Minimalism Meets Pandemic Pandemonium

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Hubby and I picked a bad time to practice living with less, having sold our home of almost 2,800 square feet two years ago, downsizing to an apartment of approximately 750 square feet.

This temporary living arrangement, while fun when things are “normal”, could not have collided with a worse time in our history. The entire concept of downsizing – minimalism – pretty much dictates no stockpiling. In fact, it mandates tough decisions be made when it comes to keeping anything that we previously thought had value.

In order to make this work, we Marie-Kondo’d ourselves silly, selling or donating most of our furniture as well as mass quantities of other stuff. We had 3 strict rules:

  1. The item had to be so meaningful that we knew it would have a place in the new, smaller house we are building
  2. It would have a place in the tiny apartment OR we were willing to pay to store it
  3. We valued it enough to pay to move it – twice

Very few items made the cut.

Honestly, we’ve enjoyed the small apartment with minimal belongings. Having only one toilet has some serious drawbacks but we’ve managed.

Then came March 13th. Forced Social Distancing.

The first time we realized our minimalist lifestyle just might not mix with a pandemic. It was our “wheels off the bus” moment, or “Minimalism Meets Pandemic Pandemonium.”

That understanding of Hubby’s first “forced” work day from home, when his office was no longer accessible even if he begged to enter.

His innovative solution? Create a desk out of TV trays a mere 6’ from my desk.

Let’s just say the non-stop conference calls and interactive Zoom meetings were a lot for this creative writer who’s used to working at home. Alone.

If we were a Donny and Marie song it would be, “He’s a little bit noisy, I’m a little bit shut the F^%$ up”

Noise-cancelling headphones? Why would I have those? I’m usually the only one here.

Supplies on hand, like groceries? Have you seen an apartment-sized refrigerator? I’m positive ours could fit inside almost any home-sized refrigerator. That means we shop frequently, with a tape measure, carefully considering how much we can fit inside the “ice box.”

Imagine my shocked expression in the grocery store when I saw empty shelves for the first time. No meat, peanut butter or sliced bread. As I wandered the aisles racking my brain to think of recipes calling for beef, peanut butter and sliced bread, it occurred to me “This is why people need toilet paper!” That concoction would have me in the bathroom too.

Cleaning products? Puhlease. Why would I stock up for an apartment that takes me less than an hour to clean, even at its worst? Besides, where would I store that stuff? We are rationing the one canister of bleach wipes and using our right brains for creative cleaning solutions.  Honestly, the counters have never smelled so fruity and been so well-conditioned, as shampoo is soap, amiright?

One thing we do have stock of is toilet paper and paper towels. That’s because we are too lazy to remember to purchase these items on a regular basis and of course we don’t want to run out. Bulk-buying habit left-over from the house.

Take that, minimalism!

Face masks, which by themselves have nothing to do with minimalism, except now they are sold out everywhere and we are supposed to make them ourselves from items “found around the house”. I’m not one to prepare for a Zombie apocalypse and we hire painters so face masks are just not something we have on-hand.

But making them? The internet tells me it’s easy to make a face mask with hair ties or rubber bands and a scarf. Ha! My hair has been above-my-ears short since college and rubber bands were deemed “non-essential” when we moved. See the 3 rules mentioned earlier.

At one point we had real “Survivor” Buffs, the kind worn on the show. Of course, we can’t find them now and fear they may have been Marie-Kondo’d along with rest of our stuff.

Minimalism, I tell ya.

This pandemic is in direct conflict with our attempt at a minimalist lifestyle. We were doing so well at living with less, having weaned ourselves from senseless saving of items that just take up space. Now it seems like all of those hair ties from high school I finally threw in the garbage are haunting me. And I’m having flashbacks to those weeks when we cleaned out Every. Single. Drawer. and Cabinet, wondering if we tossed something that could be essential today.

What about the prom dress that I finally tossed, despite my joy at being able to still zip it up? Could that have been useful somehow?

Could we have MacGyvered Hubby’s fave cappuccino maker, the one with an inch of dust from sitting at the top of the pantry?

The big question: Is this the end of minimalism for us? Will we revert back to closets full of non-essential items “just in case we need them”, all because of this pandemic experience?

I certainly hope not.

The one thing that is certain: we will have separate offices.

When It Comes to Interviewing, Make These Assumptions About Your Competition

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social-1206614_1280It’s not much fun to get older anymore. At least not as much fun as it was when we were younger and could look forward to parties, presents, balloons, and cake.

Thank goodness social media has come to rescue our birthdays in place of the parties!

Hubby prepared a wonderful “Birthday Extravaganza” for my recent birthday, yet despite his efforts social media was the highlight of my day.

I was overwhelmed with greetings, so many that I lost track counting.

Long-time friends, new friends, family, former co-workers, neighbors – all sent birthday wishes.

I truly enjoy this aspect of social media. It’s a great gift to send someone a note, and I make sure to post birthday wishes to my friends on their special days.

Honestly, I thought I was doing a great job as a “Social Media Birthday Greeter.”  So good, in fact, I considered adding this skill to my resume.

Until I was humbled on my recent birthday.

Apparently, it’s not enough to say, “Happy Birthday” or “Have a great day!”

My wishes, that I had so proudly been posting, sounded canned and almost like an afterthought compared to those I received.

Many were quite personal, demonstrating how well the person knew me.

Others were funny.  Several got creative and included memes, photos, or videos.

And I loved them all!

This level of posting caught me off-guard.  As difficult as it was, I had to be honest with myself and realize I had let my creativity slide. I had forgotten my competition.

“That’s not going to happen again”, I thought to myself.  “It’s time to up my game.”

While birthday posting on social media is not exactly a competition, I fully believe if I’m going to do something I should do it right.

This situation – letting my guard down, becoming somewhat lazy, losing my competitive edge – reminds me of interviewing for a new job.

We should always remember our competition, especially when it comes to the job search.

To stay on top of our game, we need to make the following assumptions regarding the other interviewees:

  • Every candidate is at least as qualified as we are, if not more so.
  • Every candidate will be at least as prepared for the interview – maybe even better prepared.
  • Every candidate has a great personality and will make a personal connection with the hiring manager.

It’s not enough to have a good resume, to wear a nice outfit, to have a good handshake.  We must over-prepare and be ready for whatever the hiring manager throws our way.

In other words, we must regard every other interview candidate as our competition and assume they are at least as competent as we are.

By acknowledging our competition, we will stay sharp. We will prepare for every interview. We will fight for each job instead of assuming we’ve “got this”.

Up your interview game. Be ready for it and you will win.

3 Reasons Not to Use a Creative Resume Format

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Hi Everyone! It’s a “two-fer” week, with a video blog as well as a written version.  Choose the format you want and enjoy!

When it comes to creative inspiration, I love Pinterest. It’s one of the greatest apps ever. Ever.

There’s a category for everything, from weddings (a no-brainer) to cooking to home decorating to fashion and more. The best part is that instead of keeping stacks of dog-eared magazines lying around the house, we can de-clutter by keeping multiple boards filled with pins of our favorite things. All saved for future use. Or simply to dream about.

Very crafty. Very Inspirational. Very Creative.

So many wonderful new ways to spin old favorites, which is great.

Except when it comes to resumes.

As a career coach, I’m going out on a limb here in saying that I’m pretty sure the super cute, super fun, super creative resumes – while they are ALL of those things – are not necessarily the best for your job search.

I can tell I’ve burst your Pinterest bubble.

Being creative is good, yet maybe this is not the best time to bring out the glue gun.  There are literally hundreds of creative resume formats on Pinterest and they seem to fall into these categories:

The Colored Paper Resume
Really, colored paper? As much as I love stationery, it can come across as a bit juvenile. Seriously, it can be hard to read your information on colored paper. The biggest issue is that colored paper does not work well in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) – you know; the electronic system that sucks up our resumes when we apply for jobs online? Which we all have to do, by the way, even if we know someone inside the company. Why run the risk of your information being garbled?

The Head Shot
Never put a photo on your resume. Ever. Seems like a no-brainer, with the potential for age, sex and race discrimination. Yes, there are other ways for a potential employer to learn this information but why provide it yourself? Not to mention that your photo is not going to fair well when scanned in the company’s ATS.

The Infographic
I appreciate a well-done infographic for its ability to simplify a difficult concept. Really, I do. I’ve yet to see a well-done infographic resume. Usually it takes a simple concept – the resume – and turns it into a cute yet confusing document. In some cases, the result is childish. And once again, the format does not mesh with the ATS.

3 Reasons Not to Use a Creative Resume Format:

1.Graphic treatments, color and other creative designs don’t work well with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
2. You may open yourself up to discrimination
3. Your creative attempt may come across as confusing or even childish

A simple, clean design is the best format when it comes to your resume. Lots of white space on no more than two pages. A basic font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times Roman used throughout. No cursive or mixed fonts.

Remember, the goal is to get your information through the ATS to a human being who will decide whether or not to bring you in for an interview. If the format is too much for the ATS to handle and your information becomes garbled, there’s not much of a chance for an interview.

If you want to use a more creative resume format once you’ve secured an in-person interview, have a second version ready. But see my points above.

Is The Word “Can’t” Getting In The Way Of Your Success?

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lawnmower-384589_1920 (1)Recently I learned a new skill: how to mow the lawn. That’s not a big deal for many people; in fact I bet most would love to NOT know how to mow the lawn just to get out of doing so.

Yet for me it was monumental. Something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid.

Dad never allowed me to mow the lawn, saying it was too dangerous. Or I was too small. Or the lawnmower was too big for me to push and besides, it would eat me up.

Whatever the reason, it was one more in a series of “You can’t because….” that I heard throughout my childhood.

It’s a wonder I can do anything at all since it seems like I was constantly told “You can’t” by well-meaning parents, trying to keep me safe or thinking they were freeing me up to study or have a childhood.  Other adults chimed in to the “She Can’t” chorus along the way: she can’t reach that, she can’t handle that, she won’t make the team, etc.

In their misguided attempts to protect me from whatever, the only think I heard was “Can’t”.

Ouch. That word can be pretty damaging, if you let it.

It can make you to truly believe you are unable to do something. It can bring in fear and doubt and a host of other irrational feelings that mess with your head.

Mowing the lawn was one of those “can’t’s” dad was adamant about. I guess he truly believed I might get sucked up into the lawnmower, and having to remove my carcass was something he just couldn’t bear.  Since I was the ultimate responsible child, this was really an irrational fear.

It felt great to finally power up a lawn mower and move back and forth across the grass. It was harder than anticipated due to all the sticks and ruts from the uneven surface of the vacant lot I was trying to mow.

Not to mention that Hubby neglected to tell me our mower is not “self-propelled”. He said this would make me stronger. Whatever.

As I pushed the mower I thought about growing up, listening to people tell me “you can’t”.  It’s a wonder I ever accomplished anything.

Until this moment I’ve never thought about the fact that I’ve persevered in the face of challenge. It’s never occurred to me I can’t do something, despite being told so throughout my life.

  • Play the violin, one of the hardest instruments to master? You should really pick something else. Nope, I’m going to play the violin.
  • A degree in Engineering? Why not, even though math was far from my best subject nor did I possess a natural aptitude for numbers.
  • Write and publish a book? Since when are you a writer and what do you know about publishing? I’ve been told I write well and the book has received great reviews.
  • Get a job at a youth-filled agency after a layoff and at your age? Have you lost your mind as well as your job? No one will hire you! Guess what; they hired me. Boom!

It never enters my mind that I can’t do something. I may not have the answer right away or I may not be able to do it all on my own, yet with a little education or research or even help from a friend, I’ve always been able to find a way to make it work.

When it comes to our careers, we all need to stare the word “Can’t” in the face and tell it to “Back Off”. Wipe it from your vocabulary; it does you no good to have that kind of negativity around.

Especially during a job search.

You will encounter the word “no” more than the word “yes”; be prepared for it. If well-meaning friends and family try to say you “can’t” for whatever reason, smile and walk away. They are not you; this is your journey; you get to decide what you want to do and what you don’t want to do. It’s not a matter of “can’t”.

I hear the word “can’t” more from clients who are a bit more advanced in their careers and convinced by media or friends and family that “no one” will hire them.  Really? Have you spoken to EVERYONE who is in a position to hire someone?

True, experienced older job seekers need to be prepared and present themselves well. That doesn’t mean it’s hopeless, as many would like to believe.

When the word “can’t” comes to mind, ask yourself if you are truly unable or is it simply a challenge to overcome.

With a good strategic plan, perseverance, maybe some new skills and a little help from friends, anything is possible.

Look at me, I’ve got some serious lawn-mowing skills to add to my resume. Next up: edging.

 

Work Anniversaries: A Good Time to Pause and Reflect to Move Forward

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tulips-1208206_1920We recently celebrated our twenty-year wedding anniversary.  Twenty years! Almost hard to believe.

Each year on our anniversary we take time to pause and reflect on the past year, as well as on all of the years we’ve been together. We love to reminisce about what’s happened.

Fun things like:

  • Whether or not Hubby should keep his “Movember” beard (yes; he looks adorable)
  • Where should we go on our next big adventure trip, and where will we get a money tree to fund it
  • Initial success of my Career Coaching biz and plans for future growth
  • The dream house we will build someday

And more serious stuff:

  • Remembering holding each other and the paws of our furry best friend as we said goodbye
  • Thankful for health after both suffering injuries
  • Forecasting the life of our eleven year old car that’s still running
  • Savings plans to fund our other plans

We also look ahead, rolling our discussions into our plans for the future; some short-term and some long-term.

As I pause to look back at the past twenty years, here’s what I see:

  • Happiness and Fun
  • Personal growth
  • Stability
  • Enjoying the moments yet looking toward the future
  • Learning and gaining strength

For the next twenty years and beyond, we are planning for and predicting the same.  Happiness. Growth. Learning. Fun. Enjoyment.

It’s good to take stock of where we are right now and where we want to be five, ten, twenty years down the road. If we need to make adjustments to reach our goals, now is the time to start doing so.

Similarly, work anniversaries are a good time to pause and reflect on our careers, to note where we are now and to redefine short-term as well as long-term career goals.  A great opportunity to strategize and plan the steps we need to take to achieve those goals.

How do we know if we are headed in the right direction career-wise? While each person’s situation will be different, in general here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Am I enjoying my work?
  • Am I growing professionally, and is there opportunity for advancement? (assuming you want to advance)
  • Does my job allow me to use new skills and keep up with my industry in ways that will benefit me should I need to/want to find a new job?
  • Is there stability at my company (as much as there can be nowadays) or are layoffs imminent?
  • Overall, am I in a position to get to where I want to be professionally?

There may be more questions to ask; these will get you started.

Most of the time we will find that our careers are on the right trajectory with only minor tweaks such as taking an online class or webinar to improve our skills or even get involved in industry associations to add to our resume.

If you find that you’re no longer happy at work, try to determine why.

  • Do you still enjoy the people and the work but are frustrated due to lack of opportunity for advancement?
  • Is it the environment at work, the people you work with, or even the particular industry – rather than the work itself – that makes you unhappy?

Whatever it is, take time to think and carefully consider next steps. Consult with a trusted friend or consider hiring a career coach to help.

The important thing is to periodically pause and reflect on your career to make sure you are on track to achieve your goals. This is your career; nurture it as you would any relationship you care about.

 

 

 

What To Expect – And Not To Expect – From An Internship

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woman-882337_1920The summer of my senior year in college was special – I had landed an internship at a chemical products processing plant. This was not just any internship; I was one of only two engineering students chosen for the program.

I had built the job up in my head, knowing the work would be stimulating, my co-workers interesting and it would confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt my choice of career.

Oh, to be young and full of hope, yet so naïve!

First, that summer ended up being one of the hottest on record. It probably came as no surprise to anyone except us interns that a chemical plant is not air-conditioned. Jeans, long sleeve shirts, close-toed shoes, and safety glasses were required. I don’t have to tell you that perspiration was an issue.

The work, while it did require using our brains, was more physical than I imagined. Our job was to re-wire an oven kiln. Yep, never thought I’d say those words. Definitely not the kind of work I had anticipated or even wanted to do in my career. Occasionally the plant manager gave us a desk assignment, although it was rare.

For a woman earning a technical degree, the job provided foreshadowing of what was to come when I entered the workforce, in the form of crude behavior and hazing by workers in the plant. I learned how to roll with the punches and dish it right back. Rather than let their childish pranks bother me, my mantra became, “Never let them see you sweat”.

I was so happy when August rolled around.

My next internship was a bit better; although still not perfect at least it was actually inside, at a design firm, and definitely more in line with my interests.

Some might say my internships were failures, especially the chemical plant. I disagree.

Many students mistake summer internships for semi-glamorous, made-for-TV job experiences, when all that does is provide a back drop for disappointment.

The truth about internships is they are not the “be-all, end-all” to a job search. Somewhere along the way we have confused an internship with providing a long-lasting career instead of what it was meant to provide: real work experience.

It’s important to understand what to expect – and not to expect – from an internship. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Try it Before You Buy It. Let’s say you’re a marketing major torn between consumer and business marketing. A summer internship provides a short-term opportunity to try a job without committing long-term. If you are on the fence, just pick one and give it all you’ve got for the summer to determine if you like it. No strings attached!
  • Resume Builder. This is especially important for undergrads: internships provide a great way to add valuable work experience to your resume. Sometimes it may not seem like the work is stimulating, yet if you are observant you will learn much about the organization and work in general. Take notes about the projects you worked on, including metrics that contributed to business success, to add to your resume.
  • Networking Opportunities. You never know when you might be looking for a job. Your colleagues should become part of your professional network – you know, that thing we keep mentioning? Make sure you have connected with them on LinkedIn before you leave the company. Stay in touch with the hiring manager and HR representative for future job opportunities as well.

What an internship is not:

A guarantee of a full-time job offer at graduation. That would be great, yet there are no guarantees. Don’t place all of your career dreams in that basket.

Work hard at your summer internship, make professional connections and take note of what you like about the work as well as what you don’t. This is part of your college learning experience, as well as building your resume.

Place less emphasis on finding your “dream” job at this point and more emphasis on “learning” – even if it’s learning what you don’t like.

3 Ways to Win at Writing College Application Essays

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woman-731894_1920One of the most tedious jobs in the world must be reading all of the college entrance essays to determine who’s “in” and who’s “out” for the incoming class.

The words, “Boring” and “Tedious” come to mind.  I imagine the committee (hopefully there’s more than one person who has to read these things) sits around drinking wine and eating snacks, occasionally sharing tidbits of each essay to lighten the mood.

“This candidate says, “I want to attend to carry on my family’s legacy of attending State U’”. 

Oh please, give us a REAL reason; something we haven’t heard.

“How about this for an opener: ‘I’m going to tell you a little about myself.’”

Really? That’s the best he could do?

More wine, please.

I’ll admit that writing essays for college entrance remains a bit foreign to me, since all I had to do when applying was complete a short application form and send it in along with my SAT/ACT scores and high school transcript.  Sure, I included extra-curricular activities and every honor I could think of, but that was it.

Now applying – and gaining acceptance – to college is a competition that not only includes stellar grades and proof that you were involved outside of the classroom, but also answering at least one of the Common Core essay questions. Not to mention other essays required of some universities.

These entrance essays stump so many.  First, students have trouble deciding on a topic. Panic sets in, with deadlines approaching and parents hounding. In many cases, the first drafts turn into mini-boring-biographies without much inspiration.  Or worse, laundry lists of credentials that appear to have been written hastily while parents stood guard, holding their car keys hostage until all the essays were complete.

Teenagers nervously trying to figure out how to write an essay that may propel them into the college of their choice.  Busy parents who may or may not have time and/or writing skills to help.

These essays, while at first glance seem scary, can be completed successfully.

Here are three ways to win at writing a college entrance essay:

  1. Answer the Question. Make sure you answer the question. Sounds simple, yet it is the easiest mistake to make and the number one issue I find with clients’ essays.  What is the “real” question being asked? Be sure the story you have crafted provides a clear answer to the question.  Don’t tell them what you want to say; provide the information they want to hear.
  2. Provide New Information.  Your essay should do more than simply recap information that can be found on your college application. The essay is an opportunity to showcase why you would be a great addition to the university.  The question is simply opening the dialogue for you to show the reader the “real” you; something deeper about yourself that cannot be understood from the college application. Think of it as sharing something meaningful about yourself with a friend.  Find something new to share about yourself in your essay – as it relates to the question, of course. 
  3. Engage the Reader. Imagine reading thousands of essays, most of which start out with a boring opening line, “I’m going to tell you about myself”.  Yawn.   Grabbing the readers’ attention and keeping them engaged is a good way to make sure your essay is remembered.  Like any good book, engage your reader with details that help immerse the person in the story, as if they were right there with you.

Three things: Answer the question. Provide new information. Engage the reader. 

Now you’re on your way to writing a solid college application essay.

Career Lessons Learned From My Refridgerator

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FridgeOur refrigerator turned in its resignation last night.

Without even giving a two week notice, it suddenly decided it had had enough of working for us and decided to quit.  No resignation letter, no nothing. He simply stopped working.

By the time we discovered the fridge had decided to terminate his employment, we had water everywhere since he also failed to notify the ice-maker to stop going through the motions. His team was engaged, even though the fridge had mentally and physically checked out.

Clearly this was not the way to leave a job. He served us well for almost sixteen years; still, we may have reservations about recommending him or his brand to a friend.

As an employer, I wonder how I missed the distress signals.

Occasionally I heard some squeaks and grinds coming from the refrigerator; I thought he was simply doing his job. Yesterday I seem to remember a loud noise emanating from the kitchen, one that scared the dog. Yet I brushed it off; considering it was garbage day with trucks going down the alley, or maybe it was the crews working on the house next door.

In hindsight Hubby or I should have taken time with the refrigerator, to see what was going on in his world, checking the temperature to see if the ice was, indeed, icy.

I might have been able to predict that things were not as rosy as I thought they were, and maybe would have been better prepared for this seemingly sudden turn of events.

Instead, I’m left cleaning out the refrigerator, trying to salvage what I can of the lukewarm food.

As an employee, don’t be like our refrigerator.  When you are ready to leave your job – for whatever reason – it’s always best to do so on good terms.

  • Give notice; two weeks if possible.
  • Maintain a positive attitude.
  • Help your team and boss with a plan to transition work.

As an employer, it’s important to be in tune with your employees rather than assume they are happy.

  • Talk to them regularly and really listen to what they are saying.
  • Don’t wait until they resign to start paying attention.
  • You may not be able to solve all of the problems – nor should you, necessarily – but what you hear will speak volumes about what is going on among the staff.

Bosses should be prepared for, not be surprised by, resignations. And employees should do their best to make a smooth transition for those left behind.

It’s in everyone’s best interest.

4 Ways to Lose the Perfect Internship

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HIre meInternships have almost become a rite of passage, especially for those in graduate programs. While coaching students as they prepare to interview, on more than one occasion I have been pulled into discussions about which internship would be the “best”.

Honestly, almost any internship is a good one. The goal is to get experience, especially for students who have yet to get their first full-time, after-graduation job.

Sometimes students become their own worst enemy, over analyzing opportunities or just plain freaking out over details that will not make a difference when they look back in one year.

In the meantime, the perfect internship is going to someone else.

Don’t let this happen to you! I’ve identified Four Ways to Lose the Perfect Internship:

  1. Focus on your dream company and job titles. Too many times I see students only target large, well-known brands for an internship. What’s wrong with this? First, competition is fierce since most students will target the same companies, lessening your chance of earning one of very few spots. Second, since the goal is to gain experience, a smaller company may provide more opportunity to actually get your hands dirty; to learn and interact with all levels of the organization.  Don’t lose a great opportunity with a smaller company by focusing only on your dream company. Big brands are fine, yet there are plenty of smaller companies that will provide an internship that’s just as good, if not better.
  2. Worry more about having a job offer at graduation. A common theme I hear is, “I want an internship at XYZ Company because I want to work for them when I graduate”.  The assumption is an internship automatically leads to a job offer at graduation. Oh, I wish it were that easy! While it may happen, it’s not always the case. Despite your best efforts, the company will compare you to other interns and may decide you are not the best fit for full-time employment. Or they may want to make you an offer but for financial reasons simply cannot extend one at the time.  Once I had a student who received an offer at the end of her internship, only to be on pins and needles when the company later considered rescinding the offer due to a financial crisis. So much for “best laid plans”.  If you focus your energy on what “might” happen after the internship, you could miss a great opportunity NOW. Remember, an internship is not a guarantee of full-time employment. Even if you don’t intern with the company, you can still interview for full-time work at graduation.
  3. Focus on pay. I get it; you need to eat during the internship. That said, your focus should be on what you will be doing vs. how much you will make. If it were me, I’d want an understanding of the projects and tasks I would be working on throughout the program. Will I be part of meetings? How will this internship let me use my skills and/or teach me how to be a valuable member of the team? At the end of the program, you should be able to add at least one or two achievements to your resume. The worst thing that could happen is you spend a summer with a nice paycheck yet have learned nothing. That’s a waste of time.
  4. Believe you will be “stuck” at the company or in the industry. Actually, an internship is the opposite of being “stuck”. Think of an internship as a two-month opportunity to “try it before you buy it”. In other words, you do not have to accept an offer of full-time employment, just like the company is under no obligation to make you an offer. What an awesome deal!   Think about what this means: there are NO mistakes with an internship! If you would rather work in a different industry at graduation, it’s your prerogative. Take the internship, learn as much as you can – including what you don’t like – and move forward.

Remember, the goal of an internship is to get experience in your field to build your resume. It’s a two-month opportunity to grab as much learning as you can from a company, with no strings attached.

Still, this process causes anxiety for many students who worry about making the right choice, wondering if their career will be ruined by an error in judgment.

Unless it’s an error of epic, Biblical proportions, it’s doubtful your entire career will be ruined by your internship.

Pick one, learn as much as you can, and start your career. It’s that simple.

Is The Job You Interviewed For Right For You?

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Office space 2

 

 

 

 

 

How do you know if the job you interview for is right for you? I get asked this question a lot.

The short answer is: you don’t. Without a crystal ball, none of us knows with certainty whether or not a job is the “right” one.

But there are clues we can pick up during the interview process that provide valuable insight.

  • Is the interview process organized?
  • Does HR call you back in a timely manner with information about the decision making process or do they leave you hanging?
  • How about the hiring manager; does he/she seem open and engaging or are they closed off, as if they are reading questions from a script?
  • When observing employees in the office, what is the vibe? Is it general work or is it stress and chaos?
  • Above all, did any of the people you met, especially the hiring manager, set off any alarms? Is the little voice inside your head telling you to heed those alarms; that something isn’t quite right?

One time I made the mistake of not paying attention to the red flags that popped up as I interviewed for a new job.

That little voice inside my head tried to tell me that something was not quite right as I was being wooed and courted with all kinds of promises. Sensing a dark side, I politely turned the job down. Yet their force was stronger and upped the ante with more money. It was an offer that seemed too good to pass up.

Thinking I had totally misread the cues during the interview process, I pushed my inner voice aside and accepted the offer. After all, I could not pinpoint exactly what was wrong with the opportunity. What did I have to lose?

Within the first two weeks I realized my mistake. That little voice inside my head had been right and all of those red flags meant “stop” and take serious notice. No amount of money could make up for the fact that this was not the right fit for me, yet now I was committed.

Ultimately, after staying for awhile, I left the company for something that was a much better match.

Word of caution: Remember, no job is perfect. Do not use your “inner voice” as an excuse to find fault with every interview or job opportunity that comes up.

Back to the original question: How do you know if the job you interview for is a good fit? Again, there are no guarantees. One thing is for certain: listen to your inner voice and look for any red flags.

When it’s right you’ll know it. And when it’s wrong, you’ll know it too.