Interviewing: What NOT to Say
September 29, 2009
There is a lot of information online about potential interview questions, but not as much about “no no” topics and comments. Given that, we thought it would be helpful to have a “What NOT to talk about in an interview” list.
Below are some examples of topics to refrain from discussing. To some, they may be common sense, to some a surprise. To all, take note.
- You were fired from your last job for violating the NDA, but who cares, NDAs don’t matter
- How much you enjoy drinking on the job
- You are planning on moving out of the country in the near future
- You’ll sue anyone if they make you angry
- You really need a job, any job
- You beg for the job
- You ask if you can wear pajamas to work
- You got in a fistfight with a co-worker who disagreed with you
- You discuss your previous boss’s personal problems
- You discuss your religion and ask the interviewer to come to your church
- You don’t have references because you never got along with anyone at any job
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Excellent Attention to etail
June 30, 2009
“Excellent Attention to etail”
What?
That is what I thought when I read this line in the “Top Skills” section of a resume. Then I laughed at the irony of the only typo on the document.
Do I believe this candidate has excellent attention to detail? No. Will I contact this candidate? Probably not (only if other skills seriously outweigh the oversight).
There are 2 reasons for this. One, the simple fact the word was a typo tells me this person does NOT have excellent attention to detail, and I have the proof in black and white. There could not have been a worse place in the resume the candidate could have neglected. Second, the resume was sent as a Word doc. “etail” came up as a typo when I opened it, and had the sender spent a few seconds doing spell-check (or paying attention to the red underlines), it would have been corrected.
Going back to whether or not I would contact this candidate based on the typo, my concern would be that other highlighted skills are as real as the attention to detail claim.
If you are sending out your resume to prospective employers, always, always, always run spell-check. If you are making claims of excellent, be sure that the content in your resume supports those claims.
Tips for Keeping Your Job
January 12, 2009
A few days ago, there was a link on the front page of cnn.com titled Keep your job: A 10-point survival guide. It was on the front page of the top headlines- highlighting the importance of the issue (and fear). Fear about job security is everywhere, in all types and sizes of companies, throughout all levels of employees.
A few of the points stand out prominently. They echo the advice we give our clients and are worth expanding on.
Keep your network active.
Your network includes people you have worked with in the past, met at conferences or meetings, friends, etc. You never know who may know of an open position that is prefect for you. At the same time, you will find that you can help those in similar situations. Stay in contact!
Make sure your work serves the larger goals of the organization.
Be relevant. This is advice we often give to clients. Take on tasks that not only directly relate to the company’s immediate goals, but go one step further and do the things that have to be done that no one wants to do. Sure, it may not be fun, but it will serve to highlight your value to the company. Another idea is to find solutions to problems the company has currently. Or, go one step further and find the solution to a problem the company doesn’t know it has, especially money saving solutions.
Update your skills.
This doesn’t mean that you need to spend money on classes. Stay current on industry trends and changes. Read articles, blogs, websites. Join industry related groups, and go to meetings, or participate online. Even comment on blogs (this could help expand your network!).
The main point here is – do something. Don’t let the fear freeze you. Be proactive, find ways to learn more, add value and at the same time, make yourself more valuable.