My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
June 2008 archive
A recent Big Time post addressed the issue of strange interview questions are how to handle them. This week, we talk about the opposite - bad interview answers and embarrassing moments.
I came across a Fortune article that covers the subject of dumb job interview moves from candidates. Some of the examples of stupid interview moves include:
"The candidate got his companies confused and repeatedly mentioned the strengths of a competing firm, thinking that was who he was interviewing with."
"A guy called me by the wrong name during the entire interview."
"We're a retail company, and when we asked the candidate why she wanted to work for us, she replied that she didn't want to work in retail anymore."
"An interviewee took his bubble gum out of his mouth and held it in his hand. Then he forgot about it and shook hands with me."
Now, being nervous and giving answers that may not be the most compelling is one thing, but not paying attention and being completely checked out of your surroundings is quite different.
Some interview "errors" are unavoidable, such becoming ill or stumbling over your words. As a matter of fact, recovering from these blunders may actually work in your favor.
If you have made a mistake or blunder, try not to let it derail the rest of your interview. Hiring managers and interviewers are human, and will understand nerves or issues that cannot be avoided. So make up for it as best as possible.
There will be a chance the interview isn't salvageable. If this is the case just chalk it up to experience and move on. Don't beat yourself up over interview mistakes either. Learning from your blunders will help you better prepare for your next interview.
Getting ahead and making an impression is more than producing exceptional work and having a positive attitude. It's also important to stay on top of your industry and know your trade.
By showing your bosses and co-workers that you are "in the know", you are showing a responsibility towards your job and investment in the success of your company.
Sometimes, even the most senior members of your company may not be aware of some of the newest trends and news around your industry, so it's helpful to pass these articles along.
Others will appreciate your initiative, especially if you share important articles and news that may help alter the course of the company or at the very least keep upper management in the loop about a looming trend or industry issue.
One thing to keep in mind though - be selective about how many articles you send out. Everyone is inundated with email, so too many messages may become bothersome and go right to the deleted file. So evaluate what is and isn't the most important to send along. Articles, blog posts and podcasts that may be interesting but not earth-shattering, can be mentioned in staff meetings.
Staying on top of industry and business news not only gives you a leg up at your current job, but it can also help set you apart from other candidates during an interview.
The high cost of living has forced many baby boomers to come out of retirement to once again start earning a paycheck.
Some boomers have yet to retire, choosing to work well into their 60's. For some though, this is an opportunity to work in a field where their job has more meaning than their lifelong career.
USA Today recently published an article about some of the fields that baby boomers are choosing for their second careers, or even choosing to switch to even before retiring. Those fields include health care, teaching, social work and even environmental projects.
Not only do these jobs provide a paycheck, but they also give workers a sense of giving back to the community.
This is also a time for workers who are close to retirement to consider turning a hobby into a product, such as photography or cooking.
For those who are considering a second job, this is a time to be creative...and as the saying goes: "do what you love and love what you do"!
Talking politics at work has always seemed taboo. I know my mother always said that there were two subjects she would never discuss in mixed company: religion and politics.
However, one column points out that politics is no longer an
off limits" topic at work.
This can still be a difficult subject, so keep in mind a few pointers when talking politics:
- Stay objective and keep a level head
- Be willing to listen to others' points of view
- Be respectful
- Keep the conversation light
- When all else fails, steer clear of the conversation all together
All in all, as in any conversation, make sure it is a two-way exchange where both sides have equal opportunity to express their views.
I was searching the Internet the other night and came across the following Quick vote poll conducted on the CNN Web site.
Considering the four answer choices:
1. Happiness
2. Satisfaction
3. A headache
4. A paycheck
How would our readers answer the question - My job gives me....?
Let us know your answer choice, and tell us why.
Think about the last time you had a job interview. Remember what it was like, sitting in the lobby of a building or office, nervous, wondering if you are dressed professionally, thinking about possible questions and how you would answer them.
You are called into the interview. Introduce yourself to the interviewer, hand them your resume, and wait for the questions to start. The first question - If you were a fruit, what kind of fruit would you be and why? Huh!?
Believe it or not, many interviewers are moving towards a trend of asking silly, if not down right weird interview questions. One article points out how strange and tricky questions can be.
So how do you answer these questions? First of all, don't feel bad for being caught off guard. More than likely, this is part of the reason why the interview is asking the question, to see how creative you can be, quick on your feet.
Don't try to be too technical with your answer. If all else fails, take an "easy" approach to answering an odd question. For example with the fruit question, I would probably say an apple (they're my favorite fruit, so when I hear "fruit" I think "apple"). Then I would say, "Because they are versatile, and stand out in a crowd."
There are really no right or wrong answers here, as long as you stay professional and try not to oversimplify your answer. Back to the fruit question, I wouldn't say "Apple... because they are sweet and pretty."
You could also try humor with your answer, as long as it's not offensive. Humor is also tricky because it could fall flat.
What are some of the strangest interview questions you have been asked and how did you answer them? If you are an interviewer, have you ever used these types of questions? What was the reason why you used them and would you continue to ask them?
Q: Dear Seymour, I've been hearing a lot of debate lately about whether or not job boards truly are effective in finding and landing a job. I am currently job searching and would appreciate any insight you may have to offer. Thanks!
- Submitted by Rohan Vargas, Las Vegas, NV
A: Dear Rohan,
Yes, the debate over the effectiveness of job boards is not dying down anytime soon. However, as a job seeker, your best rule of thumb is to use all your job search techniques - which most certainly should include job boards. Online recruitment is a $6 billion industry so it certainly must have some level of effectiveness.
Most job seekers use an average of five different job boards to look for their next opportunity, and that should include using a couple "big boards" like CareerBuilder.com or Monster.com, as well as specialty or niche boards within your profession.
Also, keep in mind that not all job boards are considered equal. Here are the results of a recent survey by Weddles, a major U.S. publisher of print guides to Internet job hunting, where actual job hunters, employers and recruiters rank their favorite job boards:
General Purpose:
- CareerBuilder.com
- CareerJournal.com
- Craigsslist
- Indeed
- Job.com
- Monster
- SimplyHired.com
- Workopolis.com
- Yahoo! HotJobs
For a ranking of niche job boards, visit www.weddles.com.
So remember, job boards should definitely be on your "job search" to do list. Just be sure to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. In addition to job boards, you should be networking, seeking employee referrals, contacting recruiters, and scouring print classifieds.
Good luck!
"We don't mean to burst your bubble, but securing an interview is the easy part. For every one job opening, you can be sure there are more than a handful of workers vying for it. The real challenge is to ace the interview and land the job. So how do you make sure you're the one they remember? Three words: prepare, prepare, prepare."
I wonder how many of our readers wear ties to work on a regular basis? What about pantyhose for women? No doubt that the everyday work environment has become more relaxed, but are dress codes still necessary parts of today's workplace?
An article in the Wall Street Journal explored how different generations view work place dress. Not surprising, more mature workers have a more traditional take on dressing for work than their younger counterparts.
Take for example the subject of pantyhose. The article noted that some female Gen X and Y workers admitted that they have never even owned a pair of pantyhose, much less worn them.
True, workplace casual seems to be implied now. But do some workers take advantage of the "perk"? I say yes. Casual is one thing, but slovenly or unkempt is quite different.
To make sure you understand the limits of your workplace dress code, pay attention to your co-workers and try to emulate their style and how they dress at work. If there are varieties of dress, clarify with your manager or supervisor before being too bold in your attire.
I am interested in knowing about the types of work dress codes our readers' have. Do you work in a traditional work environment with more conservative dress requirements, or does your company fully embrace business casual or less? Also, how many managers have had to discuss inappropriate dress with employees? Are dress codes for work still necessary?
I am looking forward to hearing your take on this subject!
The saying goes that it is better to give than to receive. But when it comes to giving constructive criticism, a good manager always needs to know the best way to deliver their comments without hurting others' feelings or self-esteem.
I think that one of the most difficult jobs of a manager is to give employees a critique that is helpful and can be used to improve daily work habits. I recently read a really good article that offers a few tips about how to deliver constructive criticism to an employee. After reading the article, I thought this would be a good place to add to the list and share some insights.
For starters, if your criticism isn't something pressing that effects the day to day, make a note to bring it up during the employee's review. This is always a good time to bring up areas of improvement. Not only does an employee expect it, but it will be during a meeting where both manager and employee are standing on neutral ground.
Second, try to make it a two-way conversation by asking questions. For example, you might want to consider addressing an issue by saying "I noticed you are struggling with XXX, is there anything a can help you with or giving you advice on?" This shows that you not only are you paying attention to your workers' on a daily basis, but by proactively offering support you build trust for workers to approach you when they may need assistance with their work.
Last but not least, ask your own employees where YOU could improve. By asking their opinions, you show that you are not above taking criticism yourself, and it creates a more cohesive team that is better equipped to not only work together, but improve together.
It's that time of year when vacations are planned and everyone is clamoring for time off.
I came across an article that stated recent survey findings found that "21% had been denied vacation time because a co-worker had already asked for the same days off."
Vacation time off is a very important element to balancing your work schedule, and personal lives. Whether you are planning a week in the islands, or a day at the spa, make sure that you are taking advantage of the time off provided by your employer.
I find the survey referenced above very interesting because I have not heard of employees ever being denied their time off because co-workers had already requested it. However, it does not seem to be an illogical argument for not being able to take your vacation. I have, quite often, known employees who were denied time off because they did not request the time off far enough in advance.
What about our readers...has anyone ever been denied their vacation time because a co-worker or co-workers were already taking time off? If so, what was your solution, or how did it effect your vacation?
