The ONE Time You Must Ask About Salary Before The Interview

Q. I have a job. It's not great but it could be worse and it does pay the bills. Last week I got invited to interview for a job that sounds like fun. But I suspect they're offering less money than I'm making now." A. When you're working, you may have trouble escaping for interviews. You have to set limits and screen your interviewers -- a nice position of power. Talk to the interviewer. "I'm interested in the job. I have a job and my job search must be confidential, so I want to save my time and yours as well. Can you give me a sense of the salary range for the position?" Of course, some interviewers will be turned off. You may lose an interview. I would say, "If they don't respect your time before the interview, how will you be treated once you're hired?" No absolutes in the career world! Some companies treat applicants horribly but then honor their employees like royalty. But most don't.

3 Ferocious Career Killers (and how to avoid them)

In her book What To Do With the Rest of Your Life, Robin Ryan identifies 10 career killers. Today we’ll look at two and explore a third, all related to self-presentation. Click here to look up the book. Killer #1: Wait to be noticed. Expect that you’ll be recognized if you do good work, so don’t announce your successes. You just finished a degree, won an award and maybe got a paper published. Have you shared your news with those who have the power to reward you? Positive colleague and bosses want to hear about your successes. If their response is lack of interest or even jealousy, you’re seeing red flags all over the place. And if you’re a solo-preneur, share triumphs with customers and clients. They want to know they’re dealing with a winner. Killer #2: Demand credit you don’t deserve. Claim credit for the success of others. Brag about skills and talents beyond what you have. These days, most of us work in a spotlight. It’s too easy to be exposed for inauthentic self-promotion. Not worth the risk, in my opinion. Killer #3: Get noticed for the wrong reasons. Share potentially damaging personal information about yourself. Last weekend I saw the movie Notes on a Scandal, an outrageous example of inappropriate self-disclosures and weak boundaries. With coworkers and colleagues, you’re always “on.” Even experienced professionals can drop their guard and share personal information when they’re feeling stressed and/or lonely. We’re most vulnerable right after a major move or career change. (Did you see the movie Notes on a Scandal? An outrageous example of confiding in the wrong person, among other things.) During a career change or other transition, most people need 2 kinds of support: personal and informational. Personal support –from family and close friends -- gives you a safe place to talk about feelings. Informational support – from professional colleagues, mentors and consultants – provides perspective: you get to figure out what’s really going on. Self-presentation can be a great career challenge for anyone. Ultimately, in my experience, it’s a combination of judgment and support.

Career Advice to cope with a job you hate

Last week a reporter from Australia emailed me, getting background for an article about careers. As it turned out, the questions related directly to my ebook on "Ten things to do when you really, really hate your job." http://www.cathygoodwin.com/hatejob.html An example of the career advice I shared: Q. How do we ‘readjust’ our attitude to be able to cope in a job we don’t like? My answer: You can't force yourself by saying, "I have to like this job. I have to like this job." Instead, think of your job as a vehicle you can use to move to your next job. What can you use: Does your company offer training and education programs? Are you improving your resume every week or at least every month? Are you learning new skills? Another technique is to regard your job as a day job. Be careful to do enough so you won't get fired. But do the minimum and use your energy to work towards your real dream. Often you need to work with a consultant or coach to avoid getting caught up in the day job. It's familiar. You get a check every week. You're in a comfort zone. Let's face it: Cushy day jobs can be hazardous to your career. Believe me: I know!

Job Search Strategy: Can you bypass the HR department?

Q. My job search has taken off! I want to apply for an advertised job in the systems group of Mega-Corp. I know folks in other departments but not this one. Do you have tips to bypass HR? A. This question actually came from a client recently. I’ll share my thoughts and hope readers will email with more ideas, comments and controversy. First, success depends on how much nerve you have and how much risk you'd like to take. These strategies carry no guarantees and any job search strategy (including following the rules) can always backfire. As far as I know, these strategies are completely legal and ethical. (1) Call the department and ask for the department head's name. Usually they’ll just give you the name readily. Some job hunters say, “I’m doing a mailing.” Well, I think you are doing a mailing but you get to sort out the ethics, practicality and reality. Once you get a name, you can write directly to the department head. (2) Call the department cold (with or without a name). Ask for info about the position in a calm, confident manner. (3) Send a copy of your resume and cover letter to HR. But also send copies directly to the hiring manager. I’d say don’t bother to cc anybody: if they don’t like your back door strategy, it won’t matter anyway. (4) Google the department and (if possible) the name of the hiring manager to see if you can come up with a connection between you and him (or her). Ideally you will find a mutual acquaintance to perform the introductions. Or who knows: you may discover a strong common bond based on education, fraternity, previous employment or sports. (5) Phone, email or visit everyone you know at this company. Get a list of *all* the names for which they'd agree to be a referral source. For example, you call your trusted friend, Janie. She says, "You can call Frank, Hilda and Bob and say Janie sent me." Now you set up informational interviews with Frank, Hilda and Bob, using Janie’s name. Casually ask if they know someone in the target department or if they have general advice about hiring at Mega-Corp.. (6) You may find informal email lists too. For example, here in Seattle we have an email list of women writers – and I see exchanges of info about UW positions. (7) Attend a meeting of any industry group where the department head will be expected to show up. You may be able to scan a membership list (if you or someone you know is a member) to see if she’s involved. And if he’s a no-show, you’ll use the opportunity to get some deep background on the industry and maybe even MegaCorp’s reputation as an employer.

What's Special About Midlife Career Change?

When reviewing career change books, I sometimes add the comment, 'This book seems more appropriate for 20-somethings or 30-somethings. But midlife career changers will resist." (1) You need different networking systems. A Young Career Changer (YCC) can ask for informational interviews. He can ask to shadow someone for a day or two. But if you're in your 40's or 50's, managers may resist opening their doors to someone who's a peer, perhaps someone who's been working elsewhere. When I taught live MBA marketing, my "older" students had trouble getting interviews for projects. "Two gray-haired men? They thought the IRS had come to call," said one student. For the record, I offered to create a special project for them, but they declined. They'd caught the fire! (2) You're un-learning a style of professionalism. As I like to say: Corporate life is like professional football. Carreer change is like playground basketball. A whole different set of moves. You can do it, once you realize what's going on. (3) Life happens. I'm not typical: my parents are gone and my next-of-kin has fur and paws. Many 40-plus career changers have teenagers, boomerang kids, aging parents and a whole lot more. Some of my clients experience health concerns, whether seeking additional medical screenings or dealing with symptoms. (4) Your day job is more demanding. By mid-career you've probably moved up the corporate ladder and you have more responsibilities. As an executive or professional you may have more flexibility but you work longer hours. And your family becomes more important. (5) Your comfort zone has gotten broader and deeper. What's a lateral move to a YCC may be a giant leap backward at mid-career. I encourage clients to consider the consquences of, say, giving up a large home for a small apartment. Some care a lot. Some barely notice -- they're too excited about the future. Success depends on feeling proud and happy, genuinely, authentically. Anything else gets in the way. Please leave a coomment for me!

Apprentice Los Angeles: An Unintentional Lesson

On the surface, last night's Apprentice was all about leadership. But I believe it was all about luck. Both teams hated their project leaders. Team Kinetic recognized that Aime (pronounced "Amy") wasn't fully present. She seemed unaware of her environment (Spanish speaking culure -- hello!) and she delegated to the max. Still, her team came up with a clever concept, dressing up in bright costumes to attract visitors to their booth. And as her team realized they needed to communicate in Spanish, they should have fought for an interprter. Instead, they said nothing. They walked the mall, trying to drum up business but didn't bother to call Aime to clue her in. I don't blame Aime for being angry, as she stormed off to her waiting limo. Consciously or not, her team set her up. In the real world, employees are supposed to make their bosses look good and avoid dumb mistakes. Suriya didn't fare much better. He got emotional. He wandered up to strangers, one at a tim - a very inefficient process. His team made fun of him. Suriya does show some insight. As he pointed out, "We all have jobs to go back to." He does have some marketing savvy. And for some reason, teams begin winning when he joins them. Despite the differences, the teams were only about $40 apart. They were evenly matched as far as creating a team vs. leader conflict. I think the real lesson is something I repeat to myself often, "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good."

[Career Change] NYT article on University of Phoenix

Did you read the New York Times yesterday - Sunday, February 11, 2007? If so, you may have noticed a big article in the Education Section: Troubles Grow for a University Built on Profits, by Sam Dillon. The troubled university was University of Phoenix. The NYT keeps a list of "most emailed" articles. This morning, today's Times reported this article achieved the Number One most-emailed status. If you had been a reader of my ezine, you'd be ahead of the game. You would know I've written an ebook that would have warned you, "Enrolling in the wrong program can be dangerous to your career." See Click here. And -- what a coincidence! -- here's a recent article from my ezine, published just a week before the Times article: Along with a nasty editorial against the dogs-in-bars measure, our local paper directs readers to a website that lists “accredited” education options: oedb.org That website should come with a warning. Many career change clients consider returning to school for credentials, degrees and/or skill building. If you’re at a crossroads, I recommend considering this option, if only because you’ll get new ideas for your next career. But I’ve been on both sides of the desk. I was just as irreverent as a professor and student as I am now. So I encourage everyone to read between the lines before signing up. The old signals of reputability no longer apply. For example: • Some universities are “accredited” but not “respected.” And unless you know how to dig deep, it’s hard to tell who accredited your university and what it means for you. • Online and distance education have become mainstream, especially business, library science and IT. • And I used to say, “Avoid a university that advertises on the side of a bus,” but some very well-regarded schools are now doing just that. Here are five ways to avoid red flags so your time and money will pay off when you change careers. (1) Can you talk to recent graduates of the program? Any alumni office should be willing to share names of recent graduates. Some will insist on getting permission to share contact info. That’s okay. But if they tell you all names are confidential, run away as fast as possible. Graduates should be proud of their training and their academic affiliations. Training programs often promise career success, but the fine print says, “No guarantees.” I’d go with the fine print. (2) Will this program really deliver the results you want? “Tom” signed up for a regionally accredited university’s doctoral program. Thousands of dollars later, he discovered he could not get a teaching position in his local colleges. I’ve heard many stories like Tom’s. Talk to hiring managers and university administrators before signing up. (3) Are faculty listed by name and degree? If more than a few professors graduated from the same program you want to enter, look elsewhere. Diversity means quality. No list of faculty? Forget it. (4) Do you know your own learning style? Are you an auditory, kinesthetic or visual learner? Auditory learners can face unique challenges in online programs. Kinesthetic learners like to develop skills on the job – they prefer action to classrooms. If you face special challenges, such as attention deficits, stress, and/or dyslexia, talk to an independent licensed professional before embarking on your new venture. (5) Can you afford the tuition easily? I don’t recommend going into debt or taking big risks, except in very rare situations. If your company pays the tuition, go for it – but be sure your program or degree will have value if you change jobs and/or careers. Some degree and professional programs will actually drag down your resume. But don’t let me discourage you – really. Exploring programs and reading catalogs will stimulate your creative juices and help you identify what you really want, in or out of school. Need more? Of course you can consult with me one-to-one. You can also read Back to School for a Midlife Career Change Click here!

Religion, Politics and Other Workplace Controversies

Today's paper featured an article with the attention-grabbing headline, "Religion in the Workplace." But reading closely, the article featured employees who violated company policies, claiming discrimination based on religion. One wore tattoos; another surfed the web during business hours. A third seemed more questionable: she wanted to wear a head scarf to serve drinks in a cocktail lounge. My own view: Go where you're wanted. Choose workplaces that share your values. It's not worth the emotional energy. If you're not in a position to choose, get marketable. In her book Tough Choices, Carly Fiorina wrote about her own more subtle values clash at Hewlett Packard. She shared the East Coast values of dressing up in high fashion: she liked her Armani suits with high heels. H-P enjoyed a more laid-back western culture. Clearly this clash wasn't the only reason for Fiorina's forced departure, but she herself acknowledges the added stress. And when a new client shows up, the first thing I say is, "Do you have a private email? Get a yahoo, hotmail or gmail account - right away - unless you own the company." Some of my clients who own their companies actually choose a private email anyway. One never knows. A tax accountant told me, "I encourage my sole proprietor clients to get company bank accounts, even though legally the money's all the same. If they get audited, they can say, 'Here's my business account.' And nobody sees the checks they wrote to their families, boyfriends and secret pleasure sources."

The Lisa Marie Nowak Lesson: Getting Help Before You Get Desperate

According to the International Herald Tribune and other sources: In theory, astronauts can get all the psychological help they need with no stigma. But a NASA flight surgeon says no -- there can be consequences. In my experience, anyone who's in a senior military, government, corporate or other position will be reluctant to seek psychological support, and with good reason. (1) We're used to having insurance pay for everything. And if insurance doesn't cover a medical problem, we want to take it off our taxes. Reasonable. But sometimes it's better to pay out-of-pocket, in cash, to get confidentiality. No insurance, no records. (2) Coaches and consultants are popular because there's little or no stigma. A corporate consultant with a PhD in organizational psychology can have meetings alone with the CEO to discuss "strategy." Chaplains and clergy also can be consulted, and some are trained to offer more than simple bromides. Remember the soldiers who were involved in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal? Military chaplains would have been a good choice: no black mark for visiting and they could document thir concerns for the record. (3) Employee assistance programs can be staffed inadequately for senior managers. I once worked for a university that proudly announced a new EAP -- with counselors who would be paid $35 an hour in the late 1990s. No professor with a PhD would consider seeking help from someone at that level. I've been told that some EAP's have separate counselors for executives -- a good idea. (4) Often workplaces just create stress. You don't have to be in NASA. One of my students had been a nurse for a financial company that was widely hailed as a great place to work. We even watched a film about "great companies" where her firm was featured prominently. But, she said, the pressures were extreme. Managers would come to the nurse's office to get aspirin and sometimes they would sit and shake or cry. It was okay to be sick but not okay to be stressed. (5) When it comes to taking care of yourself, you're on your own. Time to relax and rejuvenate has to be a priority. Eating junk food and giving up sleep...well, if you're 22 and motivated, you can last a while. But most of us pay. The words "sacrifice for a career" have to be taken seriously. Certainly most of us would say it's worth the risk to be an astronaut or a company CEO or US president. I'm amazed when people sacrifice for so much less. The lesson from the tragedy of Lisa Marie Nowak is to find ways to stay centered in a challenging life.

Notes on Notes on a Scandal

If you haven't seen the movie Notes on a Scandal, and you like all your movies to be surprises, stop reading now! Otherwise... The movie Notes on a Scandal made me cringe. Cate Blanchett's character ("Sheba") made two career mistakes. First, she decided to become a teacher without realizing what was involved. We've all met idealistic career-changers and often they get burned (though not as badly as this). But what was worse: Sheba was quick to confide in the first person who showed a friendly interest. When you arrive in a new place -- career scene or geographic location -- the first people you meet often will be the neediest. They have the most time to spare because often they have few other friends...for a good reason. Sheba went way beyond the norms for new acquaintances. She told "Barbara" all the gory details of her life. As Barbara said, she felt like a Mother Superior hearing a novice's confession. If you've seen the previews you already know: Barbara was a dangerous woman with an agenda of her own. Most of us don't have lives as interesting as this Sheba character. And very few people we meet will be as evil as this Barbara. But they're bad enough. I just read the book Snakes in Suits. And even if you confide in a benign, kindly person, your information can be misinterpreted and misused. So I cringed as I watched the horrors of this movie unfold. Sheba was needy and vulnerable. She needed a real friend.