Messages

31

Career Advice / 8 Steps to Squash a Customer's Complaint

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:54:21 PM »

1.  Listen
Whenever you set out to handle a customer complaint the first thing that you must do is listen. Listen to the customer to figure out why they are upset. Listen to the customer to determine whether any of your policies were not abided by or if this is something outside or not contemplated by your systems. Listen to what they want from you to resolve the issue. A refund? A replacement? Someone else to replace their current service representative at your company?

All too often we are defensive when dealing with customer complaints. Being defensive, at least at the onset, can inhibit your ability to truly understand why the customer is not satisfied with your products. They will tell you the problem, how they think it should be resolved, and give you a critical window into their thinking on the matter. So before you say anything, before you attempt to explain anything, challenge their complaint, or offer a resolution to the situation, listen. 

2. Understand
Next, put yourself in the shoes of the customer. Given what you now know try and see their point of view. Why did they come to you? Is there merit to their complaint? Is their proposed resolution reasonable given the issue? Until you view the issue from their perspective you cannot have a complete picture of the reason for the complaint. So always think, if I was in their shoes how would I feel?

3. Elevate
Once you have heard the complaint and understand the basis for the same, elevate the customer to a supervisor or manager where possible. If the issue is with the front-line employee this will instantly remove some if not all of the customer’s acrimony towards their current representative at the company allowing them to have a more open conversation with someone else. Often this move alone is sufficient to alleviate some of the customer’s concerns by instilling in them a sense of importance, that their complaint is significant enough to be elevated to someone higher in the chain of command.

One note of caution, when elevating be careful to fully inform the person the issue is being elevated to of the relevant facts prior to having them speak with the customer. If this is not done the new representative will be in a position which they must ask the customer to repeat what happened. While most customers, as part of the venting process, will gladly share their story again with the supervisor they should not be made to feel that they must do so for the process to continue to run its course.

4. No Fighting
Defend if you must. But do not fight with the customer. What is the difference you may ask? Often times it comes down to tone and respect. Recall, whether correct or not your customer believes that they are correct. As such, they may be 100% wrong but fighting about the issue will only exacerbate their complaint.

Your job in handling the matter is to listen, understand, and then discuss with the customer their concerns in a calm and friendly manner while conducting an open discussion regarding the issues complained of and how they will be responded to. Fighting with the customer will never resolve the issue and will only lead to heightened aggression and anger on their part. As such, calmly defend your policies or personnel if you must but do not permit the conversation to erode into a argument at any point.

5. Resolution
Offer a resolution where possible. Once you have listened and understood the customer’s complaint and have avoided fighting over the same divert the customer’s focus to how you intend to resolve the matter. Here it is difficult to include all manners of resolution which can be offered given the nature and scope of the goods and services which could be offered, but some suggestions include offering a refund or partial refund of monies paid, if warranted. Discounts on future goods or services is another popular remedy. If the issue is personnel specific simply offering to change out their representative with another will often suffice.

The psychology of the offering of a resolution cannot be understated. Recall, the goal is to resolve the customer dispute with the customer being fully satisfied with your goods or services. Even if the customer’s complaint is unwarranted listening, understanding, elevating, and offering some form of resolution allows the customer to feel that they have won, that they were correct, and that your organization wants to make it right. For most, this will resolve the issue and they will be satisfied. Unfortunately, however, there will always be those select few that you cannot please no matter what you offer. For those, you must incorporate resolve.

6. Resolve
In every customer service situation you will ultimately come to a point of what you can and cannot do to address the issue. Most situations will be able to be addressed and the customer issue resolved to their satisfaction. Unfortunately, from time-to-time, there will be issues which simply cannot be resolved. Whether it is because the customer is requesting something that is outside of your stated policies on such matters or are simply being unreasonable in their requests. For these customers you must understand that despite your best reasonable efforts to offer a reasonable resolution they are unwilling to join you in reality and, accordingly, although our aim is always to please the customer if that which the customer demands cannot be satisfied you must maintain your best offered solution and no more.

7. Writing
Ultimately, when all is said and done and a resolution has or has not been reached always take the time to memorialize the same in writing. If, as in most cases, the matter is resolved to the customer’s satisfaction, you will want to send the customer a brief follow-up email confirming that the issue has now been resolved and the specific resolution involved. In those unfortunate times when a solution cannot be reached, you want to send an email clearly memorializing what transpired such that should the issue ever come back you can quickly review the email and be versed in the same as needed.

8. Learn
Above all, use customer complaints as a manner to learn about potential flaws in your systems. Maintain a manner of tracking customer complaints and the resolution thereof such that, over time, trends or specific issues may be identified to the point that if you see one or more specific situations occurring with any frequency systems can be amended or put into place to address the same in the future before they become future complaints.

32

Career Advice / 3 Keys to Being a Good Boss

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:50:38 PM »

Presence – You not only “manage by walking around,” you show up to meetings on time to signal that you value the work your employees are doing. When you’re meeting with an employee, you shut off or totally ignore your email, IM, texts and any other interruptions to give your full attention to the employee. If employees need your support to push a key decision forward, you lend your visible presence and direct support.
   
Praise – You make it a point to give your employees the frequent, timely and specific feedback they need to stay on track and move their projects forward appropriately. You recognize and appreciate them and their efforts that are especially in line with the company’s core values and strategic objectives. Because you are diligent about “catching employees doing something good,” you also help employees receive constructive feedback more readily as they know the feedback is intended to help them advance.
   
Promise – You help your employees see the future they have with the organization and in their career. You don’t make undue or unwarranted promises of course, but you are committed to helping your team members grow and develop – and they know it. You seek out training and development opportunities for them and encourage them to go. You give them realistic “stretch” goals to help them develop skills.

33

Career Advice / 6 Ways to Develop Interpersonal Skills

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:47:52 PM »

Identify interpersonal skills in need of development. Looking back on your life, there may have been times when a conflict led to a relationship breakup or a miscommunication led to the loss of an opportunity. Identifying these experiences assists in pinpointing interpersonal goals. You may decide to become a better listener, or practice expressing your feelings more clearly and truthfully.

Focus on building harmonious relationships. If your personal relationships are short-lived or work relationships are cold and distant, concentrate on the qualities necessary for healthy relationships.

    Practice empathy. Putting yourself in the position of another person allows you to see things from a different perspective. When people feel understood, they tend to be less combative, leading to greater understanding and unity.
    Be inclusive. At home, work, community gatherings or social events, practice helping people to feel included. Avoid behaviors that exclude others or make them feel like outsiders.
    Practice fairness. If you tend to take more than you give in relationships, try to be more generous. As an example, if a friend or partner is always accompanying you to events that you enjoy, reciprocate by doing the same for them.
    Be trustworthy. Relationships are more stable when 2 people trust each another. Keep commitments and confidences to increase trust.

Communicate clearly and carefully. Strong communication skills involve listening closely and expressing yourself clearly in person, over the phone and in written communications.

    Listen carefully. Many conflicts arise from misunderstandings. Listening to others helps to clear up miscommunications. As people are talking, focus on their words, tone of voice and body language to glean the true message.
    Speak clearly. In some cases, such as a business meeting, it may be necessary to speak concisely and get right to the point. In a conversation with a family member, communicating effectively may involve elaborating on feelings and providing examples. Each situation is different, but the ultimate goal is to use language that is clear, respectful and effective for getting your message across.
    Practice good judgment in written communications. Humor doesn't always come across clearly in written communications and can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Additionally, without a tone of voice or a greater context, words in written communications can seem cold, particularly in regards to sensitive issues. Consider speaking in person about critical issues.

Examine personal ethics. People tend to trust those who are self-aware and who do not abuse their power. Practice integrity in your relationships by examining the impact of your behaviors and decisions on others.

Be a team player. When working with others, engage in a give and take that involves collaboration and compromise. Examine tendencies to dominate situations or criticize others. Praise others for work well done and be open to receiving praise.

Resolve conflicts. Conflict is a natural and inevitable part of life. Diversity of opinion, perspectives and ideas can be enriching. When opinions clash, try to understand people's viewpoints and avoid black and white thinking. In most cases, resolving conflicts involves an honest and respectful expression of feelings. In some cases, it may be necessary to let go of attachments to unimportant issues.

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Appreciation, Patience, Tolerance & Ethics / 6 Tips to Improve Your Self-Esteem By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:42:09 PM »

6 Tips to Improve Your Self-Esteem

By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

1. Take a Self-Esteem Inventory.

You can’t fix what you don’t know. This is one of the core components of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Before you get to work on putting CBT to work, you have to spend a fair amount of time identifying irrational thoughts and what-not.

The same is true for your self-esteem. To simply generalize and say, “I suck. I’m a bad person. I can’t do anything.” is to tell yourself a simple but often convincing lie. I’m here to tell you that it’s not true. We all suck from time to time. The solution isn’t to wallow in suck-age as the core of your identity, but to acknowledge it and move on.

Get a piece of paper. Draw a line down the middle of it. On the right-hand side, write: “Strengths” and on the left-hand side, write: “Weaknesses.” List 10 of each. Yes, 10. That may seem like a lot of the Strengths side if you suffer from poor self-esteem, but force yourself to find all 10.

If you’re having difficulty coming up with a whole 10, think about what others have said to you over the years. “Thanks for listening to me the other night when all I did was talk your ear off!” “You did a great job at work with that project, thanks for pitching in.” “I’ve never seen someone who enjoyed housework as much as you do.” “You seem to have a real knack for telling a story.” Even if you think the Strength is stupid or too small to list, list it anyway. You may be surprised at how easy it is to come up with all 10 when you approach it from this perspective.

This is your Self-Esteem Inventory. It lets you know all the things you already tell yourself about how much you suck, as well as showing you that there are just as many things you don’t suck at. Some of the weaknesses you may also be able to change, if only you worked at them, one at a time, over the course of a month or even a year. Remember, nobody changes things overnight, so don’t set an unrealistic expectation that you can change anything in just a week’s time.

2. Set Realistic Expectations.

Nothing can kill our self-esteem more than setting unrealistic expectations. I remember when I was in my 20s, I had thought, “I need to be a millionaire by the time I’m 30 or I’m going to be a failure.” (Don’t even get me started about how many things are wrong with that statement.) Needless to say, 30 came and I was nowhere close to being a millionaire. I was more in debt than ever, and owning a home was still a distant dream. My expectation was unrealistic, and my self-esteem took a blow when I turned 30 and saw how far away such a goal was.

Sometimes our expectations are so much smaller, but still unrealistic. For instance, “I wish my mom (or dad) would stop criticizing me.” Guess what? They never will! But that’s no reason to let their criticism affect your own view of yourself, or your own self-worth. Check your expectations if they keep disappointing you. Your self-esteem will thank you.

This may also help you to stop the cycle of negative thinking about yourself that reinforce our negative self-esteem. When we make set realistic expectations in our life, we can stop berating ourselves for not meeting some idealistic goal.

3. Set Aside Perfection and Grab a Hold of Accomplishments… and Mistakes.

Perfection is simply unattainable for any of us. Let it go. You’re never going to be perfect. You’re never going to have the perfect body, the perfect life, the perfect relationship, the perfect children, or the perfect home. We revel in the idea of perfection, because we see so much of it in the media. But that is simply an artificial creation of society. It doesn’t exist.

Instead, grab a hold of your accomplishments as you achieve them. Acknowledge them to yourself for their actual value (don’t de-value them by saying, “Oh, that? That’s just so easy for me, no big deal.”). It may even help to keep a little journal or list of things you accomplish. Some people might even do this on a day-by-day basis, while others might feel more comfortable just noting them once a week or even once a month. The key is to get to your smaller goals and move on from each one, like a connect-the-dots game of life.

It’s just as important to take something away from the mistakes you make in life. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, it simply means you made a mistake (like everyone does). Mistakes are an opportunity for learning and for growth, if only we push ourselves out of the self-pity or negative self-talk we wallow in after one, and try and see it from someone else’s eyes.

4. Explore Yourself.

“Know thyself” is an old saying passed down through the ages, to encourage us to engage in self-exploration. Usually the most well-adjusted and happiest people I meet are people who have gone through this exercise. It isn’t just about knowing your strengths and weaknesses, but also opening yourself up to new opportunities, new thoughts, trying out something new, new viewpoints, and new friendships.

Sometimes when we’re down on ourselves and our self-esteem has taken a big hit, we feel like we have nothing to offer the world or others. It may be that we simply haven’t found everything that we do have to offer — things we haven’t even considered or thought of yet. Learning what these are is simply a matter of trial and error. It’s how people become the people they’ve always wanted to become, by taking risks and trying things they wouldn’t ordinarily do.

5. Be Willing to Adjust Your Own Self-Image.

Self-esteem is useless if it’s based upon an older version of you that no longer exists. I used to be good at many things I’m no longer good at. I excelled in math while in high school, but couldn’t do a calculus problem today to save my life. I used to think I was pretty smart, until I learned just how little I knew. I could play trombone pretty well at one point, but no longer.

But all of that’s okay. I’ve adjusted my own beliefs about my self and my strengths as I go along. I’ve become a better writer, and learned more about business than I ever knew before. I don’t sit around and say, “Geez, I really wish I could play trombone like I used to!” (And if I cared enough to really think that, I would go and take some lessons to get good at it again.) Instead, I evaluate myself based upon what’s going on in my life right now, not some distant past version of me.

Keep adjusting your self-image and self-esteem to match your current abilities and skills, not those of your past.

6. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others.

Nothing can hurt our self-esteem more than unfair comparisons. Joe has 3,000 Facebook friends while I only have 300. Mary can outrun me on the field when we play ball. Elizabeth has a bigger house and a nice car than I do. You can see how this might impact our feelings about ourselves, the more we do this sort of thing.

I know it’s tough, but you need to stop comparing yourself to others. The only person you should be competing against is yourself. These comparisons are unfair because you don’t know as much as you think you do about these other people’s lives, or what it’s really like to be them. You think it’s better, but it may be 100 times worse than you can imagine. (For instance, Joe paid for that many friends; Mary’s parents have had her in sports training since she was 3; and Elizabeth is in a loveless marriage that only appears to be ideal.)

35

Appreciation, Patience, Tolerance & Ethics / How to Build Self Confidence

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:36:26 PM »

Recognize your insecurities. What does that voice in the back of your mind say? What makes you uncomfortable or ashamed of yourself? This could be anything from acne, to regrets, friends at school or a past traumatic or negative experience. Whatever is making you feel unworthy, ashamed, or inferior, identify it, give it a name, and write it down. You can also tear these written pieces to start feeling positive on those points.

Talk about it with friends and loved ones. Wear it on your sleeve. Each day you should chip away at it; wear it down. There's no quick fix. Get to the root of the problem; focus on it and understand that you need to resolve each issue before you can move on. Check if it's an old past emotion and if it is really still relevant or applicable in your life today. And that doesn't mean you have to get rid of whatever makes you feel bad (many times, you simply can't). You need to learn to accept yourself, your past, your circumstances as they are, without necessarily thinking of them as "bad".

Bounce back from your mistakes. Remember that no one is perfect. Even the most confident people have insecurities. At some point in any of our lives, we may feel we lack something. That is reality. Learn that life is full of bumps down the road. And that often these insecure feelings come and go, depending on where we are, who we are with, the mood we're in, how we are feeling. In other words, they are not constant.

Identify your successes. Everyone is good at something, so discover the things at which you excel, then focus on your talents. Give yourself permission to take pride in them. Give yourself credit for your successes. Inferiority is a state of mind in which you've declared yourself a victim. Do not allow yourself to be victimized. Express yourself, whether it's through art, music, writing, etc. Find something you enjoy. Everyone is born with talents and strengths. You can develop and excel in yours. If it's difficult to name two or three things you have some ability in or just plain love to do, think about things others do that you would like to do too and take some lessons or join an enthusiasts club. When you're following your passion, not only will it have a therapeutic effect, but you'll feel unique and accomplished, all of which can help build your self confidence. Plus, adding a variety of interests to your life will not only make you more confident, but it will increase your chances of meeting compatible friends!

Be thankful for what you have. A lot of the times, at the root of insecurity and lack of confidence is a feeling of not having enough of something, whether it's emotional validation, good luck, money, etc. By acknowledging and appreciating what you do have, you can combat the feeling of being incomplete and unsatisfied. Finding that inner peace will do wonders for your confidence.

Be Positive, even if you don't feel the same way. Avoid self-pity, or the pity and sympathy of others. Never allow others to make you feel inferior--they can only do so if you let them. If you continue to loathe and belittle yourself, others are going to do and believe likewise. Instead, speak positively about yourself, about your future, and about your progress. Do not be afraid to project your strengths and qualities to others. By doing so, you reinforce those ideas in your mind and encourage your growth in a positive direction.

Accept compliments gracefully. Don't roll your eyes and say, "Yeah, right," or shrug it off. Take it to heart and respond positively ("Thank you" and a smile works well).

Look in the mirror and smile. Studies surrounding what's called the "facial feedback theory" suggest that the expressions on your face can actually encourage your brain to register certain emotions. So by looking in the mirror and smiling every day, you might feel happier with yourself and more confident in the long run.

Fake it. Along the same lines of smiling to make yourself feel happy, acting confident might actually make you believe it. Pretend you're a completely confident version of you; go through the motions and see how you feel!

Stick to your principles. It might be tough, but if you don't have something you can believe in, you don't have anything. If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. No matter what's happened in your life, you can always lay claim to the fact that from this day forward, you've followed your principles to the best of your ability.

Help others. When you know you're kind to the people around you, and are making a positive difference in other people's lives (even if it's just being kinder to the person who serves you coffee in the morning), you'll know that you are a positive force in the world--which will boost your self confidence.

Avoid perfectionism: Perfectionism paralyzes you and keeps you from accomplishing your goals.

36

Career Advice / Emotional Stress Symptoms

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:26:16 PM »

Anger
Anger is an emotional state that can range in its intensity from irritation to intense fury and uncontrollable rage. During anger our heart rate and blood pressure increase as well as affecting levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Aggression
Aggression is characterized by hostile or destructive behavior or actions, aggressive behavior leads to self-assertion, and normally arises when expectations are blocked, threatened or removed and may arise as a response to frustration. Aggression may manifest as destructive and attacking behavior, hostility or by self-expressive drive to control.

Panic
Panic is a sudden strong feeling of fear that prevents reasonable thought or action and impairs behaviour. Panic attacks are triggered by either an internal or external stimuli. Internal stimuli can include physical sensations such as fast heartbeats, thoughts, memories or emotional that has association with fear or panic. External stimuli can include sudden temperature or light intensity changes, loud noises, fast moving objects, smells and even strange taste in the mouth.

Moods
Moods are a pervasive and sustained emotion that can alter the perception of the world, impacting on behavior, relationships and self-image. Moods can range from ecstasy to deep depression, also include sadness, feeling lonely, elation, anger, irritability or joy. Other negative moods include Aggravated, Alone, bemused, angry, annoyed, anxious, apathetic, ashamed, bewildered, bitchy, bored, cold, complacent, cynical dark, depressed, disappointed, discontent, envious, exhausted, frustrated, gloomy, grumpy, guilty, irritated, jealous, lazy, lethargic, melancholic, pessimistic, shocked, sick, unsympathetic, tired, uncomfortable and just feeling weird.

Irritable
Irritable is normally characterized as being prone to excessive anger, annoyance or impatience. In addition to being abnormally sensitive to stimuli.

Depression
Depression is characterized by ones inability to focus, concentrate, feelings on sadness, guilt, hopelessness, helplessness or death, and loss of appetite and inability to sleep.

Worry
Worry is characterized by uncontrollable recurrent or obsessive thoughts, inability to concentrate, with fear inducing thoughts, confusion, and feelings of doom. Worry can also be accompanied with physical symptoms, dizziness, dry mouth, erratic heart-rate or high blood pressure etc.

Losing Control
Losing control is characterized by overwhelming feelings that one may feel that you will do something that would be embarrassing, or passing out, vomit, gag or stumble etc. In addition to feelings of not being able to control what may be said or control the body, one also may become highly self-conscious among others. While it is very unlikely one would lose control, the fear of losing control is very real and disabilitating.

Aggressive
Abrasive or being aggressive is characterized by being in a state of impatience, hostile to stimuli especially people.

Hostile Mental State
A hostile mental state means being deliberately unfriendly, displaying animosity, normally accompanied by feeling of anger and thoughts which can be violent in nature.

Anxiety
Feeling nervous is characterized by feelings and behavior of anxiety, tension: Feeling edgy, fidgety, jumpy, jittery, tense, restless, unsettled and restless.

Emotional
Emotional/Tearful is characterized by an underlying feelings that occasionally surface as crying, deep sadness, heightened sensitivity, feelings distressed, paranoid or “hurt” in the company of people, or through re-living or replaying thoughts or conversations repeatedly.

Fear
Feeling fearful is characterized by the irrational state of fear without any visible or obvious cause. This may manifest itself as anticipation of “doom” or “dread”, fear of illnesses, death of oneself or other.

Guilt
Feeling guilty is characterized by experiencing feelings of guilt at being stressed, worrying, or feeling down or worthless.

Paranoia
Feeling paranoid is characterized by a mental and emotional states which create a mindset in which the individual feels that the world is “out to get them”, suspicious of people talking behind one’s back, Paranoia causes intense feelings of distrust, and can lead to hostile behavior.

37

Career Advice / Personal Code of Ethics

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:12:52 PM »

This code of ethics is one that I feel is important in life, both personally and professionally.

Personal Code of Ethics

To be honest- the more honest you are, the more trustworthy you become.
Have integrity- the better of a person you are, the better an image you present.
Be responsible- you must be responsible in life so that others can rely on you.
Tell the truth- the value of truth is immeasurable, because without it, the world would just be filled with lies.
Give credit where credit is due- without crediting people for their ideas/works, it is considered stealing and we are cheating them of their hard work.
Be courteous- every act of kindness makes a difference in the life of someone.
Have respect- one of the most important things is to treat other as you wish to be treated.
Trust- trust is the building block of relationships we create in our lives.
Be harmonious- to live together and get along with everyone is a “delicacy” that we all long for.
Don’t change who you are to please others- it’s not worth becoming a completely different person simply to make other people happy because by doing so, you may be making yourself unhappy.

38

Career Opportunity / The 100 Best Construction Jobs

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:04:20 PM »

Find out the best Construction Jobs: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-technology-jobs

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Career Opportunity / The 100 Best Technology Jobs

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:03:32 PM »

Find out the best Technology Jobs: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-technology-jobs

40

Career Opportunity / The 100 Best Social Services Jobs

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:02:40 PM »

Find out the best Social Services Jobs: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-social-services-jobs

41

Career Opportunity / The 100 Best Healthcare Jobs

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:01:42 PM »

Find out the best Healthcare jobs: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-healthcare-jobs?int=7acb53

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Career Opportunity / Best Business Jobs

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:00:06 PM »

Find out the best Business jobs: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-business-jobs?int=7acb53

43

Career Opportunity / The 100 Best Jobs

« on: June 19, 2013, 07:45:21 PM »

See 100 best jobs.... which one you prefer....? Now Plan accordingly...

Click on the link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs?page=2

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Guidance for Job Market / Nonverbal Communication During the Interview

« on: June 19, 2013, 10:32:33 AM »

1. Make eye contact with the interviewer for a few seconds at a time.
2. Smile and nod (at appropriate times) when the interviewer is talking, but, don't overdo it. Don't laugh unless the interviewer does first.
3. Be polite and keep an even tone to your speech. Don't be too loud or too quiet.
4. Don't slouch.
5. Do relax and lean forward a little towards the interviewer so you appear interested and engaged.
6. Don't lean back. You will look too casual and relaxed.
7. Keep your feet on the floor and your back against the lower back of the chair.
8. Pay attention, be attentive and interested.
9. Listen.
10. Don't interrupt.
11. Stay calm. Even if you had a bad experience at a previous position or were fired, keep your emotions to yourself and do not show anger or frown.
12. Not sure what to do with your hands? Hold a pen and your notepad or rest an arm on the chair or on your lap, so you look comfortable. Don't let your arms fly around the room when you're making a point.

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Guidance for Job Market / Top 50 Interview Mistakes

« on: June 19, 2013, 10:20:23 AM »

1. Dressing inappropriately.
2. Not taking a phone interview as seriously as an in-person interview.
3. Leaving your cell phone on.
4. Chewing gum.
5. Bringing a cup of coffee or other drink with you.
6. Bringing another person with you to the interview.
7. Wearing sunglasses.
8. Showing up early.
9. Showing up late.
10. Showing up hungover and/or really tired.
11. Going to the interview if you are really sick.
12. Not knowing the interviewer's name.
13. Not introducing yourself.
14. Leaving a Bluetooth earpiece on.
15. Texting during the interviewer.
16. Interrupting the interviewer to take a call.
17. Have background noise (kids, pets, etc.) during a phone interview.
18. Wearing too much much perfume or cologne.
19. Wearing a hat or cap to the interview.
20. Not bringing extra copies of your resume.
21. Not bringing a list of references.
22. Depending on the job, not bringing a portfolio of your work.
23. Playing with your hair.
24. Saying "ummm" or "you know" or "like" too often.
25. Mumbling and using poor grammar.
26. Talking too much.
27. Cutting off the interviewer's question.
28. Not talking enough.
29. Not smiling enough.
30. Telling jokes and laughing too much.
31. Not making eye contact with the interviewer.
32. Criticizing your last company or boss.
33. Not remembering your work history.
34. Checking your notes for an answer to a question.
35. Not following directions if you're given a test.
36. Not being prepared to answer questions.
37. Not paying attention to the questions you're asked.
38. Not taking the time to research the company prior to the interview.
39. Forgetting the name of the company you are interviewing with.
40. Forgetting the names of the companies you've worked for in the past.
41. Not remembering the job you applied for.
42. Telling the interviewer that you really need the job.
43. Telling the interviwer that you need the money.
44. Not knowing enough about the company you are interviewing with.
45. Asking about time off in your first interview.
47. Asking about salary and benefits right away.
48. When asked "Why do you want to work for our company?" providing answers that are focused on you instead of on how you will benefit the company.
49. Not have relevant questions to ask when asked, "What questions do you have?"
50. Neglecting to thank the interviewer for the opportunity to meet with him or her.
    Not sending a thank you note after the interviewer.