Getting your player ready...
Dear J.T. & DALE: I’ve become a job hopper. After getting laid off from a fantastic job last June, I grabbed a new job, but soon realized I hated the work. Then a friend referred me to a place with great pay, but a month in I realized the commute is a disaster. How do I break the cycle of trying to better my family but failing with each choice? – Jessica
DALE: There’s a saying in management circles: “Slow to hire, fast to fire.” My study of great bosses leads me to conclude that it should be “slow” on both sides of the equation, but what I’m leading up to is a companion slogan for employees: “Slow to yes, fast to impress.” Take your time figuring out if the job is right. Explain to the hiring manager that you want to find a place that’s a great fit, and then ask hard questions, like “What will it take for you to consider me a great hire?” Also ask to speak with future colleagues so you can figure out the culture, expectations, workload and the inside story on why the job is open. If management balks, then you have your answer: Do NOT go there. If they admire your standards, then you’re off to a good start and you can get to “fast to impress,” which is to create your own onboarding agenda to make sure you make a great start. J.T.: What Dale is describing is a way to set yourself up for success. But I’d suggest that you begin even sooner, before you’re talking to the hiring manager. Start by reminding yourself that money cannot be the deciding factor! Sometimes, getting more money is just “hazard pay” for a job that will disrupt your life, future or spirits. You put the money into context by stepping back and mapping out what your ideal job would look like: not just pay, but the commute, the type of work, benefits, opportunities for advancement and so on. Then ask yourself, “What companies in the area could offer that to me?” Do some online research, including LinkedIn and Glassdoor. Start to monitor the job openings while tapping into friends and family to let them know you are looking to meet people at these firms. You aren’t asking for a job, just for insights. If you do this, you will eventually find an opportunity. How do I know? Because the majority of jobs come through referrals. DALE: That’s especially true of jobs in great companies with great bosses. People line up to get those, and what J.T. is describing is how you get a spot in several lines with several different companies. Dear J.T. & Dale: If you are terminated from a company for a sexual harassment claim, are you eligible for rehire with that company? The company merged, and it’s been over 15 years. (Barely employed 90 days when the so-called incident occurred.) – Jack DALE: Why, Jack, why? Why go back to that old firm? Even if you can figure out how to get hired again, someone will remember the incident and drag it into the present, and it will be a millstone around your neck. J.T.: Assuming there’s a compelling reason to return, I’d assume that the original company had you listed as “not eligible for rehire.” Now, if it was acquired by a new company, then you might be viewed as a new hire. There’s no way for you to ask the new company, so apply under the assumption that you technically never worked for it. Fast-forward to you landing an interview. You’ll need to be honest, perhaps saying: “I was accused of sexual harassment. They opted to fire me since it was within the first 90 days of hiring, so I never had the chance to clear my name. I’ve never been accused of it since. I mention this because I’d rather you hear it from me so you know I’m accountable for my actions.” DALE: I guess that might work, but why start that conversation? Why, Jack, why?
