Dear Jeremy – your work issues solved
|
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/apr/25/dear-jeremy-woirk-issues-solved-careers-expert Version 0 of 1. A bad interview has blown my confidence and now I just feel like hiding away I have been working in a lovely place for the past 18 months on a locum contract, initially for six months but which has been extended repeatedly every few months. It was my first job following training. This week I attended an interview for the substantive post. I didn’t do brilliantly but was still shocked to find that the job was given to a more junior person with no previous consultant experience. The feedback I got was that I was very anxious, and I failed to engage the eight-person panel, whereas the other person did. Two people on the panel knew me and said I am very good at my job (at least that’s what they have told me), but clearly it was not enough. I am devastated as the job was on a plate and I still managed to lose it. I am aware I am not good at interviews, but I had done interview coaching and don’t really think I can do much more than that. I am worried that in reality I am not very good at my job and this was an opportunity to get rid of me. My contract finishes in a month and I really have no motivation to continue my work there. I cannot face everyone feeling sorry for me. I want to ask my director to be allowed to cancel my appointments and work from home until the end of my contract. Do you think this is a reasonable request, or will I be in trouble if I don’t turn up? Jeremy says Your fragile self-confidence has taken a serious knock, but you really mustn’t let it overwhelm you, which you show every sign of doing. With any luck you’ve already begun to put this setback into perspective – but in case you haven’t, let me remind you of some indisputable facts. For 18 months you have found your place of work “lovely”. Your locum contract has been repeatedly extended. The two people from your interview panel who know your work first hand have said you are good at your job – and you’ve no reason to suppose they didn’t. All this is clear evidence of your professional ability and you should find it extremely reassuring. Instead, you’ve chosen to see the result of one unsatisfactory interview as a kind of conspiracy to get rid of you because you’re not very good at your job. Do, please, try to clear your head of that entirely unfounded and imaginary notion. You’ve allowed an understandable disappointment to “devastate” you, and if you’re not careful it will lead you to behave in a way that will simply compound your problem. No, you certainly shouldn’t skulk off home, never showing your face at work again, then leave altogether when your contract ends. Do that and you abandon forever everything you’ve liked about this job (and probably lessen your chances of getting another one). You must rid yourself of this belief that everyone will be feeling sorry for you. They won’t: they’ve other things to think about. Instead, get back to the job you do so well and keep on doing it. And if your contract is extended yet again, gratefully accept it. There will be other opportunities. You may never shine at interviews, but being known to be good at what you do is even more valuable. I suspect your director would be astonished to know you were seriously thinking of throwing in the towel, and would think the less of you for it. Readers say • Tell them you accept the situation, and would like to spend your last month addressing the issues that led them to not offer you the job. Have a “without prejudice” discussion with your director, perhaps outside of work, an evening meeting, off the record. You’ll have to be prepared to accept what they say and not get defensive. By all means discard bits of it later, but you’ll get the most value if you give the manager the space to be open and honest, and ask them to explain things in more detail rather than disagree with points you think unfair. And who knows, they may be impressed by the maturity and professionalism you’re showing and next time there’s a job available … ? MacMc • Turn your attention to getting something else – and no, don’t try to run away/work from home. You will want a damned good reference otherwise it will have been a real waste of your time. fourbiscuitsplease • I don’t know what industry you’re in, but there’s a good chance you will run into these people later on in your career, and if what sticks in their mind is, “Oh, she’s that one who was a bit nervous in interview and then went off and sulked for a month”, then that won’t do you any favours. TheRealCmdrGravy Must I disclose my low salary to recruiters? I fear it will prejudice future offers I am 28 and work in financial services. I have been with my current employer for about five years and am starting to look elsewhere for higher paid, more senior roles. Am I obliged to tell prospective employers or recruitment agencies what I earn? It is invariably the first thing they ask, but I fear disclosing my current (slightly low-ish) salary will prejudice starting salary discussions. Is there a tactful way around this? Jeremy says You are certainly not obliged to tell agencies or potential employers what you’re being paid – but that won’t stop them asking. So you have a choice: tell the truth; tell a lie; decline to answer; or tell them your dilemma. If you tell them what you earn and it is markedly low for that type of job, then you’re right, it probably means that any negotiation will start at that figure. It is a rare employer who knowingly pays more than they need. For this reason, many candidates exaggerate, which some think is a legitimate ploy and anyway “everybody does it”. Trouble is, employers think that too and are quick to detect suspicious claims. In any case, starting a working relationship on the basis of deceit isn’t ideal. Alternatively you say, “Sorry, I’d rather not tell you”. In which case, they will probably assume you are on an even lower rate than you actually are. Finally, you could say: “Look, I’ll tell you exactly what I earn if you really need to know – I like the thought of this job too much to risk losing it before we’ve even talked. But I’m pretty sure it’s a lot on the low side – and I’d much rather you decided whether or not you wanted to take me on before you knew how much I was earning. Is that OK?” It’s open and honest. Some companies will agree and some won’t. But put like that, you’re not risking anything. Readers say • One way round it is quite simple – lie. Don’t be ridiculous though – inflate your salary by 10%-15% and then a recruiter will use that as a baseline. Is this unprincipled and unethical? Not really, everyone does it. NobbyMcSlacker • As a recruiter, one of the criteria I use to get a feel for a candidate is salary. It can be a reflection of experience and capability. If a current salary is out of kilter with my budget I’m not going to go through a pointless interview. If a candidate has a good reason for a lower salary then I’m always happy to listen, and it needn’t prejudice the salary offer. Don’t lie – if you are found out it will sour the relationship with your new employer. Do include all the benefits you receive as they have a value. JulesMaigret • How about answering, “My current salary does not reflect the level of responsibility I hold so I’m seeking another position where remuneration is commensurate with my skills and abilities”? ID4658541 • When I moved I added up (generously) the “benefits” I was entitled to in my lowly paid position. For example, private healthcare was a benefit I figured was “worth” around £5,000 a year. Free tea and coffee? Another £2,000. Parking provision? Maybe another £2,000, etc. In the end I got a £15,000 rise. bjam99 Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally. |