There was a time early in my career that I “stretched” the truth and got the interview at a well-known east coast consumer brand company. I failed the interview so miserably that I had to come clean. The interviewers and I both were uncomfortable. I was so embarrassed! I began to approach the interview from my core experience. While it felt better, I knew I had destroyed my credibility with the company.
It turns out that the interviewers respected my “honesty” and called me months later to interview for other positions. For many I wasn’t a true match. I did receive an offer. Unfortunately, I didn’t accept the position because at the time, I was unwilling to relocate where they wanted me to go. The major lesson that I learned from this experience is that It really doesn’t pay to “lie.” Telling a “lie” stems from a lack of confidence. I found my confidence when I exposed my deception and was seen as a potential asset to the organization. Fortunately, you don't have to struggle the way I did. We offer a career tool that will help you prepare for interviews. You can find it below.
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Q&A: What are some of the greatest challenges an assistant manager has faced in the workplace?7/6/2022 The question in the title was originally requested by a Quora subscriber. The response below has been updated and edited to reflect additional information.
What are some of the challenges an assistant manager may face in the workplace? My response: Some of the greatest challenges an assistant manager regularly face includes:
My additional commentary: Becoming a manager can be an exciting but scary time. It is easy to be overwhelmed. However, it is exciting when you are able to lead a team, help them grow and support the business. Don't be afraid to ask for help, seek a mentor, take classes; things that can help you be confident. You don't have to have all of the answers. Surround yourself with knowledgeable support that can help you and your team succeed. I try to find different ways to give back. One way is to answer direct questions from people on quora.com. I actually see this question often across different social media platforms.
Below is my response with additional comments. This is such a good question! Every year, I think there will be this great shift in resume writing that changes the industry. I do think that AI will be used even more in 2019. Many “professional writers” will/are writing articles indicating a particular “format” that includes fantastic graphics, tips, and tricks; however, many companies have not invested in more robust Applicant Tracking Systems so many of those graphic resumes will not make it past the initial scan. I think the content will still be king. A resume with strong content, the right keywords, and accomplishment statements will get the candidate the interview. I do think that companies will look for more creativity through video, social media, web pages, mobile apps, etc. but most will still require the traditional resume at the end of the day to meet federal guidelines for fairness in hiring. I also think candidates (particularly executives) will be challenged to be more engaged both online and offline in their industries to get the position. Additional Note: Graphics and other creative resources can be strategically added to resumes to increase differentiation. The key is that the information should "say something useful" that is relevant to the position? The strategic placement also includes creating those add-ons that can actually be tracked in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and/or have the information detailed in another "textual' location in the resume. For more information on this, feel free to contact me here on our contact page. The following is a response to a question I received on Quora regarding a failure resume.
What is a failure resume and is it a good idea to have one? A failure resume is one that lists all of a person’s failures with high emphasis on “lessons learned” from failures. It is supposed to highlight the candidate’s ability to overcome obstacles while being “interesting.” I don’t recommend anyone to submit one to a company unless it matches the company culture from a creative standpoint. The risk is too high. The key to a great resume is to emphasize “What’s in it for the company.” While there’s something to be said about a failure resume; transparency, honesty, and humility, how would the company benefit and accomplish their goals? The candidate may have learned their lesson, but what action caused them to actually accomplish a goal? What is the action besides learning a lesson? A company wants to know what a candidate can do and has done, not what the candidate has proven they can’t and didn’t accomplish. I think it can be a good idea to have a private failure resume with lessons learned to help the candidate realize the good that can come from the experience and help him/her be able to talk to those failures during an interview, but I definitely don’t recommend submitting one to get hired. To view more of my responses on Quora or if you have a question, feel free to comment on this page, or visit my page on Quora. Who is waiting for you to fulfill your Purpose? Moving Towards Your Purpose In Spite of the Fear.1/1/2019 Every day, I get to speak with people who want to improve their lives by finding their next career opportunity. Often these conversations gravitate into them sharing their dreams and their fears of those obstacles that keep them from accomplishing their goals. I am always humbled that they would share intimate details usually shared only with close confidants. I am also amazed that many of them don't recognize their own genius or don’t move forward with their goals due to multiple reasons; usually, all based on fear. If this is your story or something similar, then this post is for you. What do you believe or what do you tell yourself that is keeping you from your purpose or those things that you were created to do? What did you fail to accomplish in 2018 or previous years that while it is your “dream” or “calling” you never got around to doing it because you were afraid? What voices are telling you that you can’t do it; it’s impossible or that you will fail? I’ve heard many of these same challenges in my own journey and for a moment my fear caused me to pause. Note that I said pause. It didn’t nor doesn’t stop me. You see, I decided a long time ago that I wasn’t going to live my life in regrets. I came to that decision in my teens after coming across an article that highlighted the biggest regrets of most people at the end of their lives. It wasn’t making a lot of money or acquiring a lot of material things, but it was not spending enough time with family and not pursuing their dream. So I decided to embrace the fear, make a plan and pursue what I believed to be my purpose. Quitting is not an option, no matter the difficulty. In my life and on this journey, I’ve taken a lot of risks. Some turned out differently than what I expected and some would even be deemed “failures” by others. However, I disagree. Besides, “others” don’t get a vote. My perceived “failures” exposed weaknesses that I could only strengthen through the fire of testing. Through those “trials” or “challenges” I also realized strength to endure that I didn’t know I had. As a result, I was able to sharpen my mettle and accomplish more than I ever thought I could. I don’t take credit for it. I contribute everything I have accomplished to the faithfulness of The Most High. Even during the toughest times, when obstacles seemed insurmountable, He was there. Somehow, even in those uncertain times, I was able to keep going. Out of those disappointments and the uncertainties I discovered a strength that I otherwise wouldn’t have realized. I learned that the teachings from the bible is wisdom and life. It is the bedrock for my ability to move forward, and I’m so thankful. Of course, I've learned lessons and tips along the way. Allow me to share the tips I’ve learned to make your journey easier. To get those tips and more insight, go to the NetKiEnt Inspiration Blog and YouTube Video, "Who is Waiting On You to Fulfill Your Purpose?" |
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