More
MY HR GUY
|
My HR Guy
Updated: June 30, 2008
Question:
Dear "My HR Guy,"
I am an Accounting Manager for my company and have a track record for being a highly motivated and dedicated employee who is committed to meeting deadlines. Since my current job does not allow me to work from home, I have started looking for a new job closer to my home to be able to pick up my child after work. I have had a few phone interviews and when the employers asked why I am interested in the position, I communicate my desire to work closer to home to allow me to pick up my daughter. After my response, the interview seems to end. Am I missing something?
Answer:
As you start the interview process, it is important you understand the perspective of the potential employer and what they are looking for in a candidate to join their company. Most organizations are recruiting for people with passion, expertise and the drive to deliver exceptional performance in support of the company mission. You might have all of these qualities but when you openly lead with such a personal desire, the company will automatically question your commitment, dedication and motives. You have made it easy for them to lose interest. If securing a position closer to your home to enable you to pick up your daughter is important, my advice is to keep it to yourself as you go through the interview process. Location will be a personal consideration that will factor into you deciding to accept or reject a job offer. Your number one goal is to show a company you have the ability to make them better as a result of your experience, skills and attitude. Keep some of your personal desires personal.
Question:
Dear "My HR Guy,"
For the past 6 years, I have been a stay at home dad raising my two children while my wife went to work. Now that my children are older, I am looking to get back into the job market. Before the kids, I was in the computer industry and have tried to stay on top of the technology although I realize it has been a long time. As I start my search, how do I address the employment gap on my resume and how will it be perceived by employers? Should I take computer training classes to refresh my technology skills?
-a confused day Dad
Answer:
First, you should be commended for staying home to take care of your children. I am sure it will wind up as the most difficult and rewarding job you will ever have. Your situation is similar to many homemakers who take time off to raise children and seek to reenter the workforce. A great starting point is for you to reflect on what type of work you are interested in doing and where your passion might be. Rejoining the computer industry could be a logical approach but you might have changed as a person over the past 6 years and other fields might be more in line with your current interest. Once you settle on a direction, develop a game plan to achieve relevant experience or exposure. This can be achieved by volunteering in a discipline you are interested in or going back to school for degree or certification programs.
As you develop your resume, look for opportunities to capture what you have done over the past 6 years to build skills that could be relevant to an employer. Examples are holding a leadership role in your homeowners association, church or any volunteer activity. Employers should be open to this employment gap to raise children as it is a common occurrence and could even be a competitive advantage in some cases. Preparing for reentry with recent hands on or academic experiences will serve you well during the interview process. Spending more time talking about the last 6 months versus the last 6 years will increase your competitiveness.
Question:
Dear “My HR Guy,”
I recently had a performance review with my manager and the conversation did not go very well. There were several areas where I disagreed with his assessment of my developmental needs and I am not sure what to do. I like my job and I still want to grow in the company. How do I move forward and not continue to loose sleep?
Answer:
It is great that you are receiving feedback on your performance. You would be surprised how many workers do not receive quality feedback to help them grow and become more productive. Now that you have had time to reflect on the discussion, I encourage you to set up another meeting with your manager. The tone should be positive in nature versus confrontational. You have to make it comfortable for others to give you feedback, or many times they will shy away from it and you will not get the data you need to be successful.
If there are areas of disagreement, ask for examples and help the manager be as descriptive as possible. If you have a different perspective, it is important you are factual versus emotional. Regardless of the outcome, thank your manager for his feedback and let him know that you will work on the highlighted areas. Proactively set up quarterly meetings to review your performance and solicit ongoing feedback on your areas of development. Your approach and attitude will be key in turning this into a positive situation and ensuring you keep a healthy relationship with your Manager. Focus on the future and get some sleep.
Question:
Dear "My HR Guy,"
I am Residence Manager for a local hospital and going back to school for my master's. I decided seven months ago that I wanted to work in the field of HR. I started to send out my resumes and I had one interview. I am getting frustrated and realizing that I need to know someone who is working within a HR department to give me break. I need to know if there are actually people who switched careers having this same kind of problem?
Answer:
First, you should be congratulated for going back to school and being a life long learner. The investment in yourself will pay off as you look to venture into the field of Human Resources. I would encourage you not to get frustrated as you start your job search and realize the process will take time as you are trying to break into a new discipline and there will not likely be a huge supply of HR jobs in the market as companies tighten their belts to account for a slower US economy. Your focus should be to make yourself as competitive as possible as you start your search.
Until you are successful in landing a new job, I suggest you look for opportunities within your current company to build your HR competency. Go to your HR department and ask to volunteer in recruitment or training activities. Many HR departments are excited to have line managers participate in job fairs or deliver leadership training for example. This experience will help you to build your HR foundation while making you more competitive in the interview process as you will be able to point to recent HR experience. You might even catch the eye of your current HR department.
Remember to utilize your full personal, professional and academic network of contacts. You will find that you know more people than you think and there might be some HR contacts in the bunch. Look at joining the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) or other HR related associations to expand your network and better understand future HR trends. Many people have successfully switched careers and it takes perseverance. Don’t give up and I look forward to you joining the exciting field of Human Resources.
Question:
Dear “My HR Guy,”
I am a mid-level manager that has been with the same company for 10 years. Over this time period, I have done a good job and have a good relationship with my boss. I am the type to just do my job without a lot of flair and hope my performance speaks for me. Over the past 2 years, I have been seeing my peers get promoted while I just stay in my current job with better performance. What am I doing wrong and how do I get ahead?
-- Frustrated
Answer:
Dear Frustrated,
Performance is clearly the key to success and it is great that you are doing well in your job. In today’s fast pace and distributed world, it is old fashion thinking to believe that if you just put your head down and do a good job, you will be noticed and rewarded with promotions. Your ability to proactively market your results and performance are very important.
Managers are so busy that many times they do not fully understand and measure the performance of their direct reports. It is your job to take control and manage the reality and perception of your full contribution to an organization. I encourage you to lay out your key goals and objectives early in the year and meet quarterly with your manager to make sure he/she understands your key focus areas and your progress. This approach will clearly calibrate your manager and set up a rhythm to get feedback and coaching on how you get ahead. Drop your manager an e-mail if you have a big win or an action worthy of an update. Go on the offensive.
Exposure is critical to getting ahead also. Make sure you are working on projects that are key to the business and gets you exposed to leaders that can influence your career. If Leaders see you in action on important company initiatives, they will be more likely to think of you when promotional opportunities surface. Don’t be afraid to ask your manager why you are not getting ahead and what you need to do to change.
Question:
Dear “My HR Guy,”
I am an entry-level professional in a relatively conservative corporate environment. Last year my company instituted a casual work dress policy on Fridays. It is a nice change and you see employees wearing jeans and tee shirts. My mentor told me I should not follow the crowd. What do you think?
-- Mr. Casual
Answer:
Dear Casual,
First, it is great that you have a mentor. Many times a mentor or someone who has a deep understanding of an organization can be a great source of knowledge and perspective in giving you the unwritten rules of the game. In general, the workplace has gotten a lot more casual than decades ago but I would advise you that the old adage of “dress for success” still rings true.
If you have aspirations to rise in your company, it is important that you manage your personal brand. You never know who you will run into in the rest room and what kind of initial impression you will make. If you want to send the signal that you are going places and mean business, then your packaging should reflect that message. With that said, there is nothing wrong with wearing a nice shirt and khaki pants but you can leave the jeans for Saturday.
Now it's your turn: E-mail your questions and comments to the HR Guy, who will try to answer as many as he can in his next edition.
Dear "My HR Guy,"
I am an Accounting Manager for my company and have a track record for being a highly motivated and dedicated employee who is committed to meeting deadlines. Since my current job does not allow me to work from home, I have started looking for a new job closer to my home to be able to pick up my child after work. I have had a few phone interviews and when the employers asked why I am interested in the position, I communicate my desire to work closer to home to allow me to pick up my daughter. After my response, the interview seems to end. Am I missing something?
Answer:
As you start the interview process, it is important you understand the perspective of the potential employer and what they are looking for in a candidate to join their company. Most organizations are recruiting for people with passion, expertise and the drive to deliver exceptional performance in support of the company mission. You might have all of these qualities but when you openly lead with such a personal desire, the company will automatically question your commitment, dedication and motives. You have made it easy for them to lose interest. If securing a position closer to your home to enable you to pick up your daughter is important, my advice is to keep it to yourself as you go through the interview process. Location will be a personal consideration that will factor into you deciding to accept or reject a job offer. Your number one goal is to show a company you have the ability to make them better as a result of your experience, skills and attitude. Keep some of your personal desires personal.
Question:
Dear "My HR Guy,"
For the past 6 years, I have been a stay at home dad raising my two children while my wife went to work. Now that my children are older, I am looking to get back into the job market. Before the kids, I was in the computer industry and have tried to stay on top of the technology although I realize it has been a long time. As I start my search, how do I address the employment gap on my resume and how will it be perceived by employers? Should I take computer training classes to refresh my technology skills?
-a confused day Dad
Answer:
First, you should be commended for staying home to take care of your children. I am sure it will wind up as the most difficult and rewarding job you will ever have. Your situation is similar to many homemakers who take time off to raise children and seek to reenter the workforce. A great starting point is for you to reflect on what type of work you are interested in doing and where your passion might be. Rejoining the computer industry could be a logical approach but you might have changed as a person over the past 6 years and other fields might be more in line with your current interest. Once you settle on a direction, develop a game plan to achieve relevant experience or exposure. This can be achieved by volunteering in a discipline you are interested in or going back to school for degree or certification programs.
As you develop your resume, look for opportunities to capture what you have done over the past 6 years to build skills that could be relevant to an employer. Examples are holding a leadership role in your homeowners association, church or any volunteer activity. Employers should be open to this employment gap to raise children as it is a common occurrence and could even be a competitive advantage in some cases. Preparing for reentry with recent hands on or academic experiences will serve you well during the interview process. Spending more time talking about the last 6 months versus the last 6 years will increase your competitiveness.
Question:
Dear “My HR Guy,”
I recently had a performance review with my manager and the conversation did not go very well. There were several areas where I disagreed with his assessment of my developmental needs and I am not sure what to do. I like my job and I still want to grow in the company. How do I move forward and not continue to loose sleep?
Answer:
It is great that you are receiving feedback on your performance. You would be surprised how many workers do not receive quality feedback to help them grow and become more productive. Now that you have had time to reflect on the discussion, I encourage you to set up another meeting with your manager. The tone should be positive in nature versus confrontational. You have to make it comfortable for others to give you feedback, or many times they will shy away from it and you will not get the data you need to be successful.
If there are areas of disagreement, ask for examples and help the manager be as descriptive as possible. If you have a different perspective, it is important you are factual versus emotional. Regardless of the outcome, thank your manager for his feedback and let him know that you will work on the highlighted areas. Proactively set up quarterly meetings to review your performance and solicit ongoing feedback on your areas of development. Your approach and attitude will be key in turning this into a positive situation and ensuring you keep a healthy relationship with your Manager. Focus on the future and get some sleep.
Question:
Dear "My HR Guy,"
I am Residence Manager for a local hospital and going back to school for my master's. I decided seven months ago that I wanted to work in the field of HR. I started to send out my resumes and I had one interview. I am getting frustrated and realizing that I need to know someone who is working within a HR department to give me break. I need to know if there are actually people who switched careers having this same kind of problem?
Answer:
First, you should be congratulated for going back to school and being a life long learner. The investment in yourself will pay off as you look to venture into the field of Human Resources. I would encourage you not to get frustrated as you start your job search and realize the process will take time as you are trying to break into a new discipline and there will not likely be a huge supply of HR jobs in the market as companies tighten their belts to account for a slower US economy. Your focus should be to make yourself as competitive as possible as you start your search.
Until you are successful in landing a new job, I suggest you look for opportunities within your current company to build your HR competency. Go to your HR department and ask to volunteer in recruitment or training activities. Many HR departments are excited to have line managers participate in job fairs or deliver leadership training for example. This experience will help you to build your HR foundation while making you more competitive in the interview process as you will be able to point to recent HR experience. You might even catch the eye of your current HR department.
Remember to utilize your full personal, professional and academic network of contacts. You will find that you know more people than you think and there might be some HR contacts in the bunch. Look at joining the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) or other HR related associations to expand your network and better understand future HR trends. Many people have successfully switched careers and it takes perseverance. Don’t give up and I look forward to you joining the exciting field of Human Resources.
Question:
Dear “My HR Guy,”
I am a mid-level manager that has been with the same company for 10 years. Over this time period, I have done a good job and have a good relationship with my boss. I am the type to just do my job without a lot of flair and hope my performance speaks for me. Over the past 2 years, I have been seeing my peers get promoted while I just stay in my current job with better performance. What am I doing wrong and how do I get ahead?
-- Frustrated
Answer:
Dear Frustrated,
Performance is clearly the key to success and it is great that you are doing well in your job. In today’s fast pace and distributed world, it is old fashion thinking to believe that if you just put your head down and do a good job, you will be noticed and rewarded with promotions. Your ability to proactively market your results and performance are very important.
Managers are so busy that many times they do not fully understand and measure the performance of their direct reports. It is your job to take control and manage the reality and perception of your full contribution to an organization. I encourage you to lay out your key goals and objectives early in the year and meet quarterly with your manager to make sure he/she understands your key focus areas and your progress. This approach will clearly calibrate your manager and set up a rhythm to get feedback and coaching on how you get ahead. Drop your manager an e-mail if you have a big win or an action worthy of an update. Go on the offensive.
Exposure is critical to getting ahead also. Make sure you are working on projects that are key to the business and gets you exposed to leaders that can influence your career. If Leaders see you in action on important company initiatives, they will be more likely to think of you when promotional opportunities surface. Don’t be afraid to ask your manager why you are not getting ahead and what you need to do to change.
Question:
Dear “My HR Guy,”
I am an entry-level professional in a relatively conservative corporate environment. Last year my company instituted a casual work dress policy on Fridays. It is a nice change and you see employees wearing jeans and tee shirts. My mentor told me I should not follow the crowd. What do you think?
-- Mr. Casual
Answer:
Dear Casual,
First, it is great that you have a mentor. Many times a mentor or someone who has a deep understanding of an organization can be a great source of knowledge and perspective in giving you the unwritten rules of the game. In general, the workplace has gotten a lot more casual than decades ago but I would advise you that the old adage of “dress for success” still rings true.
If you have aspirations to rise in your company, it is important that you manage your personal brand. You never know who you will run into in the rest room and what kind of initial impression you will make. If you want to send the signal that you are going places and mean business, then your packaging should reflect that message. With that said, there is nothing wrong with wearing a nice shirt and khaki pants but you can leave the jeans for Saturday.
Now it's your turn: E-mail your questions and comments to the HR Guy, who will try to answer as many as he can in his next edition.
Copyright 2008 by nbc4.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
