Duals & Duets on the Subject of Work

The Word is not yes! (and it's not NO PROBLEM, either)

You didn't get the job, and you were perfect for it. They needed to get A,B, and C, done, and you said, "no problem." And it wouldn't have been a problem, you're an old pro. Didn't they realize that?

Maybe yes, maybe no. It depends on what you told them. And guess what? YES is the wrong answer to any question other than "Do you accept our offer?"

What's the right answer to interview questions? Chances are it includes a description, and action words, and adjectives.

How might you respond to a question like, Do you know how to make lemonade?

Saying yes does NOTHING to sell your knowledge and capabilities. But saying something like, "I like to start with Ponderosa lemons because they're juicier and sweeter than Eureka lemons..."

If you're a buyer who do you hire, the guy who said yes or the one who told you which lemons he'd use.

Don't just say yes. Sell yourself.

Talking about bucks

How much bacon do you want to be makin’?

How much green do you need?

What’s the spread of your bread?

What’s the stage of your wage?

There may be many ways to phrase the salary expectation question BUT there's only one way to answer it.

SAY: I WILL CONSIDER YOUR BEST OFFER.

Isn't that avoiding theuestion? You bet! And that's exactly what you should do. Why?

• Because once you give them a number, the interview becomes about the number and not the value you bring.
• The interviewer, consciously or unconsciously, weighs your answers to questions like: "Tell me about your biggest challenge" against the figure you gave them.
• They're no longer able to listen to unbiased. And the bias makes you either reasonable or unreasonable, a ripoff or a steal, an egomaniac or an idiot.

Everything becomes colored by the price tag.

Don't believe me?

Suppose you're in the market for a new car , you have 40k to spend, and a friend tells you that the Porsche dealer down the road over-ordered 2008 Porsche Caymans and that there's one on the floor available below sticker.

 

So you hustle over to the dealership. The Caymans are all either red or black, you'd love either color. What's the first question in your mind?

How much?

If the salesman's any good, he's not going to answer your question. He's going to tell you about the Tiptronic transmission and how you can shift between economy and sport. He's going to invite you to sit in the car so you can touch and smell the new leather. He's going to tune the radio to your favorite station so you can hear it through BOSE speakers. He'll do all this until you're salivating for a ride and once you've driven the car, fallen in love, and decided that you have to have it, well...the salesman's in a stronger position then when you first walked into the showroom,right?

Had the salesman told you 50k when you first walked into the showroom, you might have turned around and walked out. But now that you want the car, must have the car, you might just go find the money, sell a motorcycle, dip into your savings, forgo a trip to Hawaii...something.

So what's your next employer willing to spend on you? If you're good at what you do and you know how to sell your skill set, the later you discuss dollars the higher your price tag will be.

Warning Will Robinson !

Posting your resume on the web? Think again!

 

Why do I say that? Because in the past few months job-seeker data has been compromised on both Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com. 

What are we talking about? 

(From Computerworld)

August 27, 2007 (Computerworld) -- Attackers using a Trojan horse stole more than 1.6 million records belonging to users of Monster Worldwide Inc.'s online job search service, the company acknowledged last week.

The malicious program, called Infostealer.Monstres, utilized the pilfered data to send Monster.com users phishing e-mails that plant malware on their machines, said researchers at Symantec Corp.

The stolen records include the names, e-mail addresses, home addresses, phone numbers and resume identification numbers of 1.3 million users of Monster's services, said Amado Hidalgo, senior security response manager at Symantec.

 

(From the Boston Globe)

State says broker took leads from job boards

By Ross Kerber, Globe Staff  |  September 13, 2007

Morgan Stanley employees mined the CareerBuilder.com website for personal data such as phone numbers to make cold calls pitching financial products, Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin alleged in a complaint filed yesterday.

The charges were described in an administrative action against the New York financial-services firm and three of its Boston employees, including a supervisor who allegedly gave a financial adviser a company password to the site meant to match job-seekers and employers.

And that's not all. Someone attempted to steal our candidate's data (Thank heavens we included our own and NOT our candidate's personal data) from an Investment Bank's portal. We were assured that it was a secure. 

What to do? If you send your resume out, know who you are sending it to. E-mail
it, don't post into a portal. And pick up the phone, make a call, speak directly to the
person you're entrusting your personal information to! It could mean a lot more than a job.

Cranky Carrie's Tips for Clearing Out Meetings

I saw an interesting headline today, Three Ways to Tick People Off at Meetings. So given that it’s a gray, cranky Friday, and I have another subject I want to avoid writing about at the moment, I’m putting a list together of things you might do to tick people off at meetings. If you’d like to add to the list, sign-in as a guest and add-on, OR write to WritingOnWork@aol.com and I’ll do it for you!

HOW TO TICK PEOPLE OFF AT MEETINGS

1)ASK: Didn’t we discuss this last week?

2)      INSIST THAT THE MEETING BE A STAND-UP MEETING.

A StandUpMeeting is where you convey only the problems and solutions of the previous day. No discussion, those happen after the meeting.

Context: You have a meeting you want to be short. You care more about it being short than you care about people being comfortable in it.

Therefore: Insist that all attendees stand up during the meeting.

3)      MAKE an elephant noise. When someone asks you what you’re doing, say it’s a mating call and ask if anyone can help you identify the elephant the room.

4)      Pull out a bottle of IMMODIUM and ask if anyone knows if the stuff works.

5)      Tap your foot.

6)      Surf the web on your laptop and make faces at your screen.

7)      Elbow your neighbor and loudly whisper, “Like that’s relevant.”

8)      Start telling a fairytale and preface it by saying that everyone needs to listen closely because otherwise they won’t get the point.

9)      Eat lots of garlic before you go.

10)   Make a buzzing noise every time someone utters a buzzword.

Blackberry much?

I’m sitting in a meeting right now reading/responding to a message on my Blackberry…I know it’s kind of rude but…

a) I’m too busy to sit in a meeting giving anyone my undivided attention

b) I really don’t need to be at this meeting. They want face time, team time, O.K. they’ve got it…but they can’t have my undivided attention

c) What’s undivided attention?

If you’re a typical executive, the person making and completing the statement above could be you.

Robert Half Management Resources surveyed 150 senior executives -- including those from human resources, finance and marketing departments -- with the nation's 1,000 largest companies and asked, "In your experience, how common is it for professionals you work with to read and respond to e-mail messages on their

mobile devices (i.e., BlackBerry, Treo) during business meetings?" 

Here’s what they said:

    Very common             53%

    Somewhat common         33%

    Somewhat uncommon        9%

    Very uncommon            5%

                           100%

    Respondents were then asked, "Which of the following most closely

describes your reaction when professionals read and respond to e-mail

during business meetings?" Their responses:

 37% said “It's OK to read and respond to messages during the meeting   

 but only if the message is urgent 

31% said “It's never OK.  E-mail devices should be turned off or 

not brought to the meeting at all                                                  

23% said “It's OK to check messages as long as attendees excuse themselves

 and step outside the meeting to respond.”                             

9 % “It's perfectly acceptable to read and respond to messages

 during the meeting, especially at a time when what is being said 

doesn't  pertain to them.”

What do you think?

Artfully Dodge It!

I've got a headache! I'm tired of talking. Why? Because job seekers don't always tell the truth. They don't lie intentionally, at least not the ones I represent; but they do keep answering one particular question less than truthfully.

What's the question?

How much money are you looking for?

What's the answer?

It's not a number! It's not a number! It's not a number!

And when an employment application says "Salary Expectations" DO NOT FILL IN THE BLANK.

Why? Because you don't know what your expectations will be until you understand the demands and the opportunities inherent in the position you are interviewing for.

Would you clean toilets for 100k?

Would you do the job of your dreams for 95k?

Would you work for someone you can't stand six days per week for 110k?

You need to learn all about the job before you answer that question.

But those aren't the only reasons you shouldn't state a figure. What are some others?

When you put  a figure down in black and white,either verbally or literally, you bind yourself to it. It's almost impossible to negotiate up from a figure you recently claimed to desire.

If you say you want 100k and they give you 100k, how can you suddenly ask for more?

What are you going to say,

"I didn't realize how special I was?"

"I didn't realize what a drag this job would be."

"I wasn't thinking when I filled out the application."

Statements like this make you more attractive, don't they?

So, how do you dodge the question? Simple.

If you have the benefit of a recruiter suggest that  he/she negotiate for you- afterall, recruiters negotiate compensation packages dozens of times per year and their livelihood is dependent on making both you and your future employer happy.

And if you don't have a recruiter, say this exactly: I'll consider any reasonable offer. Let them tell you what they think your skills are worth and  leave you the room to explain why your skills are worth more, should that be necessary.

And remember, it's always about the value you bring and NEVER about what you need or demand.

Oh, and why do I have a headache? Because people I represent keep filling in the SALARY DESIRED blank and, once they've been selected for the job, suddenly want even more.

So then it becomes my job to explain that you didn't say or write what you meant while mainaing your appearance as an intelligent, desirable candidate.

Help me, help you.

Artfully dodge the Salary Expectation question.

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Is it dark out?

Are you still in your office or working from a home computer?

Is your honey in bed or in another room steering clear of you? Do you mind?

If you’ve answered yes to the questions above, chances are you’re a workaholic. You can find out by taking this simple test.. (But come back when you’re done because we an insight for you.)

So are you a workaholic? If yes, then the next question is, how’s your sex life?

Reuters reports that in a survey done by researchers at the University of Goettingen in Germany “over 35 percent of those reporting unsatisfying sex lives tended to use hard work as a diversion.”

So, be honest with yourself, have you taken on extra projects to avoid engaging in sex with a partner?

If so, you’re not alone. According to Reuters, “36 percent of men and 35 percent of women surveyed for the "Apotheken Umschau" newsletter said they were likely to put in extra time at the office and volunteer for extra assignments.”

Now that’s a fabulous way to spend your one and only life, isn’t it?

(Answer: NO!)

Go see your honey now!

Weighing the Options- Before accepting a new job ask yourself:

   

1. 1. Will I be acquiring skills or experience that I'm not able to get in my present position?

2. 2. Am I joining an organization that I can picture myself working at for the next 2-8 years?

3. 3. If something happens to the new job, will I be better equipped to find my next job as a result of this move?

4. 4. Am I reluctant to leave because the coffee cart at my new company may not sell Red Bull?

5. Have I learned eighty percent or more of what there is to learn in my present job?

6. Is my boss too busy to be my mentor?

7. Have I quit making suggestions because they're never implemented or taken?

8. Do I have to wait for someone to die or retire before I get promoted from my present position?

9. Am I making a move to have more time with my family, to go back to school, or to broaden my portfolio of skills?

10. Will I get paid more?

11. If I won't get paid more, will I be doing something I've always wanted to do?

12. Am I reluctant to change jobs because I'll have to learn a new subway route or traffic pattern?

13. Based on my career goals, is this the logical next step?

14. Have I exhausted my options of moving internally?

15. Does the cleaning service think I'm a mannequin?

Preface: While this post isn't specifically about YOUR job, it speaks to behavior that could adversly affect the "actor" and his employer.

I’m one of those people who’s up late at night, surfing the web for interesting reads, and “lurking” into closets that may not have been open to me in another era. Why? Because I find it relaxing, informative and interesting. Some might call what I do “doing my homework”, others might call me nosy.

How often do I leave comments? Not very. I suppose I leave “internet” footprints everywhere I go, but all they say is that I’ve been there, not why.

And sometimes I form opinions about whether a new product or service is “hot” or “not” or what it’s like to work at a company I’m researching.

I always stop to consider the context and who’s likely to leave comments on that particular site. If I google a pharmaceutical product, I know that aside from marketing and Clinical information, I’m going to read comments from the frightened and the disgruntled (i.e. I’m getting a rash from this pill did you get one too?) Truthfully, I’ll hold suspect the “good news” Why? Because people are off living their lives when their medications work, not doing testimonials.

So, when I read stuff on the web (and many other places for that matter.)

Does what I read influence my behavior? You bet!

Do I assume that everyone has an agenda? Yup.

Do I believe that anyone has the right to say anything they want on the web, be it true or false? Yes!

When I heard on the news that Whole Foods CEO John Mackey spent years anonymously posting not-so-nice messages about competitor (and take-over target) Wild Oats on internet message boards, these were my thoughts:

Is that really illegal?

I hope not. Everyone should get to say what they want.

Don’t most people know to beware of comments that people aren’t wiling to sign their names to?

Though an author’s choice of anonymity isn’t necessarily malicious, it is suspect. An anonymous post says “I don’t want to be held accountable for what I say.” And maybe that’s the case with this blog, it’s anonymous but rather than for reasons of deception, it’s so I can be more honest, I don’t want to hold back so I don’t sign my true name.

To John Mackey I say:

Don’t you have better things to do John Mackey?

You could make sure Irene’s biscotti are always in stock or vary the cheese samples in my local store. OR make my Whole Foods so appealing that I choose to shop only there instead of there AND at Wild Oats. Ideally competition would inspire you to a more customer-focused business leader.

You sound sort of fun John Mackey. A late-night comrade of the web. Why go to a support group or bore your friends and family with negative Wild Oats jive when there’s a world of willing readers out there. If the things you’re saying are true, why not enlighten? And as long as you’re into shedding light, why not reveal the cost of Irene biscotti? Five bucks plus change for no-frills cookies is far from a steal.

How “Whole” are you Mr. Mackey? Have you tried the calming, soothing lavender potions you sell? And oh, didn’t your Mommy teach you to play nice in the sandbox? (God knows mine tried!) There’s a poster in a pre-school not far from my home that says:

Is it true?

Is it nice?

Is it necessary?

What would you have done if you asked yourself these questions before you took action?

Competition can bring out our best or our worst. Let’s use our freedoms (and I believe that posting anonymously and saying whatever you want is one of them) to see how big we can be and let’s not look for the government to limit our smallness.

Tags: Mackey, “Whole Foods”, anonymous, “Wild Oats”, Google, posting, “freedom of speech”, competition

Do you have any questions?

There will be a trick question on your next job interview. It will seem innocuous. You’ll think it’s all about your needs, something a polite host asks a guest.

But guess what?

The way you answer it will speak mountains about you, your interest in the job and the company at which you are interviewing.

What’s the question?

                                       Do you have any questions?

The answer best not be “no”. Even if you’ve already interviewed with ten people on three separate interviews, even if you think you know more about this company than the one you currently work for.

You best have a question. Why?

It shows your interest in the company and the position.

It shows that you have thought about the job.

It shows that you’ve done homework on the employer

It invites a relationship and level of intimacy with the interviewer.

So, before you go to an interview, make a list of questions. Have them in writing and keep them in your folio or briefcase. And when the “Do you have any questions? question is asked, grab the list, and ask away.

Working late? How's Your Sex Life?

Is it dark out?

Are you still in your office or working from a home computer?

Is your honey in bed or in another room steering clear of you? Do you mind?

If you’ve answered yes to the questions above, chances are you’re a workaholic. You can find out by taking this simple test.. (But come back when you’re done because we an insight for you.)

So are you a workaholic? If yes, then the next question is, how’s your sex life?

Reuters reports that in a survey done by researchers at the University of Goettingen in Germany “over 35 percent of those reporting unsatisfying sex lives tended to use hard work as a diversion.”

So, be honest with yourself, have you taken on extra projects to avoid engaging in sex with a partner?

If so, you’re not alone. According to Reuters, “36 percent of men and 35 percent of women surveyed for the "Apotheken Umschau" newsletter said they were likely to put in extra time at the office and volunteer for extra assignments.”

Now that’s a fabulous way to spend your one and only life, isn’t it?

(Answer: NO!)

Go see your honey now!

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Weighing the Options- Before accepting a new job ask yourself:

   

1. 1. Will I be acquiring skills or experience that I'm not able to get in my present position?

2. 2. Am I joining an organization that I can picture myself working at for the next 2-8 years?

3. 3. If something happens to the new job, will I be better equipped to find my next job as a result of this move?

4. 4. Am I reluctant to leave because the coffee cart at my new company may not sell Red Bull?

5. Have I learned eighty percent or more of what there is to learn in my present job?

6. Is my boss too busy to be my mentor?

7. Have I quit making suggestions because they're never implemented or taken?

8. Do I have to wait for someone to die or retire before I get promoted from my present position?

9. Am I making a move to have more time with my family, to go back to school, or to broaden my portfolio of skills?

10. Will I get paid more?

11. If I won't get paid more, will I be doing something I've always wanted to do?

12. Am I reluctant to change jobs because I'll have to learn a new subway route or traffic pattern?

13. Based on my career goals, is this the logical next step?

14. Have I exhausted my options of moving internally?

15. Does the cleaning service think I'm a mannequin?

Caught in the Web

Preface: While this post isn't specifically about YOUR job, it speaks to behavior that could adversly affect the "actor" and his employer.

I’m one of those people who’s up late at night, surfing the web for interesting reads, and “lurking” into closets that may not have been open to me in another era. Why? Because I find it relaxing, informative and interesting. Some might call what I do “doing my homework”, others might call me nosy.

How often do I leave comments? Not very. I suppose I leave “internet” footprints everywhere I go, but all they say is that I’ve been there, not why.

And sometimes I form opinions about whether a new product or service is “hot” or “not” or what it’s like to work at a company I’m researching.

I always stop to consider the context and who’s likely to leave comments on that particular site. If I google a pharmaceutical product, I know that aside from marketing and Clinical information, I’m going to read comments from the frightened and the disgruntled (i.e. I’m getting a rash from this pill did you get one too?) Truthfully, I’ll hold suspect the “good news” Why? Because people are off living their lives when their medications work, not doing testimonials.

So, when I read stuff on the web (and many other places for that matter.)

Does what I read influence my behavior? You bet!

Do I assume that everyone has an agenda? Yup.

Do I believe that anyone has the right to say anything they want on the web, be it true or false? Yes!

When I heard on the news that Whole Foods CEO John Mackey spent years anonymously posting not-so-nice messages about competitor (and take-over target) Wild Oats on internet message boards, these were my thoughts:

Is that really illegal?

I hope not. Everyone should get to say what they want.

Don’t most people know to beware of comments that people aren’t wiling to sign their names to?

Though an author’s choice of anonymity isn’t necessarily malicious, it is suspect. An anonymous post says “I don’t want to be held accountable for what I say.” And maybe that’s the case with this blog, it’s anonymous but rather than for reasons of deception, it’s so I can be more honest, I don’t want to hold back so I don’t sign my true name.

To John Mackey I say:

Don’t you have better things to do John Mackey?

You could make sure Irene’s biscotti are always in stock or vary the cheese samples in my local store. OR make my Whole Foods so appealing that I choose to shop only there instead of there AND at Wild Oats. Ideally competition would inspire you to a more customer-focused business leader.

You sound sort of fun John Mackey. A late-night comrade of the web. Why go to a support group or bore your friends and family with negative Wild Oats jive when there’s a world of willing readers out there. If the things you’re saying are true, why not enlighten? And as long as you’re into shedding light, why not reveal the cost of Irene biscotti? Five bucks plus change for no-frills cookies is far from a steal.

How “Whole” are you Mr. Mackey? Have you tried the calming, soothing lavender potions you sell? And oh, didn’t your Mommy teach you to play nice in the sandbox? (God knows mine tried!) There’s a poster in a pre-school not far from my home that says:

Is it true?

Is it nice?

Is it necessary?

What would you have done if you asked yourself these questions before you took action?

Competition can bring out our best or our worst. Let’s use our freedoms (and I believe that posting anonymously and saying whatever you want is one of them) to see how big we can be and let’s not look for the government to limit our smallness.

Tags: Mackey, “Whole Foods”, anonymous, “Wild Oats”, Google, posting, “freedom of speech”, competition

Interview Tips from Tippy

Do you have any questions?

There will be a trick question on your next job interview. It will seem innocuous. You’ll think it’s all about your needs, something a polite host asks a guest.

But guess what?

The way you answer it will speak mountains about you, your interest in the job and the company at which you are interviewing.

What’s the question?

                                       Do you have any questions?

The answer best not be “no”. Even if you’ve already interviewed with ten people on three separate interviews, even if you think you know more about this company than the one you currently work for.

You best have a question. Why?

It shows your interest in the company and the position.

It shows that you have thought about the job.

It shows that you’ve done homework on the employer

It invites a relationship and level of intimacy with the interviewer.

So, before you go to an interview, make a list of questions. Have them in writing and keep them in your folio or briefcase. And when the “Do you have any questions? question is asked, grab the list, and ask away.