Game Plans for Work & Life

A Latin phrase reads “tempus fugit”…time flies! The older we get, the truer it is.  The question remains “how to maximize our time.”  It seems there is rarely enough time to slow down, relax, or savor special moments. No matter what we do, tasks take longer than we anticipated and the interruptions are endless.  Have you ever crammed one more task into an already overbooked schedule and then felt a “rush of accomplishment” when you got it done before the next scheduled event. Nothing stopped us…not wintry weather, red lights, or competing priorities.  All potential obstacles became opportunities to shorten that endless “to do” list.  It’s the age old dilemma between “doing” and “being.”

As life evolves, some of us question choices made and why we made them. New questions emerge: “How do I want to spend my time? And with whom? If I consciously select “calm” over a busy schedule, what would I do?  How would I make life more peaceful, less stressful?

The following activity may hold a key.  It is an interesting exercise to gain control of that elusive, precious commodity…TIME.  Make sure you complete both parts.

1. Make a list of all the things you do during the week that take time.  Here are a few for starters; add more as you think of your personal schedule:

Sleep                                  Meals                           Commute

Work                                 Family                          Friends

Volunteer                       School                          Personal Hygiene

Housework                    Church/Spirituality        Leisure/Fun

Exercise                           Chores                         Community

Me time                            Listening to news          TV/Tapes/Music

Reading/Games            Hobbies / Sports          Add your own

1. Write beside each item the approximate number of hours per week you devote to that task.  Add up the total number of hours you can account for in a typical week.  Example:  Sleep 7 hours a night X 7 nights = 49 hours weekly, 1 hour commuting daily to/from work X 5 days = 5 hours weekly, etc.  Continue until you’ve accounted for all areas where you spend time.

Add the TOTAL # of hours accounted for in your typical week ________________

1. There are 168 hours in a week (24 X 7 = 168). Subtract your total hours in step 2 from 168. How many hours are left over? This is your discretionary time.

Discretionary time: ______________________  (168 hours minus your total from #2 above)

1. Draw a circle and label it “A WEEK IN MY LIFE NOW” and divide it into wedges, depicting how your week is split among all facets of your life.  Label each wedge and indicate the # of hours allocated to it. Calculate how many hours are not committed.  Like I said at the beginning, Time flies; where is yours going?

1. Draw a 2^nd circle “A FUTURE WEEK IN MY LIFE” depicting the same allocations and now include discretionary time that would improve your quality of life. How might you invest this discretionary time?

1. Think about actions you will take to make your 2^nd circle become reality for you.

As Jennifer James, cultural anthropologist/humorist once said, “If you can spend an afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live.” Now there is a challenge for some of us.  Can you let go? Are you proud of your ability to multi task, never wasting a minute? Know anyone who is traveling through life at top speed, never realizing that they’ve missed it?

A WEEK IN MY LIFE NOW                        A FUTURE WEEK IN MY LIFE

If you have a tip on how to carve out more discretionary time, please send us your idea(s). We’d love to hear from you.  As always, thanks for reading and have a great week. -Joyce

Note to readers:  Interview questions as a blog topic, will end with this one, at least for awhile. If you have specific questions, send a COMMENT and I’ll reply to you individually. We’ll shift focus next week to other work and life planning topics.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned, Joyce  

“GOTCHA” QUESTIONS

Over the past month, we’ve looked at various types of interview questions. Here is the final set.  They represent the type that can make an interviewee say under their breath “Why me?” Try your luck with these and see how you fare.  Remember, the more practice you get, the more comfortable you’ll feel in the “hot seat.”  It’s like that old truth, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”  Practice, Practice, Practice!

 1. What’s your calling?  Hint:  It may have nothing to do with your past or current job; find a way to answer the question that aligns with your talents and the job you’re seeking.

2. In what circumstances do you withhold your value, rather than expressing it?

3. Tell me in which ways you are unique.

4. What adjectives would you use to identify yourself?  How would your friends describe you? Why would they say that?

5. How could you sabotage yourself on the job?

6. Where could you go wrong when it comes to salary discussion or what you’re looking for in a job?

7. What regular practices keep you at the top of your game when it comes to your career?

8. Describe an organization or an affiliation that is better off because you’ve become involved with them?  Explain where they were, where they are now and the difference you made.

9. In what kinds of situations can colleagues count on you consistently?

10.  How do you generally handle criticism?

11.  Tell me about an assignment or project you worked on that failed? After that experience, what did you learn?

12.  Describe a career instance where you made a mistake and learned an important lesson from the experience.

How did you do?  Keep at it and build your comfort zone. You’ll be glad you did “in the moment” when this information is needed.

You requested additional “challenging” interview questions posted before the holiday break, Try your luck with these. Keep practicing as the interview season launches again mid January. How to prepare for an interview? “Do your homework (know about the organization, find out about the job being offered, then think about why you’re the best candidate for that job, and come prepared with a few questions to ask). On the day of the interview, arrive a few minutes early, pay close attention to attire, cleanliness and grooming, be yourself,” and by all means “practice.”
Work toward a confident natural style that conveys you know what you’re talking about, you’re a team player, and you understand that change and the need to be flexible are commonplace in the current work setting. Just like the age old question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Practice, practice, practice still works! Try these questions:
WORKSTYLE
-Looking back over the past year, name one thing you could have changed at your job to improve morale and your immediate work environment?
-Describe one of the most difficult work experiences you’ve encountered thus far. How did you handle it?
-If this meeting turned into your first annual review, what messages would you be hearing right now?
-How do you respond to tension in the workplace? What about tension with your boss?
-Would you be open to relocating to another work location out of state with the company?
-Convince me that your interest in this position is genuine.
-In what ways might your work be criticized?
-Describe a learning experience that impacted or changed your approach to work.
GENERAL
-Tell me about yourself. (Remember that this is not an invitation to recite your personal history but rather convey “personal qualifications (skills, selected accomplishments, traits and goals) you bring to the job in 1 minute or less).
-Describe a book or movie that inspired you and why.
-How would you handle the comment if I told you that this interviewing is NOT going well?
-Were you ever passed by for a promotion that you felt you deserved? How did you handle that situation? Even if it hasn’t happened, how might you respond?
-Describe a situation where you were given a project to accomplish but not enough information to resolve the task. How did you handle it?
-How do you spend leisure time? In what ways do your outside interests balance or match your work skills?
-Look at this table lamp on my desk. Sell it to me in a convincing way. (TIP: interviewers sometimes want to see if you get rattled or thrown off guard by a question or can you enjoy the moment and still respond confidently).
-How might you have enriched or developed yourself at your last job?
FYI: If you want to practice more interview questions of all types, I recommend “The 250 Job Interview Questions you’ll most likely be asked…and the answers that will get you hired” by Peter Veruki, Adams Media Corp., Holbrook, MA.
Note from Joyce: As we greet the New Year, “What’s one thing that you’d like to improve at work where you have some control of the situation? How can you begin to turn that vision into reality?” My best wishes to everyone for a healthy, safe, and fulfilling 2010 and let’s continue exploring these conversations and topics in the coming weeks and months. As always, I welcome your comments and for now, enjoy the “NEW YEAR” WEEKEND!

Job Interviewing as an Older Employee

It’s  unnerving to get caught off guard.  Being unprepared can cause the most savvy person to unravel in an interview.  How to ensure this doesn’t happen to you ? 

 PREPARE.   Fine tune your answers by practicing some of the most often asked and most difficult questions .  Savvy interviewers look for someone who is real, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and interested  vs. an applicant with a grandiose resume and no ability to back up the statements.  While you’re practicing, avoid awkward non-verbal behaviors  such as facial expressions, gestures of discomfort like fidgeting. pen tapping, leg jumps, etc..  How to improve?  Practice, practice, practice.    Try responding to these questions and notice the quality of your answers as well as your body language.  Get candid feedback from a friend who will be honest with you. 

-How would you feel about working for a much younger boss?

-How can you apply your previous experience to this work environment?

-What matters to you now in a job vs. early years in your career?

-Describe a time when… (respond to each of these hypothetical situations): TIP:  Cut to the chase and state what happened and how you dealt with it.

1. You learned from a negative situation…

2. You did the work and someone else got the credit…

3. You turned around a difficult situation, colleague, customer or client…

Think about: What you learned in that situation and how might you deal differently with the above situations now?

-If you were an auto, what make, model and year would you be and why? 

-You’re about to take a “learning vacation.” In  what ways would you like to build your skills and enhance your talents?

- Select one type of flower that describes you.  What characteristics remind you of yourself?   

(interviewers often want to see how you handle the “surprise” of an “off the wall” question).  Tip:  Enjoy the question, have fun with it, and tap your creativity in your answer.  EX:  What a fun question.  Although several come to mind, I’d be a chrysanthemum. All those petals remind me how much I enjoy multitasking in the areas of….

-Describe your strengths and weaknesses.

-I have a concern that you’re overqualified for this position; do you agree?   

-Besides your experience, what do you bring to the job that a younger worker couldn’t?

-Tell me about yourself.  (This question may appear simple; however, it can be tricky.  It’s not an invitation to tell your life story. No one cares if you were born on a farm with goats and chickens and a picket fence.  Get to the point of why you’re an ideal applicant. Keep your comments brief and focused on what you bring to the job that others can’t.   In short, describe why you’re the best candidate.

For additional help, consult these websites for more sample questions and recommended answers. 

Quintessential Careers

AARP

AARP Foundation

 We’d be interested in hearing your comments about your interviewing experience…good or bad.  What questions were asked? Where did you get stumped?  How did you handle difficult questions?

Question: “Why bother job searching at the holidays? It seems that nobody is hiring now. What can I do?

Reply: Abandoning your job search during the holidays may be a big mistake! It’s a potential goldmine of opportunity to connect and have some fun. This season is often the best time to meet new people, enjoy conversation in a festive environment, show interest in their work, and discuss your talents. As opportunities appear, listen intently, be genuine and ready to exchange contact info. Let people know about your willingness to work full time, part time or on a project basis.

Leave your negative story about a former job out of the conversation. You never know who plays golf with whom. If you have a case of   “Dilbert Doldrums,” park it with the car.    In this fast paced world of high speed connecting, you never know “how people may know each other” or who socializes with whom. As a bonus, you’ll inevitably meet a few cool people in the process

If networking isn’t your thing, try a different tactic. Scan the following 10 ideas or find a better way to get involved. Key watchwords: STAY CONNECTED!

Send a greeting card with a personalized note or holiday letter to key people in your field of interest and beyond. Tell them what you’re looking for; be specific as you ask for help. At the same time, show interest in what they’re doing. Tell them how to reach you.

Attend social events; mingle at holiday parties.  Let people know what you want; stay positive about being “between opportunities” rather than “this situation stinks.”

Build a list of people you know who are positive and well connected. From that list, create your own holiday phone-a-thon and follow up early in December. Call X people every week between now and New Years.  That, alone, could add 50 to 100 people to your personal marketing campaign. Tell people what you’re looking for and how to reach you.

Volunteer at a community event; help to organize or participate in church, civic groups, causes that appeal to you (soup kitchens, toys for kids, etc.)

Reach out to others (e.g. people in need, hospitalized, homes for the sick and elderly, etc).   Ask people you meet during the day about opportunities they may know about.

Reach out to social groups. Be there for each other and remind people what you’re looking for…as specific as possible.

Initiate a project yourself. Find an area that interests you and a group of people you’d like to impact. By yourself or with a few others, get involved through established community organizations.

Join a local network, or support a favorite group or community cause.

Attend Job Fairs. Take advantage of planned events that focus on job search. Here’s the next local one this week.

If you have a better idea, tell us about it in the comments below. We’d enjoy hearing what worked for you.  Or, if you have a question, send it to me and I’ll answer it ASAP.

As you envision your future, get clear about what you want. Make a list of the talents you have to offer, how you’ve used those talents in the past, the accomplishments you’ve achieved using them and the value you are able to bring to other settings, Then, let people know around you specific ways they might be able to help. Talk about it, let your friends and colleagues know what interests you and communicate it clearly. The more others understand specifically what you want, the more they may be able to assist you in turning your dream to reality or finding a job that’ll fit.

 Ensure that people take you seriously. The clearer your communication, the more others will understand and can help you. Here’s an example from an everyday context.. If you go into a restaurant on a hot summer day and say “I want a drink that isn’t carbonated,” a glass of room temperature water may get plunked on your table because you didn’t ask for anything more specific. However, if you say “I want a tall glass of unsweetened iced tea with lots of lemon and lots of ice,” you’re more apt to get what you asked for because of the clear way you requested it. 

 Recently some colleagues and I went to a local pub to celebrate a successful program, and requested, “the largest, best Margarita you can make!” The bartender glanced our way, smiled with thumbs up and we each were served LARGE beer steins filled with delicious Margaritas, topped with cocktail umbrellas and skewered fruit. Obviously the bartender “got our request!”  Later came the tab…that’s another story.

 From childhood many of us were taught to “accept what you get and be grateful.” Those lessons were important when values were being instilled growing up. That was then; this is now. Expand that image into one where you paint a picture of what you want with all the details. If you can’t make it happen at work, create it in your leisure or home life, There’s an old saying “the clearer the picture, the stronger the motivation to get you there; the fuzzier the picture, the more easily you get sidetracked. 

 “What’s in your vision?” And “Who knows about it?”

 These tips are written “to calm the jitters” on a new job, regardless of age or experience. Now that you’re in a new position, organizations have their own culture and quirks. Get a head start; here’s how!

Before you ever show up for Day I – Check out commute time and alternate ways to get there when traffic problems arise. Observe appropriate attire and dress accordingly. Is a cafeteria on site or do you need to bring your own lunch? Are you permitted to personalize your office? Familiarize yourself with the local area to locate amenities in the neighborhood.  

 Avoid conducting personal business on company time. That includes overuse of all PDAs for personal use and internet access. Learn names; avoid gossip yet express “thanks for the heads up” when pertinent advice is offered.

 Expect A Learning Curve…Everything is new. So relax and take it one day at a time.

 Manage Your Reputation from Day One…Think ahead what “public identity” you want to introduce to the organization?  Think before you speak.

 Important first days: Create your own game plan … From the minute you arrive on Day 1, form a positive first impression with all you meet. Learn the ropes; ask questions; learn about the demands placed on your manager and others near you. Formulate your own learning agenda about where you need to focus and grow, whom will you ask as questions arise, critical work times during the day, week, and month, style of the office, management style and idiosyncrasies of the department.  Find out which skills and talents of yours will be most valued and by whom.    

 Participate in company sponsored Onboarding program…Learn the “lay of the land,” ask questions and expand your knowledge of “how things work.” Obviously you convinced key players that you have significant value to share. During this period, you may complete a myriad of forms; learn about the organization, strategic as well as tactical information. Use this time to learn names and function of key players, the org. chart, required events. Begin to put names with faces, where your expertise may be valued and important. Figure out who are your “go to” people to get things done and identify internal business partners for diverse parts of the organization.

 Get acquainted all around. Take initiative to meet department stakeholders plus others who can make your life easier at work. Put your experience to work. Hint: receptionists, admin assistants, and support staff are often one’s “salvation” on the job.   

 Look for ways to differentiate yourself…Establish your own style, work ethic, consistent behaviors. Look for ways to become a “go to” person in your area.   

 Value Diversity…Engage multiple generations and cultures in your work. Respect differences and invite inclusiveness.

 Take advantage of “knowledge transfer”…learn from experienced workers before they retire. Ask questions and once you have a handle on that subject, pass it on. Knowing how and where to transfer knowledge and creating ways to leave an individual legacy are important for mindful career development strategists.

 Expect New Terminology…Its all around us. Global economy; off shoring; Friday furloughs; mergers and acquisitions; reorganizing, restructuring, flexible work arrangements (fwa); telecommuting, age-related perks, discrimination, are just a few. Learn internal company acronyms, traditions and initiatives.

 Accept Responsibility for Mistakes…Simply put, admit the truth. Debrief what happened, learn from the experience and how to avoid it in the future and move on.

When something similar comes up in the future, “don’t repeat history. “ Make a higher quality mistake next time around.   

 Strive for work/life balance…Control stress; cultivate outside interests, activities, and engage in fun times with family and friends. Don’t just survive, thrive. Watchwords for working today are change (its all we can count on), flexibility (don’t get too comfortable with the current situation), and collaborative communication (more than ever before, fewer people are doing more in less time with limited resources. We must work cohesively with colleagues).  

Keep in mind…    “Everything that happens to you is your teacher. The secret is to learn to sit at the feet of your own life and be taught by it.”      -Polly B. Berends

Once you have identified an organization that may be a good fit for you, try a technique called the “informational interview.” Find a person in an organization where you’d like to work and ask specific questions about the work and employment there. One of the best ways to get an info interview is through third party referrals. Reach out to your network and see if someone knows a person who works at that organization and can arrange an info interview for you. This can also be done by researching recent articles written by someone in that org., or looking the company up in Moody’s or Vault.com.  Due to time constraints, you may need to do the info interview on the phone or online if visiting the site isn’t feasible.

FYI…if you do get to interview someone on site, check out the environment, type of person you meet in the lobby and elevators, level of friendliness, style of clothing people wear.  This is a good way to informally learn about the internal culture and if it really may be a good career fit.  This is a great way to find out if this field and work environment really interests you.

Use the dozen questions below as a guide for what to ask at an informational interview. Scan them and find 3-5 that feel right for you to launch the conversation.

-Describe a typical day on the job.

-Tell me what are the most valued skills and competencies in this department

- What traits, qualities and characteristics are most valued here? (EX:  team player vs. independence, outgoing, creative, quick decision maker or more thoughtful, etc.

- What behaviors are most needed in this environment?

-Describe methods employed to accomplish your work.

-Are there particularly busy times of the year or is work steady throughout?

-Describe the work ethic in this department?

-Would you consider this department more laid back, intense or somewhere in between?

-What are your regular challenges?

-Describe frustrations you continually face.

-If you knew when you first started what you know now, would you still work here?  Why or why not?

-If I have more questions, who else might I talk with who is knowledgeable like you.

Don’t overstay your welcome.  Establish up front you’ll be there for 15 to 30 minutes max. When your time limit is approaching, wind down the visit and ask to stay in touch with the individual on line or by phone. Thank them and get his or her phone and email address if you haven’t already.  .