The Writing On The Wall When You Are About To Lose Your Job

The Writing On The Wall When You Are About To Lose Your Job When I was on the phone, on a board conference call, I knew that I was going to get laid off.  The principal who was in the room with me (there were two people in my room, me and the other guy, and three people in another city) had already told me before our call that I was going to get let go. How kind of him to prepare me. Of course, I had already seen plenty of writing on the wall regarding the inevitable elimination of me, as the general manager.  I ignored the writing on the wall.  I downplayed and minimized what it meant. I delayed thinking about it.  If only I could get more results, or clean up certain things, or fix other things if only I could do the job I was hired to do, and have an intense focus, maybe those things that were written on the wall would simply disappear. The gut says this is real but the brain tries the logic and rationalization tricks to say um, maybe not *that* real we got more time. We got more time.  Famous last words. Let me share two truths with you about the writing on the wall: Ignoring it wont make it, the message, or the reality of whats to come go away. There is writing on the wall for all of us. If you want a discouraging (or perhaps a full-of-opportunity) read, research the gig economy. The bottom line is what Ive been preaching for 10 years: YOU MUST own, control, and manage your own career management. Here are some symptoms that you might get let go (Im not sharing these so you can be paranoid, rather so you can be prepared): Layoffs are announced, or you hear people talking about them. No owner or boss wants this rumor to get started so if you are hearing about it from someone reliable, especially a manager, then its time to open your eyes and prepare. You learn that the company/organization is having financial problems.  Yes, sometimes financial problems are solved by creative measures, like dumping inventory, or moving out of an expensive building, or simply increasing sales. Just realize that sometimes the creative measure might be decreasing head count. You arent performing and your boss regularly makes comments about it. I had a sales guy who was opening a new area but wasnt making any progress. I was hearing about it from my colleagues (at my level), but the reality is this sales guy knew how things were going, and had no progress to report. There is a fine line between being optimistic that something great will happen, and being realistic about nothing at all  happening. Make sure that you are communicating as much as you should during this time, though, especially if you are building something out of nothing the metrics will look different at an early stage, and sometimes you might have to walk your boss through this (multiple times). You arent getting phone calls and emails replied to. Its weird to go from people responding quickly (or at all) to getting NOTHING. There was a time I was doing business (with JibberJobber) with another company, talking about a very cool relationship.  Then, all of the sudden, my contact wouldnt communicate with me at all for two or three months.  Later I learned that her company was acquired, and she wasnt sure what her role would be (if there was one).  We went from very serious to on hold, without her telling me we were on hold.  Its confusing for sure, but its a big sign that there is an issue, either with your career, their career, or the company. People get real  (or unusually) serious when talking to you, or wont look you in the eye. Have you had a relationship with someone at work where you could always access them and have a friendly conversation but now you sense something in the relationship has changed?  That is what Id call writing on the wall.  Or, maybe they have indigestion, or their own problems its not always writing on the wall. But if its long-term, and from more than one person, Id look into it. You ask if your job is in jeopardy, and you dont get a straight answer.  Let me give you a straight answer: YES. Your job is always in jeopardy. You should always be ready to give someone an updated resume, and you should always have warm networking relationships (instead of ignoring your network until you need something from them). I could go on and on heres a google search with lists and lists of signs. I dont want to discourage you, or to make you more paranoid than you should be. I want to give you permission to think differently about your career, and your role at ta company. I give you permission to network, even while you are employed. I give you permission to have an updated resume, even though you are happy at your job. I give you permission to interview at other companies, even though you arent necessarily looking. I give you permission to take control of your career back from those you gave it to (professors, mentors, your boss, HR, the company owner), and watch out for Numero Uno (translated: YOU). I give you permission to actually enjoy this a little bit. I know its frustrating to think about changing jobs, and dealing with strife at work, and disruption a-la-who-moved-my-cheese. For now, this is the new normal and if thats the case, I challenge you (because you are smart, and you can figure out challenges) to figure this out.  What can you do right now, next week, this year, next year, to have more control over your own career.  Im not asking you to look for job security (that is so nineteen hundreds!!), Im asking you to do things to manage your career. One of them is to stop ignoring the writing on the wall, and preparing yourself for when that writing becomes reality. The Writing On The Wall When You Are About To Lose Your Job When I was on the phone, on a board conference call, I knew that I was going to get laid off.  The principal who was in the room with me (there were two people in my room, me and the other guy, and three people in another city) had already told me before our call that I was going to get let go. How kind of him to prepare me. Of course, I had already seen plenty of writing on the wall regarding the inevitable elimination of me, as the general manager.  I ignored the writing on the wall.  I downplayed and minimized what it meant. I delayed thinking about it.  If only I could get more results, or clean up certain things, or fix other things if only I could do the job I was hired to do, and have an intense focus, maybe those things that were written on the wall would simply disappear. The gut says this is real but the brain tries the logic and rationalization tricks to say um, maybe not *that* real we got more time. We got more time.  Famous last words. Let me share two truths with you about the writing on the wall: Ignoring it wont make it, the message, or the reality of whats to come go away. There is writing on the wall for all of us. If you want a discouraging (or perhaps a full-of-opportunity) read, research the gig economy. The bottom line is what Ive been preaching for 10 years: YOU MUST own, control, and manage your own career management. Here are some symptoms that you might get let go (Im not sharing these so you can be paranoid, rather so you can be prepared): Layoffs are announced, or you hear people talking about them. No owner or boss wants this rumor to get started so if you are hearing about it from someone reliable, especially a manager, then its time to open your eyes and prepare. You learn that the company/organization is having financial problems.  Yes, sometimes financial problems are solved by creative measures, like dumping inventory, or moving out of an expensive building, or simply increasing sales. Just realize that sometimes the creative measure might be decreasing head count. You arent performing and your boss regularly makes comments about it. I had a sales guy who was opening a new area but wasnt making any progress. I was hearing about it from my colleagues (at my level), but the reality is this sales guy knew how things were going, and had no progress to report. There is a fine line between being optimistic that something great will happen, and being realistic about nothing at all  happening. Make sure that you are communicating as much as you should during this time, though, especially if you are building something out of nothing the metrics will look different at an early stage, and sometimes you might have to walk your boss through this (multiple times). You arent getting phone calls and emails replied to. Its weird to go from people responding quickly (or at all) to getting NOTHING. There was a time I was doing business (with JibberJobber) with another company, talking about a very cool relationship.  Then, all of the sudden, my contact wouldnt communicate with me at all for two or three months.  Later I learned that her company was acquired, and she wasnt sure what her role would be (if there was one).  We went from very serious to on hold, without her telling me we were on hold.  Its confusing for sure, but its a big sign that there is an issue, either with your career, their career, or the company. People get real  (or unusually) serious when talking to you, or wont look you in the eye. Have you had a relationship with someone at work where you could always access them and have a friendly conversation but now you sense something in the relationship has changed?  That is what Id call writing on the wall.  Or, maybe they have indigestion, or their own problems its not always writing on the wall. But if its long-term, and from more than one person, Id look into it. You ask if your job is in jeopardy, and you dont get a straight answer.  Let me give you a straight answer: YES. Your job is always in jeopardy. You should always be ready to give someone an updated resume, and you should always have warm networking relationships (instead of ignoring your network until you need something from them). I could go on and on heres a google search with lists and lists of signs. I dont want to discourage you, or to make you more paranoid than you should be. I want to give you permission to think differently about your career, and your role at ta company. I give you permission to network, even while you are employed. I give you permission to have an updated resume, even though you are happy at your job. I give you permission to interview at other companies, even though you arent necessarily looking. I give you permission to take control of your career back from those you gave it to (professors, mentors, your boss, HR, the company owner), and watch out for Numero Uno (translated: YOU). I give you permission to actually enjoy this a little bit. I know its frustrating to think about changing jobs, and dealing with strife at work, and disruption a-la-who-moved-my-cheese. For now, this is the new normal and if thats the case, I challenge you (because you are smart, and you can figure out challenges) to figure this out.  What can you do right now, next week, this year, next year, to have more control over your own career.  Im not asking you to look for job security (that is so nineteen hundreds!!), Im asking you to do things to manage your career. One of them is to stop ignoring the writing on the wall, and preparing yourself for when that writing becomes reality.

Rely on a Resume Cover Page Template For a Resume Cover Page

Rely on a Resume Cover Page Template For a Resume Cover PageUsing a resume cover page template can really help to increase your job search success rate and provide the focus for your resume. While this is the first thing that a potential employer will see when they view your resume, the look and feel of the cover page will be as important as the content of the text itself.You can customize a resume cover page template in a number of different ways. You could use a free template but it is recommended that you use a professionally designed template. Professional templates are meant to attract more applicants than simply what is available on the web.A professional template will have pre-designed fields that allow you to write about your skills and experience easily. These pre-designed fields will provide you with everything that you need to easily begin your cover letter without having to be concerned about getting lost in a sea of other cover letters. A professionally designed template can be customized so that you can use different colors, fonts, and even images to highlight your most valued skills.A professional template will give you everything that you need to write an effective cover letter so that it is easy to comprehend. Instead of needing to rely on bullet points to communicate your cover letter, you will be able to put all of the information you want to include into a single page. This will eliminate any confusion and make it easier for the interviewer to read.A cover page template will be able to streamline your writing process because you will be able to easily flip through the pages to find the information that you need to deliver to the employer. You will no longer have to read every word that you want to put down in order to finish a cover letter. You will only need to read the information that is relevant to your objective.A resume cover page template is also designed to help you retain all of the information that you need to include in your cover letter. Instead of having to re-write your cover letter several times before you deliver the same information, you will be able to utilize the template and immediately know what is in each section. This will mean that you will be able to focus on presenting yourself in the best light possible.A cover page template is not only useful for your resume, but is also ideal for helping you keep your cover letter writing organized. Instead of having to search through your entire folder for the pieces of paper that you need, you will be able to search through the resume cover page template to get all of the paper that you need. This will help you organize your paper so that you can get more accomplished in less time.There are a number of reasons why you should consider using a resume cover page template and one of the most compelling is the fact that you will be able to present yourself in the best possible light. Using a professionally designed template is a great way to create the desired look for your cover letter.

5 Mistakes That Could Easily Derail Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Mistakes That Could Easily Derail Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career DURING THE GREAT RECESSION, WHEN HUGE LAYOFFS AND FREQUENT DOWNSIZINGS WERE THE GENERAL ORDER OF THE DAY FOR MANY, MANY EMPLOYERS, literally millions of men and women were in constant, sometimes paralyzing fear that the next “heads” on “the chopping block” could quickly and easily end up being their own. Thank goodness, now that hiring and retention rates approach more acceptable norms, that fear has been somewhat assuaged. That said, though, if currently employed, you still need to ensure that you carefullyâ€"and continuallyâ€"manage and monitor your career by assiduously avoiding the FIVE career mistakes featured in this post. These quite common mistakes can be (and are being) made by otherwise savvy men and women each and every day, and they can quickly and easily derail an otherwise promising career. Career Mistake #1 FORGETTING (OR NOT REALIZING) THAT THE BEST TIME TO SEARCH OUT A NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITY IS WHILE YOU STILL HAVE A JOB. For some unfathomable reason, some people who have become dissatisfied with their current job, for whatever reason(s), suddenly decide to resign that job. Why? They think it will give them the time they need to find a new, more rewarding career opportunity. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth, and that applies to any  job market, including today’s. What this means to you: Almost without exception, it is always, always, always, far easier to get a new job while you still have a job! So, if it’s at all possible, never resign your current position until you have actually landed a NEW position! Career Mistake #2 THINKING (OR BELIEVING) THAT YOUR COMPANY WILL BE AS LOYAL TOYOU AS YOU MAY BE TO IT. Company loyalty to employees has long been a thing of the past, if it ever truly existed at all. Make no mistake about it, companies, virtually all companies, exist for one primary purpose: To make money! If the company doesn’t actually make money, it certainly won’t be in business long. The company doesn’t care if you and your family have health insurance. It doesn’t care if you are unable to adequately feed, clothe and house your family. Companies are not “people,” though of course they are made up of people. Companies are  business entities, first and foremost, and as such, they will do whatever is necessary stay in operationâ€"including eliminating your job, if that should become necessary to stay profitable or register greater earnings. What this means to you: Don’t ever allow yourself to be lulled in to any false sense of security. Remember, no matter how “stable” the job market (or your own job) appears to be, on any given Friday afternoon, that could suddenly and drastically change! Learn to manage and continually monitor your own career’s bottom line the same way you can be assured that the company will be monitoring its bottom line.     Career Mistake #3 NOT EFFECTIVELY BRANDING YOURSELF AS SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE A COMPANY MONEY AND/OR SAVE A COMPANY MONEY, OR IDEALLY, AS SOMEONE WHO CAN ACCOMPLISH BOTH OF THESE GOALS. Today, you will not be hired exclusively because you have the correct technical skills, experience and/or know-how. You must also brand yourself, and position yourself, as someone who can a.) solve a hiring manager’s (or hiring company’s) problems; and/or b.) deliver a solution (or solutions) to his/her business needs. In other words, in today’s job market, it all boils down to this simple question: Can you  make a company money or save a company money, or BOTH? What this means to you: If you aren’t already in the mindset of recognizing the vital importance of being able to make a company money or to save the company money, then start getting into that mindset TODAY! Regardless of your current position, learn to translate (in dollars, numbers and/or percentages) how everything you do in your current job has a direct and definite impact of your current company’s bottom line. And, of course, ensure that this information is prominently highlighted in your current résumé. Career Mistake #4 FAILURE TO EVEN ENTERTAIN AN EXPLORATORY CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUR CAREER, YOUR FUTURE. I wish I could honestly say that most professionals I contact about exciting new career opportunities are at least somewhat open to considering them. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case at all. Usually, out of some misplaced sense of loyalty to their current employer, or because of unreasonable feelings of guilt and/or betrayal to their employer, many professionals will not even consider exploring such a conversation. What this means to you: Refusing to even consider new career opportunities, no matter how satisfied and content you may be with your current position, could easily and quickly derail your career, if things were suddenly and unexpectedly to head south for you! (See Career Mistake #2) Career Mistake #5 IF OFFERED A NEW, BETTER POSITION WITH ANOTHER COMPANY, YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT ENTERTAINING A COUNTEROFFER FROM YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER. It costs a lot of time and money to replace valuable employees, not to even mention the possible disruption of key projects and company initiatives caused by the sudden departure of a key leader or key player. And, if you can count yourself among this group of valued employees, you can reasonably anticipate that you will be made a counteroffer when you go in to resign. When you are made a counteroffer, you’ll undoubtedly be led to believe that the company genuinely values you and your contributions, that they simply can’t do without you. You may be offered a higher salary, a promotion, more authority and responsibility. Heady stuff indeed! Nearly always, however, the truth of the matter is that the hiring manager (and the company) is merely biding his/her time until you can be replaced by someone who is more “loyal,” more “dependable.” What this means to you: While there are exceptions to every rule, if you decide to accept a counteroffer you could actually be committing “career suicide”! Why? From the moment you tender your resignation you easily could be branding yourself as a “traitor,” someone who can’t be fully relied upon to contribute to the “team.” (Never mind the fact that, if the situation were to be reversed, the company wouldn’t hesitate to let you go, if it suited its purpose.) That promised salary increase, that promotion? They could mysteriously and quite unexpectedly be “put on temporary hold” because of “budget considerations.” Happens all the time! Remember the Boy Scout Motto! Let me be quite clear here: I am NOT suggesting that you become a raging paranoid about your current job or your entire career, continually looking over your shoulder and never trusting anyone or anything. What I am suggesting is that you adopt the motto made famous by the Boy Scouts of American. Remember what it is? BE PREPARED! While hardly an exhaustive examination, if you adhere to the advice featured in this post, you will indeed be prepared to anticipateâ€"and then avoid making!â€"the mistakes so many currently employed men and women continue to make, mistakes that could easily and quickly derail an otherwise promising career. ______________________________________ This post is based upon career management information and advice featured in  Career Stalled? How to Get YOUR Career Back in HIGH Gear and Land the Job You Deserveâ€"Your DREAM Job!, Skip’s most recent book in the “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets Series of Career Development Management Publications. Would you like to receive a FREE  evaluation copy (PDF format) of  Career Stalled?  via email?  Shoot an email to my editor and co-author, Michael Garee, at  mlgaree@att.net. (Copy paste email address into your email client.)  This evaluation copy features the entire text of the publication. All we ask in return is that, once you have had an opportunity to review the book, you go on Amazon.com and write an honest review of itâ€"good, bad or indifferent. Thank you!

Whats the point of international study

What’s the point of international study Here at Warwick we have many international students. Considerable numbers of home students also chose to spend a year abroad either as part of their degrees or through the Erasmus or similar schemes. The received wisdom is that studying abroad is “a good thing” in employability terms but is that always the case? I asked Puneet Tahim at City solicitors Latham Watkins what she thought about it:  â€œStudents often under-sell the qualities required to move abroad for a term/year and do not truly identify the skills they have developed as a result.   Studying abroad requires good organisation, planning and prioritisation abilities. Students are often required to submit applications for their years abroad and then have to find their own accommodation, arrange their travel and liaise with their new institution, usually whilst managing their existing academic workload and extra-curricular life. Building a life for oneself in a new city/country requires a degree of confidence, good communication skills, open-mindedness and resilience. A study abroad programme also provides fantastic networking opportunities for students and a chance to make contacts who will help them as they progress through their careers. In a globalised world firms/employers are increasingly looking for graduates who can speak another language, as well as candidates who have developed a cultural awareness outside of their home country.   If candidates can demonstrate this through the interview process it may help to strengthen their overall application.” That sounds like a ringing endorsement but it isn’t the first time I’ve heard employers lament that students undersell the skills the experience gives them. Puneet’s given you a pretty good list here, not only of the skills you acquire, but of the context in which you acquired them. Her answer reads like really good preparation to answer a competency based question. You can tell that she’s a graduate recruiter! I  also talked to  Paige Campbell, (who has just finished a year abroad in Paris as part of her law degree here at Warwick) about  what she thought she had gained from the experience and whether she agreed with Puneet. Paige is one of the team of student bloggers and this is what she has to say: Completing a year abroad was a compulsory part of my course but I have found that it has been so much more than that. It is about truly immersing yourself in a cultural experience and as such you pick up some great skills to help you stand out from the crowd.   Puneet,  is right, of course  you have to  organise accommodation, jobs and  finances in a different country (and often a different language), but you also have to adapt to a completely different way of life. At times this can be very stressful and dealing with this demonstrates great strength of character and flexibility.. Even the little things like finding your favourite snack in the Supermarket can be a struggle. Its surprising how much that can matter! Often the personal benefits  of a year abroad correlate with skills that recruiters are looking for. One of my favourite parts of being on a year abroad, was being able to make some really good friends from a completely different culture and language to my own. I have used this as an example on most of my applications this year, to demonstrate my ability to network and build relationships with people from many different backgrounds. So is study abroad really the amazing cultural experience it appears to be on everyone’s Instagram accounts? Quite honestly it is not!  No one can spend an entire year abroad without  some miserable stressful experiences, setting up  a bank account and  reporting a theft to the police spring to mind. As ever social media only shows the positive side of the story. People, at least the ones I know, rarely take pictures of the bad things like a leaky sink! However, should anyone ask me to make a pros and cons list of doing a year abroad then the benefits far outweigh the few minor disadvantages that we all experience wherever we go. The biggest downside to a year abroad for me, has been knowing that next year when I return to uni most of my year group will have graduated and moved on. BUT, it is clear that all of us would have gone in different directions at the end of third year, whether we graduated together or not and I know that my closest friends will still be my friends for life. Should I be in a position to choose to go on a year abroad with the knowledge I have now of how truly unique an experience it is, I would not hesitate to do it again.” So, Puneet and Paige agree about the benefits of the year abroad. You will gain much from the experience. Remember that if you are at Warwick the careers consultants can still help you while you are abroad, do dont forget us or overlook any key application deadlines for your chosen career path.

4 Questions to Score Yourself as a Manager of People

4 Questions to Score Yourself as a Manager of People So, how would you score yourself as a manager and a leader? Dont know, or not so sure? Well, if youre not sure, let me tell you that your people are they are constantly scoring you! So, if you have not evaluated your own performance in a while, now is a good time to start! I met recently with the CEO of a large company who wanted to discuss some issues that he was having with his team.  He gave me a pretty good briefing about the team â€" their strengths and weakness, success, disappointments, how they performed individually, how they get on together etc  all great information and really important when working with the team. However, there was one piece missing â€" feedback on himself as a manager a leader. I asked him to rate himself as he would any other member of the team in terms of team management skills and leadership. Rather taken aback at such a question, he began to reflect upon this unexpected query. Truthfully, he was pretty challenged to do this straightforward exercise â€" like many others I ask the same of, I have to say. To give him a helping hand, I put a series of questions to him, which would give a fair indicator, and since he found the questions and the ensuing conversation so helpful I thought I would share the questions with you here so that you can do your own evaluation: Question 1: How open are your people with you? What I mean by that is, is the information flow from them on a need to know basis or is it free flowing? Do they admit mistakes even if  the likelihood of you finding out are slim? Are they open, and I mean, without prompting,about any worries and concerns they have? Do you know what their personal, non work related goals are? What are they ambitious about? Do you know what goes on in their personal lives? Question 2: Are they fully supportive, in a real sense, on team goals or are they only concerned about their individual ones? When you talk to them, do they discuss how they can support other team members goals? Can you see them contributing to other team members, not just in words but in actions? Or are they only ever bothered when it impacts upon their own goals? Do they contribute to the achievement and success of others? Question 3: How supportive are they of each other? Is it “Im alright, Jack!” or will you see them supporting someone who may be struggling? Do you witness them helping each other out or does it only happen when asked? At your meetings do you just go around the table to get individual reports about performance or do you spend more time discussing how everyone can leverage what is available to achieve the overall goal? Is everyone protective about their own resources or is there a real willingness to share? Question 4: Can you say that open and honest debate happens among your team members, or does the office politics prevail? Is it safe, as a team, to have that discussion about the hot topics that need to be aired? Are the sensitive issues debated openly? ? Or is the atmosphere that an attack is happening and the truth does not get aired? Have you clear guidelines agreed for such conversations to take place? Really take your time to reflect because the answers to those questions will give you a good picture of your team management skills. I know that my client now has a much better picture of his skills and where he needs to focus to improve his own performance and, as a consequence, his teams too! What would your answers be? Go on, and ask yourself these same questions â€" and then do something about it!

What Autistic graduates want employers to know - Debut

What Autistic graduates want employers to know - Debut Back in 2015, two months shy of turning sixteen, I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. To me, it was just a word to describe me because after all, nothing had changed. I was still the same person. But over time I began to read to read into the poor level of employment within the #ActuallyAutistic community. With that in mind, I turned to Twitter; what do Autistic graduates want employers to know? What reasonable adjustments could be in place for them? Just how can we ‘boss’ a job interview? A lack of eye contact does not mean we are not listening One of the hallmarks of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lack of eye contact, a kind of inability to look someone in the eye. (Believe me, I still find this difficult some days!) Ever been punished by a teacher who says “Look at me when I’m talking to you!”? It doesn’t necessarily mean that you aren’t; for some reason, gauging eye contact is equated with listening to what is being said. In a job interview, we are listening; we just may not show it in the conventional sense. Forcing eye contact is also a no-no; it’s unproductive, and can be distracting. Forcing ourselves to meet your eye may mean that we aren’t listening after all! We are still individuals Having a diagnosis of Autism doesn’t mean we aren’t an individual we still think, feel, have opinions and interests, just like anyone else. A diagnosis does not mean we are any less human, despite the (ugly) robot stereotypes. There’s also the saying that if you have met one Autistic person, youve only met one Autistic person; as it’s a spectrum, we all have different needs and hallmarks. We are not all the Rainman archetype after all! One of the main responses when putting a call-out to Twitter was that individuality needs to be taken into consideration; there are different needs dependent on the individual. One particular tweet read: “To ask me what I individually need. Acknowledging that we all have different needs. I struggle that interviews dont follow the same pattern I fall into the trap of answering questions based on the previous interview.” Difference is not an issue It’s 2019; difference, and therefore diversity, should be celebrated, right? One tweet stood out in particular; it partly read: “Not to ask me what makes me different as [I’m] Autistic.” This question is somewhat impossible to answer; it’s also worded clumsily. After all, I could ask you “And what makes you “normal”? (Quote marks intended.) It’s rude, too. We spend our time justifying why we should be given the same opportunities as anyone else, all the while having to explain what our hallmarks are. This question is also walking a fine line; it’s going into the area of protected characteristics. Instead, ask us “what reasonable adjustments do you need to work here?” That way, we can better communicate what we need and this question should be used in education, not just the workplace. Try to drop potential stereotypes; we are not all ‘savants’. Sometimes I am told “but you’re normal!” To illustrate; unless you were told, you would not necessarily know the candidate is Autistic. They are just as able as everyone else in the room, maybe even more so; they just may need extra support. Reasonable adjustments need to be in place Most of the responses touched upon the topic of ‘unconventional behaviours’ for want of a better word, what’s not considered to be ‘normal’.   There’s stimming, for instance, or fixating on special interests. One Twitter user noted they laugh at times maybe not considered to be socially appropriate. Reasonable adjustments need to be in place, such as if there is an interview; this could be not forcing eye contact. My favourite adjustment would be to allow more time for responses; words can become jangled in my brain, and I sometimes need longer than eight seconds to respond to a question coherently. If on an application someone has stated they have a disability, why not ask directly what they need? Group tasks do not measure ability, they measure interaction A trend during interviews is for the potential candidates to take part in some sort of group task. While this is good in measuring how they interact with other people, this is not necessarily something an Autistic person would shine at. It induces me and many others that I know to feel incredibly anxious. Communication face to face is still something I struggle with; I learn something new every day. I once took part in a shop floor exercise to see what the job would be like; I knew from that I hadn’t got the job.. Instead of group work, why not set up a one-to-one interview with the potential candidate? This could allow for a more fruitful conversation; if the job relies on a lot of interaction, you could always offer extra support on the job. Download Debut  and  connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Vet Interview Questions Sample Answers - How2become.com

Vet Interview Questions Sample Answers - How2become.com In order to work for a veterinary surgery, you will need to pass the vet interview. Given the technicality of working as a vet, this is not an easy task! Customers will be trusting you with their much loved pets, so it’s essential that you can demonstrate to the veterinary surgery that you’ve got what it takes! The veterinarian interview questions will usually be conducted by one or more of the practice partners or vet recruiters, while interviews with charities or for governmental vacancies will likely be conducted by the Chief Veterinary Officer or vet recruiter, in conjunction with a member of the Human Resources team.In this blog, we’ll give you a full breakdown on the type of vet interview questions you are likely to face, give you tips on how to answer, and provide you with some advice on how to conduct yourself during the veterinary interview. First impressionsAs a veterinary surgeon you will be a representative for the practice you are applying to join, both at the surg ery itself and within the wider community in which you work, so the way you dress for an interview needs to reflect your professionalism. You should wear something that is both smart and comfortable â€" for men this should be a suit or smart trousers and a jacket with a shirt and tie, while for women a suit or smart trousers/skirt with a blouse/shirt and jacket are ideal. Also, do not forget the importance of personal grooming and clean shoes.If you find interviews a nerve-racking experience, try to keep in mind that you are also attending the veterinary interview to find out whether the post suits you and you want to work at that particular veterinary practice. Speak clearly, try to remain calm and avoid rushing your answers â€" give those interviewing you opportunities to expand upon their questions. Do not underestimate the value that vet recruiters will place on enthusiasm. Smile when you meet them and shake their hands. Make eye contact during the vet interview questions and ad opt a friendly, positive and professional approach. It is likely that you will be shown around the veterinary practice/hospital etc. either before or after the interview â€" this is a chance to illustrate your enthusiasm by asking questions, showing your interest, commitment and passion for the veterinary profession, and creating a good impression.Asking a friend or relative to practice veterinarian interview questions with you is a great way to reduce the nerves you may feel on the day. Also remember that the more interviews you attend the less daunting they will seem and the more your confidence will increase. THE VETERINARY SURGEON INTERVIEW PROCESSPreparationMake sure you know the job description, person specification and the information you supplied in your CV and covering letter when you applied for the post inside out, as this will likely form the basis for many of the veterinarian interview questions. Be prepared to expand on the information you submitted with your applicati on with examples from your previous experience, including your veterinary degree course, extramural placements and your previous/current employment if you are already working as a vet.You should be up to date with current governmental policy relating to animal health and welfare, and developments within the veterinary profession. Keep an eye on the Department for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website at www.defra.gov.uk and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) website at www.rcvs.org.uk, as these are an invaluable source for the latest news. If you work or are looking to work within a veterinary sector such as pathology or research, within the government or education sectors, or you are a specialist veterinary surgeon make use of all resources available to you, such as particular associations/unions dedicated to your area. Make sure you have read the latest edition of veterinary journals such as The Veterinary Record, and be prepared to talk about any recent or planned developments within the veterinary profession that are likely to affect you as a vet and the veterinary practice/charity/organisation you are applying to as a whole.Research the practice (or other veterinary employer) thoroughly â€" read through any information sources you have been given such as practice information booklets, look at the surgery’s website, and talk to prospective colleagues at the practice if possible. If you are relocating (or even if you are not!) it is a very good idea to do a little research into the local area, finding out about the practice’s client-base, for example local farms.Write down any questions you may have about the post, the practice etc. and take them with you to the interview. You should also double check whether you will need to bring any documents with you to the interview â€" it is common for veterinary recruiter surgeons to be asked to bring their RCVS registration documents, professional indemnity insurance documents, evidenc e of eligibility to work in the UK for overseas veterinarians, and possibly your driving licence too. It is also worth taking a copy of your CV and covering letter with you, just in case the interviewer(s) have mislaid them.Interview tipsIt is standard practice to ask certain vet questions at interview and therefore well worth preparing answers to these in advance. You should also try to think about other questions the interviewer(s) might ask you based on the position itself and the information you submitted when you applied for the role. A few tips to follow when answering questions are:Try to lead the interviewer(s) towards areas of your veterinary experience that you want to talk about. Capture their interest and ensure you pause during your answers to give them a chance to expand on their questions.Avoid yes/no answers at all costs and try to support your answers with specific examples from your veterinary practice experience.Focus on your strengths and successes wherever possi ble, but remember the interviewer will want to know that you can also recognise your weaknesses and devise strategies to resolve them through continuing professional development (CPD), on-going learning and the desire to broaden and build upon your skills and experience. During the vet interview questions, a good way to illustrate this is to talk about how you have revised and developed specific areas of your work as a veterinary surgeon in various situations, for example your consultation technique and within the operating room, and any future goals that you have.It is likely that you will talk about salary and employment issues towards the end of the interview. The best way to broach this is to talk about the salary and other benefits you receive in your current (or previous) veterinary post and ask how your experience and skills will be recognised in the new role.If you do not get the position, contact the veterinary practice (or other organisation) and ask for feedback on how yo ur interview went. This is great way to refine and improve your interview technique for next time.Below we have a selection of vet interview questions asked both by veterinary schools interviewing prospective students and veterinary practices interviewing veterinary surgeons. The questions are organised into general sections, and you should try to think about how you would answer these questions, formulating ideas and themes that you can adapt to suit each interview you attend. Examples of introductory/personal background vet interview questionsQ Please tell us a little bit about yourself and why you want to become a vet?Q What made you apply for this post?Q What other veterinary schools have you applied to?Q What other practices have you applied to?Q Why are you leaving your current veterinary post?Q Why do you want to work as a locum vet?Q Tell us about your veterinary degree course at XXX â€" what aspects of your training did you enjoy/not enjoy?Q How would you describe yourself as a vet â€" what special qualities do you bring to the profession?Q If you were to ask your friends to describe you, what would they say?Q What are your hobbies, and what have you learned from participating in them?Insider tip: Try to avoid vague answers to these questions. For example when asked about why you decided to become a vet, talk about a specific experience from your past, whether this be taking your first pet to a veterinary surgery, visiting an animal rescue centre or undertaking your first veterinary work experience. Talk about the vet who inspired you and go on to explain what cemented your decision to train as a veterinary surgeon. Try to highlight your interest in the owner-pet relationship and the role of the veterinary surgeon in caring for the interests of people and animals, rather than just saying that you love animals.  Q How have your life experiences prepared you for a career in the veterinary profession?Q What is the role of the vet in today’s society?Q What is the role of the vet within a local community?Q What do you think are the main issues affecting veterinary surgeons today?Q What do you understand about other roles for the vet besides working in general practice?Q What are the responsibilities of a veterinary surgeon with regard to human/public health?Q What type of veterinary medicine are you interested in?Q How will you cope with the physical, emotional and time stresses associated with working as a veterinary surgeon?Insider tip: Be prepared for questions relating to developments within the veterinary profession â€" when interviewers ask this type of question they are looking at your knowledge of topical events and current affairs that impact upon veterinarians in all fields. If you can refer to a recent article you have read in a veterinary journal this is a great way to illustrate your dedication to keeping yourself informed. Questions About Your Veterinary ExperienceQ What part of your veterinary training did you most/ least enjoy?Q What made you decide to specialise in small animals/equine work?Q Describe a small/large animal case that particularly interested you.Q Have you ever made a major mistake during your career, e.g. a surgical mistake, misdiagnosis etc? What did you do I would you do if this happened?Q How do you feel about providing emergency cover, possibly being called out in the middle of the night, during your anniversary dinner etc, to deal with an emergency situation?To learn more about how to pass the vet interview questions, please click HERE.   This entry was posted in Interviews. Bookmark the permalink. Richard How To Get An Acting AuditionSample Interview Questions For A Teacher

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