Build a Better Career

Self-Awareness and the Job Interview

 

Beyond words…what else are you communicating?

 When Karen called to talk to me about her failure to obtain jobs, for which was qualified, we began a discovery process that had significant implications for her career success or failure.

 First step – examine Karen’s process

Did she research the organization prior to her interview?  Yes.

Had she demonstrated her understanding of the corporate mission in her discussion with the interviewer. Yes.

 Second step – examine Karen’s responses to the interviewer’s questions

One by one, we considered each response and each was appropriate and on target. She appeared to have demonstrated her ability to do the job and her skills proficiency level.

 Third step – examine Karen’s confidence level

Karen indicated that she felt very confident because, from her viewpoint, she was more than qualified for the position. In fact, as we continued to examine her situation, we both came to realize that Karen felt the positions were beneath her. As we examined that belief, Karen acknowledged that she had gone into the interviews with a feeling of superiority and that as she looked back on the event, she believed that the interviewer picked up on it. It was only in hindsight and with reflection that she realized this was the case. That important insight dramatically affected how Karen continued her search.

 Self-awareness, as described in Daniel Goleman’s work on Emotional Intelligence*, is a competency that includes the ability to recognize our emotions and their effects. It was clear to Karen, after further reflection, that she had not realized how her emotions were affecting her interactions with others. It was not what she said – she knew what to say – it was her overall demeanor, demonstrated in subtle but highly impactful behaviors. It had shown up in her non-verbal communication and her inability to make a personal connection with interviewers. She realized that she had “talked down to them”. That was the bad news. The good news was that Karen now recognized it.

 There are many theories about what qualities lead to career success and Daniel Goleman’s work is just one, but I believe that the Personal and Social Competencies that he describes are essential to career management.  TalentSmart (www.talentsmart.com) has produced white papers on the business case for Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and has developed an appraisal instrument for measuring EQ competencies. A google search will produce additional research results.  

 

Spotlighting Accomplishments at the Performance Review

 

Can You Shine at Your Performance Review?

 

For some years now, prior to their performance reviews, I have had conversations with several clients. We review the year, we assess the Return on Investment (ROI) received by the organization and we plan the conversation. I am in awe of how well prepared these folks are for demonstrating their value. How do they do that? Well, briefly…here are some pointers:

 

1. Maintain a “superstar” file. Throughout the year, whenever you do anything that is beyond your typical duties, drop a summary note in that file. If you take on additional responsibilities while the supervisor is away, if you train new people, if you make a suggestion that management adopts, if you stay late to finish a project, if you find a way to improve a process, etc., etc., etc. – record it.

2. If you have added to your skills by taking a course that increases your value and shows your commitment to professional development, record it.

    3. If you have an outstanding record of dependability, find a way to highlight that in the review.

4. Finally, when you have the data collected, practice how you are going to be during your performance review meeting - confident, defensive, detached, assertive? How will you communicate? The right language and tone are essential. That’s why I get those calls each year. Just a little bit of practice makes all the difference.

 

In his recent newsletter, Peter Weddle (www.weddles.com) suggests that readers spend two hours in a private conversation with themselves to examine the state of their careers. He suggests addressing the following questions:

1.              Is your current job providing an opportunity for you to improve your current skills or to acquire new skills?

2.              Are you performing at your peak in your current job and are you doing so every single day?

3.              Have you taken advantage of the educational resources in order to keep your career expertise at a state-of-the-art level?

4.              Are you using online and off-line opportunities to network with peers and maintain a strong system of professional contacts?

5.              Have you acquired any additional skills outside your primary field (e.g., using productivity enhancing technology or speaking an additional language) that would expand your on-the-job contribution?

The secret to shining at your review is no secret; simply preparation, preparation, preparation.

 

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