Quick Job Tips
Avoid a Hopeless Project So your boss has assigned you a project he's excited about but you know will fail. Ask him for more details, then send him a summary. Seeing it in black and white may help him realize you're right. If not, propose a trial or scaled-down version. If you're forced to start, send a progress report citing the obstacles you're facing. And finally, encourage others to discourage your boss, but make sure the blame for the failure doesn't land on you.
Interview Like a Pro Early in the interview, ask the interviewer, "What are you most looking for in the person you hire for the job?" and "What would be my first priorities on the job?" The responses you get will help you tailor your answers in the interview to what the employer wants. At the end of the interview, ask, "Based on what we've gone over today, I feel good about this position. Do you have concerns about my ability to do this job?" This will allow you to rebut any objections that the interviewer brings up.
Learn to Like Your Job Perhaps you hate your job but don't want to quit for fear of the unknown. You might be able to improve things with a few minor changes. If work is too hard, ask your co-workers to help you. If it's boring, propose a project that would be fun for you. If you have too much to do, delegate some tasks, or prioritize and put some responsibilities on the back burner. You may find yourself finally enjoying that dreaded drive to work.
Don't Be a Loser Instead of sending your resume in hopes of getting a job or telling the interviewer "I'm seeking employment in...," leave a voice mail on the hiring manager's line that doesn't make you sound like a loser. Something like, "I'm John Jolley and I've outgrown my current job. If you could use someone with great managerial experience, call 555-1262. The best time to reach me is today before 5 PM." This will make you come across as interested, but not desperate, which employers like to see.
Getting Your Boss to Say Yes Sometimes getting the approval to do something is as simple as asking in the right way. The next time you need to ask your boss for something, mirror his or her decision-making style. If your boss likes to make quick decisions, don't flood him or her with a deluge of facts. If he or she likes to make slow, informed choices, provide all the information necessary. You'll have a better chance of getting that raise, time off, or responsibility you've been wanting.
Appeal to Their Sense of Pride Sometimes when employers have jobs advertised that are a few months old, they feel embarrassed to call back those who applied earlier and afraid that all the good candidates might be gone. Find listings that are 60-90 days old and apply to them. Your fresh application may be the catalyst for an interview. To avoid looking like a procrastinator, don't mention the ad in your cover letter.
Get More Out of Them If you're not satisfied with an answer a colleague or boss gives to one of your questions, count to 5 silently after he or she stops speaking before saying anything. The somewhat awkward silence may prompt him or her to say more, giving you the answer you were looking for. Try it out on someone today-ask you co-worker what he or she thought of the meeting this morning, then wait 5 seconds after he or she finishes speaking.
Shut your Trap No one wants to be seen as shallow and self-absorbed, but that's exactly what happens to people who talk all the time. If you're having this problem, try this technique: don't speak for more than one minute at a time without stopping or asking a question. If people want to know more, they can ask. Chances are, they won't.
Come Prepared When filling out a job application on site, often times you will be asked to list your last three places of employment complete with addresses and phone numbers for contacting purposes. In order to save yourself the hassle and embarrassment of producing this information at a later date, bring a sheet with your reference information on it, so that you don't waste 20 minutes scratching your head trying desperately to remember names and numbers. Even you aren't asked for this information, it never hurts to be prepared.