Career Strategy Would you dump your life savings into a single stock? Probably not–it’s far too risky to put all your eggs in one investment basket. Yet you’d be surprised how many people manage their careers with a “single-stock” mindset. They toil away, year after year, investing their talents in a narrow field of interest. Until recently, this approach made a lot of sense. Conventional wisdom dictates that if you […]
Beware of retaliatory strike If your intention to make a job change is sincere and nothing will change your decision to leave, you should still keep up your guard. Unless you know how to handle a negative reaction from your current employer, you may end up psychologically wounded or right back at the job you wanted to leave. The best way to shield yourself from the inevitable mixture of emotions […]
Leaving the job gracefully Imagine a co-worker who trashes his cubicle, plays practical jokes on his replacement and slinks off with the fax machine on his last day of work. Is this a person you’d recommend to a prospective employer? Or expect your company to rehire? Or want to work with again? Probably not. When leaving a job, it’s best to use decorum, whether the move is voluntary or forced. […]
The proper way to resign Once you have accepted a new job, consider the timing of your resignation. Since two weeks’ notice is standard, make sure your resignation properly coincides with your start date at the new company. Try to avoid a delayed start date. Even if your new job begins in 10 weeks, don’t give 10 weeks’ notice. Wait eight weeks and then give two weeks’ notice. This way, […]
Job Changing Strategies There are many deeply personal reasons to change your employment situation. But from a purely strategic point of view, there are four good reasons to change jobs multiple times within the same or similar industry during your first ten years of employment: Broader experience After about three years you’ve learned most of what you’re going to know about your job. But over a ten-year period, you will […]
Evaluating a new job (advantage over old job) Compensation will be a key factor in your decision about whether to accept a new position. However, few people take the time to really understand their economic choices, mostly because there are so many hidden factors, such as cost of living, benefits and so forth. To help you put your choices into perspective, use the following guide to evaluate your prospective compensation […]
Evaluating a job offer Let’s assume your employment interview went well and there’s sincere and mutual interest on both sides. You now need to decide two things: first, whether the new position is right for you; and if so, what sort of offer you’d be willing to accept. To simplify the decision, take the following test as a way to compare the two positions. Position Comparison Guide Directions: Compare the […]
Salary Discussion During the interview there’s a good chance you’ll be asked about your current and expected level of compensation. The following questions show how an interviewer may approach the subject of salary and how you should answer. Question 1: What are you currently earning? Answer: My compensation, including bonus, is in the high-forties. I’m expecting my annual review next month, and that should put me in the low-fifties.Notice the way a […]
Classic Interview Questions Experienced job seekers know the four basic types of interview questions and use them to prepare accordingly. Resume questions These relate to your past experience, skills, job responsibilities, education, upbringing, personal interests and so forth. Resume questions call for accurate, objective answers, since your resume consists of facts that tend to be quantifiable (and verifiable). Try to avoid answers that exaggerate your achievements or sound opinionated, vague […]
What to Ask the Interviewer A job interview will quickly settle into an interrogation or monologue unless you ask some high-quality questions of your own. Candidate questions are vital to any successful interview because they create dialogue and help you understand the company and the position’s responsibilities. The questions you ask also show your grasp of fundamental issues, reveal your ability to probe beyond the superficial, and challenge the employer […]