Behavioural interview questions

Behavioural interview questions by Amber Rolfe When it comes to an interview, you always need to be on your best behaviour…Behavioural interview questions (AKA competency questions) help employers find out how you’d react to different situations. And the key to success is to formulate your answers in a way that ensures your response is organised, accurate, and represents your personality accurately.To help inspire you, here are five of our favourite behavioural questions courtesy of James Reed’s bestselling book,  â€˜Why You: 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again’, and our advice on how to answer them:  Give me an example of something you’ve tried in your job that hasn’t worked. How did you learn from it?On the surface, this question might come across as one that’s trying to identify your weaknesses or failures â€" but it’s not.What the interviewer really wants to know is if you’re willing to experiment. Do you have the ability to come up with innovative and creative ideas, tak e risks, and learn from the results?To show that your behaviour matches up, answer by making it clear that you’re always open to trying new things at work (after a little research) â€" even if you’re not sure what the outcome will be. Then, use a genuine example of when you’ve executed an idea and it hasn’t been a total success, and focus on the positives you drew from it.Remember: seeing any previous failures as a learning experience is just as important as being confident enough to implement it in the first place.Right answer: ‘In my last customer service role, some clients were put off by year-long contracts, so we came up with an idea to test month-by-month payment plans. Unfortunately, people didn’t tend to stick around long enough for it to be cost-effective for the business, meaning the experiment ended after six months. But as a direct result, we learned that it’s best to stick to long-term contracts, even if it meant there were fewer. Quality is better than qu antity.’Wrong answer: ‘I tried telling my boss where he could stick his job if I didn’t get a payrise â€" and you know, here we are…’  Tell me about a time when a client was especially unhappy, and what you did to resolve the situation?An ability to deal with difficult situations professionally says a lot about your behaviour in the workplace â€" and this question is designed to test exactly that.But as easy as it would be to explain the situation if you were simply allowed to vent your frustrations, this isn’t about trading elaborate war stories.It’s about demonstrating your character, showing you can empathise and take responsibility for problems, and making it clear that you never shift the blame to someone else.In other words, your example should represent you as the bigger person â€" who remained calm throughout and came up with a constructive solution.Right answer: ‘When I was Assistant Manager at my local leisure centre, a woman came in demanding a refund for her daughter’s swimming lessons as she hadn’t made any progress. I apologised and said I could see why she was upset â€" and explained that all children have different learning styles. I then offered to change her to a different class, which turned out great, because after just a week she did so well that her mum came back in to sign up for more lessons.Wrong answer: ‘I’m pretty laissez-faire when it comes to conflict. Basically, I usually just hide until they go away.’  Tell me about a time you’ve disagreed with a senior member of staffThis is closely translated as: can you deal with disagreements maturely, or are you going to bring playground drama to the workplace?Since nobody’s going to admit that they’re always at the heart of office feuds, this is an interviewer’s subtle alternative. And this way, they get an example that backs up your claim.To answer this question well, you need to convince your potential employer that you can deal with disagreements in a pr ofessional manner â€" without letting your emotions get the better of you.Your example should involve you fighting your corner constructively, and always pushes for something that’s best for the business.Because office politics have no place in an interview (and let’s be honest, no one is going to benefit from opening that can of worms).Right answer: ‘I had a disagreement over sales strategy in my last job. Management wanted to switch from generating leads on the phone to door-to-door sales â€" and I didn’t agree this would be a beneficial tactic, and wouldn’t create a positive image for the business. By speaking up I was able to trial my approach, and it ended up working.’Wrong answer: ‘Well I would tell you, but I don’t think I can. For legal reasons, mainly…’  Tell me about a time you’ve had to persuade someone to do somethingAlthough you’ll need to adapt your answer in line with the skills needed for the job, interviewers will generally ask this to see if you can demonstrate good people skills.They can also gauge a surprising amount of behavioural attributes from your example â€" from empathy, charm and rapport building, to confidence, flexibility and humility â€" which are vital in almost every job.And, it’s not just about demonstrating an ability to be persuasive â€" you also need to show you actually understand how to do it. This means focusing on the key skills (empathy, consultation, tenacity) you used, as well as the act itself.Otherwise, who’s to say it wasn’t just a one-off?Right answer: ‘My last job involved managing a group of six designers, who wanted a flexible schedule that allowed them to work from home. I didn’t see this as a problem, and research proved it could improve productivity â€" but senior management weren’t keen on the idea. To help persuade them, I put together a presentation including several studies on the effectiveness of flexible work programmes and their positive impact on hiring and retent ion. My boss agreed, and my team were over the moon. Productivity even rose by 20% as a result.’Wrong answer: ‘Whenever anyone said they didn’t want to sign up for a store card in my last job, I’d just do it anyway, and not tell them. Because, you know, YOLO.’  Tell me about a time you’ve worked to/missed a deadlineIf you hear any variation of this question at an interview, be prepared to be tested on your time management skills, as well as your ability to cope under pressure.And don’t be tempted to start making excuses for why you might’ve missed a deadline â€" the reasons aren’t as important as how you react to it. After all, the interviewer isn’t judging you for your failures, they’re assessing whether you’re able to deal with them.The best answers will reference a time where things didn’t necessarily run smoothly â€" but standards still weren’t compromised.After all, no employer wants to hire someone who’s likely to throw a tantrum when things don†™t go their way. They want someone who shows the willingness and initiative to power through and make sensible compromises to fix the situation, no matter what happens.Right answer: ‘In my previous job, I was responsible for representing the firm at trade shows. In my second year there, three events were scheduled within a month of each other. Although I like a challenge, I soon realised that preparing all three to a high standard was going to be impossible â€" I had to prioritise. So I agreed with my manager that I’d focus on the two most relevant events. Both of them went really well, and managed to bring several leads back to our sales department.’Wrong answer: ‘I make my own deadlines.’  Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs now  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable t o our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Interview Techniques Job interview tips Preparing for an interview

Resume Writing Guide - Where To Start When Looking For The Best Resume Writing Guide

Resume Writing Guide - Where To Start When Looking For The Best Resume Writing GuideYou can't be an effective resume writer without following a resume writing guide. Once you get started, you'll be able to churn out some of the best looking resumes you've ever seen.Every year I have to deal with many applicants who ask for 'help' on how to write a successful resume. They're not asking for free advice; they're asking me for my help! That's not fair and it's certainly not my job, but this is a simple thing to offer.First off, remember that you don't have to spend a fortune on a lengthy resume. There are many free or inexpensive guides that can help you with this. Remember that any resume that ends up in the inbox of a hiring manager will almost assuredly not be read.Interviewers aren't going to wait long enough to read through all the information you put on your resume. So don't waste time trying to throw the best stuff on your resume. Focus on getting their attention first and then le t them know about your education, work experience, and skills. And always put your name at the top of your resume, not just the company.Also, when you're doing your resume writing, try to break things down into separate sections. This way you can think more clearly about what each section is and what it needs to do.When it comes to the human resources department, try to come up with something like, 'Responsibilities: Ensure that we are running efficiently. Develop efficient processes and procedures to ensure that the tasks we have assigned our employees are completed in a timely manner.' The human resources people in the company will enjoy the organization by seeing that you're taking the effort to come up with some sort of organizational chart.Think about how you could build rapport with the hiring manager, especially if you're applying for a job that has a lot of travel involved. Try to come up with a strategy that lets them know that you have a history of traveling to different p laces, speaking at different conferences, and being an expert in a certain field. For example, let them know that you've traveled to India, China, Korea, and even Alaska, and you know a great deal about these places.One of the most important parts of resume writing is knowing where to start. A resume writing guide can save you time and make the process easier than you ever imagined possible.

Contrast Makes You More Persuasive

Contrast Makes You More Persuasive Embed from Getty Images Influence  is a book about how to be more persuasive, written by Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., who admits in the introduction that he wanted to research how and why he became such a patsy. My previous post  and this one showed you some tricks for becoming more persuasive. Today I’ll add one more. According to Cialdini, the “Contrast Principle” is a powerful persuasive tool. The Contrast Principle says that we notice differences  between  things, not absolute measures. We may not be able to tell that the chair weighs 50 pounds, but we can easily tell that it’s much heavier than the chair next to it. When we say something is old, expensive, or attractive, we’re actually saying that it’s more or less old, expensive, or attractive than something we’ve seen before, or our ideal version of an object (which may or may not exist.) It’s hard to compare groups of objects; we compare best when we have only two things to contrast. At least we think we do. If you’re a fan of HGTV, you’ll see the Contrast Principle at work on any given Property Brothers episode. Cunning Drew takes the unsuspecting couple to house number 1 for the sole purpose of setting the baseline for their expectations. He does it in one of two ways: he’ll either show the couple what their budget will actually purchase (usually, an unsatisfactory dive.) Or he’ll show them their dream house with all their desired features â€" and a price tag that’s hugely over budget. Either way, he’s setting up the couple to buy one of the houses he believes is the right choice. Watch this technique in action the next time you look for something with the help of a salesman. He’ll usually show you a low-price, low-quality product first. Then he’ll take you over to a much better product at a price point that’s still within your budget (but perhaps more than you wanted to spend.) The Contrast Principle will make you think the second item is a must-have bargain, based on all the extra quality or added features you get. Realtors are masters of this technique; they often show a very expensive house before showing you one in your price range; by comparison, the second house will seem even less expensive than it is. It works with almost anything; picking up a slightly lighter object will seem much, much easier after lifting something really heavy. It’s not rational, but it works (for the salesman.) It works in social comparisons too, unfortunately. If the first candidate you interview for a job blows the interview, the second candidate will be rated higher than he deserves simply because of the Contrast Principle. The same thing applies when we’re choosing mates or evaluating employees â€" if there’s a significant enough difference in attractiveness or performance, the first person makes the next in line seem much better or worse than she actually is. That’s why judging in artistic sports like figure skating or gymnastics is seldom objective â€" the Contrast Principle always plays a role in the outcome. So how can you make this work for you? If you need your boss to approve a budget, give her two versions: the one with everything you could possibly want, and the modest version with what you really need. By comparison, your second budget will seem very reasonable. You’ve got a great chance of getting it approved. If you want someone to take an office space that you know they’ll think is too small, show them a tiny, dismal, dirty space first. They’ll jump on the small space you’re offering with no argument. It goes without saying that you should only use this power for good. Think of it as a way to help people make the right decision with less angst. You’ll also be more aware of this technique when it’s being used on you, allowing you to make better buying decisions â€" or at least more rational ones.

Dont Think You Can Put A Price On Travel Think Again! Money Management Is Key To Jetting Away

Dont Think You Can Put A Price On Travel Think Again! Money Management Is Key To Jetting Away Who doesn’t love to travel? The open road, the wind in your hair and the smell of possibility all around you. The only problem is, traveling isn’t cheap. While we would all like to go jetting away when things get on top of us, it’s not always possible. Most of us get one holiday a year if we’re lucky, and even that can break the bank. What if there was a way you could travel more for less? Paying attention to your spending and finding the best deals could get you two holidays instead of one. You could even make it to three if you do things right! Whether you like to travel for the sake of sun, or for the experience of traveling, being careful with money is the best way to ensure you get away more. Of course, these things are easier said than done. We’re going to take a look at sure-fire ways to ensure you get away when you need to, without breaking the bank! THINK IN ADVANCE Saving money throughout the year will ensure you have enough when the time comes to go away. Forethought in your traveling plans will save you having to scrape money together at the last minute. Set up a savings account for your travels and put in a set amount each month. Remember, holidays are pricey. The more you put in each month, the better off you’ll be. Though it may be hard to adjust to losing that money, it’ll be harder to lose a holiday’s worth in one lump sum. Print off a picture of your dream holiday destination and pin it somewhere visible. That way, anytime you’re feeling down about the money, you can remember what your goal is! You should be doing this before you’ve considered a destination but its worth getting ideas about where you plan to go in the coming year. That way, you’ll know roughly how much money you need to get. Saving into an abyss can be daunting. Saving towards a set goal will give you that much needed directional push! JOIN A TRAVEL CLUB Many companies offer travel clubs, which could save you money depending on the way you travel. Look into this option to see if it’s for you. With many choices, including Costco travel, it’s important that you look at the differences. With these clubs, you pay a set monthly fee to receive travel rewards and bonuses. Membership comes with the bonus of deals on certain flights, vacation packages, and accommodation. Whether this option will save you money depends on your reasons for travel and the amount of times you go away. If you only go away once, for example, a travel club membership would end up costing you. It’s also worth mentioning that your options for a lot of the bonuses are limited. You will only be able to get deals on hotels and packages associated with your particular club. Even so, this can be a fantastic option if you’re seeking the sun but aren’t fussy where you go. If you have a family who enjoys beach holidays and time by the pool, this could be worth your while. Try and work out the costs of such a membership compared to the amount you would spend on a holiday. That way, you’ll be able to judge whether it’d be worthwhile. FIND THE CHEAPEST WAY TO TRAVEL When it comes time to book your holiday, it’s important you look around to find the cheapest way to travel. Depending on where you’re headed, you could have the option of flight, boat, or even driving. Think about what options are open to you and try to decide which would be the best value. If you are booking flights, look around for the cheapest deals. Comparison sites allow you to look at flights across different companies. That way, you’ll be able to see the cheapest offers with no hassle. Bear in mind, too, that flights are cheaper the earlier you book them, so get booked up as soon as possible. If you’re driving, think about where you’ll stock up on petrol, and how long the journey will take you. If the drive is going to be a long one, it could be worth traveling in an RV, which will save you money on accommodation. You could even stay in it once you reach your destination! This option also allows you to travel in comfort, so is ideal for long journeys. THINK ABOUT ACCOMMODATION Take some time, too, to think about the money you spend on accommodation. Hotels may be the most accessible option, but they can also be expensive. If you are opting for a hotel, make sure to look around for the best deal. Remember that this is just where you’re going to be sleeping. You don’t need a luxury, top of the range hotel. As long as the hygiene levels are good and your room is safe, you should get along fine. Again, price comparison can be a life-saver here. The shorter your trip, the more reasonable it is to stay in a hotel. Hotels can also be the best option if you have a family as you can assure everyone will have somewhere to sleep. It’s also the best way to ensure those days around the pool! If you’re traveling alone, or as a couple, there are other options to consider that would save you money. Hostels may not be the first choice for many people, but they’re often the cheapest way to travel. If you’re feeling brave enough to try hostel living, take a look at the options available to you. Most destinations offer a hostel option. The thing to bear in mind here is that you will be sharing a room with other people. You’ll need to keep your belongings with you. You also won’t have the option to leave your belongings behind when you go off for the day. There are other options for baggage storage to consider, though. Look into how much it would cost to hire a locker instead! Another alternate option is Airbnb, which allows you to stay in a rented room in someone’s home. This can be a worthwhile experience that’s cheaper than many other options. Rooms offered range from double rooms in a family home to self-contained living spaces. Don’t rule this option out before you’ve given it a go. It may surprise you where you end up! If none of these options appeal to you, why not book into a campsite? After paying for a camping space, all you need to do is provide some camping gear. Again, you’ll have to think about where to keep your belongings when you aren’t there. Consider the price of the site, the equipment and a storage locker. If it’d pay off, give it a go! SET YOURSELF A BUDGET Once you know where you’re going and how you’re getting there, think about your vacation budget. If you’ve already got savings, this option will be easier. You’ll be able to look at what you’ve got set aside and decide a budget that’s realistic based off that. If not, you’re going to have to stay level-headed when deciding what to take. Think about how much money you’ve spent during previous vacations to help you choose what you need. The good thing about taking a set amount of spending money is that you can’t go over, even if you want to. It can help to take your money in cash to save yourself overspending. You may still want to take a card with you for emergencies, but keep it in a safe and don’t use it unless you have to. Your spending money should be plenty to tide you over while you’re away. Be sure to keep careful track of the money you spend while you’re gone. That way, you can ensure you don’t spend more than you should. Remember, too, to factor in everything you’ll be spending money on. This includes travel, food, and general spending! THINK ABOUT FOOD Much of the expense of travel comes from the food we eat while we’re away. It makes sense to eat out when you’re on holiday. What better way to get away from cooking, and enjoy a little local cuisine? Even so, working out how much you would be spending on food can put you off the idea. There’s no reason not to eat out every now and again while you’re away. The trick is to stay sensible. Buying your food and cooking at least one meal a day will save you an enormous amount of money. You’ll be shopping local so you can still test a little traditional cuisine while you’re at it! Cooking may not sound like much fun, but it’s worthwhile. If you’re staying in a hotel, cooking your food may not work. If that’s the case, think about what you could eat. Many hotel rooms are stocked with microwaves. Get creative with your cooking! . Image credits. Main.  Travel Savings.     Cheap.     Camping.     Food.

Additional Skills Resume Template - Showing Youre A Good Fit For The Job You Want

Additional Skills Resume Template - Showing You're A Good Fit For The Job You WantIf you are still interested in looking for jobs but you are not quite sure how to have the right skills for a job then you can hire additional skills resume template. It is important to know that these resumes are different from a standard job resume because it is designed to highlight the skill sets that will be of great help to you when looking for a job. Your experience and education are the same as other job seekers but your background information is further detailed for your benefit.If you do not have the right skills for the job that you want then you may want to think about creating a skills based resume that can provide you with the insight that you need to get the job and to stay on top of your personal life. You will also find that these resumes can be very easy to use and can be created in a matter of minutes. All you need to do is know what kind of job that you want and the number of years t hat you have worked in a certain industry.In addition to this, you will want to think about the number of skills that you have. Then, you can decide which skills will be of great importance to you when applying for a job. The skills that you choose to highlight must reflect how you learn and when you learn new things you should use them to your advantage.When you take into consideration the skills that you want to emphasize, you will be able to list them in order of importance. The first few skills that you put on your resume should be those that are the most important. After all, it is your first impression that employers will be looking at. Therefore, it is best to put the skills that will make you stand out in front of the other applicants.Skills like typing, typing and more typing should be the first two things that you include on your resume. If you have not done any of these for some time then you should add some. This will let the potential employer know that you are ready to move forward and that you have become more comfortable with the situation.Once you have listed the skills that you want to emphasize, you will want to decide what company or employer that you want to highlight those skills. This is important because there are some companies that prefer that you highlight skills that are professional. Other companies will not want you to make this mistake because they know that you may not be the best candidate for the job.Before you even start writing your resume you need to create your skills outline. This will give you the idea of what skills are included and what ones you want to emphasize. This is something that you want to consider before you begin to work on your resume because it can make or break the experience of additional skills resume.The great thing about this type of resume is that it is easy to use and to customize. Once you have decided what you want to emphasize, you can now create your skills based resume with ease. The only thing that you need to do is to gather all of the necessary information that will show what skills you have that employers will value.

Advice - The Magic Word in Managing Your Career - Career Pivot

Advice - The Magic Word in Managing Your Career - Career Pivot “Advice” is the Magic Word When someone comes to you and asks for some advice, do you ever turn them down? Probably not. In fact, you probably take it as a compliment! What is the best way to approach a contact for help with your career? Ask for advice? I use this in a larger strategy called Asking for A-I-R. Advice Insights Recommendations (More: The Key to a Successful Shift: Asking for Help) First Ask for Advice Let’s say you are looking to network into one of your target companies. You get one of your contacts to make an introduction. When you reach out to the targeted individual you immediately ask; “Can I have a few minutes of your time to ask some advice?” Might they ignore your request? Sure. Might they simply say no? Sure. Listen to the most recent episode If they refuse to help you then they are probably a jerk. In that case, you do not want to talk to them anyway. Move on to the next person on your target list. When you get some time with this individual you might ask for advice about getting hired at the company. Secondly, Ask for Their Insights How do you like working there? Can you describe the culture? What is the management style in general in the company? What is the management style of your immediate boss? How is hiring done â€" referral, posting on a website, headhunters …? If you think of any other questions please share them in the comment box below. Ask for Their Recommendations The step that many forget is to ask for recommendations! What should I do next? Who do you recommend that I talk to next? Can you introduce me to anyone that might help me in reaching my goal? When you get a recommendation, you need to follow up, follow up and follow up. You keep the person making the introduction in the loop at every step! I like to think of this as “sales closing.” As a sales person, you want to close each meeting. It is not necessarily to make the sale but to move to the next step. (More: Strategic Networking Playbook â€" Who, How and When!) What Can I Do For You? The last step in this process is to always ask what can I do for you? When I network, my philosophy is to be as helpful as possible and never expect anything in return. It is all about creating good karma. You do this enough and good things will come to you. The issue is you never know when good things will come back to you. They usually come back to you when you least expect it. Asking for Advice Story #1 I like to tell the story of my son, who after graduating from college in 2006 was having difficulty landing his first job. He applied with a large employer in Sacramento, California. I instructed him to get on the Sacramento chapter website of the professional association where he belonged and to e-mail all of the Sacramento officers and ask for 15 minutes on the phone to ask some advice. My son expected that this was a bunch of hogwash. No one will reply. Much to his surprise every last one of them gave him at least 30 minutes, and he got a lot of great advice. He did not get the job, but he learned that when you ask for advice…. people will respond positively. Asking for Advice Story #2 Recently, I had a client who was working on penetrating the headquarters of a large company in the Austin job market. She was introduced to the head of human resources through a contact. The next step was to pull out the magic word and ask for advice. The head of human resources could have easily blown off the request but instead was asked if she wanted to come in for a cup of coffee. That coffee meeting led to a whole series of introductions that have not led to a position just yet but she now has a whole set of valuable contacts. All because she used the magic word of “advice”. Advice is the magic word in managing your career! Do you ask for advice? Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Youre A Mid-Career Professional...about to be smacked on the side of your head

Youre A Mid-Career Professional...about to be smacked on the side of your head I could tell he was suffering.    I hadnt seen him that way before. It was like the wind was sucked out of his sails. As a man, where your self worth is   tied up in your job and your careeras the family provider, I knew something big had happened. There was a heaviness in the air. I knew that this dinner was not going to be uneventful. Now maybe you havent experienced this moment. But for me it was life changing. It was a point in time where I swore to myself never to be subject to being a victim in that situation. What was it? Before I tell you, lets look at you. Youre midway through your career.   Youre making solid paychecks.   Youre respected in your industry.   You have industry contacts and have risen up through the ranks. Youre the decision maker.   The leader.   The one others look up to for advice and guidance. But heres the dirty little secret. Youre also expensive.   And if you arent learning and growing, youre also a liability. And you could be soon walking in like my dad when he lost his job, his pension and his confidence in the well worn story that you go to school, get a good job, and retire in comfort. That lie came crashing down like a ton of bricks. And I wasnt going to be subject to that destiny. And so I worked a different model.   I still went to school.   Got my degree.   Struggled to land a decent job.   Worked my tail off and developed a solid reputation.   Up to this point I was following my dads model.   And the once millions of Americans use as their model. But I did something different. I recognized that day that you cant put your future in the hands of an unaccountable corporation. You cant believe the lie that Big Education, Big Business, Big Media, and Big Government will all have you buy into. The lie that they can take care of you. With the radical change that is everyday in the business world.   They cant take care of you.   The corporation may not be around five years from now.   The division you work for may fall due to the competitive pressures and mass layoffs may ensuewith you being caught in the crossfire. So what should you do differently? Before we go into that lets look at the structure of a typical work career and how things start to get really interestingand scaryas you hit your mid-career and start planning for pre and post retirement. So you start off.   Dumb, oblivious, and full of optimism. That job is yours for the taking.   Youve got this shiny new college degree.   And six figures is about to be handed to you on a silver platter. No? First dream shattered. Luckily I wasnt one of those people who got a participation trophy. I got the equivalent trophies.   One for sportsmanship.   One for last place.   And by the way, who gives last place trophies?   Okaymaybe thats because I was always on the team that made winners possible. So anyway, a career as a sports star definitely wasnt in the cards.   And it probably isnt for you either. So you land that slightly over minimum wage job to get that thing they call experience.   Yes, that elusive thing you need to have in order to get the job you want.   But cant get until they hire you.   That darn catch-22. But somehow you figure it out.   Because staying poor and eating Top Ramen and generic Mac Cheese just wont cut it.   The chicks dont dig poor. So you get the first job.   It sucks. And so you quit as soon as you can find something better. Then you bounce around from job to job or industry to industry until someone traps you. Yes, they trap you.   With that slightly better pay.   Or the cool title.   Or the corner office.   No, the corner office doesnt come yet.   Thats for the old guy who plays golf and hardly does any work. Oh no!   Did I just jump ahead to where you are today?   That fat cat executive or manager bossing the Millennials around? Sorry for the diversion.   Back to the career progression. So now youre getting serious. You found something you can do better than the other poor slacker down the hall and are gaining momentum. You get the raise.   And the promotion. Then you quit and go work for a better company for higher pay. Now things are ticking along.   Youre starting to feel like youve got this whole thing figured out. Of course youre working longer hours.   But youve now been married for a while.   Have some kids.   And really look forward to getting back to the office each Monday where youre in control of your domain.   Side note:   If youre the man who is the master of his domain at home, Ill show you a liar or someone who somehow escaped back to the 50s while we werent looking.   Because these days that domain has been repossessed.   It aint yours no more. So now youre feeling pretty good about yourself, right? You make good bank.   Youve got a decent title that isnt going to get you laughed at by your friends or college buddies.   Youve got the home life handled and arent broke.   Yes, your wife may be spending all your money each month.   But youre certainly not feeling the pinch. So heres the deal.   This mother, F#%!er house of cards is about to come down on your sh** a**ed grinn head. Why? Because youre now trapped in a cage   like a rabbit. And not the bad ass one from the Monty Python Holy Grail movie either. Lets see why Look at it through your employers eyes. Scenario 1 Youre doing a technical job They pay you a boatload of money (okay, I let enough of my faux expletives out for now).   You have family obligations.   Youre old.   Youre not as much fun.   Youre low-energy. So as an employer, if I can get some hot-shot 20-something whos fresh out of college and willing to work 16 hours a day for shi* pay, and I can train him to do my bidding, and like it, and get two or three of them for the price of you?   Why wouldnt I? Now you might call that age discrimation.   And if youre over 40 you may have a case.   Especially here in California where everything is upside down like an Alice in Wonderland movie. But they wont tell you that.   Theyll use position elimination. Or reduction in force.   Or early retirement to justify it.   But the short answer is you just dont cut it anymore. And it isnt really your fault.   It is just the normal part of the aging process.   Youre now irrelevant. Scenario 2 Youre a manager In this situation it is slightly better.   Theyre paying for your expertise but also for your wisdom.   Hard-won over the years.   Something they cant really get from a youngster.   So you get the benefit of age discrimination in reverse here.   But that is up to a point. Your bigger risk here comes from competition.   Not the guy down the hall who wants your job.   No, this is the competition that the company faces.   In the market.   From other competitors here and abroad.   As technology and businesses evolve. And so you may be trucking along and POW!   They run the numbers and theyre out of money.   The business model ceases to work.   And mass layoffs or bankruptcy greet you.   And youre out on the street. What happens next. What happens next?   You lose. You find yourself on the receiving end of an unemployment check.   For the average eight months.   This sucks.   Youre struggling to make your mortgage payment.   Youre racking up credit card bills and paying only the minimums because youre living on welfare (yes, unemployment is welfareand not very good at that). You apply for minimum wage jobs but cant get them because youre overqualified. Youd be great working the same job at another company.   But guess what?   The tide has turned and everyone hit the streets in your industry at the same time.   And other companies are restructuring. And so you cant land another job where you were king. So you start looking at other industries.   And in those jobs youd have to drop down a couple levels.   And take half your old pay.   And because youre an unknown they still dont want you. So now it is nearing a year and youve lost hope. Do you really want to be in this situation? I didnt either.   So thats why I took my career reins in my own hands. Yes, I worked hard, smart, and made a strong reputation so Id have people whod hire me if I hit the streets.   And in all my job changes my network has saved me. Every job since college I got was through a referral or prior coworker. But just doing great work wont cut it if the industry experiences a downturn. I faced that in 2001 when 9-11 hit then the stock market crashed.   And funding for telecom projects dried up.   And now project work was being issued.   And I was out on the street.   Luckily before I ran out of money I was able to land something as the tide turned.   But I was lucky. So heres the deal. You need to be thinking about the worst case scenario. And planning for it.   And taking action around it. With this blog, and associated resume and LinkedIn profile writing and business consulting side hustles I do, Im learning marketing (the real stuff, not just what people tell you in books some work some suck). Im making money out of my ideas and my hard work (yes, nearly every evening and weekend Im doing something to promote or monetize my side hustle business). And as a result Im gaining new skills, relationships, and experiences that both help me excel at my day job and give me a head start if things go South quickly in the industry. That is my security. That is my built-in measure of safety. That is my retirement plan. And my pre-retirement plan if needed. So what is yours? You you have something on the side youre implementingjust in case?   Is your side hustle rolling yet? What about your resume and LinkedIn profile?   Are they update to date?   Do your accomplishments rock?   Will they ensure you stay at the top of the heap?   Or did you just haphazardly throw them together to check the box? Are you job search ready?   Take the quiz to find out. Need help before its too late?   Shoot me a message. Other articles you might like: 4 Insider Secrets: LinkedIn Resume and Job Search Hacks What to do when youre stuck in a dead-end job Have A Financial Adviser? Why You Need A Career Strategist Too

Changing Seasons Means Revamped Strategies

Changing Seasons Means Revamped Strategies Well, its happened again. The relentless wheel of history has rolled into another season, and thats actually a pretty positive thing because every new season is a great reason to look at what you are doing, decide what needs to change, and set some strategic goals that will get you where you want to be. Look At What You Are Doing It doesnt matter if we are talking about your job search, your workplace, or the balance between your home and career. Everyone needs to look at what they are currently doing and see the good points along with the bad. Write it down and celebrate what is working for you, even if there are some scary situations you need to deal with soon. Decide What Needs To Change Even a small change can make a big difference in how your workday goes, and doing some updates in your LinkedIn profile or resume will be good investments that give profitable returns. Perhaps deciding that each child does one activity at a time will give everyone some margin in their lives. You dont need to change everything (particularly if its working well) but changing something around is like a breath of fresh air. Set Some Strategic Goals Where do you want to be ten years from now? How about next year? Are there steps that can begin to get you there? Many times a career coach  can help you figure out which steps will get you there, and what will be a sidetrack you regret. If you are not sure what you need to be doing now in order to reach your goals, get some advice from people who have made it to where youd like to be. Even if you decide not to take their advice, it gives you a better idea of what is involved. A change in the season is always fun because its an excuse to mix it up a little bit, but it also is an excellent reason to revamp your strategies for success.