Supercharge Your Job Interview With A 30-60-90-Day Plan

In the past, 30-60-90-Day Plans were used only for sales job interviews, but now, job seekers in all white-collar jobs (including the medical/healthcare arena, insurance and financial fields, accounting, law, administrative assisting, sales, project management and more) are using 30-60-90-day plans in the interview to get job offers. Many report that they are getting offers within minutes of interviewing, and sometimes they are getting job offers for higher-level positions (at higher salaries) than what they actually interviewed for.

Why do 30-60-90-Day Plans make such a positive impact in your interview?

In the interview, the hiring manager is looking for you to prove four things:

1. You understand the job.
2. You can do the job.
3. You will do the job.
4. You pose no risk to his or her own continued employment with that company. (They are judged, among other things, by the quality of their hires.)

This is why interviews can feel so much like interrogations with you in the hot seat. The interviewer is trying to get to know you better, but is also looking for your fatal flaw so he or she can avoid making the mistake of hiring you. His or her job performance depends on your job performance, so making a good choice here is incredibly important.

Your 30-60-90-day plan will:

• Elevate your conversation far beyond what others (your competition) are talking about in their interviews, and alleviate the fears they naturally have about you
• Make you stand out far above others who are interviewing for the job
• Prove that you can do the job, by showing the goals you set and exactly how you will hit them
• Show how hiring you will ultimately benefit him or her, as your boss
• Help him or her ‘see’ you in the role, which puts them half way to making you the offer
• Create a discussion of your ideas to solve his or her problems, which psychologically moves them to see you as a partner, not an opponent (someone who could hurt his or her job performance)

This is why you need to bring a 30-60-90-Day Plan to your next interview.

Prepare For Bad Interview Questions

One of the guarantees I’d be willing to make with any job seeker is that you’ll be asked unusual, strange, weird, and possibly illegal questions during an interview. I’ve surveyed several audiences of job seekers over the years and, in the majority of cases, more than half the audience was asked what appeared to be an illegal, personal question. However, equally concerning – and unfair to job seekers – are the strange questions that are asked. The reasons for this appear to be several:

• Many interviewers base their questions of some “favorite question” they think makes it certain they’ll make a good hiring decision.
• Some interviewers believe that asking “clever” questions make the candidates uneasy and shake them from their “canned” answers.
• Most interviewers, particularly the hiring managers, conduct interviews infrequently.
• Despite the popularity of interviewing skills as a training topic, the majority of people conducting interviews are untrained.

The bottom line is that there is a very high likelihood you will be asked bad questions by an untrained interviewer. Based on my informal polls of audiences ranging from college students to active job seekers, it is close to certainty.

In a previous series of articles, I analyzed the “favorite” interview questions of several executives. I also provided how some of the bad questions could be answered. That is the answer to this reality. To address the problem of bad questions, you simply need to be prepared. And even though you cannot prepare for all the possible bad questions out there, you’ll discover that if you’ve practiced providing great answers to good questions, you’ll also discover that you’ve learned how to answer even some of the worst of the bad questions. Here’s one: “What color are you?”

10 Things To Remove From Your Resume

The phrase “less is more” has often been used for design purposes, but it can apply just as well to your resume.

The point is to keep only information on your resume that is clear, simple and that supports your brand/message. It is a balance of having just enough information to draw the interest of an employer, while leaving room for you to further explain during an interview.

The more irrelevant information you add to your resume, the more it dilutes your key message. Employers today also look right through fluff words and are rather annoyed by them.

So, you ask, “How can I power up my resume and make sure it contains the precise balance of information?” Consider the following things to remove from your resume:

1. Replace the “Objective” statement on your resume with “Professional Profile.”

Employers today are not that interested in what you want. Your opening paragraph needs to be a strong message that summarizes your background and indicates what you are best at. That creates a theme that is then followed by your ‘proving’ that you are great at these things by showcasing supporting accomplishments in each job.

2. Eliminate superfluous or “fluff” words.

I can’t tell you how many resumes start with “Dynamic visionary…” I call these fluff statements as anyone can make them and they add no real value to your resume. Keep your message on point and stick to the facts. If you want to express these traits, demonstrate it with what you have achieved or accomplished.

3. Watch your grammar.

Sentences in resumes are written like headlines and are in the first person. In other words, the statement “I am known for consistently exceeding my sales quotas” becomes “Known for consistently exceeding sales quotas.” Another one of the biggest mistakes when writing a resume is when people mix first person and third person. For example, although “Easily learns new software” sounds right, that is the third-person (“she learns”) and should really be “Easily learn” (“I learn”). Small but important point, as you do want your resume to be grammatically correct.

4. Include one telephone number rather than multiple numbers.

If you must list more than one number, make sure to specify under what conditions the other numbers should be used.

5. Do not include discriminating information.

Avoid information that can lead one to discriminate against you, including age, sex, religion, marital status, and ethnicity.This includes the use of photos that should never be on a resume unless your face is an important part of your job (e.g. modeling, TV, etc.). In fact, some employers are forced to ignore your resume if it contains such information because of the chance that they may be accused of discrimination later in the process.

6. Keep information on your education specific to the degree received, major, institution attended, and if appropriate, your GPA.

You do not need to reveal your graduating year, the institution(s) you transferred out of or high school attended.

7. Include only experiences that are relevant to the job.

Employers are not interested in achievements or abilities that are not applicable to the job. If you are in sales and you helped develop an Access database to track supplies, that’s nice, but not relevant. Also be cautious about listing your associations or volunteer work that is irrelevant or may be in conflict with the potential employer.

8. Eliminate technical skills for basic software programs.

Most employers today expect you to be familiar with the basic computer programs, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

9. Do not include references unless requested.

Employers today expect you to offer references when requested, which is typically during the latter part of the interview process. A top five Peeve of recruiters is seeing “References available upon request” on the resume. Do you really know anyone who would refuse to give references?

10. Maintain a reasonable length for your resume.

If you are a recent graduate, most employers do not expect your resume to be more than one page. However, if you have had considerable professional experience that your resume should be two to three pages. Note the notion all resumes should be one page is not true especially in this market. Resumes need to have enough detail to support your positioning so a two to three page resume is acceptable. I always tell my clients a resume has to have a compelling message and be easy to read, so after you have tightened up your content, format it to have a decent amount of white space.

Finding the right balance of information for your resume can make it impactful. It’s not about how long or short your resume is or how many employers you’ve worked for, but finding the right information and words to present it in the best light to demonstrate that you have the specific experiences and skills the employer is seeking.

So, keep in mind the phrase, “less is more” when creating or updating your resume.

5 Ways To Deal With An Incompetent Boss

To make sure we’re on the same page about dealing with an incompetent boss and not just a way to be nasty about your bad boss, let’s get on the same page. An incompetent person is someone who is functionally inadequate or insufficient in knowledge, skills, judgment, or strength.

If this is what you’re talking about then you’re right, they are incompetent. It happens. In other words, the boss doesn’t know squat about being a manager and probably knows little to nothing about the area of work you do.

While it can be frustrating to have an incompetent boss, an incompetent boss can seriously damage or derail your career. If they do have a serious lack of knowledge, we know that they can do nothing to grow you as an employee which means any growth will be yours to make happen. Let’s look at the potential damage they can inflict and what you can do to minimize or avoid.

Career Impact:

Bad decisions – Because they don’t know your work, the decisions they make can have an impact they are clueless about. They lack insight and understanding. This means the impact to you can range from cleaning up a mess to putting you in a position that makes you look like you tanked the business. It can make you lose precious time and focus or even get fired.

Bad direction – We look for our boss to provide direction in the form of “how to” all the way to yearly planning. When the boss is incompetent, their directions can be bad or pointless often leaving important issues untouched.

Bad support – Our boss can be the single biggest supporter of our career trajectory but if they are clueless about the nature of your work, they may be supporting either the wrong things or person. You can’t expect them to really know or understand if you’re delivering well. They may be a roadblock to your career or simply no help.

When you have an incompetent boss, you do have to think through how this person functions in order to use whatever strengths they do have to your advantage or minimally avoid career limiting outcomes. Let’s look at some of the things you can do to prevail with an incompetent boss:

1. ‘Up Level’ yourself.

In other words, leadership can come from you. If you know your area well enough, there is no reason to not go ahead creating and pursuing a direction you know will achieve results good for your company. People that do this are naturally followed by their peers as an informal leader. Management, although maybe not your direct boss, will notice your initiative. Of course, you don’t want to do something that undermines the boss, so keep them in the loop.

2. Figure out the problem spots.

The boss’s incompetence is annoying, but it usually impacts you and others in specific ways. Try to observe what those are and make a plan to counteract the problem. I once had an incompetent boss; the biggest issue was that he would sometimes make decisions for the group I managed that were ill considered and negatively impacted the company.

I sat down with him and asked if I could either be involved in those decision discussions or to direct the person asking to me directly. It mostly worked. There were times when that direction simply wasn’t possible, but people soon learned that they needed to come to me for good decisions. We worked around the problem.

3. Teach them.

Every time you speak to your boss you have an opportunity to train and teach them about your area. It seems kind of ludicrous to train your boss, but the ongoing investment will be worth it once they are savvy enough to know what you’re talking about.

4. Look for a mentor.

Just because your boss doesn’t bring much in the way of growth doesn’t mean there isn’t someone in your place of business that can be good for your career. Look around for someone at a higher level who is sharp and going places with some type of a good connection to you. Ask them to be your mentor. It will be flattering to them and helpful to you to have someone helping you and in your corner.

5. Leave.

Sometimes it’s better for your career to leave rather than try to stick it out. If you’ve tried several things and there is no improvement, it may be time for you to pursue something else. This kind of situation can be damaging to both you personally and your career.

While an incompetent boss can be annoying and frustrating, they aren’t the worse kind of boss to have – unless they are nicely packaged with other short comings like being a jerk or tossing you under the train for sport. Many times you can make up for their short comings and also “manage up” as they know innately that they lack many skills and knowledge. Don’t let your frustration get in the way of managing the situation more effectively.

5 Ways To Show You’re Ready For More Responsibility At Work

In almost every office, there are ‘lucky’ employees given formidable projects like setting up a new department or coming up with strategies for re-branding the company. Then, of course, there are those assigned to do the so-called grunt work such as alphabetizing clients’ files, updating suppliers’ contact details, and organizing meetings.

There’s nothing wrong with doing grunt work, as these tasks are necessary for the business to operate efficiently. However, there comes a point when you want to move on to do more meaningful and challenging work.

After all, doing the same thing over and over again isn’t exactly going to do anything for your career growth. That’s why you should have the courage to ask for bigger responsibilities.

Don’t wait for your boss to hand that exciting project to you, you must be proactive. Fight for it if you have to.

Show Everyone You’re Ready To Move Up In The World

1. Get The Tasks Nobody Wants To Do

Do the grunt work with enthusiasm. If necessary, over-deliver. For instance, if you’re tasked with alphabetizing clients’ files, you can also make backup copies of the said files. If nobody wants to face a particularly difficult client, volunteer for the task. Doing so would prove that you’re willing to do even the most difficult things to make your mark. This also establishes your reputation as a reliable member of the team.

2. Help Overworked And Stressed Co-workers

Once you’re done with the tasks assigned to you, you can help out any co-worker who’s overwhelmed with their tasks. Don’t be pushy, though. Let your co-worker tell you what to do — and then give it your best shot.

Make sure you have your co-workers permission before you tell your boss and other officemates about the collaboration. Otherwise, people might think you’re to take credit for their work.

3. Take Stock Of Your Skills And Learn New Ones

Make an inventory of what you can do. Find a way to highlight these skills. If you’re good with words, you can offer to help your co-workers write their reports. You can also acquire more skills that will help you snag your target projects. For example, if your company has an office in Paris and you’d like to be assigned there, then learn French.

4. Ask Your Boss For A New Project

Get to know everything about your company. Immerse yourself in all sorts of information about the industry that you’re in. Know the trends and other factors affecting your line of work. This information can help you suggest new projects and tasks to your boss.

 When you pitch a project, it helps if you present your skill set, as well so your boss knows what you can do.

You Control Your Career’s Direction

You don’t have to wait that long to get the project or position you want. If you have the drive and will to succeed, then you can move forward in your profession at a much faster pace. The trick is to do everything that you’re assigned to do extraordinarily well and to keep improving your skill set. This way, you’re always ready to take advantage of an opportunity for career advancement.

How To Be Unforgettable To Employers

Want to know how you can be unforgettable to employers? The answer is the “rule of three.”

Whether you’re giving a presentation, telling a story, submitting a proposal or selling your services – keep in mind the “Rule of Three.” Have you ever noticed the pattern of “3” in many of our traditional childhood stories — three blind mice, the three stooges, the three little pigs, Goldilocks’ three bears, three wishes… the list goes on and on.

Research has shown there is a rationale behind the use of “three” in our societal storytelling – our brains tend to naturally think in threes. Add one more element and the memory pattern tends to slip. Why not take advantage of this human tendency when interacting with others?

Knowing the “Rule of Three” and using it in your presentations, your “elevator pitch,” your cover letter, your letter to that important client, and other key communication pieces can be incredibly impactful. Use the “Rule of Three,” and people will tend to remember what you said and will likely remember YOU said it.

As you wrestle with formulating your very next presentation, pick three stories, three key points or three ideas that best illustrate the message you are attempting to convey. Repeat those three elements throughout your presentation. End your presentation by going back to those three elements. The “Rule of Three” works and is a powerful tool for facilitating retention.

Learn To Say ‘No’ When You Have Too Much On Your Plate At Work

Have you ever had experience with a toddler who has just learned the power in the word, “No?” It is an impressive sight to see, isn’t it? The child who has just decided that he/she has the power to deny any request has tremendous power. Whether it pertains to potty training or eating their vegetables, there isn’t an adult on the planet that can question the power behind the word, “no” when dealing with a recalcitrant tot.

Given that we learn the power of “no” at such a tender age, what happens to us that we lose the power to use that word by the time we are working adults? Most of the job burnout that is symptomatic throughout so much of our workforce is undoubtedly the result of an inability to establish healthy boundaries and an apparent unwillingness or an inability to say “no” at the appropriate times.

Let’s face facts, however. Given how easy it is to get fired these days, sometimes fear is what drives one’s (in)ability to assert boundaries at work. I believe that some of us also mistakenly believe that we can make ourselves “indispensable.” Consider for just a moment, however…if you were to drop dead (God forbid) in the next 5 minutes…someone somewhere would wind up taking on your workload. No one is indispensable. That is just a fact.

It is time to establish reasonable and healthy boundaries at work if you haven’t done that already. What can you do to say “no” at work without giving offense and without conveying the mistaken notion that you aren’t doing your fair share?

1. Make sure you don’t say “no” to every request.

To build credibility and trust, you may need to take on the occasional additional task so that when you do say, “no,” your supervisor or manager will know that you have good reason.

2. Don’t be defensive and don’t over-explain.

If you have built a reputation for being a good worker who is willing to take on extra duty on occasion, you don’t have to fall all over yourself explaining why you can’t take on an extra task on occasion. Don’t feel compelled to provide lengthy explanations or rationale. Just state your case and leave it at that.

3. Offer to trade off tasks based on priorities and level of importance.

Sometimes things come up that feel—and are—more urgent than other times. If your company is suddenly faced with an unexpected expedited deadline that requires you to step up, then offer to put something else on the back burner or trade off with someone less encumbered to see if that is a possibility.

4. Always say “no” in person.

When you have been asked to take on extra responsibility for which you have no time, don’t make the mistake of offering the rejection of the request in an email. Instead, arrange for a face-to-face meeting. You may wind up negotiating an agreement that suits both you and your boss. An email interferes with the possibility of such negotiation.

5. Make sure you are using your time wisely.

It would be a mistake to refuse a request that might help you be perceived as someone who deserves a promotion or more responsibility that could result in a raise. Be sure that you have so many important things to do that you don’t have time for the added responsibility. Avoid wasting time on meaningless activities so that you can, perhaps, have time to work on a project that could showcase your particular talents and abilities.

Let’s face it…whether it is at work or home, sometimes it is hard to say “no.” We want people to like us. We want to be admired. We want to be perceived as someone who can “do it all.” The fact is, however, that you cannot do it all, and there is nothing to be gained from your feeling that you have to say “yes” to everything when it doesn’t serve you. Attempting to “do it all” will ultimately impact your health, or your general sense of well-being in a negative way. Take time to learn to say no with grace, however. Avoid saying it every time. Use your ability to say “no” judiciously and with thoughtfulness. You will be better off in the long run, and so will your company.

What To Do When Your E-mail Goes Unanswered

It talks about how our minds start racing with thoughts about what could be wrong. In short, we see “no news” as bad news.

E-mail Panic = Even Worse With Job Seekers

Anxiety from unanswered e-mails is especially prominent in job seekers. At least once a day, a client contacts me in a frustrated panic because the e-mail they sent days ago to a colleague, perspective networking contact, online application, recruiter, and so on hasn’t been answered. Each time, I walk them through the three tips that should be followed to increase the chances we get a response. They are:

1. Wait One Full Business Week Before Following Up

While it feels like months to you, to the person you sent the e-mail to, a week feels like a day. If they didn’t answer you yet, it just means you weren’t viewed as needing an immediate response. It doesn’t mean they are saying “no” to your request, they are just saying “not now.”

2. Never Send A Nudge On A Monday

Even the happiest of people feel a little off on Mondays. We call it the Weekend Flu, you might call it the Monday Blues. Regardless, it puts people in a mood to say “no” more quickly. So, even if it’s been a full business week, if it’s Monday – don’t do anything.

3. Send Value Next Time, Not Another Request For Help

When you finally do follow up, don’t send a, “Just wanted to check in and see if you got my request…” note. That’s like taking a hot poker and pushing it in their back. They know they haven’t responded to you, and they most likely don’t feel good about it. They don’t need you to point it out.

Instead, find an article online that you think they would find interesting and pass it along with a simple note like this: “Saw this article and thought of you – hope you enjoy it!” That’s it. You’ll be respected for your restraint from asking the obvious. Moreover, you’ll be appreciated for offering up something of professional value. As they say, you gotta give to get!

Follow the tips above and I guarantee more of your e-mails will get answered. While some may still ultimately say “no,” or never respond, the chances the folks who failed to respond initially will finally follow up increases when you are patient, polite, and most importantly, focused on helping them, too.

3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Next Informational Interview

1. Give them some options.

“The good news is, most people will want to help someone new to the business world,” said Twete. “The bad news is, people are busy!”

When you reach out to a potential networking connection, be respectful of his or her time by providing more than just a handful of dates you might be available to meet.

Instead, offer to come to their office or to a coffee shop near them, even if it requires a long drive or a train ride on your part. Or, ask for a quick 15 minute phone call.

“Someone is much more apt to give you 15 minutes on the phone than an hour in person,” said Twete. “If you come to the table with great questions on that call, they’ll be more likely to want to meet you and mentor you.”

2. Do your homework.

“No one wants to dedicate an hour to a meeting and spend the first 20 minutes talking about things you could learn from a LinkedIn profile,” said Twete.

Come with questions that are pertinent to that individual’s background and be curious about how that relates to your own potential career path.

Not only will it make you feel more confident, but it can give you topic ideas. Twete suggests finding the answers to these questions before you meet with someone.

• Where did he/she go to school?
• What does his/her company do?
• How long has he/she been in her position?

“When a college student or recent graduate meets me armed with great questions and it’s clear she has done her research, that’s when I’m ready to open my network and help her grow,” she said.

3. Keep your social media on point.

“Your online persona introduces you to anyone you’re meeting well before you do,” said Twete.

In this day and age, you should expect to be Googled by employers, recruiters, and other professionals, especially if you’re meeting with them.

Make sure your social media profiles are either private or 100% appropriate for business consumption. The last thing you want to do is show off that infamous picture from Spring Break 2010. Not a good look.

In addition to managing your social media presence, consider creating an online portfolio with a .com in your name. Start a blog. Upload your portfolio. Showcase your branding statement. This will help you control your online reputation and make you look super professional.

What’s The First Step When You’re Ready For A Career Change?

You’ve moved past restlessness into the “Must Switch Gears” phase of your career. You know that if you wait any longer, you’ll become bitter and jaded. It’s time.

People stand on this precipice thinking that their next move is a leap – the more dramatic, the better. They often find themselves paralyzed because the jump is too scary. But the truth is, when you’re at this point, you need to get focused and gather data. You need to know exactly where you’re going before you can embark on your journey.

If you only know that you want to get away, it’s like going to the airport for a trip without a ticket. You can’t just leave where you’ve been, you’ve got to know where you’re going.

Recently, I talked to new client, and he said, “I have some serious constraints in my job search. I need to be within a 30-minute commute of my home, I have a specific job title in mind, and I know I want to be in high tech.” He was apologizing for being too picky, and I was applauding him for being so focused.

If this client’s example freaks you out because how to even begin to describe what you want, don’t worry. First, you’re not alone. You’re not deficient. There’s nothing wrong with you. You just haven’t had a structured approach to exploring what lights you up plus what the market is buying.

Your first step is the process is to decide what you want. Before you can go out there looking for it, you’ve got to know what it is.

The optimal exercise to begin to outline what you want is to walk through your ideal work day. Get quiet and centered and imagine yourself on a typical work day a year from now (or use whatever time frame feels appropriate for you). Walk through every moment of the day:

• What time do you wake up? Where are you – geographically in the world (what are the weather conditions?)? What’s your home look like? Who are you with? Do you wake up naturally or does the alarm go off?
• What’s your morning routine? Are you getting kids off to school? Working out? Attending to your pets? Include every detail down to what you’re wearing. I once did this exercise with a client who looked down at the shoes she was wearing, and that gave her a pivotal clue about her work.
• How do you get to work? Do you even leave the house (maybe you work at home)? How long does it take? What’s your mode of transportation? What’s your energy? Are you rushed, multi-tasking on the commuter train?
• Where do you work? Who’s around you? What are they doing? Describe this scene as if you were watching it in a movie.
• What are you doing? What tools or equipment are you using? How do you know you’re doing a good job? I once did this exercise with a client, and she had children’s drawings on the walls of her office that were given to her in gratitude for her work – she knew exactly the work she was meant to do from that image alone.
• Walk through all of the other details of your day: your lunch, your trip home, how you spend your leisure time, what you’re eating, who you’re with. It all adds up to a picture of what you want to create for yourself.

It’s important to harvest what you’ve learned from this exercise, so share it with someone who can focus on you and help you pull out the important details. That person may be a friend or family member, and if you’re not sure who to ask to help you distill your learning, consider asking a career coach for guidance in unpacking what you’ve discovered.

Use this information to inform your path. It’s your first step on your journey to a new you in a new career.

How To Answer 5 Important Phone Interview Questions

Phone interviews are really phone screens. Employers are looking for reasons to cut you from the list of people they’re interested in (because it cuts time and expense from their interviewing process).

No matter what career field you’re in, there are several common phone interview questions employers like to ask to get a feel for you as a candidate. Answer these well and you’ll set yourself apart and have a much greater chance of making it through this hurdle and into a face-to-face interview.

1. “Tell me about yourself.”

In any interview, this is a common opening question. However, it’s so open-ended, many job seekers flub the answer by talking about personal things (where you live, your family, hobbies, etc.) or not knowing what to say at all (“um…”). This is your first chance to sell yourself for the job.

Start with your education, which means what degree you have or recent (relevant) classes or certifications. Then, mention a few noteworthy accomplishments that would be especially interesting to someone hiring you for the job—check the job description if you need help.

2. “Why are you leaving your current job?” (Or, “Why did you leave your last job?”)

While you might be leaving your job for negative reasons, it’s important not to mention anything negative in this answer. It’s never a good idea to be negative in any way during a job interview.

A good, positive way to answer this is to focus on why you are running TO this job, instead of why you are running AWAY from your old job.

For instance: “I enjoy the work environment of my current job, but I feel that it isn’t challenging enough. I’m looking for an opportunity to better use my skills, and I think that [this position] at [this company] will allow me to do this.”

Or, “This job is such a perfect fit for me that I couldn’t pass it up. I believe I could be very successful in this role because of my skills in X, Y, and Z, and I am excited about the opportunity.”

If you were let go at your last job and you can truthfully say it was a mass layoff/organizational shakeup that didn’t have anything to do with your job performance, make sure you mention that.

3. “Why did you apply for this job?”

Just like anyone else potentially entering a relationship, the interviewer wants to know your level of interest and your motivation for wanting to be there. A good answer would sound something like: “This job is a great fit. My skills and background in A, B, and C mean that I would be successful.”

As much as you can, talk about how you not only meet their qualifications for this job, you exceed them in some way.

4. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Among other things, your answer here will help them see that this job is a reasonable step in your long-term plan, not a stopgap that keeps you afloat until you find something better.

Don’t automatically say that you see yourself in a management or executive position. In large corporations, it may be OK, but in smaller companies, there may not be room for advancement like that. Stick with the safer answer that mentions how you expect to have honed the skills you have now, developed new ones, and contributed in a meaningful way to the company.

5. “Why should we invite you for an on-site (face-to-face) interview?”

This question is the phone interview version of, ‘Why should we hire you?’ Your answer could be along the lines of, “I believe I can contribute in a meaningful way to the success of [this company], and that my skills and personal values match this position perfectly. When we meet in person, I think you’ll see that I’m a great fit for this job and the company.”

5 Traits That Are Sabotaging Your Career Transition

Here’s something interesting: the way you respond to specific situations tends to be the way you respond across the board. This is nothing mysterious; it simply reveals some of our character traits underlying our behavior. The goal here is to be aware of your behavior patterns during your career transition.

For example: If some of your friends you frequently hang out with make plans to get together without you, what is your first reaction? Do you feel rejected, do you get angry, or do you simply wonder what they’re up to and assume they were just about to ask you?

Your reaction to this kind of situation is likely the same you’ll have when you don’t hear back after applying somewhere.

(And, as an aside: There are SO many reasons you may not hear back after sending in your resume – especially in response to a job posting – that have NOTHING to do with you. )

Another example – a personal one this time:

I tend to want to be prepared and have my ducks in a row. Not very convenient when you’re running a business. So, I’m trying my best to unlearn this trait. It’s also not handy if you’re in career transition, as it may prevent you from taking action until you are “ready” – which, if you’re like me, you’ll never be!

Perfection is unattainable. Progress, on the other hand, is a fantastic goal.

5 Traits That Are Sabotaging Your Career Transition

Making a career transition? Look at this list. Do you have any of these problems?

1. You’re Always Late

Are you someone who is always late? If so, you probably have a hard time getting to your interviews on time as well. Make sure to figure in extra time to avoid this major faux-pas!

2. You’re Rude

Do you get curt with service staff in restaurants and other places?When going on interviews, be mindful of how you treat receptionists and assistants at these companies as they are often asked about their impressions of the candidates! (And, what were you thinking in the first place? Show some respect for your fellow citizens – regardless of their socio-economic position!)

3. You’re Not Involved

Are you used to outsourcing everything but your sleep and love life? If so, chances are you think you can outsource your job transition to professionals and assistants. As much as I am a believer in – and practitioner of – outsourcing, I need to tell you that there’s a place and a time for everything. Your career transition needs hands-on involvement from you.

4. You’re Not Open To Change

Do you like to “stick with what works?” Are you someone who keeps buying the same brand products forever, who goes to the same vacation place year after year, and lives by “Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”? Great! But listen up: the past few years have seen more changes in the arena of recruitment, hiring, and job searching than in the all the years prior since the introduction of the electronic typewriter.

So, ditch the two spaces after periods (a left-over thing from the typewriter days), and, more importantly, get up to speed with career transitions a la 2014. It’s truly a different world out there!

So, if you got some great career management advice in the 90s or even the early 2000s that made sense to you and that worked back then; realize that what ain’t updated may very well cost you opportunities today.

5. You’re Too Proud

Are you a proud person who doesn’t need anyone and likes to “make it on your own?” Respect! You probably don’t ask for help easily (or at all!) and you love to help others. Just make sure not to translate this too rigidly to the careers arena.

There are people – and I have a dear friend in particular who is very stubborn about this; you know who you are! – who won’t even accept connections to get more information (and possibly leads). I’m not talking about insider information that can land you in jail. I’m talking about plain and simple networking. The stuff that lands about 80% of the people their next jobs. Vital in today’s economy and job market.

It reminds me of that joke about some guy sitting at his roof trying to survive a flood. A boat with rescuers comes to get him, but he sends them away, because “God will rescue him.” Yeah… God just sent that boat with rescuers his way – but he turned it down… same principle applies here.

How To Write A Cover Letter That Will Get You Hired

I can tell you with a great deal of certainty that there have been several resume writers that I’ve chosen to interview based on the information they included in their cover letters.  A cover letter is a marvelous tool in your job search because you can use it to communicate information that doesn’t have a place on the resume—and it gives you the opportunity to show, in even more detail, how great a fit you are.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you write a cover letter:

Showcase The Benefits

The best cover letters showcase the benefit you can be to the employer. For example, in my line of work, we’re very serious about deadlines and customer care. When a resume writer takes the time to review my website and then backs up her claim to always meet deadlines and take exceptional care of clients by providing examples such as: “never had a customer complaint” or “trusted to resolve escalated client projects,” I pay attention—because statements like these show me the benefit the writer can offer my company. Show the company the benefits you can offer them.

Hit Their Pain Points

Most employers will touch on their greatest needs within the job posting. If the last person was really weak in detail orientation, cost savings, project management, or customer service, you can be sure these will be a central focus and top priority on the job announcement. Find the employer’s pain points—and what’s most important to them—and give examples of how you’ve successfully addressed similar issues in the past. Nothing speaks louder than verifiable experience.

Add A Personal Touch

Give your resume a personal touch. Some great resumes I’ve seen have given a personal reason for the person’s interest in the position. For example:

… Being a Utah native and graduate of the University of Utah, I’m very excited about the Business Administrator position with the University and the possibility of returning to my home state.

It also shows the employer you’re personally invested in the opportunity, which means it’s of worth to you—and it’s a good move for them to consider someone who’s personally interested in the opportunity and not just applying to any and everything they see on the job boards.

When in doubt, share why you’re interested in the opportunity. It takes time to customize the cover letter—but the employer will appreciate it. At a time when hundreds are applying—and no one is customizing his or her cover letter—it speaks volumes. BELIEVE ME.