July 2013

Some readers see the title and think, “What, resignation prep, is that a joke?” Resigning from one job to move on to another is an afterthought for most people. However, among experienced recruiters, we know the process is not yet finished when a job offer has been accepted. No, we still have to get the person we’ve represented through their resignation; we know there is still potential for things to go wrong and kill the deal. So what does this mean for you, the applicant, who has just emerged from a strenuous interview process. After all you’ve won, you got the job, the rest is easy isn’t it? Not so fast. I’ve worked with a lot of people who dismissed my advice and found that, when it was time to leave their current job, they experienced just as much, and sometimes

No, I am not describing a prison term although some people feel incarcerated with jobs that are taking them nowhere, leaving them stuck, chained in place, withering away their full potential. I know there are those who might say in the current overall jobs market you should be happy just to have a job. Sorry, but I don’t belong to that crowd. I’m cursed or blessed, depending on your perspective, with being an optimist. I think in terms of potential opportunities that can improve and elevate one’s station in life. I consider most obstacles to be distractions and bumps along the road of life, to be avoided or overcome. Three to five years is my general guideline when I advise people about their career forecasting, development, occasional self-appraisal and progression planning. Even if you are gainfully employed and relatively happy, I think

At face value, it’s obvious the interviewer and interviewee are not positioned equally. So, when you get the call and it’s your turn, you can either step up and show your best, or just show up. If you think you will have little influence over the situation, then you won’t. An interview is an opportunity over which you can and should exert influence. After all, this isn’t just about them and their company, it’s also about you also. If you attend the interview only as a bystander, just there and only reacting to that which is asked of you, the reality is that you’re not even trying. If you seek to maintain your dignity and to be treated with the same respect you show to the interviewer, there is one sure way (among many) to raise your stock in the eyes

It is a simple and sad fact that most people do very little interview prep before they show up, all nervous and sweaty. I suggest part of the reason for their anxiety could be because they’ve shown up having invested little or no time in learning about the very company for whom they seek to work and, therefore, have good reason to be nervous. I recognize that interview styles and methods vary, and everyone does things slightly different from one another, however, you can never really know what to expect when you walk through the door. On the other hand, some things are predictable and somewhat ritualistic. If you are aware of this you can capitalize on it and thus gain advantage over others, who show up for their interview, go through the motions, but do little or nothing more. I

In my last blog entry I shared the most basic guidelines for a sensible way of looking at the subject of money and for what to aim. In fact, I suggest you step back and view it from a wider angle. There is and should be a balance and trade-off consideration. For example, if it’s a great job you may be a bit more flexible on your monetary demands and vice versa. But let’s say you get a verbal offer and the hiring manager floats a test balloon to see your reaction. If the money comes in lower than you wished or expected, your first reaction might be to counter immediately and begin the back and forth banter. However, not before you ask more questions and learn about the entire package. Anytime there is a bonus structure or benefits at stake

Ah, money! It shouldn’t be the primary motivator for any job seeker, but it ranks up there near the top. I maintain that too many people get it bass ackwards and are easily lured to the money component; but that’s not what this blog entry is about. In many jobs there simply is not a lot of room for you to negotiate salary or wider aspects of compensation; for example, in retail, union scale, government jobs and many others there are limitations and/or no room for discussion. You’re presented with a salary scale and an offer, take it or leave it. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least make an attempt, it is an important consideration. When is the right time to ask or discuss money and how can you best approach the subject? First let’s talk about a few don’ts. It

What happens if, during the interview process for reasons of bad timing, there could be something that might conflict with your ability to start a new job? You worry about saying anything that will jeopardize your chances of maintaining a good impression, especially if you are to be the one selected to receive a job offer. Perhaps you already had plans to attend a wedding out of town or have a vacation    planned in advance; reservations are made, airline tickets are bought and paid for. Or you have some exams coming up or a certification training class that will boost your value to a company, but you find yourself in the midst of the interview process. There are positive signs and they imply that if selected they’d like for you to start immediately. So what do you do, miss this opportunity?

That’s what it’s all about, getting a decision. None of us can dictate the outcome of an interview although, if we could, we would. But you do have more influence than you may think. I find, however, that in the digital era more than at any other time I can remember, an increasing number of people feel more separated than ever from the process of which they are personally a part. No wonder, with increasing reliance on web-based processes, there is little room for participation until the time you get the call and subsequent interview. So you had better make the most of it, which is why I write my blog, to help people make the most of the limited time spent in the interview process, while engaged in the give-and-take dialogue with hiring managers. Just to frame this conversation,

At face value the title seems a little ridiculous and elementary, but no decision should be made without some forethought, even if only a few minutes' contemplation. This topic sounds so basic some may think, “DUH!” But when the time comes, many don’t know how to react in a manner that will protect their self interest when it's decision time. There are basically two kinds of job offers; a verbal offer and a written offer. Sometimes a person will receive only the written job offer, without previous discussion, but a verbal offer always precedes the written. The verbal offer is really sort of a test balloon presented by an interviewer because often a company wants to ensure you will accept before they put it on paper. No hiring manager wants to go back to their boss with egg on their face