Career Cube Blog

Seems like a simple concept doesn’t it? Many of you are thinking—I’ll just take the job and mold myself into whatever they want—I don’t care!

That’s a dangerous trap.

I know someone who recently had to have several “course correction” talks with a new hire. The hiring manager knew from the interview that this candidate was capable of doing the job, but would have a lot to learn about advertising lingo and understanding some of the more advanced functions of Excel. During the job interview, all of these topics were brought up and discussed. The candidate was hungry for the position because he had been out of a job for several months—and living in NYC. Not the place to take a career siesta.

The problem was that the company had been honest in their expectations with the candidate, but the candidate wasn’t honest with themselves and their expectations of a job that would be a good fit for them.

The candidate did have a good number of the skills to make him successful in the position. From a behavioral standpoint—his past job experiences indicated that he was willing and able to dig in and learn new things on his own and enjoyed a challenge.

The problem was that the pace of the advertising industry was much faster than other places he had worked. If you’ve ever traveled to the South or West Coast, you know that the pace of life is completely different than the Northeast. He wasn’t from NYC, and had a hard time keeping up with the speed of the requests that came across his desk. Now this candidate may not have had the job experience that told him that he wasn’t cut out for a fast-paced environment, but for his sake, I certainly hope he investigates his future positions.

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Job hunting can really wear a person down. For those that are out of a job, you’re spending hours at home searching job boards, doing research on prospective companies, and having phone interviews. If you’re lucky you can go to a networking event and have a few crackers and soda to ideally meet someone who can help you in your search. For those with a job, you’re feeling worn out doing your current job and keeping up appearances that you’re still completely dedicated to the company and position. In the meantime you’re interviewing on the sly, searching for new postings when you get home from work and on the weekends. It’s exhausting!

The important thing is to not let that get to how you look.

What do I mean by that?

When you’re not feeling motivated and excited by your job, it’s harder to put on an enthusiastic, polished image. A job takes up most of your waking time on Earth, and if it’s unsatisfying, it’ll wear on you.

Next time you’re out and about, notice someone who is particularly striking in appearance. That kind of person that makes you say—”I want to BE them.” When you look at them you can imagine them having amazing job interviews and careers. Everyone does this, so don’t even try to pretend to me that you don’t.

Now pinpoint what it is about them that makes you say that. Is it how they dress? Their hair? If they’re a woman, are their nails done? Do they seem very fit? Is it how they carry themselves? Is it how they speak? What are those characteristics in them that you find most attractive and magnetic?

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Meal interviews take place for one of three reasons:

1. You’re a middle - or more likely - an upper-level candidate where a relocation is involved and having dinner with a few executives from the company is the final step in the process
2. Regardless of management level, the position involves interaction between the company and clients and frequently over meals
3. People are busy and interviewing over lunch is convenient, especially when the candidate is employed and lunch the easiest time for the interview to take place. This is the only time when a meal interview is likely to be at one of the otherwise taboo places mentioned below

In the first example, chances are it’s a three-step interview process: phone, you alone for one afternoon, and a more extensive trip with your spouse in order to meet other executives within the company. If the interviewing process has reached this stage, you are probably one of two candidates. At this point, the process becomes more of a screen out than a screen in. Your industry related abilities have passed muster. Your personality and philosophies seem to fit with the company. What they are looking for now is how well you juggle the socializing, how well you represent the company in public, and does your spouse compliment you and represent you well rather than getting drunk and doing a table dance or chattering about inane topics.

Quite frankly - except to some extent in the first example - while the primary purpose is the interview, there’s a secondary purpose to these mind-your-manners meal interviews: your potential employer wants to know if when you represent the company at mealtime, will your manners leave him comfortable or mortified? In the case of convenience - your manners don’t really come into play much at all as long as you don’t talk with your mouth full.

In any case, meals and interviews are multi-tasking nightmares, regardless of the reason they’re scheduled. But this issue is aimed primarily at the meal interviews where manners matter - where customer and client interaction is likely part of the job and whether you talk with your mouth full or not is not only of paramount importance but is only a small piece of the pie (so to speak).

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Popularity: 2% [?]