OVERCOMING POTENTIAL OBSTACLES IN THE INTERVIEW
Do you think there are any potential obstacles that could stand between you and your next position? Here are some suggestions for handling some common obstacles:
Age
Obviously you can’t change your age, but you can overcome a perception that you may not be up to the job. You can project yourself as energetic with a lot to give. I suggest that job candidates give some thought ahead of time to stories that illustrate that they are able to handle the stresses and strains of the job. They should also convey subtly in the interview that they plan to be in the workforce for a while.
For example, an interviewee can mention in the beginning of the interview what type of physical activity he or she did over the weekend. The interviewee can work this in during the ice breaking period which comes before the interviewer gets into the tough questions.
Salary
Job candidates need to determine beforehand what their bottom line is in terms of the compensation package. This should of course factor in current economic conditions. They should be armed with information about what they are worth and negotiate accordingly. But they should also show the interviewer that they are worth more than their salaries. In other words, they should demonstrate to the potential employer that the employer will get a return on investment that more than compensates for what they will be paying out in salary and benefits. Stories about past accomplishments can make the business case for appropriate salaries.
Health
If you look fit, that will go a long way towards dispelling any thoughts that the interviewer may have that you will be costly (in terms of health benefits) to the company if you are hired. If you’re not fit, it’s something you should start working on since this is a part of that first good impression that you want to make.
Personality Mismatches
You should do your due diligence prior to the interview to find out what the company’s mission/values statement is and what the culture of the company is to determine if this is a good match for both parties. If it is, you need to allay any fears that the interviewer may have that you might not be a good fit by connecting the dots for the employer. Speak convincingly about the alignment you see between your values and the company’s. Talk about what you know about the company’s culture and how you see yourself fitting in.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
WHAT TO DO ABOUT A BAD REVIEW
What should you do if you receive a less than favorable performance review? What is the best way to bounce back? Here are some tips for dealing with what could potentially be a career derailment.
Deal with your feelings about the situation. No one enjoys receiving negative feedback. It is human to feel angry and sad when something like this happens, but it is critical not to get stuck in unproductive emotions. Vent to someone who you can trust, but don't keep rehashing what happened endlessly.
Objectively assess each item on which you were rated poorly to see if there is truth in any of the statements. You may also want to independently and privately get feedback from colleagues who are trustworthy about the veracity of the issues mentioned in the appraisal.
Divide the list of issues into hard skills and soft skills. If you have any real performance issues with hard skills, you need to think about why this is so. Hard skills are the core essence of the job. If, for example, you are an auditor and you receive feedback that you are not performing up to standard with audits, that is a very serious issue because auditors are supposed to master that skill in order to be competent.
It's possible that your performance has slipped because of personal issues that are interfering with your ability to focus on the job. If that is the case, then you need to get professional help to aid you in getting back to normal so that you can do your job.
More people tend to run into problems with soft skills that have to do with interpersonal relations. If you receive feedback that you are performing poorly with respect to time management, teamwork, or decision making, then you should seek assistance from a coach who can help you improve in these areas.
Rebuild credibility with your boss and co-workers by showing that you are willing to take feedback. It will take some real effort on your part to win the confidence of the people you work with, but if they see that you are really trying, and if you are consistent with your improved performance, they will start to see you in a different light.
If there is information in your performance review that you have determined is not true but is rather political in nature, decide what your response should be. Basically you have two choices: either choose to play the political game and make friends with those who have power over your career or start looking elsewhere for a company that is better aligned with your values.
What should you do if you receive a less than favorable performance review? What is the best way to bounce back? Here are some tips for dealing with what could potentially be a career derailment.
Deal with your feelings about the situation. No one enjoys receiving negative feedback. It is human to feel angry and sad when something like this happens, but it is critical not to get stuck in unproductive emotions. Vent to someone who you can trust, but don't keep rehashing what happened endlessly.
Objectively assess each item on which you were rated poorly to see if there is truth in any of the statements. You may also want to independently and privately get feedback from colleagues who are trustworthy about the veracity of the issues mentioned in the appraisal.
Divide the list of issues into hard skills and soft skills. If you have any real performance issues with hard skills, you need to think about why this is so. Hard skills are the core essence of the job. If, for example, you are an auditor and you receive feedback that you are not performing up to standard with audits, that is a very serious issue because auditors are supposed to master that skill in order to be competent.
It's possible that your performance has slipped because of personal issues that are interfering with your ability to focus on the job. If that is the case, then you need to get professional help to aid you in getting back to normal so that you can do your job.
More people tend to run into problems with soft skills that have to do with interpersonal relations. If you receive feedback that you are performing poorly with respect to time management, teamwork, or decision making, then you should seek assistance from a coach who can help you improve in these areas.
Rebuild credibility with your boss and co-workers by showing that you are willing to take feedback. It will take some real effort on your part to win the confidence of the people you work with, but if they see that you are really trying, and if you are consistent with your improved performance, they will start to see you in a different light.
If there is information in your performance review that you have determined is not true but is rather political in nature, decide what your response should be. Basically you have two choices: either choose to play the political game and make friends with those who have power over your career or start looking elsewhere for a company that is better aligned with your values.
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