10 Personal Things Not to Say in an Interview

10 Personal Things Not to Say in an InterviewWe know were supposed to make a personal connection with our interviewer, wherever possible, but it is so easy to go overboard and, well, overshare. Its also easy to get nervous and babblenext thing you know youve gone and told a totally unnecessary story that wont make you landseem friendly and approachable, but a little bit too much. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Avoid making an inadvertent wrong impression by making aya to withhold details about the following 10 personal matters.1. Money ProblemsNo matter how broke you are, this is not fodder for the interview. Even if you pulled yourself out of a big black hole, financially speaking, this is a story to tell over drinks once youve worked somewhere for years, not during the interview.2. Relationship ProblemsYour interviewer may be really nice and empathetic, but your divorce, your spouses needs and wants, your childcare disasters, your tro ubled ex none of this will help you get the job. These details can actually hurt. You never want to present yourself as that colleague who can never shut up about their personal life. Keep your interview, at least, drama free.3. Legal ProblemsWhatever you do, dont bring up any brushes with the law or lawsuits. No matter whether you are at fault, it wont help your interviewer to look kindly upon you. Leave your legal woes for your lawyers office.4. Health ProblemsYour illnesses and injuries are not good topics for an interview. You dont have to bring them upeven if you took time off to deal with them. If you can get away with not disclosing that information, do. Let your interviewer make mora positive assumptions about why you took that year off from an old job. Then you wont seem like a liability to hire.5. Family PlansIts always best to leave out that youre trying to have a baby and you anticipate taking maternity leave soonor cutting back on hours just after youve been hired. It i s illegal to discriminate on the basis of pregnancyeven the intent to become pregnant. But dont give any hiring managers who dont know the law the chance to talk themselves out of offering you the job.6. Burned BridgesSo you had a less than savory departure from your last job. Keep it to yourself. Stay classy, keep the high road, and move on. Say you were just ready for something new. This will signal to the interviewer that you arent a risk of bad-mouthing their company, should you end up leaving this job in unsavory circumstances too.7. ReligionUnless youre applying for a job in a religious institution, you can keep your faith to yourself. (You dont have to answer this question, by the way, even if asked directly.)8. PoliticsWhen in doubt, just steer clear. Unless, of course, youre applying to work at a political firm or company. Otherwise, keep mum. Political conversations among coworkers can be contentious enough.9. ExtracurricularsIts always great to mention particularly intere sting hobbies or volunteer work. But make sure you dont play them up too much, and risk your interviewer getting the impression that you wont have time to do your real job for all the time and effort you put into your outside, unpaid one.10. ComplaintsParticularly when it comes to former jobs or bosses. Keep a positive spin on everything you say. Friends are the people you rant too when you need to get some frustration off your chest. Your interviewer wants to see the very best of you.Keeping calm and very well prepared can prevent you from babbling and running into any of the above traps. When in doubt, practice until perfect. And take a good deep breath before going in. Stay calm and keep it professional and youll do fine.

These 4 Steps Helped Me Overcome My Quarter-Life Crisis

ansicht 4 Steps Helped Me Overcome My Quarter-Life Crisis Shortly before I turned 24, I looked in the mirror one day and gasp I found a gray hair. And not just one a whole family of them This was the catalyst that set off what I dubbed as my quarter-life crisis. Despite my mothers laughter, the quarter life crisis is a common phenomenon, and here are four ways I (fruchtweinly) overcame mine.1. I found a hobby.For me, this was in the unlikeliest of place the gym. I dont like to sweat, I dont like cardio, and I really dont like exerting any more energy than I have to (but really, who does?). But sitting at a desk 8+ hours a day isnt the healthiest lifestyle. It took trying every class my gym offered before I found something tolerable, and dare I say, something I even liked. And once I found that class, working out became the thing that kept me sane.And, hey, losing a few pounds never hurt anyones mood.2. I changed jobs.This was frbably the most necessary and scary part of overcom ing my quarter life crisis, but it was the first step to getting where I wanted to go. I liked my job, I liked the people, and I was comfortable... but I wasnt moving in the direction I wanted to move in. Finding a new job helped me feel like I was moving forward, rather than staying stagnant.3. I changed cities.For me, this change meant moving back to my hometown. But I hadnt lived full-time in that city for nearly 7 years, so I might as well have been moving to a strange town. The move forced me to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people both of which are crucial to overcoming a quarter life crisis. If you cant move, try to make your city or town feel new. Go meet new people and do new things.4. I let things go.I had to let go of the fact the picture-perfect plan I created for my life didnt pan out, and, most importantly, accept that this wasnt a bad thing. I couldnt binnensee it at the time, but I can see clearly now how every challenge, every job, and every person I met post-college played a role in where I am now. And ultimately, theyre getting me where I want to go.Two years later, Im almost 26, and some days, overcoming my quarter life crisis is still a work in progress. Maybe Im still not where I want to be, but Im where I need to be. And thats whats really important.--Samantha Smoak is a journalist turned tech PR pro based in Nashville, Tennessee. For dog pictures and sports jokes, follower her on Twitter and Instagram samanthaksmoak.

How to Get Better Interview Answers from Job Candidates - Spark Hire

How to Get Better Interview Answers from Job Candidates - Spark HireLets face it weve heard and even said it all before team player, people rolle, self-starter. While these are all great adjectives, they have been overused so much in the job search that hiring recruiters and managers dont take them seriously anymore. As far as theyre concerned, everyone seems to be a self-described team player or people person during a job interview.So how can hiring recruiters and managers wade through the overused clichs to learn the truth about candidates? TIME suggests asking the right follow-up questions for these overused interview answers.If a job candidate describes themself as a people pleaser, ask them about times theyve differed with a client or co-worker and how they worked to win them over. Or if they state that they are flexible, follow up with a question about having to change focus mid-project or times when theyve had to adjust to a changing market.Candidates who use the stichwort p roblem solver in the job interview can be asked to articulate a time or situation they encountered that required them to do such. And if youve really planned ahead, put together a problem they might experience in your workplace or industry and ask them about steps they would take to find a solution.TIME explains that self-starters should be prompted to talk about a time when theyve taken action while team players need to be asked about their previous experiences with co-workers, both good and bad. When using follow-up questions for hard workers, ask for examples of times theyve met difficult deadlines as well as scenarios in which they performed beyond their job description, states TIME.And finally, when it comes to the most overused phrase on the resume highly qualified prompt candidates to elaborate during the job interview. Youll be looking for interview answers that express unique skill sets, certifications and recognitions.Getting the interview answers youre looking for asks you to do a little more preparation before the actual job interview. Too much these days, hiring recruiters and managers are bogged down with other responsibilities and priorities, and they neglect to do the necessary prep before a job interview. Instead, theyre accepting clichd answers just as theyre asking clichd questions.With a little research and a half an hour of prep time, hiring recruiters and managers can avoid circling standard interview conversations and learn more about the candidates theyre interviewing. With that, theyre making better hiring decisions, which yields better results for the business and happier new hires.

10 Resume Lies to Avoid

10 Resume Lies to Avoid 10 Resume Lies to Avoid Your resume is often the first and only impression employers get of you prior to the initial interview. It is, often more than any other, the deciding factor in whether or not you receive an interview for the position.This is one reason many find it tempting to embellish certain aspects of their experience, hoping to get a better chance at landing the interview.However, this can cause serious repercussions that may have a lasting effect on your career. Not just with that employer, but with others word can spread about applicants who arent being honest, and many people fired after being caught in resume lies have had their reputations ruined.In some cases, this embellishment is innocent. You may not remember exactly which month you started at a job you had a decade ago, or the exact amount by which you increased sales. If you are unsure about something, it doesnt belong on your resume.Here are 10 common resume lies to avoid.1. Listing in accurate educational backgroundCompeting with a well-educated workforce can be difficult, especially if you have no higher education. Its for this reason that some job seekers opt to add untrue statements to the education section of their resume.This can include anything from listing extra credits or semesters completed to universities the applicant didnt actually attend. Some even change their major on their resume to better fit the position to which they are applying.The reality is that checking up on someones education is remarkably easy now, and par for the course for most human resources departments. If someone is caught fibbing on their resume, the result can include termination and even being automatically denied a chance at another position.If you feel like you must exaggerate your level of education to be considered for a job, chances are that you are targeting the wrong job.2. Listing technical skills you dont haveHaving relevant technical skills makes you a desirable cand idate for a job, but once you come to work the first day, its up to you to back up anything you boast in your resume.In many cases, the interview will test your level of knowledge in a specific technical field. A developer might be asked to write or fix a block of code, a writer may be given a small writing assignment, etc.Coming in to an interview based on having a certain set of skills, and not being able to perform them during the interview, can prevent you from landing or keeping the job.In many cases, technical know-how can be taught on the job, and employers are flexible with this as long as the applicant is honest about their level of experience going in to it.You can teach technical skills, but you cant teach honesty.3. Inaccurate employment datesIt can be difficult to remember exactly when you started or left a place of employment, especially years after the fact. That said, its better to be vague than inaccurate.Detailed employment dates are important to include on your re sume, but if you cant recall the exact month you started job, you may be better off listing just the year.Alternatively, you may have the option to call your previous employer to confirm your precise employment dates. This is exactly what a responsible employer would do prior to hiring someone.4. Overblown salary historyIts best to leaveinformation about your previous salaries off your resume. However, some employers do ask for it. Like your employment dates, this information can be confirmed with a phone call, and inaccuracies here are taken as signs of dishonesty.This is especially true if you overstate the salary, as it would be seen as a trick to receive a higher offer.5. Name-droppingIf you claim to have worked with a famous name or big brand in a previous position, you should be ready to have that claim tested. You never know who your potential employer might know.Should your claim be tested and found inaccurate, you may lose your reputation with more than just the company you re applying to.6. Language skillsHaving a grasp of multiple languages looks great on a resume. For an employer, it equates to a useful tool in the event that someone is needed who speaks that language.However, this can blow up in your face if you boast fluency in another language you arent actually fluent in. You never know when or under what circumstances you might be called on to open dialogue with someone in their native language.7. ResponsibilitiesIts customary to list some of your key responsibilities at previous jobs in your resume (though of course its best to create a resume full of accomplishments). This can help the reader learn more about your experience and gain an understanding of whether you are capable of handling the role they are looking to fill.However, your responsibilities at previous places of employment can be confirmed. If you say you led a team when you didnt, or that you were in charge of social media management when you werent, those lines in your resume ca n come back to haunt you.8. Job titlesApplying for a job as a sales manager, but the last position you had welches as a sales associate? You may have filled in for the sales manager at your last job, but if you werent actually a sales manager, dont list it as your title.One of the main questions employers ask during the background check, or when talking to your job references, is the position you held at the company. Either they will state what you listed in your resume, or they will ask for the position. In either case, being caught in a lie here means no job for you.9. Volunteer activitiesVolunteer work is a great addition to a resume. It offers insight into your character, and can allow you to show off additional skills or fill in where employment gaps might leave your resume a little light.However, volunteer work is confirmable. Someone at the office might volunteer for that organization themselves, and many (if not most) volunteer organizations keep records for their own legal reasons. Dont exaggerate your contributions to any organization or effort- paid or not.10. Certifications and other titlesFor a little money, you can become an ordained minister zugreifbar From some of these same organizations, you can get a doctorate or be declared a saint.While you might be able to perform a wedding ceremony, most such titles do not carry any legal weight. Because of this, you actually run the risk of getting your future employer sued for liability if they present you as having a specific certification or title when, in fact, you dont have anything legitimate to back it up.Accrediting agencies keep detailed records of people who receive legally recognized titles from accredited sources. If your name isnt on these lists, then you will run into some problems during a background check.When it comes to resumes, honesty is the best policy. Its better to leave out details than to give false or embellished statements. Even if your lies land you a job, false statements ca n put your career at risk.Honesty is the best policy, scan your resume here

10 Ways to Reinvent Yourself After An Unexpected Job Loss

10 Ways to Reinvent Yourself After An Unexpected Job Loss10 Ways to Reinvent Yourself After An Unexpected Job LossYou did everything right, or so you thought You educated yourself, earned your degrees, landed some jobs that allowed you to gain some real-world experience. You made a lot of connections in the professional world. You did not think an unexpected job loss was possible. Losing your job is something that happens to everyone else, except this time it happened to you.Dealing with job loss can be a humbling experience. In certain orts, you became a rock star. You were the go to person to solve issues whether it was internally at your company or for your external clients. Life was great, but just when you develop a system for yourself and a nice rhythm, bam Your position gets eliminatedThe client started downsizing their business and the program that you oversee has gone through major shrinkage.You saw it comingTo some degree, you saw it coming. But you hoped that things would get better because of who you are and what youre capable of, but it happened. Despite your optimistic outlook, you take the severance package from your unexpected job loss. You move into action by sucking it up and putting yourself out there to market your skills. You start to look for new work.Sounds familiarWhether youve been laid off once or multiple times, this transition after losing your job can be the most challenging any professional can face in their lives. According to the types of companies you worked for, getting laid off may be a blessing, or a curse, for some.Unless you hedged yourself financially from the beginning of your employment, dealing with job loss will be difficult. The main school of thought typically isHow am I going to support my family?How long is it going to take to find a job?What is my marketability now, even though it wasnt my decision to leave the company?Why does it seem as though everyone else is moving ahead except me?Why did this happen to me and why now?There are so many more questions we ask ourselves after an unexpected job loss. We keep replaying them in our head until we cannot stand it. Losing your job can lead to hopelessness and eventually giving up. Others see it as a learning opportunity and persevere until they are back on their feet and thriving again.Ways to handle the transition after an unexpected job lossHere are some endearing ways to utilize the transition period that you are seeking employment in a very productive way, even when you dont feel like it. The following tips should distract you temporarily until you gain some perspective1. Road tripTake a mini road trip with your family for a few days to distract you for a bit. The worst that can happen is you have a little fun with those you love and you get to create some wonderful memories.2.Make a personal to do listFocus on all the things youve been meaning to do when you were employed but never had the chance to do. For example cleaning out the garage, p otty training your kids (if applicable), work on improving your credit score, volunteering in and around your community.3. Start your own businessWhat are you really good at? Think about key problems you may have the solutions to for a niche market or general business. There are thousands of success stories surrounding people who lost their jobs and started their business as a result of having a new outlook on life.4. Start a blogWith all that accumulated education and work experience, Im sure you can think of some topics that you are an expert at. Someone is always in need of YOUR advice5. Brush up on your technical skillsIf youre not already a tech expert try to stay current. Get certified in something new like Salesforce, Quickbooks etc., that can add more value to your work history.6. Seek Inspiration DailyRead articles or books that will help you in your quest to become a better person and a stronger leader. Seek out books that will help you to become more innovative.7. Attend free webinarsWebinars provide information on key topics like personal branding, emotional intelligence, salary negotiations and more. This allows you to become more open-minded.8. Diversify your networkWhether its on LinkedIn or any other social platform, connect with professionals outside of your industry to learn something new. You never know where this can lead. Knowledge is everything9. Help inspire othersSomeone actually is a lot worse off than you. The more you help others, karma has a really cool way of returning the favor at just the right time.10. Exercise, exercise, exerciseIf youre accustomed moving around especially in a large facility and all of a sudden you arehome, youll be tempted to eat more, eat the wrong things or become sluggish. Resist the temptation and stay healthyDealing with job loss is a learning opportunityRemember that every situation is a learning opportunity. Life happens. No one knows for sure why things happen throughout our lifespan to shake us up a bit. One thing is for certain is that life is too short to wallow in what did not happen. Moving forward should be the ultimate focus regardless of our circumstances.Its called hope.

Alternative fees go mainstream

Alternative fees go mainstreamAlternative fees go mainstreamVault Law Blog special legal correspondent Raj Selvadurai is down in Washington, DC this morning at a symposium sponsored by BisNow on rapidly changing relations between law firms and corporate law departments. The panel includes Citigroups GC Michael Helfer and 3 of BigLaws biggest machers Eric Friedman of Skadden, Bruce McLean of Akin Gump, and Tom Yannucci of Kirkland Ellis. The topic The tectonic shift in the legal profession, including alternative fee arrangements (including fixed fees and performance incentives), the role of junior associates (or lack thereof), changing expectations for results and delivery of services, and more.One interesting aspect of the discussion is the public airing of alternative fee arrangements expectations and practices. According to Helfer, alternative fee arrangements account for 30% of Citigroups total legal spend (the bulk of that fixed fee), and plans to increase that percentage. All t o the panelists reported that their firm use discount (or alternative, or special, depending on the firms jargon) fees to varying degrees. Discount rates make up about 15% of Akins revenues andabout 10% of Kirklands (fruchtwein all in litigation). Skadden has just begun experimenting with alternative arrangements, which currently constitute less than 10% of the firms total. Questions to Helfer Is it relevant to GCs how law firms are run? Do they care about law firm profitability? Paraphrased Answer Yes, of course. GCs value stability and morale in their outside firms. But what is most essential is developing and maintaining business trust, and key to that is flexibility and reasonableness of billing arrangements. For example, clients should not be expected to subsidize the training of junior associates. -posted by brian

Festivals Are Great for Writers and Readers

Festivals Are Great for Writers and ReadersBook Fairs/Festivals Are Great for Writers and ReadersBook fairs and festivals are community-centered events that bring books and authors and the publishing world to the reading public. Whether local, regional or niche-based, these literary events celebrate and showcase books from every perspective and offer authors critical opportunities to promote their books to a circle of readers most likely to engage with them. For authors and publishing professionals, book fairs and festivals are great opportunities to bring new books to a variety of readers, to help grow writers fan bases, and to increase book promotion and sales. Heres a list of major book fairs and festivals in the U.S. Learn about book fairs and festivals and how to leverage them. Book Festival Programs Book festivals feature author readings, book signings, cooking demonstrations by cookbook authors and celebrity chefs or both, book publishing and author panel discussions, and publishing and book- or reading-related exhibits. Because book festivals focus on serving the reading community, they usually also include a focus on childrens book publishing with readings, storytelling, performances and author appearances geared to kids and young adults. Book Festival Programming Book festival programmers (and, sometimes, programming partners) are responsible for selecting the list of authors who appear at the festival and developing the other events. When programming the book festival, they take into consideration what books are newly-published and what local talent they can support. Of course, respected, established writers and other celebrities with newly-published books usually draw large audiences and celebrities are popular with programmers. Book Festival Management Major, multi-day events with many participants and moving parts to coordinate, book festivals are managed by a small year-round festival staff as well as many volunteers. Volunteering at your local book festival in some capacity is a great way to get acquainted with the literary community in your area. Types of Book Fairs and Festivals Many book festivals and fairs are regionally based some (like Jewish Book Fairs) are also based around a specific theme or subject matter. While by no means exhaustive, heres a list of some of the popular book festivals in regions around the United States. Festivals can also encompass events like Independent Bookstore Day (and its Northern counterpart, Canadian Authors for Indies Day). These celebrations are fests that take place in the bookstores themselves.