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The three sentences that will land you the job ***************************************
At the end of a job interview, you will always get the question, “Do you have any questions for me?” That’s something I certainly say, and it surprises me how many people simply say no. (Surely there’s SOMETHING they want to find out about?). However, most people will fill in this question with things like “How many holidays do I get?” or “What are promotion prospects like here?” These are both good questions, but they don’t set the world alight. But today, someone turned the tables, and made a very good impression. They asked me 3 questions... “Why did you join the company?” “What do you find is the best part of working here?” “What’s your typical workday?” And these 3 questions really made me think the candidate was focussed on the role, and wanted to make sure it would work for them – which is an excellent attitude to project. It also used a bit of elementary psychology: people love to talk about themselves – me included. And this made me like the candidate all the more. So, when your faced with this question at the end of the interview, also ask a question of the interviewer that gets them talking about their experiences. And try ending the interview by asking, “I’m really interested in this opportunity. What are the next steps I should take?” They will not only see your commitment and enthusiasm, but they’ll feel compelled to give you more information about the selection process, which could be useful. Right, that’s a positive aspect to the workplace. Now, I’d like to look at a negative aspect – something that’s creeping in more and more to our lives, and something that could be affecting you without you even knowing it! But first, take a quick look at this. It’s something I’ve banged on about before, and something that could hit you and your family hard if you’re not careful...
Okay, here’s the negative side to the workplace that I want to talk about... work addiction. Working hard to get ahead in life is one thing, but continually staying late, working at weekends and arriving at the office at six in the morning to beat the competition has become an unhealthy obsession for some. So, do YOU show any symptoms of being a workaholic? * You work late nights, weekends, and are always bringing work home. * You feel guilty when you’re not working. * You are left with days of untaken holiday at the end of the year. * You’ve started to miss family birthdays. * You have no time for friends or hobbies. * You live mainly on junk food, often grabbing a quick sandwich to eat at your desk. * You feel awkward asking for help, even if the task is clearly a team job. * You continually accept more work when your schedule is already overloaded. If any of the above applies to you, then there’s no point denying it – you’re a workaholic. And if that’s the case, I want you to use the New Year to kick this addiction and get your life back on a more balanced, healthier footing. You see, the unbalanced life of a workaholic can lead to a whole host of problems. You might start suffering from headaches, backaches or stomach aches. Your ability to interact with people will diminish the more you lock yourself into your work. And this in turn will stop you achieving the success you’re working so hard (too hard!) for right now. So, starting from today, learn to incorporate some ‘off’ time into your busy work schedule. By letting off steam, your performance at work will be sharper and stronger. You can start by: * Making sure you take a 5-10 minute break every 2 hours (that’s a minimum), and spending at least half an hour a day away from your desk. Go for a stroll, and leave work behind. * Make sure you take holidays. Plan one this week. And really, taking a holiday means taking NO work with you. * Start a hobby. Find something that interests you, something you can lose yourself in. If you can become absorbed in another pursuit, you can put work pressures to one side for a while and recharge your batteries. * Spend more time with family and friends. Remember how important they are to you. This side to your life needs special attention, especially if you’ve become so entrenched in work life that you behave the same at home as at work. Dealing with your family and friends requires different skills to dealing with colleagues. Remember, easing off at work a little will bring its rewards. Your health will improve, statistics show you’ll live longer, and you’ll actually improve your performance in the workplace as well.
