HOW TO FAIL
AT YOUR NEXT
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Presented by: Charlene Kricho, PHR
HR Consultant - Mercy
TOP 5 REASONS I’M QUALIFIED TO BE HERE TODAY:
5. 17+ years experience in Human Resources
4. Conducted over 1,000 interviews
3. Participated in many bad hiring decisions
2. Participated in more GREAT hiring decisions
1. I care
APPLICANTS WHO FAILED BEFORE THEY GOT STARTED
Do you recognize yourself?
•Blurter
•Interrogator
•Talker – cell phone, that is
•Aromatic
•Easily distracted
•Yawner
•Inappropriate dresser
•Pinocchio
•TMI
PRIMARY REASONS FOR FAILURE ONCE ON AN
ASSIGNMENT/JOB
Attitude
Bad Fit
•Been there, done that aka Know-it-All
•No desire to succeed
•Anything you’ve done, I can do better
•Self-fulfilling prophecy
•Rely on memory, don’t take notes
•Position isn’t as described
•Don’t pay attention
•Overstated personal capabilities
•Don’t LISTEN!
•Culture clash: chatty Cathy in a headsdown environment
•Personality conflicts
OOPS, WHAT NOW?
COMMUNICATE!
With supervisor
•clearly express concerns
•have solution(s) to discuss
•ask for other options/opportunities
•remain professional
If necessary, talk to HR representative
•talk to supervisor first!
•refer to notes to accurately convey issue
•do not point fingers
•ask what opportunities/options are available
•remain professional
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
SOUL SEARCHING
We can’t fix what we don’t know is broken
We can’t find what we want if we don’t know what we want
•Identify personal job satisfaction factors
•Identify and be truthful about our strengths and weaknesses
•Identify personal skills and skill level
•Know your personality traits and dislikes
•Recognize transferrable skills and be ready to talk about them
•Recognize past accomplishments
•Define your interests
•Define what aspects of an organization are important to you
•Find jobs that fit well with your interests and strengths
•Prepare to avoid roadblocks
WHAT NEXT?
Seek guidance from professionals: this process can seem overwhelming
Staffing Solutions, Inc. has many self-assessment tools available to help:
• Assess skills
• Create a personal assessment outline
• Apply skill set to job market needs
• Provide career counseling
• Opportunities for placement
• Steer to roles that fit personal assessment
….ALL THAT WORK AND NOW….
THE INTERVIEW
Do your homework
•Review the job title and summary immediately before the interview
•Know a bit about the organization and why you want to work there
Ask appropriate questions
•Should not be a one-way conversation
•Determine if there is a good match between the company’s needs and
your skills, values, and career path
HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS
Bad: What happened to the person that was in this job before?
Better: Why is this position available?
Bad: What do you think they are looking for in this job?
Better: What skills, experience, temperament make a successful candidate for this position?
Bad: Do people monitor your work all the time or do you work on your own?
Better: Can you describe the culture of the department: Do they work as a team or
independently?
Bad: Does the department do a good job of training new people?
Better: What type of training and resources are available to new team members?
JUMP START YOUR SUCCESS
Send a thank you card
Seriously consider the opportunity, before the offer
•Do you have the skills required to perform well?
•Do you have the desire to perform well?
•Will you be ashamed to tell others what company you work for?
Follow up at appropriate intervals
•Was follow up expected within two weeks?
What answers do you need to make a decision, if an offer is made?
•Make a list
If you receive a thanks, but no thanks response
•Thank the recruiter for their time
•Ask what skills are needed to be a successful candidate for the next opportunity
•Ask to be kept in mind for future opportunities
If turning down an offer, be respectful and prepare to explain why
I GOT IT!!!!!
• People are not placed in a role – temp or permanent – to fail
• Treat every day as a working interview
• Prepare to impress
Sunday
After picking out your outfit for Monday, mentally prepare for the your first
day. Determine priorities regarding your new role. What do you hope to
learn or accomplish? What is your understanding of your role ? What
projects are most important? Which ones are you most excited about?
Have you been told how your role impacts the organization?
Document your questions and bring with you to work on Monday.
THE NEW “KID IN CLASS”
Monday
• Start by smiling! Come across as friendly and approachable. Don’t let
your nerves show and send the wrong message.
• Find out your schedule. Is time scheduled for orientation? Training?
Manager one-on-one? Department introduction? Meeting key
partners?
• Ask your leader about goals and expectations. What is the preferred
method of communication? What are your first assignments? Who,
what and where are your resources?
• Take notes!!!
YOU SURVIVED DAY ONE
Tuesday
• Get organized. No matter which tool you prefer, have a system in
place to track tasks and help manage time efficiently. Keep a note pad
and pen, laptop, or iPad with you at all times.
• Use a method to track actions items to ensure nothing slips through
the cracks.
• Ask for a tour of the office’s filing system, if you haven’t had one
already.
• Be sure to review hard copy and electronic document protocols. For
example, if templates are in existence that need to be used, start right
away. If protocols are in place for an electronic signature on e-mail
documents, create your signature.
• Take notes!!!
HUMP DAY
Wednesday
• If you have not met the members of your team, introduce yourself. Ask
for some of their time in the near future to learn more about them and
their role within the organization.
• The goal is not to impress. Get to know each other and learn from
those with more time in the role/department/organization than you.
Trust is built over time, so don’t be disappointed if the conversation is
not as immediately forthcoming as you hoped.
• Showing interest in the job and in your co-workers will accelerate the
bonding process. You will have a network of allies to help you
succeed as time goes on.
• Take notes!!!
ON THE DOWNHILL SLIDE
Thursday
• A general understand of office procedures and administrative tasks
should be gained by now. Verify what you think you know with coworkers. Review your company’s training manuals and procedures.
• Build your internal contact list. For example, Who do you contact with
computer issues? How do you obtain office supplies? Who are the
company’s vendors and how are they contacted?
• Most work will require cooperation with others. Much stress can be
avoided if details are worked out ahead of time. For example, who will
be responsible for what and when?
• Take notes!!!
TGIF
Good news! You will never have another first week on this job again.
• In a brief meeting with your manager, hit the highlights of your week. If
you’ve started projects, review steps up to this point to ensure you are on
the right track. Review your list of priorities. Ask if you are on track with
expectations for week one. If not, find out the issue(s).
• What’s on the schedule for next week? Determine the best lines of
communication between you and your manager. Express your commitment
to performing the best.
• Take notes!!!! Then type them up in an e-mail to your boss, recapping the
highlights and expectations.
• If provided advice on how to improve performance, this is important
information. You will be able to reference your advances in this area during
your next evaluation – formal or informal. Your manager will appreciate the
initiative and cooperation.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
• It isn’t always easy or comfortable, but we need to take an
objective look within
• Seek guidance from professionals
• Prepare
• Anticipate
• Remember that you were chosen to succeed!!!