Janice Worthington MA, CPRW, JCTC, CEIP Send Janice a Question

Career Blunders…And Second Chances! In my coaching practice I prepare my clients for interviews. They are taught exactly what they must accomplish in order to be granted a second interview. When they arrive at their assigned destinations they are told to look at themselves in their rear-view mirrors and say to themselves, “John you know exactly what you need to do….now do it!” Re-entering their cars following a well-planned presentation they, again, look at themselves in the rear-view mirror and say, “Well?” They know whether or not they delivered and they know not to be surprised if no second invitation arrives if they did not follow their well-rehearsed plan. “I wish I could go back and __________,” is never an option in interviewing but it can provide a learning experience in the broad-scope of job search. We can learn from our mistakes, many of which are made out of the emotion of the moment rather than logic. Decision-making is never easy and while the outcomes are unpredictable it always helps to hear what the “next guy” would do differently. The following are common regrets I hear so often that I would like to pass them on. I Wish I Wouldn’t Have Stopped Looking – You can’t blame a candidate for slowing down a bit when he is told, “You’re background is exactly what we look for!” Well I can and I do. A formal job offer has three elements, a position, a specific compensation package and a starting date. Anything less is at best a polite teaser. At times companies will encourage a candidate, leading him to believe that a job offer is in the works to keep him around in case they can’t do better or to protect themselves from liability. Candidates go home and gleefully tell their significant others, “they loved me!” Then they wait. By the time they realize that they probably will never again hear from that company they are depressed and disappointed, have lost their momentum and have to begin again. I Wish I Wouldn’t Have Said, “No.” – Candidates jump to conclusions far too early. The job won’t pay enough, the company isn’t solid, they work you to death, too much travel, too far to drive and a litany of other negatives that scream avoidance. Believe it or not some of us really don’t want to go back to work so quickly. Others fear the unknown aspects of going to work for a new company at a job they may have never performed so avoidance, a very normal human characteristic, takes over. I teach my clients to attend all interviews; no pre-judging allowed. We have to assume that after all the many resume submissions today, a company has a reason for specifically wanting to see each candidate. They saw something they liked. No one has time to waste. Besides everything is variable. Laymen would be amazed at what goodies companies are prepared to offer a candidate they want. But you have to show up! I Wish I Wouldn’t Have Resigned – While the stigma of unemployment has significantly been reduced due to layoffs becoming so common, the employed candidate continues to be most attractive. He is operating from a position of strength in negotiations and is spared the scrutiny of explaining his disaffiliation from his most recent employer. If he has a potential reference problem, the employed candidate receives a “buy” because no one will check a current employer as a reference. Candidates make better decisions without the pressures of the missing paycheck. I strongly advise my clients not to quit because we don’t know how long the next hire will take to solidify. I teach them to become academy award-winning actors from 8AM to 5PM, encouraged by the fact that from 5PM to 8AM we will be working to change their situations.

Janice Worthington is President of Worthington Career Services, Ohio’s oldest resume preparation firm and one of the oldest in the U.S. With 14 years of corporate recruiting experience, Worthington Career Services opened its doors focused on applicant empowerment in 1973. She is known for advising some of America’s highest-ranking industry leaders. Please send Janice your questions at janice@worthingtonresumes.com .  For more information on Janice, please visit her website at http://www.worthingtonresumes.com/!