| |
| |
|
Careers & Employment Information |
|
|
|
Why You Should Never Complain About Former Bosses
You're at a job interview. You're doing great, answering questions left and right. You're enthusiastic, upbeat, confident. Then they ask, "Why did you leave your last job?" An image of your former boss, red-faced and screaming, pops your head. He was such a jerk! You desperately want to vent your frustrations and tell them why you HAD to quit, but you hesitate, thinking... is honesty the best policy in THIS situation? There's no better way to present yourself as a whiner than to complain about a former boss or job. Even if you left a job because your boss was an egomaniac who took credit for all of your hard work, verbally abused you in front of others, and poisoned the plant on your desk, don't say anything bad about him/her during an interview. If you do, the interviewer may think you have a problem with authority or can't get along with others. After all, they don't know you. And as an authority figure, they may more easily identify with your maligned former boss than with you. It's best not to count on them believing YOUR side of the story, even if it IS the truth. So instead of saying "My boss was an incompetent idiot," choose one of these sample responses, whichever fits your particular situation best: "My manager and I both agreed that my advancement opportunities were limited there and obtaining another position was the best option for me and my career goals." Be prepared for a possible follow-up question such as "What ARE your career goals?" "I wanted more challenging assignments." This is a nice way of saying you were bored out of your mind. Prepare to follow it up by saying something about being eager to tackle challenges associated with the position for which you are applying. "I'm looking for an organization that supports its people." This could trigger the "Can you expand on that?" question, so be sure to have a response planned, such as "There weren't many training opportunities." "My career goals have changed." This is a great response if you are going into a new field. However, companies want people who can hit the ground running, so be prepared to explain how your past experiences make you a good candidate for this new job. One or all of these may be variations of the real story, so you won't really be lying about why you left your last job. You just won't be giving them the whole truth! You may reprint/republish this article if you include my name and a link to this website. Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Careers-Employment - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Resume That Effectively Promotes You! Imagine for a moment that you have created a wonderful product. You are excited at the possibilities of attaining name, fame and wealth marketing this product. My Career is in the Doldrums - Do I Need a Coach or a Therapist? Is Monday the worst day of your week? Can you hardly remember when you enjoyed going to work? Do friends ask why you seem so down? Maybe this has been going on awhile, and you're realizing it's time to do something. But where do you turn? At one moment you tell yourself "It's just my career?Change that, and everything will be OK". Virtual Heroes: The Growth of the Virtual Assistant Building and expanding a business is a difficult task, when the management of the business in its existing form takes up much of the time. The administrative, office-based and creative tasks behind running a business, although time-consuming and often repetitive, are vital to the continued operations of the business. How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part I The AIDA formula is as old as dirt. It was taught when I was in school over a decade ago. Career Transitions : Fearless Flyers You may have read one of my previous articles on career transitioning which described how to create complementary careers for yourself. This article will introduce you to three people I call Fearless Flyers because they have taken the leap of faith that many of us would only dream of considering. Closing the Gap on Your Career Goals If you still picture a steady progression up the ladder when you think of your career goals, it is time to shift your thinking. For most people, climbing the career ladder is no longer an option. When and How to Say I Just Cant Do It! We naturally hesitate to tell our boss when we can't do something or are feeling overwhelmed in our job. Bosses don't want to hear that, right? Well, it depends. How to Turn Career Mistakes into Career Wins I recently talked with a client who was paralyzed at the thought of making another "mistake" in her career.She was stuck and unable to choose a direction. Dont Forget to Say, Thank You One of the biggest mistake for job seeks is to not follow up an important interview with a thank you note to the people who interviewed them. Human Resources experts note that as few as 10% of interviewees take the time to say, "thank you. Thankk-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career There is one little practice that is vital to generating the interest of potential employers. It is critical, but very few job seekers actually do it. Those Little Things Moving to another state meant finding a new dentist. I tried one a neighbor recommended who seemed friendly, competent and eager to please. Whiners Need Not Apply Sometime last summer I decided to host a pity party and invite all my friends. Well, not all my friends, exactly. Relocation Myths and Stereotypes You've probably been taught not to stereotype people based on race, religion or sex. But when you make a career or other life choice, do you still make decisions based on stereotypes?Relocation Myths"Big cities are unfriendly. 5 Interviewing Tips To Get That Job! Anyone who is a jobseeker knows that looking for a new job or career is a job in itself. Once you have completed the laborious task of writing your resume and submitting it to various companies, you now have to pass the screen test to get the job. Think Twice Before You Change Jobs You've got the itch to change jobs. This might be a good time to make the move. How ToTalk Your Boss Into Giving You A Salary Increase * If you believe you deserve a salary increase, ask for it as soon as possible; don't procrastinate or wait for your employer to offer it.* Determine what you are worth in the marketplace by carrying out a survey of people in comparable jobs. Out Recruit The Competition We hear from our clients that they "hope the candidate takes the job." Hiring a candidate shouldn't be a guessing game. Top 10 Skills for New World of Work There are many changes coming in the world of work, such as increased competition, the need for more education and certifications, and the trend to change careers 5-7 times in a lifetime. No matter what job or career path you decide to take, there are some basic skills that all employers look for. Competency Based Interviews - 6 Steps to Success! Competency based interviews are intended to get the best from you, the candidate, whilst also fulfilling the needs of the organisation to get the very best person for the job. There are some easy steps to make the most of yourself and have a much better chance of success. Employment Under A Microscope A certain amount of oversight is involved in almost any job. The more important, the more highly skilled, the more successful the position, the lower the degree of oversight.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |