by Dorothy on September 2, 2010
It’s important to make a great impression during an interview. Here are 10 basic tips to show an employer that you’re perfect for the job.
- Dress professionally. Make a little effort to look presentable. It REALLY matters.
- Research the job and company. Try to learn as much about the company and their product and/or services. Read over the job description and make sure you understand it.
- Make eye contact. It shows that you are confident.
- Be interested and excited about the company. Showing a little enthusiasm will go a long way.
- Listen and respond to answers directly. If you need clarification just ask.
- Be prepared to talk about your past and what you have done. They want to know how you will perform in the future so give good examples.
- Be ready to describe your Strengths and Weakness. Be open and honest. No ones perfect.
- Ask questions. At least 2-3 questions will show that you have done your homework and are serious about the job.
- Bring an extra copy of your resume. Always a nice touch and shows you are prepared.
- Know how to answer the dreaded salary question.
The last few things to remember is to send a short thank you email within a few days of the interview. You want to thank the interviewers for their time and stress that you are really interested in the job.
Get your references ready. Contact your references and make sure they are still available. You can send them out this questionnaire so they can be prepared when the phone rings or when they get the email.
photo by myklroventine
by Dorothy on August 24, 2010
The Etiquette of Quitting
So you have had enough of your micromanaging boss, nosy coworkers and horrible salary and got a great job offer thanks partly to an amazingly written resume. The only thing left to do is tell your boss and write your resignation letter.
Going to Interviews
If you’re actively going to interviews and looking for another job don’t tell anyone! This type of juicy gossip is like honey to a bee hive. Your coworkers will start talking and telling everyone and I guarantee this information will get to your boss.
Telling Your Boss
So what if your boss does find out. It doesn’t matter what kind of relationship you have with your boss they should hear the news from you. You can be best buds or strangers who only say hi when you bump into them in the bathroom. It is respectful to tell them that you have planned to look for other work before they hear it from someone else. This will help you later in regards to a reference.
Ideal Scenario
Ideally, the employer would love to find out that you are planning to leave as soon as possible. The recruitment process then can start and with any luck they will have someone to replace you before you have actually left so you can help train them.
Giving Notice
The ideal scenario usually never happens and you should only tell your boss when you have already accepted another job. Accepted another job means that you have signed a new contract with a new company. It does not mean that talks are going well and you have a good feeling that your cousin put in a good word for you.
Two Weeks Notice
The standard two weeks notice is perfect. For safe measure you may want to read through your HR policies and procedures manual. You want to make sure your company doesn’t have a policy written on minimum requirements for notice of resignation. Some employers will expect three sometimes four weeks notice depending on the type of job you perform.
Perfect Day
I don’t think there is a perfect day of the week to tell your boss you quit. I would suggest catching your boss in a good mood is important. You resigning should not be a shock to your boss but managers are people too and don’t like surprises especially costly ones like turn over. Catching them in a good mood will almost guarantee you a smooth transition to your next two weeks.
Writing the Letter
Your resignation letter should be short and sweet. You just want to thank your company and coworkers for helping you grow and develop skills that are now taking you further in your career. Here is a good example of resignation letter:
Dear Mr. X,
As of today, Monday November 14, 2010 I am providing you with two weeks notice of my resignation. It has been a pleasure working with everyone and I have certainly learned a lot in these past few years. It was a difficult decision to leave this company but I feel this is the right choice. Please let me know what I can do to make this transition easier on the team.
Thank you again and I hope our paths cross again,
Sincerely,
Your Name
Be Professional
It’s important to sound positive and even helpful in your resignation letter. This letter will most likely be the last thing in your file. You want to be professional all the way to the end. You do not want to write a novel about how horrible your boss was and how you would never ever work there again. Time heals all wounds. If you had issues with coworkers or even managers there usually forgotten over time. You may not work at the company anymore but you might work with the people again. You never want to burn your bridges.
Before You Leave
To be able to coast through the next few weeks you need to do a few things. Tell your boss that you have decided to leave and provide them with the resignation letter. The only difficult part of this time should be cleaning out that cubicle/office and perhaps attending many goodbye lunches.
Benefits
Don’t forget to review your employee handbook! It is important to understand what your entitled to regarding benefits and compensation for unused sick or vacation days.
The photo above is one in a series of photos that a woman used to quit her job. I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you want to be internet famous. But it’s funny and worth looking at. You can see the rest of the photos here.
I would love to hear any experiences you’ve had quitting jobs both good and bad in the comments.
by Dorothy on August 16, 2010
Passion
What do you want to do when you grow up? Do you remember getting asked that question? I remember this and the feeling of not having a clue. I know I wasn’t alone either because my friends felt the same way. I distinctly remember some friends taking certain courses in school because their parents told them to. Others just wanted a high paying job and didn’t seem to care if they liked the job or not. I was always confused by this because I thought the goal was to find a job and be happy.
Choosing a Career
Finding your career shouldn’t be about making a lot of money or chasing someone else’s dream. It’s about finding something that your passionate about and that will make you happy. Remember, you spend more time at work than you do at home! Quitting or getting laid off is the perfect time to think about what you’re really passionate about. Let’s be honest, you’ll have lots of free time…
Research
What do you really want to be doing? There are hundreds of career options out there and figuring out which one is right for you can be stressful. This is actually more difficult than people think and you’ll have to do your homework. Remember to be flexible. Give your self plenty of time to research other careers and even consider going back to school. Changing careers is an important decision and should be well thought out. There is no point of making a career change If you’re not going to like it anymore than your current job.
Career Tests
Before you can make a career choice you have to learn about yourself.
- What do you value?
- What are you interested in?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Questions like these combined with personality tests will narrow down the possible career choices. Self assessment tools or career tests can be surprisingly helpful. These tests gather information and generate a list of suitable jobs for you. There are many free tests that you can find on the Internet.
Start with these:
Going to a job you hate is awful. It’s emotionally and physically draining. Things can change. Taking these tests and getting to know yourself brings you one step closer to a job you will love.
Hobbies
Do you like taking pictures, scrap booking, or being around animals? Looking at hobbies and things you love doing is a great idea. Hobbies are usually things we enjoy but we can’t afford to spend all of our time doing. Well maybe it’s time you take an online photography course and start taking your hobby a little more seriously. What about taking night courses to learn how you can open your own doggie spa? What would you spend your time doing if you didn’t have to worry about money?
Not Happy?
If you hate sitting in that cubicle, answering that phone, or shampooing another person’s carpet, then make a change. Don’t become that disgruntled, unhappy, unhealthy, and negative person. Don’t be afraid to shake things up in your life! Contact me if you want career advice or if you just need a professional to kick your butt into gear and help you make the change.
Photo by: VinceAlongi
