Follow Through on Your Job Resolutions

by Carla-Krystin Andrade


The New Year brings a flurry of activity in the job market. It's also the time to get your job search into high gear so that you can make the most of these new opportunities. So, dust off your resume and use these four steps to get your job search off to a good start.

Clear Your Workspace

Before you try to tackle your job search, take a quick look around you. Are you surrounded by clutter? Excessive clutter can add to the sense of confusion that often plagues job hunters. So clear enough space to be able to sit and compose your thoughts. If necessary, take yourself out to a clean, quiet spot, such as your local library.

Focus Your Search

If you don't know where you are headed, you can waste a lot of time and energy on unimportant tasks. Or worse, you can end up drifting aimlessly and doing nothing at all. You can prevent this from happening to you by using goals to guide your job search. Now we're not talking about New Year's resolutions that you discard within a month. Goals that are vaguely worded, or overly ambitious, are doomed to failure as soon as you write them. Set a goal for your job search as a whole. Then set smaller goals that you can work on each day of your job search. Make sure that your goals are within your reach by asking yourself if they are:

    * Specific and measurable
    * Within your power to achieve
    * Realistic
    * Timely
    * Positive
    * Gratifying to you.

For example, "Email resumes to 15 companies by the end of the day" is an achievable goal, based on these standards. On the other hand, "Stop blowing interview questions" is not.

Choose a Starting Point

It's natural to feel overwhelmed when you have dozens of tasks to work on. Yet, this can also happen when you're just starting out and aren't certain where to begin. Fight the urge to either admit defeat or tackle all areas at once. Begin by selecting a single area of your job search as a starting point. It's more effective to start with smaller tasks that are stepping stones to larger tasks. Here are some examples:

    * Update your resume
    * Find new job leads in a single area
    * Update and prioritize your list of contacts
    * Make a list of interview questions to practice

Get the Ball Rolling

Don't be surprised if you find it hard to get started on job search tasks or keep making excuses to take breaks. Now is the time to focus on taking action -- any action -- rather than on completing a task perfectly. Build your sense of success by completing one daily goal every day. You'll soon find that your motivation increases and your job search gains momentum. Before you know it, you'll be on your way to job search success.



Since 1989, Dr. Carla-Krystin Andrade has helped job hunters in North America, Europe, and Asia win jobs and achieve their career goals through her books and seminars. Her latest books are "How to Win the Job Search Game" and "Kick Start Your Job Search, Now! How to Outperform Your Competition and Win the Job You Want."

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity

Is Online Privacy at Work a Myth?

by Tom Musbach, Yahoo! HotJobs


Looking for a job while you're currently employed should not be the only reason to pay attention to your online privacy at work.

Three out of four employers monitor the Internet usage of employees, and just over half of U.S. companies review and retain employee email messages, according to a 2005 survey by the American Management Association.

Big Brother is no fiction.

Employers are allowed to monitor what employees do on workplace computers, and many do not notify workers about the monitoring, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC). In fact, there are very few laws regulating employee monitoring, and the PRC advises all employees to assume that their workplace activities and communications are being monitored.

Nancy Flynn, the executive director of the ePolicy Institute in Columbus, Ohio, agrees that employees should expect to be monitored, adding they should "comply 100 percent with the employer's computer usage and content policies."

Protecting Your Online Privacy

Flynn also offers the following tips for people concerned about their online privacy in the workplace:

    * Understand that your employer is obligated to retain and archive electronic business records. In workplace lawsuits, email creates the electronic equivalent of DNA evidence.
    * Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by personal email accounts, public IM tools, or anonymous blog postings. In many cases, it is possible for an employer to track email messages that are sent via personal email accounts, and IM chatting via free tools like Yahoo! Messenger can be intercepted on the web.
    * Recognize that the easiest way to control electronic risk is to control written content. In other words, watch your language. That means no obscene, pornographic, sexual, harassing, defamatory, or menacing messages

Tips for Posting Resumes Online

When you post a resume online, you must protect yourself against identity theft and avoid giving strangers access to you and those who are close to you. Never list your Social Security number or names and contact information for your references.

In addition, Flynn urges job-seekers to avoid posting the following information in resumes:

    * Business email address and phone number at your current place of employment.
    * Birthdate.
    * Home address. "You don't want to seem elusive, but you want to protect your privacy and identity," Flynn says. Consider using a line like, "Home address available on request."
    * Personal phone number that is shared with others. "Use a cell phone that no one else has access to if you live with your parents," Flynn says, "or if there is a chance your kid brother might answer the phone and forget to write down a message."
    * Your blog address. "Employers are taking time to review prospective employees' personal blogs," she says. A blog with questionable content, including rants from readers, could turn away potential employers.

Following the simple guidelines above will keep Big Brother out of your cubicle and keep your online job search free from concerns about identity theft, spam, and unwanted access from strangers.

Job Info , Career Sources , Employment

Recruiter Roundtable: Resume Length

by Yahoo! HotJobs


The Recruiter Roundtable is a monthly feature that collects career and job-seeking advice from a group of recruiting experts throughout the United States. The question we put before our panel this month is:

For resumes, does size matter? (How long is too long?)

Content is key
It's content, not size, that matters. More specifically, it's the quality of the content in a resume -- the information that immediately tells me why you're the right person for the job -- that matters.

If you're wondering what to leave in and what to take out, a simple rule of thumb is to include information that is relevant to your career -- membership/leadership roles in industry associations, education, speaking engagements, or published articles -- and to take out any personal information -- age, marital status, number of children, health or political/religious affiliations. Whether your resume is one or two pages, make every word count.
-- Cheryl Ferguson, recruiter, The Recruiter's Studio

Less is still more
I think it's always good to remember that a resume is not unlike a business card; it gives the recruiter and hiring manager information about you, but is by no means you. I give points for being succinct and for originality. After reflecting on some of the best resumes I've seen, I would recommend keeping to 700-1000 words. I also recommend keeping it to one page unless you are at the VP-or-above level. And in that case, less is still more. If you are at the exec level, only brief information is needed about your first few jobs.
-- Ross Pasquale, owner, Monday Ventures

Pages mean less online
Electronic communication has changed the old adage of "no more than one page." As a recruiter, I don't even notice scrolling through a couple of pages. The more important factor to me is that the format is easy to read (i.e. clean, simple sentences, flows nicely, etc.), identifies what the candidate has done and where they did it, and relates to the position at hand. In the presentation of your information, make it easy for the audience to see how your background correlates to the position you are applying for.
-- Sionnon Gruenberg, executive staffing consultant - Wells Fargo Technology Information Group

Summarize with accuracy
I have seen resumes that have literally been 10 pages long. Recruiters and hiring managers simply do not have time to read resumes that long, regardless of experience. The best resumes I have seen are 2-3 pages long highlighting skills and accomplishments. Don't get too wordy -- we don't want to read a novel, just a summary. And be accurate! If it is on your resume, recruiters and managers will ask you about it!
-- Bob Hancock, senior corporate recruiter, Electronic Arts

What resume?
More and more companies allow applying without a resume. Sometimes they even prefer this, as it may be a sign that you are a passive job seeker. I have seen in many companies that they do the screening without using a resume; they only require a resume in case of an interview. So the general advice I would give is to make sure that whatever is required in the online application is filled out! And of course do have a resume with all the necessary keywords if you are an active seeker.
-- Yves Lermusi, CEO of Checkster

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity

Addressing 'Skeletons' in the Interview

by Joe Turner, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Here's a scenario that trips up many candidates: You're about to have a phone screen, or even a face-to-face interview, and you have one of the following difficult situations on your resume.

    * You've been out of work a long time.

    * You were fired from your last job (or any job).

    * You had a worker's comp claim filed.

    * You have a criminal record.

    * You have some other "skeleton in the closet" they will find out about, and you just know that this will become an issue.

How do you address this? Do you address it at all?

The Skeletons Emerge

Consider a job interview or a phone screen a "discovery process" where the interviewer is attempting to uncover strengths as well as weaknesses. They will uncover weaknesses; it's their job. So if you have any "skeletons" in your closet, they'll eventually come out. Many of us harbor a skeleton or two in our backgrounds. Most are no big deal. Some, however, can become major showstoppers to a job offer.

If you have a skeleton in your work history, don't wait for a major objection to come up in the interview. Instead, go on the offense and address the situation directly, which is very similar to a sales technique called "bragging about your objection."

Avoid Being Defensive

Let's say you're interviewing for a particular position, but you hadn't worked at a "real job" for almost 18 months. This is because you took time off to care for an ailing parent and perhaps also took some night classes to strengthen some software skills. One approach is to proceed with the interview and pretend this gap doesn't exist, hoping perhaps that the interviewer won't notice it. But of course, she does. She brings this up as an objection later on in the interview, and you're left to explain it.

You're now on the defensive, and it's hard to regain any high ground. At this point, the only thing that's on the mind of the interviewer is this gap, and possibly the fact that you tried to hide it. End of interview. No hire.

Here's an alternative: You walk in and greet the interviewer and begin to talk about why you would like to work for this particular company. But then you stop and say, "However, there is one thing I want to point out right now. You'll notice that I wasn't working from (insert dates). And here is the reason..." You then proceed to tell him about your 18-month gap.

Here is where you position your "objection" in your best possible light. Then let the interviewer decide if this is a showstopper. As he thinks it over, there is the human tendency to assess it up front and minimize it. He'll often say something like, "I'm glad you brought this out," and then proceed with the interview. You can now resume your interview knowing the gap has receded in the interviewer's mind as a major objection. Of course, if the gap was a big problem, the interviewer will likely say so at this point. The interview will be over, and little time was wasted on either side.

Rewards, Instead of Excuses

The benefits you gain by taking the up-front approach are:

    * You retain the control of your interview.

    * You get to tell your story without feeling defensive.

    * You'll earn respect for being open and honest.

    * You'll save time and anguish.

You can use this same approach in any interview. Much like the example above, you already know that "a long time between jobs" -- or whatever your "weakness" is -- is going to be discovered and brought up as an objection. Therefore, take the initiative to bring this objection up near the beginning of the interview. You have everything to gain in the process.

As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Discover more of his job-search insights by visiting www.jobchangesecrets.com.

Jobs Info , Career Sources , Employment

Job Interview: Balancing Skills Required!

by Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs


In the classic "mockumentary" film "This Is Spinal Tap," sage musician David St. Hubbins said, "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever." His wisdom has relevance for job searching, too. During job interviews, many folks walk a fine line between expressing a winning trait and a losing one.

Job interviews make people nervous. And when people are nervous, their traits can get amplified, oftentimes for the worse.

Here's a look at the positive qualities most folks strive to display during an interview, as well as the negatives they can become, especially if they turn it "up to 11."

Eager vs. Desperate

By all means, display your eagerness for a company. Show your enthusiasm for the position. But make certain you maintain your cool so as not to come across as desperate. Refrain from mentioning how much you need this particular job (even if that is the case). You may state that you can start immediately, but don't make suggestions that could indicate you're in dire straits (i.e., offering to work for free or on a trial basis).

Confident vs. Cocky

Talent is important, but when it comes to hiring employees, confidence is king. Don't be afraid to strut your self-assured stuff during an interview. However, remember to temper it with a fair amount of modesty when speaking of your accomplishments. Be factual, but not too boastful or you could come off as cocky -- the ultimate turnoff to a potential manager.

Professional vs. Stiff

Never underestimate the power of professionalism. Presenting oneself in a business-like manner -- from your clothes to the way you communicate -- is invaluable. Yet even in the most conservative of business environments employers welcome personality. They want to hire more than a suit, so be sure to showcase your individuality, perhaps with a dose of humor or with the examples and stories you tell in an interview.

Cutting Edge vs. Questionable

Everyone is looking for the next big idea, and employers are no exception. They want to connect with forward thinkers who aren't afraid to color outside the lines. But be sure you don't go too far outside those lines during an interview when sharing your ideas. Don't insult the way a company currently does business, and also don't share any risky suggestions that might be more appropriate for a brainstorm session where "all ideas are welcome." Save those for sometime after you're hired -- if at all.

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Employment

More People Bring Sickness to Work

by Tom Musbach


Sometimes your co-workers make you sick -- literally.

As flu and cold season sets in this winter, employers are increasingly concerned about "presenteeism" -- a phenomenon in which contagiously sick employees show up for work.

According to a November 2006 survey, 56 percent of employers report that presenteeism is a problem in their organization, up from 39 percent two years earlier. In addition to threatening productivity and employee morale, workers spreading illness on the job burden an organization's health-care costs. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for CCH, a provider of human resources and employment law information and services.

Don't Underestimate Germs

Most U.S. employees are familiar with the problem, as 98 percent of full-time workers admitted in a similar survey that they have shown up sick for work. That survey -- released in December 2006 -- involved more than 1,000 working adults and was conducted for the Workforce Institute at Kronos Inc.

The most common reasons for the problem -- cited by respondents in both surveys -- were having too much work or fear of missing deadlines, not wanting to use vacation time, or saving paid time off for personal emergencies or unexpected events.

"I hesitate staying home because nobody else will do my work," said Doris of San Francisco. She and other people interviewed for this article did not want to give their full names or employers.

"I have my own office," she said, "which reduces the risk of getting anyone else infected."

Not necessarily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Germs can survive a long time -- up to two hours or more -- on surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, phones and tables.

Protection for Employees

To avoid infection, the CDC recommends that you follow some simple precautions:

    * Cover your mouth and nose during coughing and sneezing.
    * Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
    * Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
    * Stay home when you are sick.

Experts also suggest the following tips to battle presenteeism and avoid getting sick:

    * If your company offers a flu-vaccination program, consider taking advantage of it.
    * If you are a manager, set a good example by staying home when you're sick.
    * Encourage fellow employees who have sore throats, fevers, or other flu symptoms to go home.

A Problem With PTO?

Some respondents in the Workforce Institute survey said they were upset with their employers for not actively encouraging sick employees to stay home. Others suggested their employers' time-off policies may subtly foster presenteeism.

"I don't get sick days, I just get paid time off that includes both sick days and vacation," said Taj, a software product manager in San Francisco. "If I didn't have the option to work from home, I'd definitely show up at work so as not to use up my paid time off."

"Employees are craving flexibility from their employers," said Stuart Itkin, chief marketing officer at Kronos, based in Massachusetts. "'Working 9 to 5' is no longer the universal employee anthem. To reduce presenteeism best practice organizations are providing employees with flexibility and rewarding them based on results."

Jobs Info , Career Sources , Employment

by Roert Half International


The beginning of the year is an ideal time to reflect on your achievements during the past 12 months and set goals for the future. But don't fret if you haven't yet made a career-related resolution; it's not too late. Here are a few simple, but specific, objectives you might consider for the coming year.

Learn something new. Acquiring a new skill may be easier than you think; many industry associations and colleges host training seminars and certification programs geared specifically toward working professionals. You also could volunteer for a project at work outside of your normal duties. Doing so adds to your skill set, demonstrates your dedication and willingness to continually improve, and could be key to earning a promotion or landing a new position in 2007.

Refresh your resume. Whether you're happily employed or in the middle of finding a new job, you should always keep your resume current. Ready-to-go application materials are essential not only if your employment situation suddenly changes but also in the event you're under consideration for a promotion.

Expand your network. A solid list of professional contacts is invaluable for anyone hoping to advance his or her career. Professional acquaintances can provide employment leads as well as job-search and career-management advice. To grow your contact base, start attending professional association chapter meetings or regular networking events.

Remember that for career resolutions to be effective, they must be achievable. If you've done little networking in the past, start small. Aim to attend one function each month, rather than two events per week. While noble, setting your sights too high can prove disheartening if you continually fail to meet the expectations you've set for yourself.

Here are some additional tips to help you achieve the career-related resolutions you set:

    * Treat yourself. Accomplishing your career goals is a reward in itself, but be sure to pat yourself on the back along the way. If your objective is a promotion, for example, congratulate yourself on an outstanding performance review. Regularly rewarding yourself will increase your motivation to succeed.
    * Tell others. One mistake to avoid: Keeping a career-related resolution secret. Sharing your objectives with friends, family and coworkers will make them more concrete -- and harder to back out of if your motivation fades. Others can push you when needed, help you track your progress and offer guidance when the going gets tough.
    * Focus on a few. Set only one or two career objectives so you can remain focused and aren't constantly switching from one goal to another. Write them down and post the list in a visible place so you can be reminded of your resolutions often.
    * Make it a work in progress. Keep your list of resolutions fluid by crossing off goals accomplished and adding new ones throughout the year. Remember that temporary setbacks will happen, so be willing to adopt a new strategy if the one you're using isn't working.

Setting a career resolution may not have been on your mind as you welcomed in the new year, but it's not too late to plan your professional advancement. Take the opportunity now to set concrete goals for the future and dedicate 2007 to reaching them.

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit www.workvine.com.

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Employment

Sample Cover Letter (Recent Graduate)

by Yahoo! HotJobs


The following sample cover letter is from "Learning to Earning: Success Strategies for New Grads," with educational tips in bold. Use this example as a starting point for your cover letters.

Jane Pelletier, Human Resources Director
Great Ads, Inc.
100 Main Street
Anytown, USA 55555

July 30, 2005

Dear Ms. Pelletier,

It was with great pleasure that I read in the July 22 Anytown Times that Great Ads, Inc., is expanding its business into the local restaurant industry. [Opens with strong knowledge of the company.] I believe my experience in writing and restaurant service are a unique match for the Junior Copywriter position, #XC77Y on Yahoo! HotJobs. [States job title, number, and exactly why she is qualified to apply.]

As an English major at State University and editor for the school newspaper, I developed my creativity and writing skills in deadline-oriented environments and achieved strong working knowledge of AP style. [Mentions skills from the ad verbatim.] Volunteering with the Heads-Up literacy program helped me learn to make words exciting. [Not mentioned in the ad but important to copywriting.]

Perhaps most important, as a server at several Anytown restaurants, I gained a valuable familiarity with the environments, patrons, and menus of the very businesses you seek to assist. [Takes something as common as waiting tables and turns into valuable business experience.] I would appreciate the opportunity not only to write fresh ads for these restaurants, but perhaps to generate new business using my network of contacts at these locations. [The possibility of new business? A hiring manager's dream!]

I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you to discuss the Junior Copywriter position. I will call you next Monday, August 8, to follow up. In the meantime, you can reach me using the contact information on my resume. [States follow-up information and date.]

Sincerely,
Susie Brown

Jobs Info , Career Sources , Employment

When a Friend Becomes Your Boss (or Vice Versa)

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs


With demanding work schedules and long commutes, it's no wonder that many workers make friends with their co-workers. But these friendships can be jolted by workplace changes, including promotions.

When you become your friend's manager -- or your friend becomes yours -- it changes not only your working relationship but also your friendship. Experts offer four helpful tips for navigating this complicated territory.

Acknowledge the change.
The new manager will have access to business-related information that can't always be shared. And it may no longer be appropriate for you to gossip about co-workers like you used to.

"There are new boundaries about what you can talk about and share," says Nancy K. Schlossberg, Sarasota, Fla.-based co-principal of TransitionWorks and author of "Overwhelmed: Coping with Life's Ups and Downs."

If you're the new boss, "you control some resources that might go to your friend," Schlossberg says. And if your friend got a promotion you had been hoping for, "you might feel angry and resentful."

"There's an elephant in the room when this happens," Schlossberg says. "Let's make it explicit."

Find others to talk to.
Even though you and your co-worker can remain friends, you will lose parts of your old relationship -- and you need to find a way to replace the support you used to get from sharing secrets with your friend, or complaining about the boss together.

"One of the strategies is to develop some support systems with people in a similar role in other organizations," Schlossberg says. Professional associations can be a good way to do this.

If a friend becomes your boss, assess and talk through your feelings about the change with someone else, suggests Yvonne Blockie, a career counselor in San Jose, Calif. "Am I feeling positive: 'She really deserves the promotion, how can I support her?' If I feel negative, where are my negative feelings coming from?"

Discuss it with your friend.
It may help to talk with your friend about the way your relationship has changed. What you say depends on a lot of factors -- which of you is the new boss, whether you're genuinely happy about the situation, how close your relationship was before the promotion. In a few cases, it may be more productive to keep quiet.

If you are happy for your friend-turned-boss, Blockie suggests saying so. "You might even say, 'I realize that as a manager now things may change a little bit, but we've been friends, and I think the important thing is that we support each other. I'm really here to support you and help you be successful,'" Blockie suggests.

Be optimistic.
Things may turn out better than you expect. Marianne Adoradio, a career counselor in Silicon Valley, once became the supervisor of some friends who had been her peers. She discovered that her friends were delighted at the change -- they expected her to be a more supportive boss than their previous one.

"You have to separate the friendship from what you have to do as a boss," Adoradio says. "As long as they stay respectful, they might be surprised at how well it can go."

Jobs Info , Career Sources , Employment

How to Change Jobs Without Changing Employers

by Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs


A bad boss, boredom, or a lack of opportunity -- each of these factors can prompt you to want to change jobs. But what if you're loathe to leave an employer you love?

The answer is simple, but the process may not be: Try to arrange a transfer to another position. Follow these steps to make sure you don't make a misstep when making your move.

Don't Jump the Gun

It's no secret that breaking into a particular industry may require you to accept one position and ultimately transfer to another that will put you on your intended career track. Employers are well aware of this, but typically an employee is expected to remain in a job for a minimum of six months to two years. Find out what your employer's expectation or policy is and honor it.

Investigate Your Opportunities

Many large companies prefer to promote from within and will keep a comprehensive internal job board. Consult it regularly to determine if there are positions that interest you and whether or not you're qualified for them.

If you're desperate to transfer but there aren't openings you're qualified for, find out if there are any hard-to-fill positions that your employer may be more than willing to train you for.

Follow in Someone Else's Footsteps

Sure, some people like to boldly go where no man or woman has been, but it's so much easier to follow in someone else's footsteps, particularly where a transfer is concerned.

Ask around and find a few folks who have transferred to different positions and ask them for advice about dealing with your boss, your human resources representative, and the transition.

Find Your Replacement

Your supervisor may not be amenable to a transfer because she values your knowledge and work -- and she dreads the process of trying to fill your shoes.

As soon as you know you're serious about transferring, start scouting around the company for someone who may be interested in your position. Tap your extended network as well. If there's talent waiting in the wings, your boss will be more supportive of you moving on and up.

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity

How to Change Jobs Without Changing Employers

by Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs

A bad boss, boredom, or a lack of opportunity -- each of these factors can prompt you to want to change jobs. But what if you're loathe to leave an employer you love?

The answer is simple, but the process may not be: Try to arrange a transfer to another position. Follow these steps to make sure you don't make a misstep when making your move.

Don't Jump the Gun

It's no secret that breaking into a particular industry may require you to accept one position and ultimately transfer to another that will put you on your intended career track. Employers are well aware of this, but typically an employee is expected to remain in a job for a minimum of six months to two years. Find out what your employer's expectation or policy is and honor it.

Investigate Your Opportunities

Many large companies prefer to promote from within and will keep a comprehensive internal job board. Consult it regularly to determine if there are positions that interest you and whether or not you're qualified for them.

If you're desperate to transfer but there aren't openings you're qualified for, find out if there are any hard-to-fill positions that your employer may be more than willing to train you for.

Follow in Someone Else's Footsteps

Sure, some people like to boldly go where no man or woman has been, but it's so much easier to follow in someone else's footsteps, particularly where a transfer is concerned.

Ask around and find a few folks who have transferred to different positions and ask them for advice about dealing with your boss, your human resources representative, and the transition.

Find Your Replacement

Your supervisor may not be amenable to a transfer because she values your knowledge and work -- and she dreads the process of trying to fill your shoes.

As soon as you know you're serious about transferring, start scouting around the company for someone who may be interested in your position. Tap your extended network as well. If there's talent waiting in the wings, your boss will be more supportive of you moving on and up.

Jobs Info , Career Sources , Employment

Using Tact With a Rude Interviewer

by Carla-Krystin Andrade, for Yahoo! HotJobs


"Be courteous" is a fundamental rule of interviewing. But what do you do when the interviewer's behavior is offensive? You want to ace the interview and leave with your self-respect intact. Here are some strategies for responding tactfully to a discourteous interviewer.

Do a Reality Check

Sometimes we read more into a remark than the interviewer intended because of the pressure and heightened emotions of an interview. Before you take action, ask yourself: "Was that really disrespectful?" Some issues are clear-cut, such as age, religion, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Others, unfortunately, are not. If the interviewer's behavior is clearly disrespectful, then respond with the strategies outlined below. If you're unsure, then put it aside and continue with your interview.

Decide Whether to Salvage It

You worked hard to land your interview. Your priority is to keep the interview focused on what you have to offer the company. Take a deep breath and briefly consider some reasons to make the best of this challenging situation.

    * You can decide about the company after you complete the interview.
    * The interviewer doesn't represent the entire company.
    * The job may not involve working with the interviewer.
    * This behavior could be part of a "stress interview" in which they test your response to high-pressure situations.

Get Back on Track

Sure, it's a challenge to stay polite when you're dealing with less-than-polite behavior. Yet, there's a lot you can do to get your interview back on track.

    * Be open-minded. The interviewer may recognize the problem with her behavior and try to fix it.
    * Ignore the disrespectful comment and talk about your skills.
    * Ask the interviewer a question that will shift the focus to an area of interest to him.
    * Keep your sense of humor and make a light remark.
    * Ask for feedback or clarification if the interviewer repeatedly contradicts or interrupts you.
    * Use "I" statements and be polite when you give the interviewer your opinion.

Know When to Exit

Sometimes a graceful exit is a necessary last resort when you've done everything you can to save the interview. Thank the interviewer for her time. Then, politely excuse yourself from the interview without commenting on her behavior. If you must say something, be courteous.

Learn from Your Experience

Before you put this encounter behind you, identify what you've learned about this potential coworker. Then use this experience to improve how you respond to difficult people.

The final step is to practice dealing with negative interview situations with someone who'll give you honest feedback. In this way, you'll be ready to act with composure if you ever encounter another disrespectful interviewer.

Since 1989, Dr. Carla-Krystin Andrade has helped job hunters worldwide win jobs and achieve their career goals through her website, stressfreezone.com, books, and seminars. Her latest books are "Kick Start Your Job Search, Now!" and "How to Win the Job Search Game."

Job Info , Career Sources , Employment

Avoiding Isolation When You're the Only Minority

by Denene Brox, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Despite advances in corporate diversity initiatives, there are times when minority employees have that "Lone Ranger" feeling on the job.

Make Connections

According to Sondra Thiederman, author of "Making Diversity Work," the key to avoiding feelings of alienation, whether at a small or large company, is to find ways to connect with your coworkers.

"Begin to focus on what you share with your colleagues, rather than how you differ. Race and gender are just one aspect of who we are," explains Thiederman.

"We all have dozens of interests, values, and priorities which are very likely held by others in the organization. Reach out to people, have conversations and be open with what you care about. Sitting next to you just might be a colleague of any color with whom you can form a genuine friendship."

Avoid Speaking for All

Another key in avoiding isolation is to resist any urge to be the "spokesperson" for your race or gender even if you feel pressure to act as one.

"Individuals who represent a minority group on a team or in an organization run the risk of being seen as symbols of their particular category rather than as individuals," says Robert Rodriguez, assistant dean of the Graduate School of Management at Kaplan University. "That is why minority employees should resist any pressure to be an 'expert' on all issues related to their race or ethnic group. Don't make educating others about the unique aspects of your cultural or ethnic heritage or overcoming stereotypes your sole focus."

Address Incidents With Professionalism

Even if you've made your best effort to be seen as an individual, discrimination may still rear its ugly head. If a situation arises that you feel is inappropriate, you need to address it with professionalism -- not heated emotions.

"The first step is to take a beat so that emotions can settle down," says Thiederman. "Even a couple of hours will give you a chance to collect your thoughts so you can recount the incident accurately."

"Second, find out who is the appropriate person to approach, such as a manager or someone in human resources," she says. "Talk to someone who is trained to handle such situations with confidentiality, tact, and fairness for all concerned."

"Your main concern should be delivering superior results to quench any doubts about your ability," says Rodriguez.

Check Your Perspective

A lack of diversity isn't necessarily a bad reflection on the company. A number of factors could be at play, such as a small staff.

Precious Kirk, vice president of creative affairs at Emerson Consulting Group in Everett, Massachusetts, is the only African American female on a staff of 10.

"Working within this company I do not have a problem being the only minority. We work so closely together that it becomes a situation in which I really don't think about it too much," says Kirk.

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity

Put Your Career Change in Motion

by Jane Allen, Vault.com

Changing careers can be like taking a train trip. You plan it, start at one location and go to your ultimate destination, with stops in between. (Sorry, there are no non-stop career trains.) The basics for getting started are scheduling your departure time and showing up at the station. Here's how to get moving.

Decide when you are leaving.

There are many reasons to procrastinate about changing careers. Procrastination is not laziness; it is a decision to do nothing. Fear is the main reason for procrastination -- fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of making a mistake. What is your fear? Identify it, acknowledge it and accept that you are afraid. Then decide what first step (even a small one) you will take within the next week to get around that roadblock.

Pack your bag.

A key to success is what you will take along with you. Make sure your luggage includes optimism, enthusiasm and determination. Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" was interviewed recently on CBS's "60 Minutes." When asked what his big break had been, he said, "Deciding that -- come hell or high water, no turning back -- I am going to do [comedy] and get as good as I can get."

Who's seeing you off at the station?

There may be both cheerleaders and detractors. Listen to each of them, but choose carefully which advice you are going to take with you. Jerome Lemelson invented the camcorder. His first patent application (in 1977) was rejected because the patent examiner decided that video recorders could not possibly be reduced to a portable size. Mr. Lemelson was not discouraged.

Are you going to enjoy the ride?

A career change involves many steps. Enjoy each accomplishment and the feelings of exhilaration, satisfaction and self-approval that come with it. Without that enjoyment, can there be true feelings of progress? Successful people enjoy both the journey and the arrival.

Who's on the train with you?

Don't stay in your compartment. There will be interesting and valuable people to talk to on your journey. Think of it like a scavenger hunt. They have information for you; your mission is to meet them and ask questions.

What if you find yourself on the wrong train?

It happens. Winners make the most mistakes because they take the most risks. If you have to change trains, think of it as a course correction and keep moving.

What if there's no one to meet you at your destination?

OK, you've chosen your new career path and started sending out resumes, but no one is showing up to welcome you. What's next? Be persistent and believe in yourself. Rod Serling (creator of "The Twilight Zone" and "Night Gallery" TV shows) received 40 rejection slips in a row while he was waiting for his big break. He kept his day job and, despite the rejections, never stopped writing or submitting his stories.

Make this your success strategy for the month: Get going and keep moving. Starting with just one tiny step each week is still a beginning. As Will Rogers said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

Vault.com is the Internet's leading destination for career advice and insider company information. Vault offers continually updated "insider" information with its exclusive employee surveys on over 5,000 companies.

Jobs Info , Career Sources , Employment