Interview With the Right Attitude and Mindset by Lindsey Novak on Creators.com

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Interview With the Right Attitude and Mindset

Q: I am a 60-year-old woman who still is working. For many years, I interviewed applicants for a technical organization. When the applicants' qualifications are equal, it boils down to hiring the person who is the most pleasant. I have interviewed talented people who have tried to overwhelm me with their knowledge, interrupt me, spin my questions so they could deliver their own boilerplate speeches, been disdainful or patronizing over my lack of technical expertise, or been so electric that I was tired five minutes into the interviews. Expertise counts, but those who are cooperative and genuine come out on top.

In this economy, those who are unemployed should not let it destroy their confidence. The slump is not their fault. But they can't let their lives slide; that would be their fault. They need to stay current in their fields, continue their training by reading trade magazines, and keep busy, even if by working on personal projects. They can't show up to interviews depressed. I'll know it. It's a shame so many talented people are broken by unemployment. It doesn't have to be that way.

A: Everything you say is wonderful advice, so let's take it further. It's natural for people to feel depressed after being let go from jobs they liked and felt secure in. But indulging themselves in pity must end after the initial shock of losing their jobs, and they must move on in life. Steven J. Fogel starts his book with a profound quote from Carl Jung: "I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become." In "My Mind Is Not Always My Friend: A Guide For How To Not Get In Your Own Way," Fogel urges people to let go of the past, to move on and create a better future.

People get comfortable with the status quo, so when change occurs, they become shocked into inaction.

The best time to grow emotionally is after a life-changing event. The unemployed have no time to wallow in sadness, and complaining will send them lower than they can afford to be. Reading self-help and how-to books may be the best therapy and offer more advantages than they can imagine. Not everyone can afford to see a counselor for their emotional well-being, but everyone can afford a book or two. Reading can add to a person's knowledge, as well as fill in for the lack of experience. It also can serve as a creative cure for depression and emotional paralysis.

The most poignant of Fogel's guiding principles are these three: "The truth is just the truth. Feelings are not facts. You can't argue with another's perceptions." People are good at hiding from the truth, but hiding can be harmful, and the truth may not be very bad; feelings are real to each person at the moment of emotion, but that is all they are; and everyone is entitled to his own opinion, which is all a perception is. Fogel's experiences can help people take control of their minds and move forward with positive actions. He also discusses the golden rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you), which, if all people followed it, would make this world a better place.

Please send your questions to: Lindsey Novak, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. E-mail her at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com with all your workplace questions. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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I'd like to thank the letter writer for taking the time to write and share her experiences. Her wisdom is very timely and Ms. Novak's response was also very valuable. All things being equal, doesn't it just make sense to hire the person who is pleasant? To me that might make up for a lack in education or experience - especially if this person has to work with others (although it probably depends on the field - after all, if I need a rocket scientist, I can't hire a nice person with a econ degree). But still, if you have the knowledge, experience and education but can't get hired, try very hard to display a nice personality (and try to internalize that). It will only help you find a job.

Comment: #1
Posted by: Lori
Sun Oct 31, 2010 3:51 AM

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I, too would like to thank LW1 for her pearls of wisdom. I've also had the opportunity to hire people in a highly technical research oriented field for several years. One of my peeves is the tendency for people to "play it safe" with their resumes and use the tired, often duplicated MS Word resume template or similar. I bet many people don't realize that their resumes looks literally like hundreds if not thousands of others. Why should I look at one in particular for more than 30 seconds if nothing about it catches my eye? I tend to look for a personal style and an attempt at individuality and people who can convey that with their resumes go to the top of the heap. Once I'm in the interviewing process, I like to get a sense of accomplishment and hard work; I'm not all that impressed with a high GPA or lots of accolades if the applicant doesn't strike me as someone who works hard or is willing to go to great lengths to achieve that success. I never entertain applicants who are referred to me by friends or other "connections" seeking favors, unless I know first-hand that the applicant has a genuine interest in the position, is a hard worker and clearly trying to succeed. I want to see a worker whose smart and savvy and will bring a sense of individuality and free thinking to my organization. I don't want a carbon copy, rubber stamped automaton mass produced by a big name school who has memorized volumes of information but can't *think* or apply well what they know. If I need information, I can turn to the Internet.

Comment: #2
Posted by: Chris
Sat Nov 6, 2010 8:53 AM

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Interview With the Right Attitude and Mindset

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