HIPAL

Great advice from HBR (Harvard Business Review) on making the most of any job situation…..

Develop These Soft Skills in Any Job

Even if you’re working in a job that feels temporary, dead-end, or just isn’t the one, you’re not wasting your time. You can use this opportunity to develop some invaluable soft skills that will serve you in any career you might pursue down the road.

-Effective communication. Being able to translate complex ideas for any audience (customers, clients, coworkers) is a critical capability in every field. Think of your job as an opportunity to practice adjusting your communication to each person you interact with.

-Teamwork. Every job, on some level, requires some degree of collaboration. Practice new ways to resolve conflicts, align stakeholders, and partner with colleagues to advance your team’s goals.

-Leading and influencing (even without authority). You’re more than just a cog in a machine. Look for opportunities to voice your opinions and ideas, mentor others, and contribute to your workplace culture.

-Problem solving. Every job has challenges, some more complex than others. Being adept at problem solving—which includes understanding the problem and root cause, then brainstorming solutions and alternatives—shows structured thinking with logic-based reasoning.

This tip is adapted from “5 Essential Soft Skills to Develop in Any Job,” by Marlo Lyons

Today’s Tip from HBR…..
How to Answer a Question About Salary Expectations

(I’ve read that companies are getting away from this question but just in case…do your research-point #3-BUT be prepared to answer with point #1!)

There are many interview questions that job applicants dread. But one in particular is especially complicated: “What are your salary expectations?” If you go too low, you might end up making less than the company is willing to pay. And if you go too high, you could price yourself out of the job. To avoid giving a specific number, try these strategies:

1. Flip the question around and ask about the company’s budget. For example, you might say something like, “I’m not sure I can accurately price myself at this point, but I’d love to know the budgeted salary range.”

2. Move past the question and reemphasize your qualifications. For example, “I’m still trying to fully understand the role. For now, I’d love to continue talking about my qualifications and why I think I’m a fit for this position.”

3. Offer a salary range. Try saying something like, “I’m looking for a competitive salary that reflects my qualifications and experience. Based on my research and the requirements of the role, I would expect a salary in the range of $X to $Y. Of course, I’m open to discussing the details of the entire compensation package since salary is just one factor.”

This tip is adapted from “How to Answer ‘What Are Your Salary Expectations?’,” by Amy Gallo

From HBR…..Nail This Difficult (and Common) Interview Question

(I would add, while still being brief, how did you turn the ‘negative’ into a positive!)

“Tell me about a time you failed” is an interview question job seekers dread. How can you be prepared to ace it? Here are some tips.

-Focus on learning. What the interviewer ultimately wants (and they may even state this explicitly) is not so much your story of failure but what you learned from it and how you turned that insight into a productive approach.
-Choose a miscalculation, not a mistake. Don’t draw attention to your character. When did something external not go as planned? When was a strategy ineffective? When did an approach miss the target?
-Look for a we, not a me. A team failing as a group might seem more relatable (and excusable) than an individual failing because there was consensus behind the decision making.
-Describe a low-consequence event, and keep it brief. Make sure the stakes of your story are relatively low, not catastrophic, and that you don’t linger on unnecessary details.
-Be thoughtful about the words you use—and don’t defend yourself. Use words like learned, gleaned, grew, and overcame. Avoid defensive or regretful language.

This tip is adapted from “How to Answer ‘Tell Me About a Time You Failed’ in a Job Interview,” by Joel Schwartzberg

This tip from HBR touches on some of the points Alex and Rhiannon spoke about last Thursday!

Is That New Job Right for You?

Interviewing for a job is a two-way street: Just as prospective employers need to evaluate you, you need to evaluate them. To investigate what a role would really entail—and how the organization would (or wouldn’t) align with your values, skills, and future goals—follow these steps.

-Research the job description. Look up folks who are (or have been) in the function you’re applying for. What do they list as their experience on LinkedIn? If there is a notable discrepancy between the job description and those people’s experience, make a note to ask about it in the interview.

-Ask insightful questions during your interview. For example: How are mistakes handled? How is success measured? How does the team resolve conflicts and difficult situations? How would my manager support my learning and development? Be specific about your career goals, and ask how this role would help you achieve them.

-Don’t be afraid to discuss salary and benefits. If the job description doesn’t include the position’s salary, ask the HR person facilitating the process about how compensation and benefits are determined. Take care to show that compensation is an important consideration for you—without appearing money-hungry.

-Be informed about the state of the business. You don’t want to join an organization before ensuring that it’s healthy. Is the company growing? Has it been bought recently? If the prospective employer is a large or public company, you should find this information in articles, press releases, and annual reports. If it’s a startup, research its funding and investment.

This tip is adapted from “5 Ways to Figure Out If a Job Is Right for You,” by Roxanne Calder

Today’s tip from HBR…it’s about work ethic but might help with procrastination too 😆

Build a Stronger Work Ethic

Work ethic refers to a set of principles around work, such as reliability, productivity, autonomy, and ability to collaborate. While work ethic may come naturally to some people, it can also be learned and sharpened. Here’s how.

-Develop self-discipline. This comes down to better understanding your impulses so you can manage them, creating systems to hold yourself accountable, and setting yourself up to have the energy you need to do good work.

-Reset your priorities every day. Spend a few minutes in the morning identifying which items you need to get done. The trick is to find a balance between tasks that are urgent and must be finished today and tasks that are contributing to longer term, but equally important, projects.

-Own your work. Take pride in your to-do list. If something doesn’t make sense to you, don’t wait for direction—ask questions to get clarity. If you have an idea that you think is great, pitch it.

-Be a team player. Collaboration doesn’t just increase the impact of your work and serve your team, it also demonstrates your dependability.

This tip is adapted from “How to Develop a Strong Work Ethic,” by Tutti Taygerly