviewed with the person the day before, and would like to send them a thank you letter/email. 

3) One thank you letter for each person you interview with. No more, no less!

4) Content: Include a brief recap of what you spoke about during your interview. Be brief, but do include a mention of why you’re the best candidate for the job. 

5) Close: A separate sentence that reads, “Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need further information. I look forward to hearing from you.”

 
Sample Thank You Letter: 

MARY HIRINGMANAGER
Their Title
Address of Company
XXXX Hire Me Drive
Dallas, Texas XXXXX

Dear Ms. Hiringmanger,

Thank you for the time you took this afternoon to discuss the management opportunity with EDS Incorporated. It was pleasure meeting you and meeting several members of your staff. I particularly enjoyed our tour, including the manufacturing area and executive suites. 

In addition to the information we discussed, I thought of another project I recently started working on which would make me a valuable member of your team. I’m currently working on an instructional design project for DG Manufacturing, one which includes a complete training for manufacturing technicians, both instructor-led and web-based training. Some of those materials are enclosed for your review. 

Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or need further information. I look forward to hearing from you and being a part of your team. 

Sincerely,

Sam Jobseeker
xxx-xxx-xxxx
email address here

INTERVIEW TIPS

I’m not one to enjoy spam when I open my email, but yesterday I received an email from a career website, theladders.com, that I’ve used before (which for some reason went into my spam folder) with their top 10 tips for successful interview tips (see below). Their website is a good choice for jobs in a variety of fields paying $100,000 or more. 

 

1. Research the company and be prepared with a “good” level of knowledge. Know enough to show the interviewer you respect the opportunity and their time! 
    
2. Be on time. Ten minutes early is best! Bring a clean, well-presented copy of your resume.
    
3. Dress the part – business-like and professional is always a smart choice, unless you’ve had a phone interview first and they tell you a tie isn’t needed for the in-person interview.
    
4. Be kind to every employee you meet – the receptionist, yes, but also the parking lot attendant, the janitor, and the intern.
     
5. Think “what can I do for this company?”
     
6. Sell your capabilities to do a job for the company. Stick, mostly, to the business side and how you can solve problems. The interviewer doesn’t want your life story, rather, they want to know your business capabilities.
      
7. Never say bad, mean, unkind, or even true things about your current or former employer, boss or fellow workers if it makes you look like a big complainer or gossip.
    
8. Save the “money talk” for last. Focus on the job, your ability to contribute, and all the great things you can provide before reminding your future boss how much of the hiring budget you’re going to soak up. If you’re asked about salary during a phone interview, defer the questions by asking the interviewer, who will often be from Human Resources, what is the salary range they’re offering. Usually, they will let you know, and then you can decide if it falls within your salary needs.
    
9. Thank the interviewer for their time and ask questions. This shows true interest in the position/opportunity.
      
10. Send a follow-up email thanking the interviewer and remind them, briefly, what you discussed and how you can contribute. This serves as a good “memory jog” to the interviewer and reminds them of the details you want them to remember from your previous discussion.

www.theladders.com