by: Laura Gassner Otting
October 4, 2011
By the time you step into the interviewer’s office, he or she has probably already decided that your work history as presented on your resume at least minimally qualifies you for the job. Questions thrown at you will focus both on the projects and programs you have managed as well as your hopes, dreams, and desires. Employers are as much interested in what you have accomplished as they are in what it will be like to work with you on a daily basis.
Back in September, I wrote the post, “Is Switching To the Nonprofit Sector the Right Choice For You?” It generated many comments – all saying it is worth making the switch. Since then, through my work as a recruiter, I’ve spoken with many seeking to switch into the nonprofit sector. Some have successfully managed their searches and have [...]
Making a good hire depends, in part, on having positive interview experiences with your preferred candidates. Sometimes, employers underestimate the impact of a well-planned interview/interview process. Remember that outstanding leaders will remember your interview process long after you extend an offer to the candidate of choice. It makes good sense to go the extra mile to ensure that the process and the final result are commendable. That way, you will have made new professional linkages during the process and you can circle back to people whom you liked, but did not think would be right for the particular role you seek to fill.
Mindful of accusations of naivety or over-simplification of the human condition, Dr. Fredrickson does not deny the necessity of negative emotions. But, she has shown that the ratio of negative to positive emotions is about 1 to 3 if we want to navigate effectively through life. So, if you find yourself feeling frustrated or angry, you need to compensate by having three positive emotions to avoid each bad feeling dragging you down.
While the very smallest nonprofit organizations may not find it necessary, any organization with more than one or two employees should consider creating a written handbook outlining non-contractual employment terms and work conditions.
Customizing your career used to be necessary for career changers and candidates transitioning between the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds. But, in the current job market, where there is no cookie cutter candidate and candidate supply in most fields exceeds demand, the onus falls on individuals to design their own careers. Everyone needs self re-invention skills to mould and [...]
Tania Jones’ job search lasted ten months, one week and five days. She counted each one of them.
What is the current picture of the career marketplace? Some statistics are downright dispiriting. For example, the US Labor Department reports 7.2 million jobs lost in the US economy from December 2007 to December 2009, and a recent study shows that two thirds of those finding work are accepting jobs at 28% lower wages. The flipside of [...]
Our friend Nicholas is back from the holidays. He was determined to restart his job search with vigor and focus. But as so often before, this feeling of resolve and optimism has dissolved into sporadic activity and apathy. So, what should Nicholas do to get his job search off to a great start for the new [...]
Would you go to an interview dressed in shorts and flip flops? I certainly hope not. If you would, seriously… STOP. My point is this: Because you concern yourself about your first impression at an interview, you wear the suit or the nice professional career clothes, right? So, if you are worried about that first [...]
