Most people don’t land a great job or create a wonderful career by being open to anything, not at all. Instead, it’s done by checking in with themselves about what they really want and going for it a hundred percent. This focus makes them more attractive candidates, too. Think about it as if you were the one hiring. You have two people to choose from. One candidate has done a job for several years and is keeping her options open. The other candidate is committed to being the very best at the job she knows she wants. Who would you be more likely to make an offer to?
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On Interviewing, Part 1
We typically don’t practice interviewing very often, yet each interview we do have is pretty important. Here are three quick tips for interview preparation.
Tip 1 – It’s best to think of an interview as a two-way discussion. Yes, often a stressful discussion but remember not only are they checking you out, but you are also checking them out. One of the most critical actions you can take to prepare for an upcoming interview is to research the company. It’s easier than ever to get on the internet, enter a search word and come up with relevant information. Most companies have a web page of their own where you can read up on company history and recent press releases. Be thinking about questions you can ask during the interview as well. Make relevant observations about what is going on with the company, and ask your interviewer to comment. You may also want to consider asking some questions like the following.
- Is this a newly created position?
- What do you think is the most important thing for a new hire to understand about this position? This company? Or this department?
- Why did the previous person leave this position?
- What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the new hire?
Tip 2 – Another good way to prepare for the interview is to put together 3-5 power stories and a couple of lessons learned stories. Power stories are your stories about times you solved problems or positively impacted your work. Keep your power stories in a notebook in Evernote and save them forever. These stories are essential to think about before the interview for potential responses to behavioral interviewing questions often used by skilled interviewers. Behavioral interview questions are ones that ask you to describe times in the past when you solved this or that type of problem.
A suitable format for the stories you give as a reply to the question is to describe the problem, describe the action you took, then tell the result. This is called the PAR technique for Problem, Action, Result. Once you write these stories out, list in the margin the characteristics these stories demonstrate. Then you have ready answers for some questions like “Tell me about a time when _____?” or “What is your biggest strength and why?” Don’t forget to rehearse your answers out loud. It is best to have someone ask you the questions to practice most effectively or do a selfie video to critique yourself. At a minimum, record your answers in your voice recorder or leave a message on your phone so you can hear yourself and adjust as needed.
Tip 3 – One often overlooked key to good interviewing to have clear starts and stops to your questions and answers. This helps to set a good rhythm for the discussion. It also demonstrates your ability to be concise and listen to others. Don’t be afraid of a few seconds of silence after you finish your answer. A good interviewer will use silence as a tool to get you to rattle on about stuff you did not intend to reveal. Also, silence is an essential tool for you to learn to use as well, especially come negotiation time.
To learn even more about job interviewing strategies, I recommend the books by Carole Martin, The Interview Coach. A great one to start with is Boost Your Interview IQ.
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Studying Future Trends
Looking at changes coming down the pipeline in your industry is a great way to navigate your career development and learning plan. Take time once a year or so to think forward in your career and look for neat niches you can steer toward as one strategy for knowing what learning experiences will best add to your repertoire.
Other ways to stay ahead of the curve are to read the professional literature, host special events, and have periodic informational interviews with experts in your field.
Most importantly, keep asking yourself questions to encourage your brain to make connections and notice developing trends. Use questions such as:
- What is the biggest problem in my career field right now?
- What industry is my industry starting to merge with?
- How will changes in the industry influence what happens in my occupation?
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The Career Intentions Movie
I want today to be different.
I want a new start.
I want a more peaceful life.
I need a change.
I want to love to wake up in the morning.
I want to be appreciated.
Challenged.
Inspired.
I want more flexibility in my work.
I want financial freedom.
I want more time.
To pamper myself.
To play.
To laugh.
I want to work with passion.
I want to join like-minded people for synergy.
I’m on my way.
See you there! -
Know Your Stressbusters
Stress is a normal part of life. Still, like anything else, too much can be harmful to not only our mental faculties but also our physical health. We must not only reduce stress in our lives but bolster our wellness to weather the inevitable stresses.
The basics of bolstering wellness are to:
- Eat food that helps you feel good.
- Move and stretch your body daily.
- Adhere to a good sleep routine.
You must figure out how what works for your unique needs best in these areas of nutrition, exercise, and rest. When you do, that foundation will keep your body more robust and healthy.
Learning to let your mind free of stresses and worries is also an important stress buster. Meditation and quiet contemplation are two methods of reducing stress. If you’re not into meditation, spend a half-hour or so each night reading a good book in a comfortable chair or take up an enjoyable hobby. Anything that distracts you from the concerns of the day and allows you a chance to decompress can be a worthwhile activity.
Go for a walk in the park or get a pet. Get a dog and take the dog for a walk in the park. A walk outdoors in the fresh air can do wonders for reducing stress, as can a companion animal. It likely wouldn’t hurt to combine the two if you’re so inclined.
Play games. Card games. Board games. Video games. Whatever floats your boat. You could also try puzzles. Putting a jigsaw puzzle together may be an excellent way to decompress also. It’s hard to worry about work when you’re trying to find a matching piece! Or, do a crossword puzzle, word find, or sudoku.
If you’re artistic, you could paint, draw, or even just doodle. You could try needlecrafts, sand art, sculpture, wood carving, sewing, or whatever suits your interests.
Take time to listen to music or watch television. Take an evening and go out for dinner and a movie. See a play. Go to a sporting event.
The important thing is to take some time out for yourself. Find something that works for you, and remember to take time to do it. Relaxing and recharging is essential!
Practice Being Organized
Some stress is caused by situations beyond our control, making it all the more important to do what we can to reduce stress in the circumstances we can control.
One thing within our control is our level of organization. While it may seem to have little to do with stress levels on the face of it, a lack of organization will prove otherwise in a stressful situation.
If you’re under pressure to find an item in a stressful situation, imagine how much more stressed you become when you cannot locate it.
As you shuffle through papers, folders, and drawers, your frantic searching may cause further disorganization, setting the stage for a later repeat of the situation. If, instead, you can quickly locate what you need when you need it, your stress levels will be lower than they might otherwise be.
Naturally, the first step is to do a thorough cleaning, eliminate clutter, and organize everything needed.
- Make sure you organize everything in a manner that makes sense for you, using a system you will remember and stick with.
- Once you get organized, stay organized.
- Each day, set aside a few minutes to get your work area back in order.
Ideally and when practical, follow a pattern where you handle each item only once. For example, when you get a new document or piece of mail, read it and then act on it, file it, or recycle it. Eliminate the “I’ll do it later” items as much as possible. Too often, later never comes because of other more pressing needs. Additionally, you won’t suffer the stress of seeing a growing stack of “I’ll do it later” items sitting on your desk. You can better focus on the job at hand rather than being frustrated by the amount of work left to do.
Being better organized will not eliminate stress, but it can help keep it at reduced levels. Plus, it makes for a better and easier home and workplace, so there is no downside. Get organized and reap the benefits of increasing your productivity and reducing your stress level.
Remember to Breathe
Feeling a little stressed is a normal part of the working day, but when stress gets to be too much, it can affect your judgment causing you to make rash decisions. It can also affect you physically, causing tension in your muscles, increased heart rate, or aches and pains.
The key is to keep stress at a manageable level. One way to do this is with a simple breathing exercise.
- Sit still in a relaxed position with your back straight.
- Clear your mind as much as possible.
- Breathe in slowly, for a deep breath.
- Hold, but only as long as it is comfortable.
- Breathe out slowly.
- Hold.
- Breathe in.
- Hold.
- Breathe out.
- Hold.
Repeat often. Take a few seconds here and there. Use a simple breathing exercise regularly to help lower your stress level.
