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The Crystal Ball Question

The worst question in any interview is simply the one you’re not prepared to answer. For many of us, this one stops us dead in our tracks: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

This question is tricky for any number of reasons. For starters, many of us have never worked for one employer that long; my personal record was three! Statistically we’re likely to have at least 10 employers in our lifetime if not more which makes it pretty hard to gaze into the crystal ball and tell the future with any accuracy.

This question causes candidates to choke for another reason – the fear of appearing overzealous or conversely, not eager enough. Certainly the interviewer doesn’t want you tell him that you’re gunning for his job! Some managers are hesitant to hire a go-getter when the opportunity for advancement within the company is limited. On the other hand, who wants to hire someone completely content to stand still?

Finally, candidates fear that the answer they give may lock them into a career path and prevent managers from considering them for special assignments or lateral moves.

The trick is to develop an answer that rings true and practice saying it until you can do so with ease. Your statement should be flexible enough to address the unique circumstances of the position.

I’m writing an article for an upcoming issue of Marketing News about this very topic and looking for quotes so let me ask you, how do you handle this killer question?

Posted in Interviewing | 6 Comments »

Summer Jobs Don’t Have To Suck

Summer jobs and part-time gigs can bring in extra cash but they often do little to help students improve their resume. When I was in college I waited tables, rented skates at the ice rink, booked tee times at the pro shop and and one particularly hot summer I spent all day on the phone as a bill collector – but that’s a story for another day. While I had plenty of chances to build my character, I never considered that I might also find opportunities to gain relevant career experience.

If I could do it all over again, I would have volunteered to work on the golf club’s newsletter or create promotions at the rink. I might have asked to re-write the restaurant’s training manual or create a special event to draw in a larger crowd.

Whether you’re saving up for tuition, back-to-school clothes, a new set of wheels or spring break in Cabo, part-time work is a right of passage for many of us. Rather than resigning yourself to boredom, ask your manager about taking on a little extra responsibility. When you graduate, you’ll be grateful to have relevant real-world experience on your resume.

Posted in Inspiration, Job Search Strategies | No Comments »