Tag Archives: Advice for Employers

Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

June 12, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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“Don’t worry! You’ll be great! If I can do this job anybody can!” You do worry. You don’t know what you’re doing, what your boss expects, and you feel like you’re failing. You want guidance. “What are you worried about? I’d tell you if there were a problem, you’re fine!” You’re not fine. You’re making mistakes. You’ve tried to figure it out but you’re in over your head. You’ve asked for help but your boss Continue reading →

Is 20 Seconds Really Enough?

June 2, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Making a great impression in the first 20 seconds of an interview could be one of the most important goals for the applicant.  On the other hand, the first 20 seconds should not discover a “winner” for the job.  This isn’t a horse race, and if it were, you wouldn’t know the outcome unless you stayed around long enough to see who’s in first place when crossing the finish line. It’s true. Some applicants start Continue reading →

American Idol vs. Your Career

May 30, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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American Idol, Fear Factor, The Swan. Whoever says that today’s popular television programming isn’t educational, hasn’t been watching reality TV. Job seekers can learn plenty from watching these shows and noting the striking similarity between the would-be star’s chase for fame, fortune, and success and their own job search. Case in point: American Idol. Job seekers and Idol hunters begin the chase competing against legions of applicants, all varying in age, background, appearance, talent, discipline, Continue reading →

Costly Coaching Mistakes at Work

May 29, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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“Two months ago I had a superior performance review. Today I don’t have a job. If you asked me what happened between then and now, I’d have to tell you I don’t have a clue. All I know is that last Friday I received a voice mail telling me to meet my boss at 5 pm. I may not know much, but I do know it’s never good to have a meeting with your boss Continue reading →

Overcoming Obstacles in the Workplace

May 16, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Do you work with these people? “He wears me out. No matter what I position I take, he takes the opposite. Don’t get me wrong, I like honest disagreement, but he takes it too far” “She blocks, obstructs, you name it, she’s in the way of progress. Ten of us agree and she’s the lone dissenter. I’d fire her, but she’s right more times than she’s wrong. ” “She nods agreeably whatever the subject. I Continue reading →

Keys to Customer Service

May 14, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Don’t you love it when you receive great customer service? You feel good about the company and want to continue doing business with them. Conversely, few things can be as frustrating as a bad shopping experience. You feel angry about how you’ve been treated and are sure to take your future business elsewhere. Sales and service providers say the public is getting harder to please, and customers say good service is getting harder to find. Continue reading →

Accepting Responsibility

May 11, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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It all started amicably enough. I was on the road, had an afternoon off between speaking engagements, and wanted to do something relaxing with three hours of found time. I thought, “Movie! That’s the ticket.” So, by golly, I went to the neighborhood theatre, paid the admission, and was directed to door #9, my gateway to entertainment. I went in and with a mix of surprise and mild frustration realized that the feature had started Continue reading →

What Does Win-Win Look Like in a Tough Employment Market?

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Job hunters make big mistakes when they negotiate from a win-lose mentality. It’s a buyer’s market. The jobs are few and the applicants many. If you project an attitude of arrogance or indifference, don’t bother to show up. There are plenty of applicants out there who understand how that game is played. Your win-lose gambit will turn into lose-lose outcome. Applicants make big mistakes when they negotiate from a lose-win mentality. Sure it’s a buyer’s Continue reading →

Two Views of Post-Interview Communication

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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“Joyce, I read your column regularly.  I would like you to touch on the subject of employers who do not inform potential employees of the outcome of interviews. With high unemployment rates, I can understand that they cannot possibly respond to everyone who sends them a resume. However, no employer should ignore someone who has interviewed with them for a position. It’s just plain rude to keep someone’s hopes alive if there is no offer Continue reading →

The Story of Ms. Take

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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If interviewers more readily acknowledged the challenges as well as the opportunities of their job offerings and applicants were more candid about their strengths and weaknesses, individuals would be better matched to what they do. Everyone involved would benefit from a more efficient, productive, and stable work force. “I thought I was making a great hiring choice when I hired Ms. Take”, said the human resources manager of a mid-sized manufacturer. “We spoke with her Continue reading →

Interviewing Etiquette

December 22, 2008 by Joyce Richman
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A number of job seekers have called wanting to know the basics of interview- etiquette, for the interviewer as well as the applicant. They asked, they said, because they felt that they weren’t treated fairly by the process. Here are several different examples they provided.  See what you think: “I was kept waiting for more than half an hour.” “I was told after arriving at the meeting site that the interview had been canceled.” “My Continue reading →

Don’t Sell, Interview

December 13, 2008 by Joyce Richman
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“I get everything I interview for, everything! The problem is, I can’t keep any of those jobs more than a few months. I’m sure I need fixin’, I just don’t know what’s broke!” How’s that for an enviable problem? It’s not an exaggeration, either. There are folks who are so personable they blend into every situation they find themselves. They are so perceptive, they seem able to read the minds of those who interview them, Continue reading →

The Case for Networking

December 13, 2008 by Joyce Richman
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What are three reasons that applicants and organizations benefit from networking? Each has opportunity to learn more about the other without jumping too quickly or rejecting an opportunity prematurely. Each begins with a level playing field, putting more emphasis on the job challenge and what it takes to meet it than looking for individual differences and exceptions. Each can present and respond with greater candor and less concern of rejection.

What to Achieve in an Interview – From Both Sides of the Desk

December 13, 2008 by Joyce Richman
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What are three things the applicant wants to achieve by the interview’s close? You want to have understood the challenges the company faces and how you can make a difference for them, going forward. You want to have made your case, presenting your track record of accomplishments as they relate to the position you seek. You want to have learned how working for the company can advance your career goals and objectives. What are three Continue reading →