The Phone Interview - Make It Work For You

For some, a job interview is enough to make your skin crawl.  I consider an interview like a first date (without the flirtatious looks and kiss).  However, not all interviews are face to face.  Sometimes a preliminary interview is conducted over the phone which has it's good and bad points.  A face to face allows the person being interviewed (interviewee?) the advantage of reading and picking up the interviewer's facial and body cues.  Obviously, this is not something one can do over the phone.  If you're good at "reading" voices, the phone interview might work well for you.  Here's the big HOWEVER:  treat the phone interview as the real deal.  It's still an interview, whatever the format. 

PHONE INTERVIEW TIPS (a few)

• Be clear who is making the call and at what time
• If possible, speak from a land line in case of poor reception.  Your focus should be on the conversation, not on phone problems
• Schedule a time you know you'll have privacy and adequate time to talk
• Speak where there are no distractions and noise (TV, children, pets)
• Have your resume in front of you (this is an advantage over the face to face interview)
• Take notes (only if you're good at multi-tasking) - another advantage over face to face
• Send thank you via email

So, if you're wondering if a phone interview is considered an interview, the answer is YES.  Consider an interview the most formal date you'll ever have.  

"Proper words in proper places make the true definition of a style"
~ Jonathan Swift

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you have a phone or face to face interview coming up and would like to brush up on your interview skills, get in touch with me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn about my "How To Ace The Interview" program!

Accept Or Reject A Job Counteroffer?

Congratulations!  That job you've been interviewing for (to the tune of 4 separate interviews over the last several weeks) has come though.  They FINALLY made you an offer. Whoever thought it would take so long to make a decision about one potential new hire?  Everything's looking good.  They offered the salary you requested, benefits are great and you're even getting your own office (with a window!).  Bet you're glad that ordeal is over.  Now you can accept their offer and tell your boss you're quitting and finally get a good night's rest.  What?  Your boss made you a counteroffer?

If you think having a counteroffer is flattering and it might be something you should entertain accepting, think again.  Statistics show that if you accept a counteroffer, the probabilities of voluntarily leaving in six months or being let go within one year are extremely high.  Once you have demonstrated your unhappiness to your employer, your loyalty will always be in question and in tough financial times, the pink slip might start with you.  Keep your focus on why you were looking to leave your present job in the first place.  The same circumstances that are making you think about a change will still be there in the future and will rear their ugly head sooner or later.  Your relationship with your boss (and possibly colleagues) will never be the same.

Accepting or rejecting a counteroffer can be the monkey wrench thrown into your career plans and not something you should take lightly.  Whatever decision you make, think of the consequences of your actions and how it will impact your career down the road.


"Progress always involves risk.  You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first."
~ Frederick B. Wilcox

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

Is Your Current Job Stable?

Does your boss look unusually stressed lately?  Is he/she in and out of secret meetings behind closed doors?  Are co-workers buzzing around the water cooler that they've heard the company is in trouble?  If you've answered yes to at least two of these questions,  it might be time to take a look at your job stability.

If you're concerned that your company is headed for Chapter 11 or closing their doors for good, it's wise to prepare yourself for a situation that might be beyond your control.  Don't wait for your boss to tell you it's your last day at the office if you think your worst suspicions are true.  PROTECT YOURSELF.  Get your resume updated, start looking at your options, go to networking events, reach out to your contacts (wisely).  Be smart about which co-workers you share this with (if any at all).  Do whatever you can to avoid being the "victim employee".  Don't wait for the ax to fall.  No one ever said it's unethical to take care of yourself.  If you're suspicions were wrong, you've lost nothing.  If they were right, you saved yourself from a lot of heartache and grief.

"A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life".

~ James Allen

"Good Luck, And Good Night"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you think your job might be in jeopardy, please get in touch with me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to discuss my coaching services and how I can help jumpstart your career with an eye-catching resume, winning cover letter, networking tips, and goal clarification.

  

Looking For A Job? - Never Make Assumptions

Are you one of those people that always makes assumptions?  Rather than know the reality of a situation, do you make a wild guess and base your decision making on that alone?  If you're one of those people (and I can be too), you may be doing yourself more harm than you know.

It can be emotionally very costly to make assumptions particularly when it comes to one's professional life.  It's really the lazy way out of something by making an assumption rather than being proactive and finding out the real deal.

I contacted a career development director at a university a few weeks ago to see if she was interested in contracting my coaching services.  I received a promising email back that she was waiting to find out about the fiscal budget and if she'd then have the money to hire me.  When I didn't hear back from her, I ASSUMED it was either bad news or she forgot about me completely.  Needless to say, I got myself worked up, felt disappointed and ruined my own day.  On what basis did I have to make this assumption?  Absolutely none.  I made a calculated guess based on pure emotion.  It had nothing to do  with reality.  So, I decided to be proactive and email her.  She genuinely seemed glad to hear from me and said she was still waiting on an answer but thanked me for following up.  Not only did I get an answer, but I also looked professional in the process.

If you're looking for a job, please don't be hard headed like me and make assumptions.  It will get you nowhere except frustrated and discouraged.  It's challenging enough looking for a job so why make it harder on yourself?

"Assumptions are the termites of relationships."
~ Henry Winkler

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're job interviewing and need to develop or just brush up on your follow up skills, contact me directly at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn more about my coaching sessions on this very important topic.

Career Tip: Be On Time For a Job Interview

Have you ever thought how many expressions about time there are? "Time Is Of The Essence", "Time Is On My Side", "Time Will Tell", "Time Marches On”.  Are we too preoccupied with time?  It seems we organize our lives around how much or how little time we carve out for ourselves. Do you ask yourself if you have enough time to cram everything into one day?  Do you worry about spending your time wisely?  It seems like time keeps us in check and in sync with the rest of the world.  

If you’re like me and worry about time all the time (?), here’s a very “timely” TIP:

BE ON TIME FOR AN INTERVIEW.  When you’re late, you become frazzled, won’t be at your interview best and run the risk of ticking off an interviewer.  You’ll have one strike against you before you put your foot in the door.  It would be a shame to lose a job because of something that could easily be avoided.

Remember,  “Time Waits For No One” (was that a song?)

"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once."

~ Albert Einstein

“Good Night, And Good Luck”

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're searching for a job and haven't gotten past the first interview, it might be time (there's that time thing again) to brush up on your interview skills.  I can help you get past first base with my "How To Ace The Interview" program.  Interested in learning more?  Email me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com.

Lost Your Job? - Get Out And Network

As a child, did you ever get lost?  When I was about 5 years old I got lost at Jones Beach and couldn’t find my way back to my parents.  It was terrifying.  I thought I would never find them in the sea of beach umbrellas and blankets, but I did. 

Losing a job can be devastating and make a person feel they’ve lost their way.  If you’re currently out of work does this feeling sound familiar to you?  I bet if you ask anyone who has lost their job they would agree they have felt the same way at one point.  I have been in this place myself (more times than I care to count) and learned that the best remedy is to get out amongst the living and network.  You don’t have to feel as alone and lost as I did as that little girl on the beach. 

"The future depends on what we do in the present."

~ Mahatma Gandhi

“Good Night, And Good Luck”

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're out of work and currently interviewing, please contact me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn about my "How To Ace The Interview" program which will jumpstart your interview techniques to help you land your ideal job.

Looking For A Job? - Be Kind To Yourself

Ah, Saturday.  The day to stay in bed as late as you'd like, leisurely sipping coffee.  Today you can actually enjoy eating breakfast like a human being at the dining room table instead of shoving a bagel down your throat while cramming into a commuter train train or driving on the Long Island Expressway.  Saturday is the day you can lay around in your sweats or PJ's like a lazy slug should you be so inclined.  Ok, so now you know I have "lazy slug tendencies."

Time away from work (or looking for work) is so  treasured by all of us.  But it seems many of us have to give ourselves permission to slow down and chill.  I wonder why we find it so hard to let go of work stress?  I'm as guilty as the next when it comes to stressing out about my work. When you think about it, it's such a waste of precious time.  Do you find yourself thinking about work too often when you're trying to enjoy some quality down time?  I suppose that's why yoga, health spas, and meditation have become so popular.  It's a great way to de-pressurize.  

For me, the beauty of Saturday is giving my "work brain" a rest.  I allow myself (or try) to slow down and put my work head on the shelf.

Whether you're currently employed or looking for a job, be kind to yourself.  All of us need to recharge our batteries because Monday rolls around soon enough.  It takes energy to be at your work best or interview best so do yourself a favor and give yourself permission to relax and just "be" so you can face the week refueled.

"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down."

~ Lily Tomlin

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - You can catch me as a featured guest on Coach World TV hosted by Terry Yoffe, NYC Chapter President of The International Coaching Federation (ICF) Monday, June 4th, 8pm on Time Warner Cable TV Channel 56.