Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to handle nightmare interviews

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treesAre you afraid of nightmare interviews? These come in all shapes and sizes. Maybe your interviewer grills you for hours and hours or expects you to sit through five or six rounds of interviews with team after team. Or maybe your interviewer doesn’t crack a smile or provide any nonverbal feedback the entire time. Some job seekers have gone to interviews only to be kept waiting for hours to meet the potential employer.

A common (and perhaps not unfounded) fear among job seekers is the seemingly bizarre interview question that comes out of nowhere like an apparition.

For example, what if the interviewer asked: “What would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?” Instead of stiffening like a zombie and bemoaning all the “normal” interview questions you prepared to answer, think about the reason for the question. Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop explains why interviewers may ask this question and what they’re looking for when they ask it:

“This question is great, because it tends to reveal a lot about the candidate without them even knowing what they are revealing. Based on their response, we can infer whether they perform well under pressure and think quickly on their feet, whether they are a planner, what their priorities are and, most importantly, whether or not they had fun with the question. The last point is invaluable. The way they respond, not necessarily their verbatim response, is what indicates a fit (or not) with our own company culture – something we value highly.”

Norwegian Cruise Line is known to ask those applying for marketing coordinator positions: “Do you believe in Bigfoot?” And what if the interviewer asked you: “Would you rather fight one giant monster or 100 small monsters?” Consider CEO of Konnect Public Relations, Sabina Gault’s, reasoning behind this scary question:

“We use this question to gauge how candidates tackle obstacles and tasks. If they say they would rather fight one giant monster, we figure they are better suited to take on bigger projects. If they choose 100 small monsters, this usually means the candidate is good at multitasking and taking on many tasks at the same time. More than anything, we really are looking to see if the candidate has the ability to think outside of the box and on their toes. There really isn’t a right or wrong answer; we are really looking more at the candidate’s reaction to the question.”

Keep these key facts in mind when formulating answers to interview questions that seem off the wall. Interviewers want to know:

Are you comfortable asking questions, and can you think critically? Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification regarding the question. For example, Joe DeProspero, vice president of finance at Dave & Buster’s, explains that the company values a candidate who understands how to probe critically and get at the root of the specifics of such a question.

He notes how these questions help the company, “see if someone can think critically, whether they are comfortable enough to ask probing questions and if they can think on their feet. During the hiring process, I am looking for candidates who ask important follow-up questions to my question, such as ‘Why would you want to know this?’”

DeProspero also explains: “Often times, in finance, what someone asks for is not necessarily what they need. by asking questions, we can help them to better understand if we recognize the underlying issue. Above all, I look for a candidate’s eagerness to answer the question, as this is the way they will approach every task given to them on the job.”

If you need to reply to a brain teaser: It’s OK to stop and think before you answer. It’s also fine to ask for clarification if there are any details you don’t understand. The interviewer is trying to learn how you would act as an employee. Try to answer the question in a way that showcases the skills you have for the job. If the position is mathematical, use math skills. If demonstrating your creative side is more important, go that route.

When you’re prepared and know what to expect, your interview doesn’t have to be as scary as a scene from “The Shining.”

Originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report.

How to learn new career skills

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http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-skills-word-sphere-ball-required-experience-job-career-to-illustrate-many-different-skillsets-knowledge-training-image35557201Is it time to think about your next career move? Perhaps you’ll want to add to your arsenal of skills before you seek your next job. Lucky for you, resolving to add some professional development to your schedule doesn’t mean you need to factor in extra commuting time to take a class, adjust your schedule or add a new line item in your budget. There are many free educational content providers out there, from Duolingo to Coursera to Codecademy. If you’re motivated, you can download content to your phone, and learn for 20 minutes during your commute, on the treadmill or before you go to bed at night.

Choose one of these four career-driven goals:

1. Learn a new language. In 2010, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said only 18 percent of Americans claim to speak a language other than English. When you can add a new language to your résumé, you demonstrate initiative and cultural competence, and you distinguish yourself from other candidates.

  • Duolingo (Duolingo.com): Choose one of nine European languages, and learn for free from this crowdsourced platform.
  •  Chinese for Beginners (Coursera.org): Want to learn a non-European language? Try this on-demand course from Peking University. The instructor teaches the language phonetically, so users can easily master daily expressions and basic conversations.

2. Brush up on your business and marketing skills. In a 2014 joint study by Duke University and RTI International, 73 percent of employers said they would appreciate job candidates who completed an applicable Massive Open Online Course, otherwise known as MOOC. Impress your future employer by taking initiative to learn the basics of business finance, content marketing or even entrepreneurship.

  •  Introduction to Finance (Coursera.org): This course from University of Michigan will teach the frameworks and tools to measure value. It will help you be a better decision maker in both your personal life and in your business.
  •  Content Strategy for Professionals (Coursera.org): Want to learn to develop better content to engage audiences? Or do you want to brush up on your current skill set and virtually meet other content professionals? This free course from Northwestern University will help you improve the written, graphic and video content you produce.

3. Learn to code. Here’s a New Year’s resolution for the aspiring techies out there. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 200,000 job openings for software developers between 2012 and 2022. The median salary for these professionals? $96,660. If you were ever considering becoming a developer, now is the time to act.

  •  Codecademy (Codecademy.com): This free site teaches coding classes in six programming languages, including Python, PHP, jQuery, Javascript and Ruby. Learn the basics of coding, or brush up on your skills before an interview.
  •  Programming for Everybody (Coursera.org): If you prefer to take courses from official universities, try this offering from the University of Michigan. It has no prerequisites and “avoids all but the simplest mathematics,” meaning it should be easy for anyone with basic computer skills.

4. Become a Data Scientist. Data science is quickly becoming a high-demand field. A 2011 McKinsey Global Institute report estimates that by 2018, “the United States alone could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills as well as 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to use the analysis of big data to make effective decisions.” This is the perfect time to start building data science skills.

  •  Data Science (Coursera.org): This “specialization,” or group of courses from Johns Hopkins University, offers users the chance to learn the basics of data science, including R Programming, data analysis, research, regression models and even machine learning. Take all these courses to get a solid foundation, or try out just one to learn a specific skill. The courses are offered for free, or you can get a certificate verifying your identity starting at $29 per course.

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  •  Intro to Data Science (Udacity.com): This series of lectures and instructional material, taught by a data scientist at Airbnb, also teaches the basics of the field. You can watch instructor videos for free or enroll in the course for $199 per month to get coaching and project experience.

Appeared on U.S. News & World Report.

How to deal with 5 types of bosses

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Screen Shot 2014-07-03 at 10.19.37 PMMost people would agree that a boss could help make or break a job. A great boss can make even the most mundane job seem more worthwhile, and a terrible boss can create a toxic work environment and ruin an otherwise perfect career opportunity. In fact, it’s often said people don’t leave jobs; they leave bosses.

Tom Gimbel, founder and CEO of LaSalle Network, a Chicago-based staffing and recruiting firm, notes that there are many different types of supervisors. He categorizes them as: “the narcissist, the friend, the buzzword boss, the cheapskate and the uncaring.”  Perhaps you think your boss is a clown! No matter what you think of your boss, consider the following advice to help manage it.

The narcissistic boss. “This manager makes everything about them. Everything is about their schedule and about how senior leadership views them,” Gimbel says. How can you adjust if you have a self-centered boss? Gimbel suggests you try to focus on what you are passionate about at work and see where there is overlap between that passion and what appeals to your boss. “If the boss wants to be the star, then do the work and execute, because when that boss is promoted, the employee will be brought along for the ride,” he explains.

If you can keep your own ego in check, you may be able to access new opportunities. Another typical scenario with the narcissist: He or she will delegate work but won’t get into the trenches to understand all the intricacies. This could provide opportunities for you to be invited to speak to an executive team if you’re the subject matter expert on a topic. Instead of being frustrated, take advantage of the opportunity to shine whenever possible.

The “I’m your friend” boss. This is common in workplaces where people are promoted from within and wind up supervising their previous colleagues. These bosses still want to be included in lunches out and happy hours and may even already be your Facebook friend. Gimbel suggests that these managers may worry more about being liked than about getting results. Be careful when this happens, as this scenario could negatively affect your career.

Speak up if you’re concerned. If you don’t, you may find your career stagnating as your new boss tries to be your friend and not your mentor. Explain that you want to be held accountable for your results and understand what’s necessary to do in order to succeed.

The buzzword boss. We’ve all had managers who seem to spout nothing but cliches. For example, they consistently use terms, such as “synergies,” “symbiosis of relationships,” ” win-win situation” and others. This language seems to replace real action or activity on the boss’s part. If your assignment or goal is lost in translation, Gimbel suggests you ask for clarification. “Come to each meeting with questions requiring direct answers,” he says. “Don’t be offensive and cut the boss short, but be sure you walk out of each meeting understanding exactly what is expected.”

The cost-conscious boss. This overly frugal boss looks at every penny people spend. This can go as far as asking employees why they’re using new notepads when they can use scrap paper. “This type of boss is the easiest to manage. It’s easy to identify the issue,” Gimbel says. “Play within their rules. Don’t purchase new stationary or extra staples. Skimp. With all the lunacy out there, a cheap boss isn’t all that bad.” Plus, with a cost-conscious boss, you know the way to his or her heart. Save money, however small the amount, and you could be a big winner.

The uncaring boss. Even in a time when work culture and caring about employees seems in vogue, you still hear stories about insensitive bosses. These are the bosses who don’t seem to care whether or not an employee’s family member is having surgery or passes away and who don’t understand pressures from outside work.

“The key here is to kill this type of boss with kindness. Be compassionate and show you care about what’s going on in his or her life,” Gimbel says. Perhaps “killing with kindness” will help. If not, it may be time to look for a new job with a different organizational culture.

If you’re dealing with a difficult boss, at least you’re learning how not to manage people when you have the opportunity. Use these tips to turn the situation to your advantage, and you won’t miss a single career step.

Originally appeared on U.S. News & World Reports.

5 tips to achieve work-life balance

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Resolution - better time managementWork-life balance is a topic on the minds of many professionals and job seekers. WorkplaceTrends.com, a research and advisory membership service for forward-thinking human resources professionals, and CareerArc, a global recruitment and outplacement firm, recently announced the results of the 2015 Workplace Flexibility Study. They surveyed 1,087 professionals nationally, both employed and unemployed, and 116 HR professionals.

Interestingly, 67 percent of human resources professionals think their employees have a balanced work life, yet 45 percent of employees believe they don’t have enough time each week to handle their personal business. Plus, 20 percent of employees surveyed spend more than 20 hours per week working during their own time.

Yair Riemer, chief marketing officer of CareerArc, suggests the following tips to help employees achieve work-life balance while reducing stress and increasing productivity.

1. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. “Prioritization is the key to success and is a lesson that can be applied across a wide variety of industries – not just startups where product and engineering teams often prioritize tasks weekly,” Riemer says. When you identify the most important items on your to-do list, it’s easier to know where to start and when you can finish for the day or week. Prioritization helps you focus on what is really important and decreases unnecessary stress that comes with an urgent focus on less timely or unimportant tasks.

It’s a good idea to touch base with your supervisor if you have multiple projects and need help deciding which one is most important.

2. Be proactive – not reactive. “When you’re reactive, you lose touch with what’s really important,” Riemer says. “And thus, you fail to operate at peak capacity, causing stress.” When you take the time and effort to plan ahead and anticipate what your colleagues or managers may request, you’ll be better prepared to juggle multiple tasks and schedule your time. “With your schedule planned, you can attack those tasks proactively, rather than waiting for external inputs to land on your desk, increasing your stress levels and leaving you overwhelmed,” he says. Hopefully, this will prevent you from bringing a lot of work home on a regular basis.

3. Use your vacation. The average American takes only about half their paid time off per year. “That’s not enough time to recharge,” Riemer says.

Plus, studies show that many workers don’t disconnect from work, even when they’re on vacation. They are still glued to their devices and screens to check work email and keep up with colleagues. Riemer believes taking a vacation and truly disconnecting is key to recharging and getting re-energized once back at the office.

4. Trust in your peers. “The best managers trust their employees, and the best employees have trust in their company’s leadership,” Riemer says. “If you believe in your colleagues – in their intellect, in their work ethic, in their skill set – then share the load.” Even if you believe you have to do everything yourself, it’s unlikely you’re expected to carry the entire burden at the expense of all of your personal time.

If you work with a team, be sure to collaborate on projects, and don’t own tasks for the sake of ownership. “You may be a Type A perfectionist or love control, but winning organizations are made up of teammates, not individuals,” he says. “Your work-life balance will improve significantly with a little bit of help from your friends.”

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5. Exercise. Don’t put off taking care of yourself. You don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment to exercise. Even a brisk walk in the morning or at lunchtime can be invigorating and help clear your mind. “Research shows regular exercise helps keep you clear-headed, which improves control of work-life balance, reduces stress and increases self-efficacy,” Riemer says.

The 2015 Workplace Flexibility Study found that 75 percent of employees ranked workplace flexibility as their top desired benefit. Whether or not your employer is actively seeking ways to enhance your flexibility, use these steps to protect your personal time and to make an effort to tip the balance in your work-life hours.

Appeared on U.S. News & World Report.

April Fool’s pranks for work

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file7811297827424Are you already plotting and planning your workplace April Fool’s Day pranks? Or, are you the butt of the jokes – the one always on the receiving end of every prankster with an idea?

If you’re considering pulling a big prank at work, you may want to think twice. A national survey by a recruitment firm found 68% of advertising and marketing executives think April Fools’ pranks are inappropriate for the workplace. While under the guise of “team building,” certain pranks cause more harm than good. Even if your corporate or office culture embraces jokes, be aware that a misstep, even if intended all in fun, can mean you’re looking for a new job if someone takes it the wrong way, or if things go too far.

How can you evaluate a workplace prank?

Don’t be a bully. 

Every office has a few known misfits – people who don’t seem to mesh with the rest of the crowd. Choosing these teammates to be on the receiving end of your prank isn’t funny, it’s mean spirited and potentially cruel. Picking on someone known to be an outsider puts you on the same level of the grade-school bully who takes lunches from weaker kids on the bus.

Resist the urge to do anything that could cause permanent harm.

While changing a meeting time on someone’s calendar to cause them to miss an appointment may seem casual or harmless, if the event was important, the prank may escalate from mirthful to consequential very quickly.

Avoid gags that could be considered offensive. 

Stay away from anything that could be interpreted as targeted at any group or could be considered harassment. Making fun of people based on their race, religion or sexual orientation is never appropriate. Anything sexual in nature at all (a stripper, for example) is crossing the line in the office and could result in harassment charges.

Know your audience. 

If your target is the one who normally plans office pranks, and gags are common in your workplace, you’re less likely to be met with resistance, and your prank may be well received. If you work in a place where fun comes first, a well-played practical joke may be a welcome distraction. On the other hand, if it’s a buttoned-up work environment or clients frequent the office, you may want to think twice (or three times) before breaking the company’s culture with an April Fool’s joke.

Consider social media’s potential to extend – or ruin – your harmless prank. 

Maybe making your boss look a little silly won’t get you fired (if you’re lucky). However, making your boss look silly, filming it and posting it on the company’s YouTube channel or Twitter feed may very well result in termination. Be aware of the ramifications of what you do and how a single photo posted on Facebook can affect someone’s career.

“Safer” work gags.

There’s no dearth of ideas online for practical jokes at work. If you must break the monotony at work and have considered your plans in the context of advice to evaluate a workplace prank, choose something that won’t hurt anyone’s feelings and that leaves everyone involved thinking, “That was funny.”

Here are a few April Fool’s Day pranks unlikely to hurt anyone, but proceed at your own risk. 

  • Mashable suggested arranging for co-workers to each bring in several changes of clothing, and to update their outfits throughout the day. While it could make a very tired co-worker think he is going crazy, it’s unlikely to cause any real harm.
  • Put “Out of Order” signs on bathroom doors or on other “important” devices, such as the coffee pot or microwave.
  • “Foil” or “wrap” someone’s office. Before you start, be sure he or she doesn’t have an important meeting first thing in the morning, and then cover everything in the office.
  • The old “fill the drawers” trick. Ping pong balls in every drawer will be inconvenient, but is unlikely to cause any real damage.
  • Balloon an office. It can be a challenge to fill an office with balloons, and clean up may be a pain, but it can be a fun –- and colorful –- prank to spice up the day.

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If you do choose to proceed with a prank, make sure to be careful and keep the end goal in mind. You want everyone remembering the prank as being fun and clever, not nasty and mean spirited.

Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.