Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
Rob writes:
My name is Rob and I am currently one of many folks who have been employed
as holiday help. I took this job on a lark, but I have found I really have a knack for
retail and working with customers, and I want to continue working past next month.
What can I do? Should I wait until after the holidays to say something? What are
my chances? Thanks for any suggestions.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I think holiday work is a lot like temp work in that it’s a great opportunity for job-seekers
to get a foot in the door. Yes, most holiday workers are hired only with the promise of
working for a certain amount of time, but by making a name for yourself during those
short months you are on the job, you may be able to turn that holiday position into
something permanent.
What are some tips for making a name for yourself?
Be dependable. Know your schedule and always show up on time. Tell your
supervisor that you are available in a pinch if there’s a need.
Do the work. Show that you are not just working the job to make some holiday
cash, but instead there to help the company.
Network within the company. Get to know all the managers -- and make
sure they know your strengths.
Look the part. Companies like Abercrombie even admit to hiring people who l
ook like their customers (like they belong at the store).
Be the problem-solver. Whenever there is a problem that needs to be resolved,
volunteer to help solve the problem.
Avoid the grapevine. Spending too much time gossiping about fellow co-workers is
one of the sure ways to make a name for yourself – in the totally WRONG way.
Don’t overdo the employee discount. Sure, the discount is there for you to use --
and it’s a great win-win to have the extra income AND get a discount, just don’t go
crazy with it.
Shonkaye writes:
I have read almost every book and article regarding interview follow up and
while I have done well, I have encountered a scenario that I have not encountered
before, maybe because I am not a professional interviewer. I recently interviewed
with a company, I was told a decision would be made by the first of the following
week and was urged to call if I had not heard from the interviewer. I did. I called
by 10:00 a.m. on the day I was told and was informed she needed another week
to make a decision. While she was impressed, she wanted to see if any other
qualified applicants responded to the ad. Now, with that being said, should I f
ollow up on the same day the following week -- which will be a full week?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
If you’ve read the books and followed my column with any frequency, you
know what my answer is going to be… job-seekers must follow-up and
continue following-up as often as necessary until a final decision is made.
Employers still have the luxury – they won’t in another decade or so – of taking
as long as they want in their quest to find the ideal person for the job and
organization. They know you are not going anywhere, so while they keep you
(and perhaps one or two others) on hold, they can continue interviewing,
perhaps continue advertising for the position.
But employers be forewarned… the times they are a changing… and most
experts predict that a pretty severe labor crunch is going to happen in the next
decade or so as baby boomers continue to leave the traditional job market in
record numbers, leaving a mad scramble for available job-seekers with the skills
and talents required.
I would call the same day, and depending on the response, call back later in the
week. I think as long as you don’t start calling everyday or every hour every day,
you should be okay. Even better if you have some news to add to the follow-up,
such as a new accomplishment, award, or training – anything can be an excuse
to call and “update” your profile while really following-up on your application.
Remember. Be persistent. Demonstrate your interest. Be a little aggressive.
Be professional. And make sure to not be a pest in any way.
Anonymous writes:
I recently read an article of yours advising job seekers to not discuss salaries
too early in the hiring process. I would like to say that although I agree with your
assertion it is not very relevant to the realities of today’s marketplace. I am
currently looking for work as a business analyst and the fact is that more often
than not employers want to discuss salary expectations in the first interview. In
fact, it is usually the 2nd or 3rd question asked. I try to avoid answering these
questions directly but the bottom line is what is on their mind-employers want to
know what you are going to cost.
So, I was wondering if you have any advice for job seekers like myself who
are having these experiences?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Well, I do absolutely hate this trend. However, I also do understand it. These
employers mean business and only want to deal with serious candidates. If a
job-seeker replies with a salary expectation too far above or below the range,
s/he can be quickly dismissed as someone who does not fit the criteria for the
position.
So, while I still think the question -- or the more detailed negotiation -- should be
later in the job-search process, this trend really puts the burden on job-seekers to
be prepared for any and all questions in these initial screening interviews, whether
they happen on a college campus or at a career fair.
There is no excuse for not being prepared. So, do your homework and have a
salary range in mind that meets your needs and is in the typical range for the position
you are seeking. There’s no sense wasting your time or theirs if the numbers don’t
match up.
And you do need to have a number in mind -- because I have seen some recruiters
just keep asking the question non-stop until the job-seeker finally gives some figure.
Once that’s been done, though, it’s time to move on to why you should be hired --
and save the final salary negotiation for later in the process once the employer is ready to make an offer.
Maurice writes:
I just attended a job interview where I forgot to get the business card of the
interviewer. Would it be okay if I go back there to ask for it? This was precisely
seven days ago.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
No, no, don’t bother going back now. Why have you waited so long? If I read
between the lines, I also assume it means you have not written a thank you
letter yet, correct?
Well, it’s never too late… but I would not waste the time or face an awkward
moment in going back and asking for a business card; instead, I would call
the office and ask for the title and correct spelling of the interviewer’s name.
I would then very quickly write a thank-you note that expresses your appreciation
for the interview and reinforces your fit with the position… and then I would
hand deliver it so the person gets it that same day or the next.
These days, as the job-search stretches weeks (and even months), it’s probably
okay to be this late with the thank-you note, but in the future, try to get the letter
out the same or next day.
And for you job-seekers who do not see the value in writing a thank-you note
after job interviews, let me just stress the importance of business manners…
and if you want strategy, the reason you should do it is because so few of your
fellow job-seekers do it, that you will stand out from them by sending a thank you.
