| CAREERS NOW 04-27-08 |
| Getting Past a Prickly Thorn in Job Interview |
DEAR JOYCE: What would you say in a resume and job interview about being fired
by a notoriously difficult vice president? The veep told me to fire a subordinate but I argued that the person
had done nothing wrong and didn't deserve to be terminated. Since I was reluctant to fire my subordinate, I myself
was fired.
I know my reluctance could be interpreted as insubordination but as I said, the veep can be impossible to deal
with. How can I handle the situation? - J.P.
I handed your question off to career coach Mark S. James, founder and president of Hire Consulting Services (hireconsultant.com), a career management firm in San Diego.
James advises that you say absolutely nothing on your resume about why you left your last job. - save it for interviews.
James recommends that early in a face-to-face interview you head off insubordination doubts by raising the issue
first: "I'm exploring new career opportunities and appreciate the chance to speak with you. I've heard good
things about your firm's ethics and integrity, characteristics that satisfy my core values. In fact, I left my
last job over a difference in management philosophy and that's why I feel fortunate to have discovered your situation
for which I'm ideally suited."
If pressed, James suggests you explain honestly but briefly why you didn't act on the veep's instruction to fire
your subordinate: "I made some internal inquiries and after discovering that there was no financial urgency
to trim staff, I wasn't comfortable cutting loose one of my best people, a guy who had worked his heart out for
the company. Reflecting on the issue, I believe I did the right thing. Some values in life are worth taking a hit."
DEAR JOYCE: At 39, I've decided to put a profile on a social networking site for recruiters to find me.
My teenaged daughter argues for MySpace. I think LinkedIn is more appropriate for an adult. Who wins? - J.Q.
A recent poll by ERE Media on its ere.net site for recruiters asked members which Web site they preferred for background
research on candidates. Of 611 votes, LinkedIn is the clear favorite at 38%, followed by Google- 10%, MySpace -
3%, and Facebook - 3%. But 33% use a combination of the above, while 13% use none of the above.
Looks like you win, dad. If any readers don't know why dad cares, head over to humanresources.about.com and search
for "LinkedIn."
DEAR JOYCE: My daughter will be graduating this year with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Earlier she
accepted a job offer that has recently been rescinded with regret because of company cutbacks. She is working with
counselors at her school's career center but do you have suggestions? - R.C.V.
Your daughter is doing exactly the right thing by going back to the well with her school's placement professionals.
Their database shows which employers are likely to hire liberal arts graduates. Even if your daughter remains jobless
after graduation, encourage her to stick with her placement counselor; if enthusiastic assistance isn't forthcoming,
take it upstairs. More ideas:
-- Your daughter can write a terrific letter to the professional who hired her for the withdrawn job, confirming
that she remains interested in the position should it revive.
-- As graduation nears, if the future looks like a long, hard summer, your daughter can ask her school counselor
to help her find a post-grad internship, preferably a paid one.
-- I've commented in previous columns on pathways for liberal arts graduates; find them on my Web site, sunfeatures.com.
Click on Columns and ty pe "liberal arts" in the search box.
-- Read a recent article, "What can I do with my liberal arts degree?" in the Occupational Outlook Quarterly's
Winter 2007-2008 edition, www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm.
Remember, the overall hiring prospects for this year's crop of college graduates are good. Encourage your daughter
to stay upbeat despite a job loss that wasn't her fault.
Email Joyce
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