Greater Milwaukee Jobs

2 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS • February 4, 2016 nect heart to heart." Ew. Hirers admit they often make decisions about candi- dates within a few seconds – and certainly within a few minutes – of them walking into the room. Here, then, are suggestions to help make a good impression: Dress nicely, professional- ly, cleanly, whatever it takes to look like you've tried. Make eye contact, just not so unwavering that you scare people. Smile, genuinely and appropriately. Shake hands firmly, but don't try to win a grip war. And don't overreach with one of those two-hand greetings that grabs the interviewer's elbow or shoulder. That's too much warmth. Don't fiddle with things on the interviewer's desk or with your own handbag, briefcase or papers. Sit up straight. Try not to fidget. Don't cross your arms over your chest. Some people interpret that as a pose of resistance. You may be a person who talks with your hands. Expressiveness is OK. Just don't get so expansive that you appear to be auditioning for the stage. When interviewers ask what bugs them in job candi- date interviews, you'd better believe they have complaints, and not just about failures to observe the above tips. They are totally fed up with candi- dates who answer or make phone calls while in the room. Don't do it. Hirers want people who seem confident. You'll turn them off, though, if you come across as arrogant or entitled. And please don't whine or badmouth former employers. Don't swear. Interviewers would really like it if you appear to have studied up on the company and the job. They hope that you already know what the organization does and what your job would entail. Don't just show up and ask. Of course you work for the paycheck, but interviewers would like to pretend that the money isn't driving your interest. So don't ask "How much does this job pay?" before you ask anything else substantive. And, really, you should know the ballpark figure before you go on the interview. Finally and always: Don't lie. If you're caught, it will absolutely put your applica- tion in the reject pile. interviewing ... from page 1 Saying 'sorry' all the time? Here's how to stop & A Q A. Put on the brakes before you speak so you can under- stand the impulses that drive you. "Sorry" can mean a variety of things, many of them benign. At its best, it eases friction, even for unintended offenses like a bump of the grocery cart. It's also invaluable for expressing sincere regret when you've done harm to someone. How- ever, these are not the situa- tions you've described. Take a moment to reflect on some recent "sorry" incidents. For example, if you're in a meeting and say something like, "I'm sorry, but I think there is another alternative . " consider the reason you include an apol- ogy with your opinion. Perhaps you're trying to keep someone else's feelings from being hurt; however, softening your com- ments too much is actually kind of insulting, as people really are able to cope with disagree- ments over ideas. Or perhaps you're trying to deflect a nega- tive response. In that case, imag- ine the worst thing that could happen. Odds are you're strong enough to handle it. Explore the feelings you're experiencing, as my hunch is that your reaction is stemming from your own discomfort. Include emotions, thoughts and even physical sensations so that you can get to root causes and also identify indicators to help change this habit. In some cases, people do not feel entitled to their own opinions or to occupy their own space. Is this the case with you? If you're having trouble seeing the big picture, talk with people in your personal and profes- sional realms to get their per- spectives.You can also use this as a way to enlist their help in changing your habit. Awareness will be your best tool as you move forward. Keep a clicker with you or do a count at the end of the day to help catch yourself. (This works with "ums" and other verbal tics, too.) Notice when you are suc- cessful in avoiding "sorry" and pay attention to the reasons for your success. Sometimes the spontaneous solutions can be extended to new situations once you're conscious of them. Also plan ahead, using the triggers you've identified, so you can anticipate your response when you're in a high-likelihood setting. Plan and practice alter- natives so that you don't fall into your default "sorry" response. Changing habits is hard, so definitely don't beat yourself up when you slip. But do recognize that you may have underlying issues to address, such as a lack of confidence or anxiety in cer- tain settings. In this case, your apologies may just be a symp- tom, and a broader focus may be warranted. Dropping this habit matters, as it can lead to less than posi- tive perceptions of you among your colleagues and could end up limiting your success. The good news is, you can readily address this and present a stronger and more self-assured image. Q. I've become a chronic apologizer. I say "sorry" for things I did that I have no reason to be sorry for, and even for things that happen that I had nothing to do with. What's up with this, and how can I stop it? By Liz Reyer Tribune News Service (TNS) Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at lizdeliverchange.com. A publication of Conley Media Call Center Director: Cindy Shaske 262-306-5016 cshaske@conleynet.com Account Executive: Julie Sears 262-306-5008 jsears@conleynet.com Story Coordinator: Dan Muckelbauer 262-513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262-513-2690 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS Volume 18 • Number 20 February 4, 2016 To place an ad: Call us at 262-306-5008 or fax us at 262-338-5271 deadline: Noon on Wednesdays Distributed by: Conley Distribution 262-513-2646 ©2004 by Conley Media, LLC Waukesha County Independent and Locally Owned GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS is published weekly by Conley Media – Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS assumes no liability for any error in copy or content. It is the advertiser's responsibility to be aware of the laws pertaining to employment advertising. Call 262-306-5008 for information. My dream job – senior Bliz- zard taster at Dairy Queen headquarters – always seemed just out of reach. So I settled for "America's most-beloved workplace advice columnist," a notable step down but not a bad gig in total. The truth is, most of us will never land that mythical dream job. And many who do will get there and realize the job's not quite as dreamy as they envisioned. If we're lucky, we find a place to work that gives us a sense of purpose and makes us feel wanted. A paycheck is nice as well. A new survey conducted by Bright Horizons Family Solu- tions found that a dream job may be overrated when com- pared with a "dream compa- ny," a place that provides the aforementioned purpose and overall sense of caring. The company, which pro- vides employee-sponsored child care and other services, found that people working for dream companies have lower stress, greater engagement at work and lower odds of leav- ing the company than people who say they have a "dream job." A dream company, accord- ing to the survey report, has these three qualities, as defined by the employee: my organization really cares about my well-being; my organization provides me with opportunities to learn and grow in my career; and my organization promotes work-life balance. David Lissy, CEO of Bright Horizons, summed it up this way: "Basically, I'm doing work, I'm doing work that motivates me. It may not be my specific dream of what I've always hoped to do, but I feel so good about the com- pany I'm working for that I'm going to pursue my career here." see DREAM JOB . . . page 6 Working for a dream company is better than doing your dream job By Rex Huppke Chicago Tribune (TNS)

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