How To Answer, ‘Have You Ever Been Fired?

The ideas in this article will help you to avoid those mistakes, and will boost your confidence level dramatically. The best strategy to answering to “Have you ever been fired?” in an interview, is to prepare yourself, acknowledge the situation, and move on. Quickly. Here’s where to start:

Process Your Thoughts

In order to talk about what happened calmly, you need to examine the details of what occurred. Write down exactly what transpired, introspectively acknowledging your part in the events that led up to being let go. Perhaps the firing really was unfair, but to answer this question in an interview well, you need to take the time to process the events so that it doesn’t frazzle you when the question is asked.

To best prepare, deal with what makes you nervous before you go in. Wrestling with your darkest employment demons IN an interview will leave you sweating and stumbling over your words. In order not to blow it, be honest with yourself on paper about what happened, what your fears are, and talk things over with a friend. Then, make peace with yourself, and move on.

Talk To Your References

Talk to the people who are in your corner. Ask them what they will talk about if they are called by your target employer. Make sure they have a copy of your resume so that they can have a detailed reminder of your accomplishments.

Next, and this may be a hard one, but call the employer that let you go. Talk to your superior, and acknowledge your role in the termination. State that you have learned from the experience and that you hope to be more successful in your next position. Remind him that you are still looking for work, and ask what he might say about you if he were contacted.

This strategy takes a lot of guts, and it will speak directly to your ability to self-assess, make amends, and strive for improvement. Plus, it diminishes the chances of your previous employer bashing you to the new one.

Show How You Have Grown From The Experience

Determine what can you say to put a positive spin on things. What will make you look more desirable? Perhaps you should have realized sooner that the position was not a good match for your talents. Should have communicated better? Delegated more of your responsibilities?

Think through how your firing has actually turned you into a better leader. Focus on that when developing your answer.

Script Your Answer

To give the most confident response, you will need to write out what you are going to say and rehearse it. Here is a script you can modify with your details to get you through this question and onto the things you really want to talk about — your successes.

“I really enjoyed my work at the ABC Company and gained valuable experience from working there. I was able to improve sales and customer service. I developed a great team through my new hiring initiatives. It’s unfortunate that things didn’t work out because I enjoyed the work. But, I learned that to really be successful, I have to delegate more to my team. So, I took an online course on personality type so that I can better analyze what others’ preferences might be. I know I’ll put that to use. That is what attracted me to your company, you value…”

Then, turn the conversation back toward the new position and how your abilities match what is needed.

Of, course, if they don’t bring it up, you don’t need to volunteer that you were let go. And, NEVER lie or speak negatively about your previous boss, co-workers, or company. Keep it positive and move it toward how it makes you a better candidate today.

4 Tips For An Effective Cover Letter

In this article, we’ll be exploring some strategies for writing cover letters. So, take out your cover letter, dust it off, and let’s go.

The purpose of your cover letter is not to bore the hiring manager with your entire life story, explain and justify every gap in employment, account for your career path, and so on and so forth. Your cover letter has one purpose—and one purpose only: To get the hiring manager’s attention so he reads your resume!

It’s your opportunity to make a great first impression and let him know you deserve his time. Here are a few points to remember to ensure your cover letter is a success:

1. Be concise. Enough said.

2. Be specific. Focus on the specific job opening.

3. Be relevant. What have you done previously that is an exact match for what they need?

4. Showcase, Sell, and Brag – Oh my!  (Just kidding.) Seriously, talk yourself up (but be truthful and professional).

Be sure to reference the specific position in which you are interested, and work the company’s name in there at some point. Also, mention the source where you heard about the position. (It’s always nice as a hiring manager to know which sources bring you the most qualified candidates.)

I know most of you are applying for countless positions every week, and that it takes time to customize each individual cover letter. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… If making five minutes worth of adjustments now saves you days or weeks in your job search, that five minutes will have been well worth it.

Some Friendly Reminders For The Frustrated Job Seeker

Are you frustrated with your job search? If so, you are not alone. There is nothing more frustrating than looking for opportunities when none seem to exist. The following are a few tips the frustrated job seeker should embrace. The advice is simple and often discussed, but also often overlooked. Sometimes, the most basic advice is the most vital.

Stand Out

It is not an easy to stand out in the hiring environment most companies have adopted today. In today’s market, you are competing with many applicants for the same opportunities. You have to think about unique ways to use your resume and cover letter so you can stand out and communicateyour brand effectively.

Know When To Adapt

The biggest mistake job seekers make is not realizing when their resume and/or cover letter is not effective. If you are not getting results, you need to change it up. Do not be afraid to try different formats! I am sure you know everyone has different opinions on resume formatting and content, which means employers will to.

Network

Looking for opportunities? Dig and do not stop digging! You never know where one will show up. Remember your job search needs to go beyond the internet to be more effective. NETWORK! Do not be afraid to let everyone you know that you are looking for opportunities.

Send an e-mail to anyone who might know someone who might have a job opening. You will be surprised how many leads you can find by letting people know you are in the job market. You will find that people really do want to help you. Network, network and network. Did I say network? If you do not ask no one can help you. Search everyday!

Job Search Everyday

Try to do something career related once a day, if not more. If you stop job searching your results will be delayed. Apply for opportunities that you meet most of the requirements. Employers always advertise a laundry list of qualifications and requirements. They would like to find the perfect person to match every qualification, but employers know this person does not exist. They are looking for someone who closely matches and someone who will fit well into the culture.

Get The Interview Basics

When you go in for an interview make sure you are on time, prepared and researched the company you are interviewing with. Do not rely on just the company’s website for information. Be savvy! Use Google, Yahoo Finance, and Business Journals. This will show the employer how serious you are.

Come prepared with extra resumes and have copies of your references ready to go. The goal is to demonstrate your professionalism to the employer.

5 Key Rules For Career Changers

We see recent graduates testing the water frequently. They graduate with a specific degree and career path in mind – to be a journalist, a white-collar crime analyst, a genetics researcher, and so on. They land an entry-level position and soon realize it’s not the career they expected.

For recent graduates and individuals just starting a career, making a change in one’s career path is not as challenging as it is for those who have established themselves as an experienced professional in their field(s). Many employers understand the drivers of this change. Some even see early professionals make several changes within the first five years of graduation. They realize the positions sought after by most often by entry-level professionals may be considered a learning phase, so employers are not as critical about the change of heart.

However, it’s a different story for candidates who have established themselves in a particular career. Whether you are someone who has started a career and left to be a stay-at-home parent, were laid off, or have lost the passion behind a particular career path, making a career change has its challenges and employers are more critical.

Off the bat, employers will question the interest to change careers mid-way and whether you have thoughtfully processed what a change in career may mean. Often times, there will not be an opportunity for a lateral move and the pay scale may be different. Other questions employers may have will concern whether you have transferable skills from your previous experience.

5 Key Rules For Career Changers

Faced with the various challenges of a career change, be prepared to address the questions that will come your way by following some simple rules of advice. You’re going to need a different approach to impress potential employers. Here are five rules for career changers:

1. Identify Your Transferable Skills

Identify 3-6 important transferable skills from your previous career the employer will want to see out of a job candidate for the position. You can identify what skills are desired for a particular position by reviewing related job postings. You will notice a common list of skills employers tend to highlight for the position.

2. Focus On Skills Vs. Positions You’ve Held

While most job candidates may showcase the positions they’ve held and highlight companies they’ve worked for, it will likely be irrelevant to an employer in your case. Immediately out to the gate, you need to focus on the transferable skills you have on your cover letter, resume, and discussion with the potential employer. Whether it is leadership, project management, budgeting, writing, or other skills, that needs to be your focus.

3. Demonstrate How The Skills Were Applied

Maintain focus to express specifically how the skills were used and applied in your previous jobs and how you can see it apply in this new career. As tempting as it may be to discuss other skills you used and were successful at in your previous job, if it is irrelevant, it will add no value. In fact, discussing irrelevant skills for a position dilutes your message to the potential employer.

4. Obtain Needed Skills And Knowledge

If at all possible, obtain some of the essential skills you will need with this new career before leaving your old one. If your employer offers education-assistance benefits, make use of the opportunity to obtain necessary skills that are transferable. Some employers only permit courses of relevance to your particular career and may require you obtain a minimum grade level, in addition to a commitment to stay employed with the company for a certain amount of time after the completion of a course, to be reimbursed.

Also, take the time to read up on the industry and field of business the employer is involved with. Be familiar with terms commonly used in that line of business. Each field has their own lingo and you will impress the employer when they can see you are up-to-date with what’s happening in their world.

5. Find A Mentor

Knowing someone already in the field is one the most beneficial things you can have in the process of a career change. A mentor can give you the inside scoop on what it’s like to work in a particular field, address the essential skills to have to be successful, and introduce you to important contacts or information to look for in potential job opportunities.

Many things in life change and while it may feel risky to make a career change mid-way, it is a step one should take having thoroughly reviewed and evaluated what the change may mean. It’s important to feel satisfied and fulfilled by one’s career, especially when one will end up spending most of the day in this environment.

When making a career change, you need to understand what sacrifices need to be made, which may include catching up on necessary knowledge and skills for a particular field, rebuilding a contacts list from scratch and, possibly, taking a pay cut and starting as a lower level.

If you are confident about your decision for a career change, willing to face the challenges to succeed in a new career and can demonstrate to potential employers you can apply what you already know and continue to learn and advance, you will make leaps over the hurdles of a career change.

Internships increasingly used as a route into legal profession

International practice and new recruitment policies at home have seen work internships become highly sought after by law students looking to secure employment after graduation.

Many of the State’s top legal firms now recruit through internship channels, taking on students for periods of about four weeks, and then – if they qualify through the process – offering them training contracts, which tend to run for upwards of three years.

Career advantage
Undergrads have come to recognise the career advantages of placements and, as Jane Babb from Arthur Cox points out, have started to demand more schemes. Babb runs Arthur Cox’s trainee programme and says a recent decision to increase their internship programme was “probably us reacting to what the students want” – and what the students want is experience.

“They may well be looking for that experience because more of them are doing international programmes in the States and they’re in JD [juris doctor] classes where doing internships is the norm and, indeed, where doing an internship that leads to an associate position is the norm,” Babb says. “They have kind of brought that back and normalised it here.”

University law departments also encourage their students to seek internships and in many cases facilitate them in doing so.

Seán Ó Conaill lectures in constitutional law at UCC, where work placements form an integral part of undergraduate law courses. He says the pathways to a legal career have changed since the collapse of the Celtic Tiger.

“Traditionally the way it worked was a family vocation: your father is a solicitor so you’ll be a solicitor and you’ll get the traineeship with his firm.”

Now firms are a bit more discerning about whom they take on. Internships give employers the opportunity to see the student in action and assess their potential, leading to a possible training contract offer.

“A training contract for a law firm is a 3½-year commitment and it costs these firms upwards of €100,000 between fees and whatever they’ll be paying you,” Ó Conaill says, “so they want to be sure that they’ll be doing the right thing and they can’t be sure of that without seeing you in the office.”

He adds: “If you look at how the law firms are recruiting, they’re all recruiting through internships. They have the summer internship, the third-year internships and then they’ll do the recruitment from that pool . . . so it’s vital.”

Compulsory internships
Ó Conaill, who also heads the law and Irish programme in University College Cork, believes internships should be compulsory for anyone hoping to go on and practise law or work in a related field. They provide good hands-on experience and also remove students from the relative comfort of the university library.

For this reason, he is particularly enthusiastic about international placements. A number of his students go to Montana in the United States where they get to work with a federal judge.

“These are things that stand out to employers and show that these people can work outside their comfort zone.”

Cathal O’Hagan (21) from Monaghan has just completed final year in NUI Galway where he was auditor of the university’s law society.

He studied corporate law and says internships are “brilliant”, but points out that paid ones are much more desirable. “There’s two kinds of internships; there’s paid and there’s unpaid and that is a very big difference.” The larger firms tend to offer paid schemes but most placements are unpaid.

Some students from poorer backgrounds, O’Hagan argues, cannot afford to take unpaid internships as it would mean working for four weeks and receiving no remuneration.

They provide valuable experience, of course, but for him an unpaid position is “simply not an option”. So he is off to China for a year, to teach English and save some money.

When he returns he will probably apply for a scheme.

Placements are almost de rigueur for students now and O’Hagan sees them as “another step on the ladder”, but Babb stresses that they are not the only route to a career in law.

Competition for places at the top firms is intense – Arthur Cox generally offers positions to about 2.5 per cent of applicants. For those who don’t make the cut, Babb says, an internship is not a prerequisite for getting a trainee position.

It does help though.

“If they have come through that interview process,” she says, “and if they have done well here, we would be more than happy to make them offers immediately at the end of the intern programme.”

8 Issues Of Manners In Today’s Business World

This post looks at the importance of manners in the business world, as well as some of the rudeness that exists in today’s business world and among today’s business people.

She should have been a football tackle – The woman who almost knocked me down as I was trying to get off the elevator on the first floor. She, like so many other people who don’t get it, barged into the elevator before the people already on the elevator were off.

Now, this isn’t just a manners issue. It is a simple logic issue. It makes logical sense to let people get OUT of the elevator before you try to get IN the elevator. But so many people are so narcissistic that they only see their need to get ON the elevator as quickly as possible to accomplish their oh-so-important mission.

The other day, I saw someone deliberately rush for an elevator so she wouldn’t have to wait for the man in the wheelchair wheeling himself over to get on. This goes beyond rude to unconscionable.

But elevators are not the only place where poor manners are displayed. Here are a few of the issues of manners in today’s business world, and some suggestions for the way things should be:

“Uh-Huh” Or “Sure” Are NOT Appropriate Responses To “Thank You”

This is one that irritates me a great deal. Someone cares enough, and is polite enough to say “Thank you,” and all you can do is GRUNT at them? Grow up. “You’re welcome,” “Anytime,” or “My pleasure” are perfectly acceptable responses. A grunt simply identifies you as having been raised in a barn.

Cell Phones Are Not For Restaurants

I understand that there are important calls that must be taken. Answer the call if you must, and indicate that you will call back in a few minutes, in an hour, or whatever. Then, go to a place where your loud phone voice (and, by the way, possibly confidential business) won’t be overheard by everyone and ruin their lunch.

Oh, and while this is not a business thing — if you have very young children and bring them to a nice restaurant (anything above, say, McDonalds) please take your offspring out of the restaurant if they start to scream, throw temper tantrums, or pound on the table. Some of us are trying to have a nice lunch with a friend, conduct business, or get to know someone. The general rule for restaurants and other public places is: if it will disturb other people in that place, don’t do it.

Approach Conflict With Courtesy

I’m amazed at how many people simply go off the deep end when there is a business or personal disagreement. It simply shows poor upbringing to threaten to sue someone, scream at them, or be rude to them, even if you disagree. There are many sides to every issue, and a good businessperson doesn’t automatically assume he or she is right or threaten the lawyers. This is a sign of gross immaturity. Unfortunately, too many people with this attitude are in business these days. But almost all conflict can be resolved courteously and with compromise.

Answer Idiots Softly

If you do wind up with someone screaming at you or threatening lawsuits or mob contracts, don’t let YOUR ego get in the way. Answer softly and with reason. My dad used to tell me never to argue with a fool because people walking by wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. It remains excellent advice.

Be Courteous To Everyone

I won’t do business with someone who is rude to the waiter or waitress, or orders others around. Even if the service is terrible, take it up with the manager. This doesn’t mean you should let people be rude to you either, however. But there are ways of setting boundaries that are polite and acceptable. Set the boundaries, but remain courteous. “Waitperson” and “CEO” are simply roles we play in life. All of us, however, are human and everyone deserves to be treated as such.

Show Respect To Others

Learn the proper ways of being respectful to others, such as rising when a woman comes to or leaves the table, standing for a superior or business colleague, and so on, and do them unless you have a physical disability that prevents it.

Be Kind To Others

I notice an increasing impatience for those who are elderly, dealing with a temporary or permanent disability, or just a little slower than others. Remember that you, too, will be someday be elderly, might be disabled, and might not always live life in the fast lane. Don’t push by the elderly or disabled in your hurry to live your life.

If you must hurry, politely excuse yourself as you pass… slowly and with caution. I had some foot surgery last year and, when I was recovering, I didn’t move very fast. I had more than one rude person almost bowl me over in their rush to get past me and get on with their oh-so-important errand. Unless you’ve an emergency worker answering a call there is very little that won’t wait another few seconds for you to be courteous and kind. Not doing so simply marks you as a boor who shouldn’t be allowed in polite company.

Don’t Text

Texting when you’re in a seminar, a class, at a meal, or in an appointment is normally inexcusable unless it has to do with the meeting itself. For example, when I meet with a client, I will look up names of people or other information that might be helpful to that client on my laptop. But I’m not texting with my friends, I’m working for the client.

The basic rule of thumb here is something that has been lost in America. That rule is to consider the feelings and needs of others as being equal with one’s own. Stop and think of others first rather than making yourself the center of the Universe. You aren’t.

Mind your manners and treat others with respect and courtesy.

The Real Reason Some Employers And Applicants Stink At Interviewing

What’s the real reason some employers and applicants stink at interviewing? We’ll tackle both of these groups in this article in a moment, but first, let’s think about your career history.

Have you ever bombed an interview?

Or, have you had an experience where the people on the other side of the table made you want to run away from the job, based on their behavior/dynamics?

What about this gem:

Ever walked into an interview only to see the interviewers obviously scrambling at the last minute trying to skim yourresume… giving the impression they haven’t even looked at it until you sat down?

Chances are, you have.

Let me be clear: professional HR departments, recruiters, and head hunters aside, the rest of hiring interviews are conducted by people who think they have a clue about hiring…but really don’t. Most of these people are small to medium business owners and managers who have never had any formal training in how to hire someone.

And it shows.

There are tons of online articles about interviews gone wrong, both from a company and applicant perspective.

On the employer side, usually the root problem is that the interviewer quite frankly doesn’t know what they are doing and ends up blundering around. Spectacularly, even.

Inappropriate or illegal questions, poor preparation in advance of the interview, lack of internal communication about prospective candidates, internal problems that come boiling to the surface, or just plain wacky behavior all count as interview fails in the employer column.

Or it could seem fairly normal until the interview gets underway. Suddenly, the dynamics change and the situation becomes a power struggle – who has the job vs. who wants the job, or who has the skill assets vs. the company which desperately needs them.

Applicants, on the other hand, fail horrendously for the most part because of one major factor: They don’t have a sense of their own value. Throughout all of my client interviews, I always throw out the question: Why should someone hire you, and guess what?

Most people fumble on this question.

If you can’t tell someone why they should hire you (and therefore know your value), how do you expect them to buy what you are selling as a potential employee?

Prospective employees also fail on other fronts including failing to prepare / do due diligence prior to the interview, exuding self-entitlement, lack of an ability to answer questions concisely and clearly, and not connecting their experience to the job opening.

But the real reason why many of these job interviews end up stinking so much beyond all the points mentioned above (and more) is for one reason:

Employers and applicants fail to think of an interview as a CONVERSATION.

There is so much pressure put on people to perform and keep what’s at stake a top-of-mind that the conversation simply doesn’t take place. It becomes an ugly battleground where some of the worst things come out.

To make the interview experience a conversation, think about how you might meet someone and develop a friendship. Obviously, what’s at stake in a workplace is greatly different than a friendship, but the concepts are the same:

1. What do you have in common?
2. How can you help / benefit each other?
3. Do you like each other?
4. How will you interact and keep a solid, mutually beneficial connection going?
5. What would you like to do together in terms of goal achievement?
6. What kind of team and tools will help you achieve the goals?

When an employer and applicant come to consensus aninterview is really a conversation or business meeting, the pressure is off and a real connection can begin.

How To Stop Your Resume From Becoming Spam

Today’s more sophisticated e-mail systems often look for certain characteristics in e-mail text and in any e-mail attachments. Unfortunately, words or graphics that may be perfectly appropriate in some cases can cause spam filters to stop your e-mail, thus rendering your resume “never received.”

As crazy as it may seem, totally innocent words can create problems for spam filters. Consider the alternate meanings of these words (as examples) and how spam filters would likely block your resume if it contained them:

• Free
• Expand
• Trial
• Mortgage
• Cum (like cum laude)
• Unusual fonts or colors
• Dollar amounts
• HTML formatting in your e-mail (vs. flat text)

Many of the words above could easily relate to common spam schemes like pharmaceuticals, obscene text, online scams, and the like.  The end result may be your address or even your overall ISP appearing on a blacklist or a white list.

In the above examples, you could substitute “summa cum laude” with “high honors” or “with honors.”

Attachments can also create issues as many viruses and spyware programs are delivered by bogus attachments. You may consider creating a flat text resume and cutting and pasting it into the body of your resume, along with yourcover letter, to avoid this issue. You will lose some aesthetics, but it’s better than not being seen at all.

Be sure to use the subject line to accurately describe what you’re sending – for example, “highly adept project manager with CRM experience” – this will help to not have the recipient automatically delete your e-mail.

Networking with the recipient beforehand can help to get your e-mail read, especially if your resume is unsolicited. There are just too many e-mails in a day for most people these days, and an unsolicited resume isn’t likely to be noticed. If you must apply quickly, send the e-mail, and follow-up with a phone call or hard copy of your resume as this will increase the odds of it being seen.

Sending your resume as a PDF attachment may also help as it’s far less likely it will trigger spam filters; however, the downside is many automated resume software programs cannot open PDF files.

Striking The Perfect Balance On Your Resume

Have you ever heard someone suggest the only way to get a job today is to lie on yourresume? I’ve heard several people say this over the last few years. That said, consider this: I’ve also heard just about every recruiter and hiring manager I know complain they are tired of reading resumes that dramatically overstate a candidate’s qualifications for a job.

Little White Lies: Who’s Going To Know?

Some job seekers think the goal of a resume is to get them a job. In reality, a resume is a tool designed to get you an interview. It is then up to you to actually “close the deal” and get the job during the interview. By listing experience on your resume you’re inviting an interviewer to ask you more about it. When you fabricate experiences you don’t really have, it becomes readily apparent when an interviewer presses you for more details.

Overstating Your Case

Sometimes, job seekers don’t intend to be misleading on their resumes, but they don’t know how to describe their previous experience both truthfully and impressively. This is where hiring a professional resume writer can be especially helpful. It’s important to hire a writer who will take the time to conduct a personal interview with you; professional resume writers are trained to make your experiences sound as impressive as possible. You don’t want the person who must evaluate you based only upon what he has to read to inadvertently overestimate your abilities or qualifications.

Underselling Your Product

In contrast, job seekers who do a personal consultation with a professional resume writer often find that they have unintentionally been underselling their professional qualifications. Having someone else on the outside looking in will create a whole new vantage point and can frame your experience in a way you never previously considered. We often hear clients say, “I’ve done all of that, I can’t believe I never thought of that before.”

No matter how much experience you have, there’s a way to successfully—and truthfully—market your accomplishments on your resume. It’s just being able to find the balance between impressive, uniquely qualified and not overstating accomplishments you can’t back up in an interview later.

Bring Some Summertime Into The Office

Being stuck in a stuffy old office is no fun in the summertime, especially when you know how sunny and warm it is outside. It’s hard to focus at work when all you can think about is hitting the beach, soaking up some rays, or getting your grill on. So, how can employees make the best of the summer months while they are chained to their desk five days a week?

Here are six ways to capture a little summer and put it in your cubicle:

Take Some Beach

Are you a beach bum? Grab some seashells, sea glass, or sand and make your own desktop beach! Get a little creative: mix all of them in a clear vase and place it next to your computer screen. No sunblock needed.

Indulge A Little

What were your favorite summertime foods as a kid? Corn dogs? Grab a pack of microwavable ones to make in the office kitchen. Ice cream? Pick up a mini cup of Ben & Jerry’s and take five at your desk. Hey, it’s summer, right? You deserve few guilty pleasures.

Put Up Summer Art

Whether it’s a painting of the sun, a photo of the beach, or an ornament from your garden, a little summer art can really brighten up your office (and even your mood).

Smell The Ocean

Next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up a summer-scented air freshener. When you’re having a brain freeze at work, take five minutes, close your eyes, and imagine a relaxing place while smelling your favorite summer scents.

Get A Plant

It’s no palm tree, but having a little desk plant can add some life to your work space. Flowers are always a nice addition to the office, but perhaps you should get an aloe plant so you can treat that sunburn you go over the weekend?

Opt For Iced Tea

Need the caffeine but want something more refreshing than coffee? Pour yourself a nice, cold glass of iced tea. Don’t forget the lemon!

20 Inconvenient Career Truths

This post was inspired by Charlie Gilkey’s genius article, “20 Inconvenient Business Truths.” I read it and realized, in career coaching, I share inconvenient truths with my clients on a regular basis. I know it’s sometimes hard to hear these things but, in the end, they make you stronger. Here are 20 inconvenient career truths you should know about and learn from:

1. Almost everyone starts at the bottom. Regardless of what you think you deserve, you probably will, too.
2. There are no “right” answers for finding career fulfillment. Every path is different; every destination unique.
3. It’s not enough to be good at what you do. Talent and skill will only take you so far.
4. Work is not separate from the rest of your life. Compartmentalization is a myth.
5. Professional growth requires discomfort.
6. If you’re unhappy with your career, it’s up to you to change it. No one else controls your situation.
7. Almost every job has a trade off. You’ll probably never get everything you want in one place.
8. Achieving long-term career goals requires sustained effort and deliberate action. It’s no accident or coincidence.
9. Your career is about YOU.
10. A successful job search should take anywhere from three to six months. It’s not something that happens overnight.
11. If you hate your job, it probably won’t get better with time. Sticking around because you’re afraid will only dig you deeper into the rut.
12. Just as any successful business owner has a business plan, every successful professional should have a career plan.
13. Money may be the reason you have to work, but it’s not the true motivation. People who wake up with joy each day are working for entirely different reasons. Money is simply a byproduct.
14. Bad career advice is everywhere. If it sounds too simple to be true, it probably is.
15. If you find yourself job hopping and nothing ever satisfies you for any period of time, it’s time to look at yourself. Most likely, you’re part of the problem.
16. Every company has that person who gets away with slacking off, takes all the credit, earns more than she deserves, etc. The good news is that she’s not your problem. Let it go.
17. If you’re not willing to invest in your career, why would any company be willing to invest in you?
18. Most people change careers 3-7 times in their lives. That doesn’t mean you will.
19. Layoffs happen. You may get fired. You may be “forced out” for reasons beyond your control. You’ll survive, and you’ll be stronger for it.
20. No one achieves career success alone. The most successful professionals nurture their networks, show support and give more than they expect to get.

4 Tips For Avoiding Conflict In The Workplace

Sometimes, avoiding conflict in the workplace can be difficult. However, it’s extremely doable. Here’s a personal example:

While at work one day, I received an instant message from a colleague.

It read, “Do you have a minute to chat?”

“Of course,” I responded.

Instantly, the phone rang.

To be honest, I assumed this would be a routine call pertaining to a joint proposal thisco-worker and I were collaborating on, and so I was a bit blindsided by what followed.

“I came across a post you wrote recently about rolling your eyes in a meeting,” she said. “And I just wanted to ask if you were writing about me.”

Awkward silence.

The truth is, I did write a post about a meeting where I had behaved uber-immaturely and, yes, she was the voice on the phone.

I explained the situation:  I was rolling my eyes at the characteristically bureaucratic nature of corporate decision-making and the post was about my mistake and not her.

She listened politely, seemed genuinely interested in the root cause of my ire, and we hung up the phone. But here’s the catch: rather than feel defensive or put on the spot, I felt fine.

No drama. No hurt feelings. No lingering doubts or suspicions.

Now, let’s contrast this to how she could have handled the situation, shall we? Upon reading my post, she could have…

• Silently sulked, but not said a word. (Of course, every time she saw me from that point on she would secretly have negative blog flashbacks.)
• Publicly sulked by trashing me to everyone BUT me.
• Forwarded the post to a few mutual colleagues with colorful commentary such as, “Who does this *$&^ think she is?”

To her credit, she didn’t choose any of the above (all-too-common) options.

In fact, I wanted to use this post to highlight exactly what she did right, so you’ll know how to handle it if you ever find yourself in a similarly sticky situation.

1. She Came Directly To Me

Most people don’t like conflict, and so they avoid it at all costs. Therefore, it takes an incredible amount of maturity to go to the person who has “offended” you and clear the air in person. (It’s obviously FAR easier to talk about them behind their back, and that’s why the majority go that route.)

2. She Reached Out To Make Sure It Was A Good Time To Talk

Since this could have been an emotional conversation (remember: she didn’t know how I would react), it was smart to make sure I wasn’t under a deadline or otherwise distracted.

3. She Approached The Call From A Standpoint Of Confusion

(“I wasn’t sure if you were talking about me”) versus accusation (“I can’t believe you said that about me.”) This subtle distinction made all the difference, i.e. rather than feel attacked, I felt camaraderie and we actually hung up the phone closer as team members than before.

4. Once She Got To Bottom Of My Issue, She Offered To Help

Can you imagine? Here she thought I was visibly disrespecting her (in front of her boss, mind you) and she ends the call by asking if there’s anything she can do to help make my life easier. Whoa!

In our reality-TV driven culture, where we are all so immersed in conflict, short fuses, and a general lack of civility, it’s nice to see some people still value and respect maturity. You would be wise to follow my colleague’s example. (And I’m not just saying that because I know she reads my blog now.)

MPA Vs. MBA Programs: Which Is Right For You?

Because both a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) focus on organizational management, students who want to work in the public sector are sometimes unsure about which professional degree to choose. If you have a passion for nonprofit organizations and want to enhance your skills and experience with an advanced degree, then it’s important to take a close look at the pros and cons of MPA vs. MBA programs.

Although there is some overlap in the coursework for these two degrees, there is a key difference in program focus. An MBA program provides training in private sector management. The success of a private business is primarily measured by its profitably, so business schools are geared towards training future managers to make as much money as possible. The emphasis is on economics, finance, and marketing, preparing students to lead business organizations where profit generation is the goal.

In contrast, an MPA program concentrates on management of nonprofit and public sector organizations. The mission of these organizations is to serve humanity and improve the social condition. Managers in public sector organizations need to understand that the success of their organization is difficult to measure. They also must be prepared to make trade-offs between the demands of competing groups of citizens and government agencies.

Another key difference between private businesses and public sector organizations is how they obtain funding for their continued operation. In the case of private businesses, funding is a component of profit generation. Public sector organizations are usually funded by donations, foundations, and government grants. An MPA program will provide the skills needed to obtain this specific funding.

In the end, MBA programs concentrate on the economic market while MPA programs are concerned with working towards social solutions. There is a world of difference between making an individual company or corporation more profitable and leading an organization that’s trying to make the world a better place.

If you’re determined to make positive changes in the world, an MPA degree provides the skills and knowledge to make your idealism a reality. An MPA will provide the training needed to navigate through the complex nonprofit environment, as well as providing opportunities to think about solving problems with immeasurable outcomes that are faced by public sector organizations.

There are also some practical considerations to take into account when choosing between an MBA and MPA degree. PublicServiceCareers.org reports that tuition fees for MPA programs are often much lower than business school fees. Business schools rarely offer financial aid and many graduates incur large amounts of student loan debt. Financial aid and grants are available for MPA students. There are also student loan forgiveness programs that allow graduates to repay student loan debts with a few years of public service employment.

An MPA degree may also provide more career flexibility. Most business school graduates stay in the private sector for their entire career, while MPA graduates can move between public, nonprofit and private sector employment. In addition, MBA graduates who want to work in the public sector may have a harder time finding employment since their academic background provided limited exposure to public policy subjects.