Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom

Handling the “Do You Have Any Questions?” Question

Thanks to Phil Rosenberg at Secrets of the Job Hunt for providing this primer on asking intelligent questions, when prompted, at the end of a job interview:

 

 

Do you have any questions?  This is asked at the end of most interviews, and it gives the candidate a chance to shine and stand out from the pack. Do you come loaded with questions, or do you end an interview saying that all your questions were answered?  Most candidates clam up at this point, giving the impression that they are uninterested or unprepared. It’s a huge mistake. A more effective strategy is to come loaded with questions, so you’ll always have a few left for the end of each interview. You’ll want different questions for different individuals, depending on their job function.

What kinds of questions should you ask?  Don’t use the questions part of your interview to find out more about the company….you can do that later. Use questions to further sell yourself. Use questions to show your knowledge of the company, its strategy, to uncover problems that you can solve.  The best questions to ask are ones where you already know half the answer. Why? You can show your insight, research, and preparedness more effectively through insightful questions, than by directly stating your knowledge. Insightful questions show a higher level of thinking than memorization and regurgitation of facts.

The best questions to ask are open-ended. Use implication questions that uncover what happens if problems aren’t fixed, to increase the perception that you understand the problem. Questions that start with How, Why, What impact, What implications, are much stronger than questions that start with Who, What, When, or Where.  Don’t use the questions section to ask about career advancement, average raises, vacation policy, or HR type questions.

Where can you find information to ask about? It’s all over. If the company is public, review the management comment section of the Annual Report and 10Q. Review press releases, recent articles on Yahoo Finance, company blogs, blogs about the company. For private companies, check out blogs, Google search, and industry information. From these resources, could you ask “Your industry is projected to increase by 25% in the next 3 years. How is (insert company name) preparing to capitalize on this opportunity?”

Brilliant advice.

Three Words You Should Never Say: “I Deserve Better”

Let’s start with a confession.  I’ve been guilty of this one since the beginning of my career.  When I first graduated from college, I was appalled to be offered a starting salary of $22K as an entry-level PR account coordinator.  I was an A student at Northwestern, and “I deserved better.”  A few years down the line, I had proven myself at a Fortune 500 software firm and had been promoted into middle management.  But I was frustrated because I was often given assignments that no one else wanted.  “I deserved better.”  This past winter, when it came time to sell a new book, I flat out refused several offers that I perceived as too low.  I felt like I had already paid my dues writing books for nothing.  “I deserved better.” 

 

 

Here’s the thing.  We don’t deserve anything.  Working hard means that sometimes we get the results we want, and sometimes we don’t.  That’s just life.  You may think that you deserve a higher salary, a heftier price for your product, or a more substantial fee for your service, but the market pays what it pays, and it’s usually nothing personal.  In a capitalist society, people aren’t entitled to success and the compensation we receive isn’t always based on parity.

 

 

As I’ve told myself repeatedly, beware of irrational expectations.  There’s no use complaining about the way things should be and railing against God, the establishment, or your nasty boss.  You (and me) will be a lot happier accepting the reality and figuring out a way to move on from there.  

New Episode: 30/20 Vision

Hi everyone!  Join my friends and colleagues Lindsey Pollak and Christine Hassler for a new episode of 30/20 Vision, airing on Blog Talk Radio tomorrow night at 5PM ET.  We'll be talking about the dos and don'ts of social networking.  Hope to see you there, and if you can't make it, be sure to check out the archive!

How Would You Network if the Internet Went Down?

Says my colleague Dan Schawbel on his Personal Branding blog:

“Over the past few days, I’ve put a lot of thought into online versus offline personal branding.  We all need to focus on building powerful offline brands, because who knows what will happen to the internet tomorrow?  What if the world loses power or the internet cord is unplugged?  What if web 3.0 is the end of blogs, online video, Twitter, and social networks?  Anything can happen, which is why you need to start meeting people in real life and taking what you’ve built online, offline.  How you write, behave, interact and your expertise should be translated to how you present yourself day-to-day.  Always be consistent and don’t let technology rule your life.”

Dan’s right, folks.  I talk to way too many people who think their networking duties are done because they make a few new connections on LinkedIn or start following their business world idol on Twitter.  Even those who meet people for a living, like recruiters, aren’t immune to online shortcuts.  There are many who believe that they will achieve their placement goals by friend blasting a whole bunch of qualified candidates on Facebook. 

Online social networks can assist you in getting an introduction to a valuable contact, but face time is still the factor that most affects whether you will be able to develop that initial interaction into a helpful, long-term relationship.  If you meet someone promising online, don’t stop there.  Ask people who are local if they’d like to get together for coffee or lunch, or make a plan to meet up with them at a third-party association meeting of mutual interest.  And while it’s all fine and good to have an impactful online presence, make sure you practice communicating your best selling points and most provocative opinions verbally.  When you meet contacts out there in the real world, they won’t bother to check out your website or LinkedIn profile if they don’t find you intriguing in person. 

Well-Oiled Career Transitions in a Down Economy

A few months ago, I met Chandlee Bryan, a dynamic career expert who’s now blogging over at Career Hub.  Chandlee’s new post on career change echoes many of the questions we advice types have been getting since the economy first started nose-diving. How can I can my career in an alternative direction when I don’t have much experience?  How can I continue to enjoy my downtime while I’m pursuing a seemingly impossible opportunity?  How can I continue to maintain my income during this economic downturn?

When I’m trying to do something difficult, I turn to the stories of others who have toiled and triumphed before me.  Chandlee advocates the same approach, and based on the anecdote of her friends Dave and Helen Clark, she has provided some fresh strategies for seamlessly transitioning from one area to another.  These ideas are especially relevant to those who are attempting to break into uber-competitive, creative fields.  I’m keeping them in mind myself as I complete my new book on career change, scheduled to be published by Random House/Ballantine in the fall of 2009.

Here’s Dave and Helen’s story:

Dave and Helen run Clark Communications, an advertising agency that specializes in providing services to lighting and furniture retailers. In 2006, they lost several primary customers – at least one of whom said they needed to work with a Manhattan-based ad firm to retain their prestige. One evening, Dave and Helen decided to get out of the house, and Dave took his guitar with him to the common room of a local inn and asked if he could play. Within two months, they had a regular Tuesday night music group attended by up to a dozen people. Dave started a mailing list to promote his events, and added other local cultural events to the roster. Within six months, he had over 300 people on his mailing list, and within a year his musical ventures had become so successful that there was "no room at the inn."  In response to demand, the mailing list expanded, Dave and Helen offered MP3s of local musicians through their website, and recently launched their own internet radio channel through their emerging business, Yellow House Media. One of their side offerings: advising event planners and private citizens on available musical talent.

Chandlee’s takeaways:

Get out of the house and do something you love.  Dave and Helen found that spending time in a different environment made it psychologically easier for them during their loss of business. When they first started, their goal was simply entertainment; the opportunity for revenue generation later was an added bonus.

Consider embracing the competition.  By viewing other musicians as customers and advertising their events for free, Dave and Helen developed a stable of talent.  They now have over 50 artists and groups they can recommend to others in their consulting business.

Look for synergies between your current and intended field.  During the development and expansion of Yellow House Media, Dave and Helen developed CD products that were given as gifts – and potential items of sale – for their lighting business customers. This showcased their skills and demonstrated their continued active engagement with customers.

Communicate your gratitude and your successes.  Dave maintains the Yellow House Media listserv, and frequently cites Helen’s efforts as well as the strong performances of the musicians.  His enthusiasm is infectious.

Inspiring story, no doubt.  Thanks for sharing it, Chandlee!

Your Subordinate is Your Responsibility

A few months ago, I sent a blogger I respect tremendously a copy of my new book, which he had agreed to review.  He passed it off to his summer intern, which was okay by me, because after all interns are often my target audience and I engage with this age group every day.  Said intern promised to have the review posted by the middle of August.  It’s now mid September, and the intern has presumably gone back to school.  Despite a few gentle nudges, the review was never completed. 

 

I’ve been thinking about contacting the blogger and reminding him of the situation.  I’m sure this blogger would agree to do the review himself at this point, but that would mean sending him another copy of the book and waiting another few months for him to read it.  Like most of you, I’m a busy person, and I’m not sure it’s worth it.  I can’t help being a little annoyed, though. 

 

Delegating responsibility to subordinates is a terrific idea, and in fact you must do it if you are going to be productive and efficient at work.  But delegating does not mean abdicating.  As the supervisor, it’s up to you to keep a close watch on the tasks you give subordinates.  You can’t just hand off an assignment and then forget about it completely.  Rather, you must keep a running status of what your reports are working on, and check in with them regularly to ensure that progress is happening.  Be available to provide guidance and answer questions.  Remember that if your subordinate shirks a task or doesn’t do it correctly, in the end you are the one who will be held accountable.  

Wall Street Fallout: 5 Ways to Take Charge of Your Career Stability

My friend and radio show co-host Lindsey Pollak has a brand new blog over at Fast Company.  Her first, post, 5 Ways to Take More Control of Your Career, comes at a perfect time as we all sit in shock over the demise of long-established, powerful financial institutions Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch. 

 

Many people who would like to change careers don’t, and why?  Because they believe that they are “safer” sticking with an organization that can provide for them in the long-term.   But recent events have shown us that this is a myth, and in fact there is no better time to prepare yourself for a career outside your company box.   Some wise tips from Lindsey include:

 

Be the first to know everything. Set up free keyword news alerts for companies, industries, products, events and people (including yourself!) related to your industry. This will ensure you’re the very first to know about -- and then spread the word about -- new products, new management and new business opportunities. People want to know people in the know.

Be a leader. Not advancing fast enough in your current position? Then create your own leadership track someplace else. Raise your hand to lead a committee for a trade association or a nonprofit board. Leadership in any organization or group adds to your experience, connections and reputation.

Don’t ignore the most obvious networking opportunity. College and grad school alumni networks are among your best lifelong connections. Attend reunions and events, offer to speak on panels, join online networks and send news to your alumni magazine.

Take a writing class. Wonder why the “I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar” group on Facebook has almost 300,000 members? Even in the days of IM, texting and Twittering, writing and speaking skills still matter. Being a great communicator is like being the best dressed person in the room: it commands instant respect and admiration.

Be your own publicist. Success is not just about who you know; it’s about who knows you. Whenever you receive a mention in the media, win an award, get a promotion or close a major deal, announce it on LinkedIn or other professional social networks. Post your announcement with a great professional headshot and the news will spread even faster.

Stay Out of Your Boss’ Political Minefields

I often talk about steering clear of talking politics in the workplace because you never know who you might offend.  This is especially relevant during a presidential election year, when everyone has an opinion and doesn’t hesitate to share it.  Kris Dunn over at the HR Capitalist has some useful tips on how to avoid an uncomfortable conversation with a boss who might be of the opposite political persuasion.

Keep Your Strongest Views Private:  I know, I know, you've got the first amendment on your side.  Doesn't matter, there's no reason to risk falling out of favor because you've got a strong opinion about Iraq, public transit, taxes, etc.  Stick to pop culture, your family and sports.

Tell the Boss You Like to Vote Issues, Not By Party Line: It's true for most of us, and it makes you look like a deep thinker.  Warning: you'll likely have to engage in discussion of said issues.  That means you'll have to back that deep thinker tag up.

Don't Recruit In the Workplace: If you're keeping your strongest views private with the boss, you probably don't want to have the McCain or Obama bumper sticker in your cube or car, or actively participate in across-the-cube banter about how the other party stinks.

Stay Classy When You Get Good Results:  Even if you don't follow the first three rules, never rub the nose of the boss in results negative to his/her professed set of views.  Talking about recent polls, negative events for the party of the boss, and god forbid - election results going your way instead of the bosses - can put you to the back of the depth chart quicker than anything else.

When you think of your first amendment rights, you are absolutely correct.  You have them, and that's a pretty cool thing about America.  With that said, learn from the Dixie Chicks - you can say whatever you want to say, but at the end of the day, people can listen and decide to disengage with you professionally.  Don't put yourself in the crossfire.  Take Kid Rock's advice, and be a moderate in the workplace.

4 Ways to Keep Your Resume Out of the Black Hole

There are so many people applying for jobs these days, it’s difficult even to get your resume read, let alone get invited for an interview.  Some candidates, however, go overboard in the quest for attention, resorting to boldfaced lies about their education and experience in order to make their resumes stand out.  CareerBuilder.com’s Rosemary Haefner has these suggestions for ethically getting your resume to the next stage.

·         Be the first in line. One in five employers said they are receiving more resumes this year than last year.  A good way to break out from the crowd is to be the first one in line. Sign up for e-mail alerts and perform daily searches for jobs in a specific field or industry.

·         Use keywords. Many hiring managers and HR departments are using new technology to review job candidates. Applicant tracking systems scan résumés and provide the managers with a ranking based on keywords in the document.  Among the terms employers searched for most often: "problem-solving and decision making skills," "oral and written communication," "customer service," "retention," "performance" and "productivity improvement," "leadership," "technology," "team-building,"  "project management" and "bilingual."

·         Focus on tangible results. Most hiring managers spend a minute or less looking at resumes.  Think of yours as a written audition and make the most of a limited window of opportunity.  Focus on specific accomplishments and positive outcomes that you achieved in previous positions.

·         Be transparent. If you have a gap in employment periods, explain why. Mention any volunteer work you did or classes you took at these times to show that your skill set is still current and highlight what you have accomplished. People often forget to include volunteer work, part-time jobs and freelance work in a resume, even though that work is often relevant to your career path. If you did not complete a degree, do not claim that you did; college and university attendance is easy to verify.  

Do You Read Between the Lines?

An acquaintance of mine was looking for someone to clean her house once a month.  Because the safety of her home and her family is important to her, this woman held interviews in her home.  She asked the standard questions that one would think to ask a prospective housekeeper, but then she took it a step further.  Although this candidate had been cleaning homes professionally for the better part of 20 years, my friend asked her, as part of the interview, to sweep the kitchen floor and dust the countertops so she could judge the job.  The whole meeting took over two hours. 

 

 

It’s not a totally outrageous request, but no professional likes to have her competence on basic tasks called into question.  If my friend wanted to evaluate her work, she probably should have checked references and then hired her on a trial basis.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the candidate was a little annoyed about how this interview was conducted, but apparently she didn’t say anything.  My friend liked her a lot and thought she had done a great job cleaning, so she called her and offered her the job.  The candidate responded with a two-page, incredibly vitriolic e-mail about how neurotic and OCD my friend was, and how she’d rub burning hot coals in her eyes than work for this family.

 

 

Two things struck me about this situation. The first was that housekeepers, like the stereotype of mailpeople, can apparently be sociopaths.  Who writes an e-mail like that rather than just say “thanks but no thanks”?  The second?  Not only did my friend completely misjudge this woman’s character (she was ready to enthusiastically bring this nutjob into her home and trust her with her children and valuable possessions), but she also totally missed the negativity that the candidate obviously felt toward her during the interview. 

 

People don’t always say what they mean.  We must pay attention to the effect that we have on people, because in-person reactions can be subtle.  It’s not enough to take a person at face value.  We have to read nonverbal cues like facial expressions, how rigidly a person is standing, and whether they are avoiding eye contact.  If in doubt, we need to ask.  Their words might be communicating agreement, but the rest of them could be indicating something else.  It’s in our best interest to know exactly what that “something else” is.