Ghosting a Job. Do you know anyone guilty?

In the past several months, I have read several articles about ghosting, where individuals blow off interviews or fail to show up the first day of work. In fact, when I surveyed hiring managers in the Fall of 2018, "not showing up" was one response when asked about interview pet peeves.

So why do people ghost? For some, they may not feel strongly enough about a position or perhaps they received a better job offer. Because they may have been treated poorly by companies in the past when they were interviewing (never heard back from them) or because they have an "I don't care" attitude, they never contact the employer.

Whatever the reason, ghosting is unprofessional and reflects poorly on an individual. Further, a person never knows what lies in his/her future. Maybe someday he/she will cross paths with the person who they ghosted and that person has the memory of an elephant and didn't forget.

Instead of ghosting, all a person has to do is send a brief email or call the human resources department. Depending on the situation, the message may be slightly different as to why they are withdrawing their application, but always thank them for the opportunity and wish them good luck in the selection process.

Wait! Before You Resign, Read These Tips

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People change jobs for various reasons. Some want new challenges or want to move up the ladder, while others want to downsize their careers. Of course there are others who want to switch jobs because of a boss they don’t like, poor company culture, or maybe added responsibilities but no pay increase.Whatever the reason(s), here are some important tips to remember:

1. Always give at least a two-week notice. Even if your new company wants you to start as soon as possible, they will understand and would expect the same from their employees. Further, in the eyes of your new employer, leaving immediately may reflect poorly on your character.
2. Your resignation letter should show respect and professionalism. Even if you’re leaving under some “not-so-good” terms, don’t burn any bridges. It’s a small world.
3. Ask for a letter of recommendation (or LinkedIn recommendation) from your supervisor and/or colleagues. Recommendations can be important tools in future job searches.
4. Prior to submitting your resignation, be sure you have copies or forward any congratulatory emails, thank yous, etc., that showcase your skills and accomplishments. The reason for obtaining these prior to your resignation, is that in some industries, it is not uncommon to ask the individual to resign to leave immediately.
5. Remain in contact with past supervisors and/or coworkers. These individuals know first-hand your skills and talents and keeping in touch may lead to new opportunities. In addition, if you ever find yourself suddenly without a job, you have an immediate network to draw upon and will not have to reestablish a relationship.

Many people don’t think twice about typing up their resignation, but utilizing these tips is an important part about good career management.

5 Important Reasons Your Resume Should be Up-to-Date

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If you're like most individuals, you do not have an up-to-date resume; however, by not doing so, you may regret it. Here are five important reasons why you should update your resume sooner rather than later.

1. If you suddenly lost your job, you have a resume ready-to-go. Case in point: a family member (and his coworker) were laid off unexpectedly. This family member had an up-to-date resume, and that same day, started applying for positions. Within one week, he had a job!

2. If you heard about a great job opportunity, but found out the deadline was only one day away, you would not panic and would not have to scramble to update your resume. 

3. Updating your resume regularly (at least once a year) will allow you to better remember facts, accomplishments, trainings, etc. The longer a person waits, the greater the chances of forgetting something important; something that could actually set you apart from the competition. You don't want to risk it.

4. With an updated resume, you will be documenting your career accomplishments on a yearly basis. These successes can be valuable tools in a performance review and could set the stage for a larger pay increase or possible future promotion.

5. Updating your resume will allow you to better assess and manage your career. Is your career headed in the direction you want? Are you still doing the same thing you did a year ago, but want to eventually move up the ladder? What do you need to do to reach your career goal?

Even if you really like your job and have no plans of changing careers, you just never know. Things happen. Companies get bought out. Bosses and coworkers change. Having an up-to-date resume is good career management, and if something unexpected happens, you'll be prepared. 

Put Your Job Offer in Writing

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“Put it in writing, or it didn’t happen.” This advice applies to many areas of life — especially when accepting a new job. Let me share a personal story.

When I first began my career, I was working in the Twin Cities, but after about a year, I wanted to return to the St. Cloud area. I applied for a job, interviewed, and was offered the job at a particular wage. I gave my two-week notice in the Twin Cities, gave my notice at my apartment (month-to-month lease), and signed a lease for an apartment in St. Cloud. The Friday before I was to start, my soon-to-be boss called me and said the Board did not agree with his pay offer, and he would have to pay me less than he offered. I felt I had no choice, because I had already given my notice in the Twin Cities and signed a new lease in St. Cloud. Thankfully, the offer was not a lot less, but this taught me a lesson.

Many companies will provide new hires with an official offer letter, but what if your new company does not do this? In this case, it’s important to send a letter of acceptance.

Letter of Acceptance

Like the story I shared, writing a letter of acceptance is especially important if your job offer was made orally but you have not — or did not — receive confirmation of the offer in writing. An effective letter of acceptance includes clarification of four key pieces of information: job title, salary information, details of benefits being offered (if any), and start date.

You can also clarify the date that the job offer was extended, as well as any additional information the company needs from you — or that you need from the company — before starting the new job. Address the letter to the person who offered you the position.

Don't let what happened to me happen to you.

Video Interview Tips

Video interviews are on the rise. In fact, a colleague of mine informed me that a recent screening interview she had with a local company was conducted by video versus phone or in person. 

With more and more hiring managers using video platforms for first-round interview, here are some tips to help you improve your interview:

1. Prepare for a video interview as you would a one-on-one interview (research the company, practice possible interview questions, write down some accomplishments/examples that may set you apart, and jot down a couple questions to ask them).
2. On the day of the interview, dress like you would for an in-person interview.
3. Be in a quiet room where there will be no interruptions (barking dog, small children, etc.).
4. Turn your cell phone on silent, and if you have a landline, unplug it during the interview.
5. Think of the background. You don't want it too busy so it distracts the interviewer.
6. Natural lighting is the best. Avoid overhead fluorescent lights.
7. Be sure your computer has a high-quality web cam. In addition, familiarize yourself with the video program the company will be using.
8. Don't sit too close to the monitor. It's best to sit back a little -- you don't want just your face showing.
9. Be sure to look at the camera and not the computer screen. However, this does not mean that you should look at the camera all the time. If you need to glance down at some notes occasionally, feel free to do so. (Tip: use sticky notepads for notes, and place them at the bottom of your computer monitor.)
10. Finally, have somebody else conduct a mock interview with you via a video platform. Ask for their feedback on ways to improve the quality of the interview.

Finally, as with a phone or in-person interview, be sure to follow up with a thank you. Best of luck!

Why can't I find a job I like?

You start a new job, only to find out it's not what you thought. It's not a good fit. If you would have only known. If this sounds like something you have experienced, there may be three reasons why this is happening:

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1.  You aren't applying for the right jobs.

Carefully review the job description and job duties. If the job posting is a short paragraph, try to get a copy of the complete job description before the interview. If this is not possible, always ask for a complete copy before accepting a position.

List job duties from your past jobs that you absolutely DID NOT like. If any of these duties are on the job description, this job probably will not be a good fit. Don't try to convince yourself "you can get used to the duties." If you were miserable doing these duties before, chances are you won't like doing them at this job either.

List job duties which you have really enjoyed in your past jobs. Does the job description contain any of these duties? It's important to apply for jobs which will entail duties you have really enjoyed doing in the past.

2.  You aren't researching the company or the company culture.

Researching the company before your interview is important to help strengthen your interview, but it's also important to help you in determining if a company would be a good match for you. Here are some suggestions:

• Conduct an Internet search on the company. If there's been any bad press, recent layoffs, etc., this could be a red flag.
• Look online at company reviews from past and current employees. Sites such as glassdoor.com and indeed.com are a couple sites where reviews can be found.
• Do you know any people who have worked at the company or are currently working there? Reach out and ask them about the position, company culture, department you will work in, etc.
• Don't forget to take advantage of LinkedIn. By searching for the company, you will be able to find out which of your connections are currently employed there.

3.  You aren't asking targeted questions during the interview.

Asking good questions during an interview is crucial, because this can be key in determining if a job is the right fit. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

My recommendation would be to prepare three to five questions, but only ask three or four (and there may be times when your questions are answered during the interview). If you have any additional questions, ask them during a second interview, or ask them after they have offered you the position and before you accept.

Depending upon what you are looking for, your questions can target different areas; for example, office dynamics, management style, specific job details, or specific company details. Here is a sampling of some questions I provide to my clients during interview coaching sessions:

• What do you feel will be the three biggest challenges with this position?
• How many people have held this position in the past five years?
• What strengths did the previous employee possess that you would like to see continued.
• How do you think your subordinates would describe your management style?
• How would you describe the work environment?
• If you could change one thing about the office culture (or company), what would it be?
• What do you like most about working for this company?

When you ask these questions, listen carefully to the responses. Do they directly answer the questions, or do they try to skirt around it? Is there a long pause before answering?

Gaining as much information about a position before and during the interview process is extremely important, and the above strategies may prove beneficial to you in helping you find a job you like.

Eight Signs of a Great Interview

Have you ever left an interview a little concerned about how well you did? Here are seven signs that you've had a great interview:

1. You found a common connection with one of the interviewers which led to informal discussion

   

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   (e.g. same hobby, same hometown).
2. The interviewers showed signs of liking you (smiling, laughter, humor).
3. You felt good about your answers and were able to provide specific examples.
4. They indicated they were impressed with the questions you asked of them.
5. The interview went longer than expected.
6. They asked if they could contact your references.
7. At the conclusion of the interview you conveyed your interest in the position and indicated how you would be a benefit their organization. 
8. Upon leaving the interview, you sensed excitement from those who interviewed you.

Can you think of any more signs of having a great interview? Leave your comments below!

About the author: As a certified interview coach, Connie Hauer coaches clients on interview preparation, provides strategies on how to stand out from the competition, and helps clients polish their interviewing skills so they feel more confident. (Learn More)