Will your resume jump out at the Hiring Manager whose desk is already flooded with applications for that position?

Facts of life, for any given vacancy, there will always be lots of applicants and your first task if you really want to guarantee that you will get an invite for an interview is to get shortlisted –no easy task.

In my post 10 Tips guaranteed to make your Cold Call CV impress, I point out that 85% of Curriculum Vitaes never get read or even looked at. Given that most employers do not spend more than 2-3 minutes reading the CV, you need to make sure that your covering letter and Resume catch their attention right from the word “Go”.

One of the 10 tips I recommend is:

Put your career objectives or a career statement after your name and contact details. Your career objectives/statement should reflect what you intend to do with your career now and in the future, your career aspirations and level of ambition.

So I was surprised when I read a post a few weeks back which recommended job hunters to remove the Objectives paragraph entirely because the writer felt that in “most cases employees used the paragraph with 5 sentences of fluff which came off as delusions of grandeur.”

Was that true?

I admit that some people get the Objective Statement wrong but it still did not feel quite correct. And I reverted to a trusted Career Coaches Group back at LinkedIn for some consultation and confirmed that yes, the current trend is to use a summary or profile statement.

That being said, there are exceptions to the rule when using an Objective is a better choice.

The purpose of including an Objective in your Resume

In the past, most job seekers included a Career Objective on their Curriculum Vitae to let the recruiter or hiring manager know what type of a position they were looking for.

However, the current trend is towards indicating the value that you can offer to the prospective company and improve your chance of being invited for an interview by drafting this section to help an employer fill an open position rather than to tell them what you want.

There are exceptions to the rule of course and in some sectors and countries, job applicants are expected to include an objective.

Another exception would be if you are new to the workforce and do not have much work experience. In such a case, including an Objective with or without a professional summary is useful because you are telling the recruiter or hiring manager about the type of position that you are interested in.

If you are in such a situation, always remember to reword the Objective Statement to match the Job Title or position for which you are submitting your application. Generic objectives do not help your cause.

What about more experienced professionals?

Although the recent trend is to include a summary statement or professional profile in place of an objective, some professionals include both an objective and a summary tailored for the specific job that they are applying for.

This can be done in 2 ways. It depends on what you wish to highlight and which you feel will serve the purpose of helping you to position yourself better to get that coveted job interview invitation.

If your intention is to highlight key things that you want the recruiter or hiring manager to know about you, then a Career Profile which summarizes your experience and highlights specific skills or experience focusing on accomplishments that are relevant to the vacancy might be a good option.

On the other hand, if you want to place emphasis on your experience and skill sets that you believe you will need for the advertised job, then a Summary Statement highlighting the key points of your Curriculum Vitae in a short paragraph or bullet points would be a better fit.

How to position yourself and improve job interview chances 

This section is premium real estate when it comes to catching the recruiter’s attention and you need to apply your judgment on how to capitalize your 10 seconds of eyeball time.

Here are a few essential guidelines to keep in mind:

The decision to use an Objective Statement, Objective & Summary, a Career Profile or a Summary Statement will depend upon your work experience, the requirements of the position advertised, the norms of the relevant industry and what you believe will showcase you in the best light possible as a strong candidate.  I suggest you do your research about the prospective employer and industrial norms before you draft this section of your resume.

Read the job description carefully and focus on writing this section with the view of helping the prospective employer to short list you as a desired candidate. To achieve this, modify your objective or professional statements to fit in with the core requirements of the position. Make sure that you stay authentic otherwise your resume may still get binned!

Before drafting this section, brain storm and decide the most important idea about yourself that you want to convey in this section. Keep it brief and succinct – no 5 sentences of fluff.

Depending upon what you come up with, you can write a sentence or two about what value you can bring to the organization in that position or even a few bullet points that list your relevant skills and achievements that enable you to add value.

Are there any words that are relevant for the position that you are applying for, or any key words in that industry? Include these in your summary where relevant so that it jumps out at the hiring manager.

You may have the best resume in town for the job but a poorly formatted one with spelling mistakes is the best way to indicate that you are careless. Pay extra attention to this point.

You will find more pointers in the post Get your CV past the online gatekeeper .

Your turn now, which one of these statements do you use to position your resume for the job interview invite? Is it based on your industry, work experience or a tactic that works well for your goal? Do share in the comments box below!

PS. Need more guidance on filling out online job applications? Click on the ebook image and acquire your exclusive copy of this special report.

Written By: Vatsala Shukla

Establishing contact with recruiters, HR personnel and potential rainmakers for job hunting has become easier through LinkedIn because you can connect with the target professional through your 2^nd degree connections, Groups and even boiler template invites via the People You May Know section with 3^rd degree connections.

The latter are often accepted if the other person’s agenda is to build a wider network or they see merit in your profile.

But (and I mean a really big but), if the invitation isn’t done properly, it also raises the possibility and danger of inadvertently insulting those very professionals who you need to be in your corner to achieve your end goal – an introduction and a chance to get your resume on the right desk and  job interview invite.

I’ve written tons of posts about LinkedIn etiquette, as well as a free downloadable ebook 5 Mistakes Professionals Make on LinkedIn that addresses professional conduct when connecting with people whom you don’t know in real life. The same etiquette and good manners that you demonstrate in the offline world is required in online networks.

I’m observing a break in code of conduct especially among the millennial generation. I wish someone would tell them that just because a professional is on LinkedIn doesn’t mean they are open to accepting your invitation or giving you access to their network unless they feel the connection is mutually beneficial.

There’s a Haitian proverb

Don’t insult the alligator until you’ve crossed the river.

I think this proverb applies to the situation.

You don’t behave obnoxiously with people who can be rainmakers or help further your career aspiration.

Here’s a real life example.

Way back in 2009 when I first joined LinkedIn, I received an invite from a young professional whose profile was incomplete, no profile photo and who didn’t respond to my inquiry about how we knew each other. It was a polite request on my part because I meet a lot of people and simply wanted to be reminded. I had no reason to remember him until he resurfaced in a shocking manner.

He started trolling me in an IFRS Group where I had numerous 1^st degree connections from the offline professional world.

This person started abusing me instead of providing value to the technical questions that were the topics of discussion.

Then he made the mistake of mentioning my former employer and something very nasty which wasn’t true and  provided grounds for defamation and slander against the Troll as well as my former employer for their staff’s conduct.

I did 2 things – reported him to the LinkedIn Group Manager who blocked him and issued a warning to the Group to maintain propriety and secondly, contacted the HR Manager at my previous employers to discuss this person and his so-called connect at the firm.

Imagine my surprise when the Manager told me that there was no such manager in the firm (I had left in 2007 and attrition is high in that company). He took it seriously though and asked me for details of this young professional.

A few months later, the Manager called me to tell me that the person had applied for a job at the company and he had issued a notice that the person was blacklisted and wasn’t to be interviewed because ‘he wasn’t fit to be employed’.

A couple of Group Members including my connections wrote to me personally about how they admired my handling the situation and their own sense of disgust.  I emerged a stronger and respected member of the Group.

The difference between Troll and the others is the former didn’t recognize the alligator while the others did.

He made another mistake which can be summed in this Creole Proverb:

Don’t call the alligator “big-mouth” till you have crossed the river

Had the Troll played his cards right, the story would have been different. 1 phone call from me or my forwarding the resume would have helped him at least get noticed in a pile resumes because I had left on good terms to follow my dream.

Troll had caught my eye for all the wrong reasons. A Google search indicated that the same conduct had led him to be debarred by the professional body whose qualification was important for him.

This shouldn’t put you off from making introductions when you can or request introductions but be aware that when you make a request, the other person may do more research on you and an uncomplimentary Google search might mean a dead end to your request.

This brings me to the second tip for effective job hunting.

6 Degrees of Separation: networking with influential alligators

Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone on Earth is 6 or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of “a friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps.

In fact, it’s the same concept behind the parlor game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon where a group of players to try to connect any such individual to Kevin Bacon as quickly as possible and in as few links as possible. (Kevin Bacon Trivia: In 2007, Bacon started a charitable organization named SixDegrees.org).

The concept is well explained in this video by Veritasium and I encourage you to watch it in full.

The point is, it can work in your favor or even against you like it did for the Troll where there was a second degree of connection which went terribly wrong in his job search.

5 ways to stay in the Alligator’s good books

The adage “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know” applies to both job hunters and   self-employed professionals.

Having the right connections that are able and willing to recommend you is as important as a resume that makes you stand out above the crowd. Make sure you are adhering to the following 5 pointers to make your network viable:

Courtesy is not old fashioned – Manners still Matter

Assume everyone you meet whether in the offline or online world is either an alligator or has the potential to be one for you and needs to be treated with courtesy & respect. You don’t know who they know who might be someone you need to know (remember The Troll).

Even when you are leaving a job that you hated, make sure you part on an amiable note. Potential employers often do reference and background checks or if it is a closed industry, they know each other. You certainly don’t want to be given a verbal reference that is in conflict with a written one.

On the alligator note, here’s another Haitian proverb worth remembering

Only when you have crossed the river, can you say the crocodile has a lump on his snout.

Build your Network before you need it

Make networking a part of your regular professional activity and not something you do when you suddenly need a job. Start building your network of professionals with whom you share common interests, industry and professional backgrounds.

This will not only keep you abreast of industry developments but quite often provide you with an inside tip-off for a potential job.

Many companies offer incentives to their staff for recruitment referrals. You want to top of mind if your contact is in a position to recommend you.

Know Like Trust Factor

Make sure your network really knows you. People like to help out those whom they know, like and trust. If you make a new connection, whether it is offline or on social media, cultivate that connection with useful information and generally get to know them better. That way, if you need help the alligator who is in a position to recommend you would be able to do it with confidence and you’ll avoid the disappointment of a no response.

Exercise your Gratitude Muscle

Remember to always thank your connection for leads whether they work out or not. Acknowledgement of their stepping out to help you ensures they will do it again if required.

Become the Alligator!

Networking is a 2 way street. Just as you may need an alligator to help you achieve your goals, avail every opportunity to be a rainmaker alligator to someone who needs your assistance or recommendation.

It demonstrates your prowess as a well-connected professional. Helping others often results in help when we need it. The Universe always makes sure that assistance given is returned even if it isn’t by the same person.

Have you ever experienced the 6 degrees of separation in your job hunt or in setting up your business?  What about the alligators? Ever experienced the wrath of an angry alligator?

PS.  Do you understand the dynamics and purpose of this professional networking platform?

I invite you to check out 5 Mistakes Professionals make on LinkedIn. In this short guide, I’m sharing 5 key mistakes and potential areas where you need to be careful. If you’re making any of these mistakes, you’ll find doable tips to course correct.

Click on the image of the ebook to get download directions and start creating meaningful connections with alligators on LinkedIn.

That’s a question any career professional stuck in a dead-end job must answer when they feel resistance building up for taking the right self-preservation step.

I use the word self-preservation because I’ve seen too many people stick it out. They felt there was no other option.

Later down the road, they’ve experienced burnout, health issues and in some cases dismissal for under-performance or worse, becoming a victim to vicious, toxic office politics.

I still recall one of the Partners in a Big Four firm where I worked tell the Team Managers at a monthly meeting where the agenda was under-performing staff, that 80% of the employees stuck it out because they were the best paymasters in town (which was true at the time).

They needed performance improvement plans and counselling if that didn’t work. And if necessary assisting in their graceful exit to a different job.

The same holds true when a professional doesn’t want to quit despite the toxic work environment. Were coming into work each day and giving their best has become a stressful challenge.

When it comes to toxic work environments, I will always tell you to quit the job and find another one. Or make it a time for self-reflection thinking about what you really want and what you don’t want.

Then, after figuring out the non-negotiable items, move on to new pastures.

Money of course is a more sensitive topic.

I prefer to approach every problem in a systematic manner. Checking and double checking if I have accounted for all the variables that impact my unique customized issue.

Step 1 Is it a job or career change that you need?

Sometimes, money isn’t really the issue.

It could be lack of interest in a present employment or a roadblock to career progression. Maybe your own personal and professional development has created a situation where what worked before doesn’t make you happy.

So put the money and toxic issue aside for a moment. Ask yourself, are you happy in your present employment? Are you getting the recognition that you deserve? Is your workplace creating stress for you?

I suggest you try this Career Quiz and find out the underlying reason first and then proceed to tackle it with the tips that accompany the quiz.

Now that we have that sorted out, the next step is to address the money issue.

Step 2 You feel you can’t afford the job or career change

Many times, we stick to a job without considering outside opportunities or even a career change because we’ve become accustomed to a certain lifestyle or standard of living. We don’t wish to compromise it or feel we can’t afford it.

If you’ve assessed that it’s a simple job change, then frankly, all you need to do is be on the lookout for other opportunities that offer you a similar pay packet.

Let the Executive Search professional whom you approach know the specifics of your desired compensation package.

Also remember to factor in further growth opportunities. Sometimes the lower compensation package may come with other non-monetary fringe benefits. For example, holiday entitlement or family medical insurance that your previous employer isn’t providing.

A career change is a different kettle of fish. You need to demonstrate transferable skills to the prospective employer in the new industry vertical and negotiate your move by positioning yourself properly.

You CAN afford a career or job change but it requires some practical steps.

This includes an audit of your financial situation, knowing when to make the move and practicing stress resilience building techniques until you’ve made the move.

When it comes to money, we often don’t know our real financial situation. If you aren’t already tracking your income and expenses, then I suggest you commit to keeping an accurate record of all your income inflows and outflows for the next 30 days to see where money comes in and goes out.

Money inflow includes your take home pay as well as income earned from passive sources like subsidies, bank interest, dividend, royalties, rent income (if you have rented out a property).

Money outflow includes all your expenses – even the ones on the credit card and direct debits for subscriptions, mortgage and loan payments. It also includes small expenses like bargain offers, coffee, newspapers, fast food and other small ticket items.

At the end of the 30 days you’ll have an idea of your net income savings or deficit.

Now review how much of that spend is absolutely essential. You’ll be surprised to see how many items can be cut out if you really need to.

Start by examining each category of expense and work out the bare minimum is that you could afford to live on.

You will probably find that, for a time at least, you could survive on much less than you think.

When you look at your income inflows, you might realize there are sources that you haven’t accounted for before. Or that your income does not need to come from one source.

If there are other earning members in the family, ask them to do a similar exercise with you during the 30 days to work out the exact family budget.

This exercise works best when it’s done over 2-3 months. At the same time, make a list of any annual one-off payment that you have to make like car insurance, home insurance and other liabilities to put aside a buffer to cover it.

Armed with this knowledge you are in a better position to hunt for a new job or career because the money issue loses its teeth and you can prepare a game plan to make up for any income deficit.

You can learn more about money and finance management in my round up blog post Cool solutions for pressing money issues

Step 3 What’s your attitude towards money?

If steps 1 and 2 haven’t resolved the money challenge for you, then step 3 is required to introspect and reflect on your attitude about money.

Our childhood experiences around money can affect our attitude towards it. If money was short, the child in you remembers the pain of not having enough. Perhaps forgetting that parents did the best they could and there were treats on special occasions.

Or your parents, teachers and elders told you that money didn’t grow on trees. You figured out that you had to save what you could but not the corpus that you needed.

Money becomes a commodity to be hoarded rather than a conduit to help you get what you want and need.

If this sounds familiar, then take some time out to reflect on the following questions:

If money weren’t an issue, what would you love to do?

How much is your self-image tied up with financial success?

How much money would make you feel secure?

Do you see money as a means or has it become a goal in itself?

Are there any money messages that you learned in your childhood from your parents and teachers that affects your attitude to money?

Would you like to let go of these habits and unleash the energy of money in your life?

Do you want to make friends with enemy rather than treat it like a bogey monster?

Want to make money your friend and use its power to your advantage rather than against you? I suggest reading and applying the guidance in Money Success Secret: The Alchemy of Mindset and Management.

I’ve shared strategies that will help you give money the kind of attention it craves to do positive work for you.

The book will help you consciously change the way you look at money and get more control over it. Plus bonus resources to help you get the most out of the teaching.

I’ve used these strategies myself at different times in my life and know that they are powerful.  You can learn more here or by clicking the below image.

Returning to my original question, what’s more important for you – money or a toxic job?

How will you prevent money from becoming the key factor for staying in a dead-end job? Is ruining your health, relationships and work life balance worth it?

Can becoming unemployed open us up to avenues and opportunities that give us joy which we would otherwise have ignored?

That’s the key message that my guest blogger Tamuria Fazel shares with us this week as we relive her son Ash’s journey from long term unemployment brought on by the same nasty corporate politics that I has written about in my post on office politics and promotions.

Thank you Tamuria and Ash for agreeing to share your story to help others whether they are going through the difficult days of job search while unemployed or are loved ones who are watching and trying to be the crucial support system that the job seeker needs.

Guest Post: Hope is important during long term unemployment

The most important thing to hold onto when you are unemployed and looking for work is hope.

If you lose that, you go on a downward spiral that can lead to depression.

These are the words of Ashley, a 30-year-old man who knows exactly what he is talking about because he’s been there.

Ashley went from being one of the brightest, and youngest, stars in a major company, to losing complete confidence in himself and others in just a matter of months.

When he started work at the company his enthusiasm and dedication propelled him into a management position, in charge of his own team, in record time. He was the youngest employee to receive this recognition.

The thing that many people forget is that managers are managed by someone else and have their own bosses to answer to.

From New Boss to Job Loss

When Ashley’s boss moved and a new one took his place, things began to go sour.

His new boss was a micro-manager who had very clear favorites within the company. The favorites would receive special treatment, the others left to clean up their mess.

Ashley was in the latter group – a new experience for him.

Unused to being treated with such disregard, Ashley’s enthusiasm for the job quickly turned to resentment.

He began dreading going to work and the healthy pay packet, good enough to help him buy a house in his early 20s, was not enticing enough to compensate for miserable days on the job.

When he injured his shoulder in a non-work related accident, his boss found the perfect excuse to manage him out of the company, refusing to let him back until he had clearance from a doctor. She did not offer him the option of light duties, as she had for others.

Ashley procrastinated about getting the necessary treatment and clearance and when he ran out of sick leave he resigned, sure that he would walk into another job easily. He had been with the company for five years.

“By that stage, I was totally fed up with the unfair politics going on,” he said.

“There was a clear company policy on following the chain of command. I couldn’t go above my manager as it was against this policy.”

The experience taught Ashley some valuable lessons about dealing with office politics.

How to cope with a Bad Manager

• Understand that office politics are everywhere and be prepared they will, at some stage, affect you.

• Try to be flexible with different management styles and understand how to work with them, instead of against them.

• If you’re getting complacent, start retraining yourself and look for something else. Otherwise, you become resentful and blame others instead of working towards resolving issues.

• If you decide you need to leave, make sure you have another job to go to.

Hang onto Hope

Walking into that new job was not quite as easy as Ashley thought it would be and he soon lost confidence in himself.

He also lost his house and became depressed.

The lack of confidence he felt from being unemployed resulted in some bad decisions in other sectors of his life, creating a downward spiral.

“There were days I just couldn’t get out of bed and face the world,” he said.

“I had lost hope.

“I felt like I was a failure and was letting everyone down.”

Ashley applied for dozens of jobs almost every day. For every 20 jobs he tried for, he was lucky to get even one interview. Lack of confidence was oozing out of him, creating a barrier that hid his ability.

After a few disastrous jobs where he was verbally abused, or not paid, Ashley decided to look at different career paths.

Try something New

In desperation, he took a sales course, partly because the company paid all expenses and offered a small paycheck.

“I figured $50 a week was better than nothing and the course was interstate so it got me away for a while,” he said.

“I had never thought of doing sales before but discovered I really enjoyed it and was good at it.”

These days Ashley is happily working in sales and heading towards another management position. He is certain his previous experiences will make him a better manager, with more empathy and understanding.

“I don’t have regrets,” he said.

“Everything leads you somewhere.

“I discovered a hidden talent in sales and I love speaking to new people every day and hearing their stories.

“My best advice when you are unemployed is -don’t lose hope. And be prepared to consider different job possibilities.”

A Mother’s Viewpoint

As Ashley’s mother, I would offer the same advice to parents watching in torment as their adult children deal with the stress and helplessness of unemployment – don’t lose hope.

Hubby and I watched in horror as Ashley changed from the joyful, enthusiastic son we had nicknamed “Happy Face” as a toddler, into an angry and resentful young man.

We didn’t realize how good the anger and resentment were until they were replaced by the nothingness that is typical of depression.

While it put a strain on our finances to help him through his period of unemployment, that was nothing compared to the strain of watching his emotional torment.

It was a matter of great pride to Ashley that he had started earning money from the age of 12 with a part time job after school.

It was torture for him to go back to relying on his parents for financial help.

We begged him to apply for unemployment benefits but he didn’t want to be labelled a ‘bludger’ and said he would lose all hope and ambition if he had to resort to that.

We asked him to seek counselling, but that too added to his sense of failure.

In the end, we had to back off and trust that he would find his way. When we pushed he went MIA (Missing In Action) and it scared us, given his emotional state.

What to do when someone you love becomes unemployed

• The most important thing is to help them keep, or regain, their confidence. Point out all the things they have achieved and the skills they have to offer, not just to employers but on a personal level as well. Too often our sense of self-worth comes from what we do rather than who we are. It is important to recognise our worth and contributions outside of the workforce.

• Let them know they are important and needed. When someone loses a job because of redundancy or a management conflict, like Ashley’s, they can feel like they are an unnecessary burden. Let them know how important they are in your life and the lives of others.

• Encourage them to have fun and indulge themselves occasionally. People who are unemployed often feel they do not have the right to have fun.

• If you are giving them financial support, make it clear it is just a loan until they are working and can pay you back. This saves their pride and gives them extra incentive to keep looking for work.

• Encourage them to learn a new skill. This not only keeps them busy and less likely to fall into despair but can lead to a new career path, as it did for Ashley.

• Stay positive, but also realistic – false hope can lead to unwise choices.

On the other hand, genuine hope is contagious and can help your loved one realize that better opportunities are waiting if they are open to them. Being unemployed can be scary when there are bills to be paid but it can also be an opportunity for new learning and a new direction.

Have you been down this road and reached a better destination? Have you been the silent support system to an earnest job seeker?

I’d love to read your perspective in the comments box below.

Meet The Writer: Tamuria Fazel

I happily quit my career as a journalist with a daily Sydney newspaper to become a stay at home mother decades ago.

Aside from taking odd jobs that fit in with my husband’s shift work when money was tight, I was totally engrossed in my job as mother to three sons and it was not until they became older that I realised how much one’s identity can be caught up in what they do.

As my sons grew and their need for me changed I knew I needed to find a new direction and went through a period of self-doubt.

I kept the hope alive and strong and started my own business, first as a professional potter and then as an arts and crafts teacher. This led me to my current job as art therapist to people with disabilities.

I have a passion for sharing arts and crafts projects as well as tips and tricks for keeping the balance in life through creativity and organisation. When not writing or researching for my blog GleefulGrandiva , I enjoy playing and creating with my adorable granddaughters, the Goddesses of Glee.

Vatsala’s note: Here’s a gift from Tamuria’s from her awesome blog Practical Steps to Self-love Guide plus Journey to the Centre of Your Heart Game

Counteroffers are becoming the norm in the corporate world, where you go and tell your boss you are leaving for a better career opportunity and they entice you to stay with a promotion, or match the money or something that makes you forget that you wanted to leave and stay on.

What the employee doesn’t know is that this is a standby solution for the employer which will affect their career further down the line.

My first experience of a counteroffer was sitting on the other side of the table. I know what it’s like from the perspective of a boss who finds himself or herself in a pickle because an employee decides to leave in search of greener greedier pastures.

The scene was my office in Poland in 1995. I had just returned from Paris the previous evening after a grueling weekend at our Regional Headquarters along with the Country Manager and 4 of my Insurance Managers where we had gotten our annual budget approved and opened up doors for career development for our staff.

I was also recovering from septicemia and the trip had been hard on me but the gifts that I was bringing for my Finance Team had been well worth it.

I was a new CFO barely 3 months into a job where part of my mandate had been to lift the spirits of the Finance Department which had been low after the previous CFO had stormed out of the company after a fight with the Country Manager.

The point of no return was confirmed when he had thrown a chair out of the window. We were westernizing things and bringing the team into a new world with the help of the parent company’s Human Resources department.

It was a Monday morning and I had come in early to check my emails before the start of the Monday meeting when a junior team member, who looked after the cash and bank accounting, walked in and wanted to talk.

Let’s call him Jacek. I was happy to see him because the Country Manager and I had plans for him.

Then I had the shock of my life.

This young man had come in to tell me that he was leaving for a better job and better opportunities. I understood that, but what I didn’t understand was his telling me that he could of course stay if I made him a counteroffer.

Had he mistaken my stunned silence as a need to be told what to do next?

I told him to wait till the Country Manager came in so I could talk to him about this employee’s terms and conditions for staying.

The Country Manager was as shocked as me but being a more experienced professional, called Jacek into his office and told him that the Company could not be held hostage with a self-proposed counteroffer.

He was asked to work through his notice period which the chap refused to and pointed out that he had vacation time which he would use against his notice and if anything else was left, then to cut it from his salary.

He was fired on the spot and we found a replacement after a month while a temp helped out.

Of course we could have met his demands and covertly looked for a replacement but the attitude was not correct and a bit of professionalism would have taken him a long way.

To date, I don’t know what became of him and he certainly isn’t on LinkedIn.

For sure you’ll read of all the happy ending stories where the employer and employee lived happily ever after but that involves a lot of diplomacy, tact and approaching the resignation with professionalism that allows both sides to talk about the situation and find a peaceful solution.

It may not be the money; it might be the employee feeling that they are not getting the right exposure or want more challenging work. That’s easy to work with, especially if opportunities are available and I show you how to do it in my book Get Noticed.

Not all stories work out like that but I really don’t think accepting counteroffers are a good idea. Not in the long run at least.

What does a counter offer look like?

In simple English, a counter offer happens when you have accepted another employment offer and your current employer comes back to you with enticements to stay in the current job with new terms and carrots that can be both emotional heart string pullers and financial incentives.

What accepting a counteroffer really does for your career

This isn’t a feel good post and what you are going to read may make you uncomfortable but read on because you need to know what goes on behind the scene of a counter offer and how it can damage your prospects and result in professional Harakiri.

The truth is, there is a cost to company of having you on board which goes far beyond your paycheck and it is easier to retain an employee whom they have invested in with training and other resources than to hire a headhunter to find a replacement.

So there will be surprise when you say you are leaving followed by lots of pull on your loyalty and offers of new designations, promotions, remunerations and coaxing to stay on.

You might have chats with Human Resources and more senior professionals and if you buy into all the flattery that goes with it, then your guilt will be too much to ignore and you might accept the counteroffer.

Things won’t necessarily improve and you run the risk of being labeled as a ‘problem’.

The main reason why you wanted to leave won’t be addressed and you may yet leave although at a later date or get fired a few months later by which time the employer would have found a suitable replacement for you.

Your managers will remember how you were retained and when it comes to promotion time, or increment and bonus time, you might not get what you expected because of an out of turn promotion or money that was budgeted for your carrot having been already spent.

By airing your issues and yet choosing to stay based on a counteroffer, your loyalty and commitment will always be doubted. This could mean that if a layoff is looming in the horizon; you might get the pink slip after all.

Your resignation or the firefighting done to retain you reflects on the boss’s ability to keep his staff and if it means that his own career prospects get affected, he will always eye you with suspicion. You’ll be out of the Inner Circle and considered untrustworthy.

How would it feel if you take the day off for some genuine work and your boss calls to check on your whereabouts?

That’s happened with a former colleague of mine.

I would heartily recommend reading Covey’s book Speed of Trust, whether you are mulling over a counteroffer or want to learn more about credibility building.

If you used the threat of leaving to get a promotion or more money, then know that professionally managed companies won’t play along. You don’t blackmail these companies and think you’ve made it.

That’s what happened with Jacek. He showed his greed and lack of maturity and the Country Manager took a call that we couldn’t have him in the office.

He was not to be trusted. In fact, he was marched out of the office and the guard was told to make sure that he couldn’t access our office again.

Had Jacek approached it differently, he would have found out that we had plans for him and given 3 more months, there was an increment in the offing based on merit and how far I would have mentored him to take on more responsibility.

Had Jacek been more professional, he wouldn’t have burned bridges and the door for him to return to us would have been kept open. Instead he lost our respect.

5 important personal reasons for not accepting a Counteroffer

On the other hand, I can give you tons of reasons for declining  a Counteroffer some of which are already given above but for this post, let’s stick to the 5 personal reasons to keep in mind in no particular order.

In addition to your being labeled, kicked out of the Inner Circle and even being replaced at a later date, ask yourself

1. Why did you have to threaten to resign for you to get that promotion or pay rise. Weren’t you good enough on merit to receive the same?
2. Likewise, what kind of a company is that which has to be threatened before they give you what you are worth? Do you really want to work there?
3. Would you be able to live with yourself knowing that you had been ‘bought’?
4. Accepting a counteroffer will not change the factors that had driven you to find a new job in the first place, so what would change now?
5. Where is the money coming from? Your next pay increase?

In short, once you have made up your mind to leave and have found a new job, the best thing for your future career is to be professional and work out your notice period to the best of your abilities.

Do proper handovers and make the employer feel that your leaving is a loss to the company. Walk out of the door knowing that this company will welcome you back if you ever decide to.

Don’t ruin your image and professional brand by accepting a counteroffer unless it is one where both sides win. If you feel that you need to manage your career better then let us work together and achieve that career progression professionally. 

I’d like to know if you have ever been made a counteroffer by an employer. Did it work out? What one tip would you give to the other readers of this post? Please tell me in the comments box below.

Honestly speaking, I joined Tumblr quite late – February 2014. I was a contestant in Firepole Online Marketing Scavenger Hunt. Tumblr was the platform for posting evidence of task completion.

As a non-online coach, I had a steep learning curve while I figured out how to make videos, memes and tons of other stuff. Well worth the effort because I was a winner – 3^rd place after 5 of us tied for 1^st place and went through the death rounds.

The more important fact is that I was hooked on Tumblr. You can read about the contest and results at Mirasee’s (formerly Firepole Marketing) website – The Great Online Marketing Scavenger Hunt.

So, I was surprised when researching one of my programs on job hunting using social media that none of the responses to my survey included Tumblr as a brand building or job-hunting resource.

LinkedIn ranked first and I wondered whether it was because my sample audience had not quite understood the power of this platform.

Whether you are a businessperson or a career professional, I don’t think Tumblr can be ignored although choosing to use or not to use it as a job search or marketing tool is a personal or professional decision.

The accountant in me says – give them numbers to munch on.

So here are some facts – I’ve updated them to reflect the latest information as at April 2024

• Tumblr was founded in New York City in February 2007
• Yahoo purchased Tumblr for USD 1.1 billion in 2013
• Yahoo sold Tumblr to Automattic, the company behind WordPress in 2019 for USD 3 million
• 437 million monthly users (2019)
• 536 million blogs (October 2021)
• 11.7 million daily posts (July 2021)
• 69% of Tumblr users are Millennials
• 48% of active users are Gen Z
• This platform is available in 18 languages

Source: Tumblr Statistics and User Count for 2024  and Tumblr’s Press Information Page

An even more interesting fact I found about Tumblr 

Although Tumblr doesn’t feature in the top 3 in job surveys, young professionals straight out of college are using Tumblr in their job searches. There are also businesses out there who also maintain a presence to connect with their customers.

Tumblr, like Pinterest and Twitter is a microblogging site that allows the user to share images, posts, videos, links and short text posts.

If you want an alternative to Blogger, WordPress and Wix, then this service can be customized as a professional blogging platform complete with choice of theme and visuals.

Although you can get your Tumblr posts indexed by Google, there is one caveat

Unlike traditional blogging platforms, Tumblr doesn’t have an option to leave comments.

So having a discussion can be difficult but your posts can be liked, reblogged (similar to a retweet or share) and you can engage in messaging.

There is a workaround the comments challenge by adding apps like Discus.

Guess what? Google Analytics: can be added into the code section of your Tumblr page to study website traffic and marketing initiatives.

You can also link your account to Twitter and share your content with your audience there. Use hashtags to enable extra visibility for you and your posts.

If you want a quick look at this site and its options, here’s a Slideshare presentation I had created for one of the challenges in the contest which is still relevant.

The Career Professional and Tumblr

Career professionals can use this site in many ways.

Professional job-hunting site blogs and The Experts often recommend having your own website or blog and talk about WordPress.com, WordPress.org and even Blogger.

This requires investing on outlay which can be avoided by setting up your blog on Tumblr to showcase your professional skills and talents.

Describe and highlight your career accomplishments. Position yourself as a thought leader through your posts if LinkedIn Publisher scares you or you want a different audience.

Even if you are not in the job search space, you can use this site to create and showcase your portfolio and professional views.

Share your images and curate articles that are of relevance to your industry with your own comments like you do on LinkedIn. Use the media options to create an awesome portfolio.

The last time I checked, quite a few recruiters and career coaches were present on this platform and if you use hashtags related to job hunts like ‘hiring’ or ‘jobs’ you might just find something worth following up. Tumblr lists its own jobs too on its site: https://www.tumblr.com/jobs

Since this site is Google optimized and indexed, if you manage your account properly, your profile can appear in the top searches for your name. Who knows, a potential employer might just stumble upon you and reach out.

7 Tips to Get the most out of your Tumblr Experience

As with other social media sites, there are some rules and etiquette to follow.

When you decide to use this site for professional purposes, visit their Terms and Conditions and rules and acquaint yourself with them.

If you read my other posts in the social media category of my blog, you’ll get the general idea but there are a few that need a special mention.

Keep it professional – just like for Facebook you may decide to keep a personal and a professional profile, here too, maintain a professional account. You can always link the two. Make sure there’s nothing embarrassing in your personal account or create the wrong impression on a recruiter or potential employer.

100% complete profile – complete your profile the way you would on LinkedIn. In other words, a professional profile photo, a suitable cover and if possible, claim your vanity url.

Be active – don’t let your blog stagnate. Keep it active and share your professional passion as if it were your own website. You never know who is watching even if they don’t press the Love button or reblog it.

Follow and interact – Follow professionals, thought leaders, brands and companies of interest to you and do interact.

Make sure you have an alternative email address or contact available in case someone wants to discuss a job with you outside of the platform.

Be respectful and courteous when sending or answering messages. Did I really have to say that? Well, if you see some of what goes on back at LinkedIn, you’ll understand.

Oh, and don’t spam!

WIFM for a small business owner or sole proprietor?

If the big brands are there, then why shouldn’t you? The way I see it, a business can never get enough visibility and we never know where we will get noticed.

For me the big eye opener was to learn from Sprout Social that in 2015 Nescafe became the first global brand to move all of its international and local sites to the Tumblr platform. The new global Nescafé Tumblr platform allows fans to share images, videos, GIFs and other coffee-related content.

You can find out more about how businesses are using this platform in their post Do People Still Use Tumblr for Business?

Back at Tumblr, it’s like getting Pinterest and Twitter all rolled into one. Visuals are always popular and you can tell your brand story, share links to your own website blog posts and generally reach out to a new audience.

Much of what I wrote for the career professional applies here as well.

Engage with visual content by with posts that are short but full of images.

You can connect with customers privately using the Messages option. Enable the “Ask” feature to allow customers to ask your business questions. The choice of responding publicly or privately is at your discretion.

Just like Mirasee (formerly Firepole Marketing) ran their competition, you can use the “Submit” feature to run contests and get content from your followers and customers. You can approve content before it is published to your blog so the issue of spam is mitigated.

Use the right hashtags. Post content specific to your target market and your audience and potential clients will find you.

For time managing multi-tasking business owners, what is better than being able to repurpose content to share and link with Facebook and Twitter so that your posts are seen on these platforms too?

So there in a nutshell, we have it! If your objective is to reach a younger demographic audience and the platform aligns with your marketing objective, have a shot at considering it as one more marketing tool for your business.

The only other thing you need to do is make sure that Google and the search engines can find you and index your blog. In the Settings section, make sure you check the box that says “Allow search engines to index your blog”. It doesn’t get simpler.

Your turn. Have you tried Tumblr? Do you have a presence there? If yes, do post a link to it in the comments box below. In the meantime, follow me at Tumblr by clicking on the image below. I go by the name of karmicallyours .I created it for the competition and kept it because I loved it.

Additional Job Searching Resource

Here’s a resource if you are in presently in the process of job searching and need more than Tumblr. On February 28th, 2016, I released my 5th Kindle book, 5 Reasons your job hunt isn’t giving desired results and 10 Strategies to strengthen your game plan.

Check it out – there may be a strategy that can tweak your game. Did I tell you there are 2 free gifts in the Kindle book too?

I’m starting November with a blog post from a dear friend and colleague Roslyn Tanner Evans who is the epitome of the Karmic Ally Coaching view that you can have it all! Roslyn turned her passion for jewelry designing into a successful full time business post retirement from her career of 30 years as a professional career counselor.  At 76, Roslyn is still breaking new ground with her business but today, she is sharing her wisdom with us on tackling job loss and what you can do to keep your morale going.

Job Loss Truths from a Career Counselor’s Perspective

After 30 years of career counseling diverse populations, I look back and realize certain things I should have told the unemployed I served. Talking with people when they are most vulnerable often requires more sensitivity, not always truthfulness. I know that what I did say was beneficial and probably expected and only from a place of distance can I consider other discussions and issues I would have liked having.

In no particular order of importance, these are areas I really would have wanted to counsel in depth; however time constraints in my schedule did not often permit.

Don’t take it Personally

There were a few times I felt compelled to say that the reason for the job loss was not personal. It was a business decision and you and others were excess, so it really wasn’t about you or your performance. However, I know that when you are on the receiving end, it felt very personal.

Your hidden thoughts might go something like this, “If I was as good as they had me believe, they would have found a way to keep me”. That was what I thought when I was unexpectedly furloughed from a government job when no one ever was laid off. Imagine if we were able to really flesh this out, bare it from behind the curtain, and once and for all disappear the conversation in our heads, so you don’t have to feel ashamed. It really was not personal. Just numbers. The freedom I and others could have had if we truly accepted this.

Who Really Knows?

Have you told your family, friends, business associates and neighbors so they can support you and help you network? I’m thinking of a client who woke every day, dressed in his blue suit and tie, kept his same morning routine, took the train and sat in the public library doing his job search, but he was pretending to be going to his professional executive job. When it came time to sign his kids up for sleep away camp, he snuck a painting out of his home and sold it to pay the tuition.

Eventually, we did talk about what he was doing and his belief was he would find a job before his severance ran out and his family didn’t need to know or make adjustments. He was in his 50’s, in the financial area and it was in the 80’s. How do you think things turned out?

I Don’t Like Charity!

It often surprised me when someone said they hadn’t applied for unemployment benefits because it felt like charity. Despite correcting the facts about where the funds came from, it was hard to be persuasive. Imagine if this client was open to everything available, all communities have free and public services, from the libraries to religious institutions, adult education programs, meet-ups, networking groups, and more. Taking advantage of as many free services that are appropriate is a really smart move.

Who Critiqued Your Resume?

Looking at the piece of paper that represents your personal work history is really an art. Often it gets shown to our best friend who found a new job quickly using a particular format, but how come it isn’t working for you? Or you keep updating the one you had professionally done 10 years ago.

It is legitimate to be attached to your resume, to have strong feelings about it, after all, it is all about you. There is only one purpose to a resume and that is to get you the interview. If it is not getting that result, then it is not working and should be critiqued by a professional in YOUR FIELD.

I Never Have Trouble Finding a New Job Quickly!

That might have been true a few years prior, but the job market changes, add few years of background, age and salary and it is not the same search. Don’t live from a financial perspective as if everything is fine and your salary will be flowing in soon.

Take good stock of where you can cut expenses at the START of your job search. Prepare financially for the long haul, even if you received a good severance package, even if you have a few good interviews lined up. Truly look to see where you can cut back, dinners out, entertaining friends, gifts, postpone the vacation. Add in new expenses that job search will incur and calculate how far your reserves will last. It can get scary, but better to have thought it out than to get caught in a financially desperate situation.

And now we are getting to my two favorite areas I wish to impart wisdom from my perspective.

Explore What You Really Want To Do!

So often we rush into seeking the exact or similar job we just left and that we complained about all the time. And even if we loved it, stop and use the time to explore if the industry you were in suited you. Could you perform the same type of job in an area you have personal interest in and love it even more?

For example; you are creative and enjoy the arts. Imagine the pleasure you could experience in an environment that has a service or product in an artistic field rather than the manufacturing environment you were just in. You own your skill set and they may be very transferable to a new industry for you.

Another example; you hated your job and for years have been dreaming of a service you could offer. Take some time to explore if this is viable for you to start now.

More and more individuals are creating on-line businesses, working from home, becoming self-employed, free lancing and if you didn’t start it while working full time because you had no time, this could be the right time.

How To Keep Going?

If feeling depressed, upset, angry, frightened, worried- all these energy draining emotions, it is hard to keep going day after day, taking all the steps you need to become reemployed.

Have you heard the comment, “looking for a job is a full time job”? It’s true. There is nothing more important in job search as your mental attitude. Maintaining it can be done with a routine and creating balance. If you always fit in a workout or exercise, keep doing that. Use your daily planner to manage tasks and time.

Notice when you are feeling discouraged- what lifts you up- a movie, music, a talk with a friend, spouse or counselor?  Eating healthy and not making yourself feel better with the extras and night treats, don’t get into feeling sorry for yourself. And most of all, “Act As If”.

You may be familiar with this expression as it applies to your job interview, but I’m suggesting it in a different context. You may have lost your job, but you did not lose your skills. Don’t lose your sense of self worth. It may take longer than hoped for, but if you “Act As If” it will happen, after a few months you can become employed again.

It won’t take long before you start building up complaints about your new boss or colleagues.  At some point, instead of just breathing a sigh of relief, reflect and spend some time to jot down anything you would do differently if it happens again.

You may not have control of your circumstances, but you do have control over how you handle it, as in everything else in life.

Karmic Ally’s Question: Have you been in this situation? How did you make it out of the hole and back into the sunlight of employment? I’d love to read about your experiences in the Comments box below.

About Roslyn Tanner Evans

I loved going to work each day for 30 years as a professional career counselor. I worked for a government agency providing services first to underprivileged individuals and then a sharp turn in the economy had me counseling unemployed professionals who had never been unemployed. The volume was so great, I turned to daily workshops where I was able to reach 30 at a time rather than the 3 I could see individually each morning. My goal was always to impart useful information, be motivational and give my audience back their self-esteem. I felt blessed to know I made a difference in many lives.

When I retired, I explored my creativity and regard for crafts until I discovered beading. I had no idea I had any talent nor that I would become passionate about it. At age 68, I turned my new found passion – jewelry design into a business. Fortunately my artistic daughter joined me as she does all the photography, copy, many graphics and her amazing jewelry designs. At age 72 I took on learning about social media marketing and developing my computer skills. I am still creating jewelry at age 76 and for the past two years, have an ecommerce site https://EarthandMoonDesign.com.

Note from Karmic Ally: Earth and Moon Designs doesn’t currently ship to India but if you are in the USA, UK & Canada, then do take advantage of Roslyn’s generous offer of receiving a gift card of $7 off your first purchase by subscribing to her newsletter here http://eepurl.com/YqUpX . If in the continental USA you will receive free shipping for life and exclusive offers including early access to their new collections and sales. Earth and Moon Designs respects your time and usually sends a newsletter monthly and occasionally to introduce you to their holiday collections.

Did I mention their blog is very informative?

We had an awesome session during my first Tele-seminar ‘5 reasons your job hunt is failing and 10 things what you can do about it today’ last Wednesday and many participants got new ideas to plan and action.

The 10 strategies I shared are practical, proactive and if applied can help you to manage those areas that affect your job hunt which you might not even have realized affect your job prospects.

Just having a resume is no longer good enough. Rising above the noise of other applicants is.

Job Hunting has changed such a lot!

I remember, way back in 1985 when I first entered the job market, job hunting was very different. One responded to vacancy advertisements, wrote lots of letters to companies with one’s resume and prayed that we had hit the bulls-eye.

Sometimes walk-in interviews were the best way to get a job. Most of us did not know about executive search firms unless we were told about them by some well meaning family friend.

Referrals for job openings played an important role because milk rounds only took place on professional campuses for engineers and MBAs. The rest of us had to fend for ourselves.

Getting into a Big 4 accounting firm, which was then the Big 8 for training as a Chartered Accountant, was a Herculean task. It required contacts and many times depended more on your background and family connections than your potential or merit.

Times have changed and the rules for getting the attention of the headhunter or prospective employer keep evolving with technology advancements. Things have become easier and at the same time, harder.

I selected the topic because, of late, I have been receiving CVs from friends, former colleagues and LinkedIn connections across the board asking for assistance in getting a job because their own efforts are not yielding results.

I’ve been asked questions on Quora about how to get a job or why the person is not receiving an interview invitation.

Submitting your resume to reputed and trusted executive search firms or headhunters is part of the solution but finding the right job depends upon your actions and initiatives.

In this post, I’m sharing one reason why job hunts fail and 8 places to look for jobs.

You are applying the strategy of waiting in your job hunt

This is a passive job hunt strategy based on waiting either on a job to be posted OR for a response from the recruiter or prospective employer at different stages of the job hunt.

This could be after submitting the resume to a job posting, after a phone screen or from the recruiter or hiring manager after an interview.

The waiting strategy is justified with the excuse that the job hunter does not want to be seen as too forward or a nuisance. But guess what? If you play the game of waiting instead of being proactive, you will not land any job or find it very difficult to find one.

An important fact that I picked up from a Forbes article, is that on an average, 118 people apply for any 1 job that is posted and only 20% of these applicants get called for the job interview.

(Update 14 June 2020: According to the Glassdoor HR and Recruiting Stats for 2019, for 1 job opening, only 2% of applicants will be called in for an interview)

Statistics often depend upon the sample chosen and survey methods used but it is a fact that when a position is announced, there will be lots of applicants for it.

Just check out a job announcement on LinkedIn or any job portal. If you find images and the words hot, know that there is competition for the opening.

So waiting is not a good strategy. In fact, waiting is NOT a strategy! Being proactive and taking responsibility for your job search is.

Stay Top of Mind of the Recruiter

Staying top of mind of the recruiter or HR professional is key to getting your resume through the door. Here is what you can do instead.

The important point is to follow up and there is information on the process in my blog post ‘Do you follow up’.

Busting the 80% jobs not posted myth

Another excuse to justify waiting is that the job seeker reads somewhere that 80% of jobs are never posted and they don’t try to think outside the box for finding open positions.

I am going to challenge this 80% myth because jobs are posted on platforms that do not comply with the strict definition of posting, which is paid advertising. There are many jobs publicly available for viewing that is not PAID for. Here are 8 places to get you started.

Now that I have pointed out the unicorn, here are 2 things you can try instead.

Strategy 3: Be more proactive and broaden your search by looking at the 8 places that I mentioned.

Strategy 4: Referrals are more important than you can imagine in securing a job interview invite. Be proactive by finding referrals within your network for companies that hire people with your skills and ask for introductions or referrals.

That was just the tip of the Job Hunt Iceberg, how would you like to create your own Job Hunt Blueprint?

How would you like to stop using the waiting strategy and wasting time reaching out to companies that will not hire you?


How would you like to apply for relevant jobs and improve your chances of getting invited for the job interview?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a strategic plan to direct your job hunt rather than the method of ‘Submit CV and pray for the best?

You don’t have to torture or embarrass yourself by talking to friends or head hunters asking for ‘a job’ or searching online portals and blindly submitting your CV just to keep your spirits up knowing in your heart that you are not going to get a response.

Having a focused and well-targeted job hunt plan can take away a lot of that pain and the worries that keep you awake at night.

What if you could learn a step by step system (that works!) that could help you save time in your job hunt and get you noticed by the right people? What if it could help you improve the probability that you will get a response from the headhunter or HR professional of a company where you have put in your application?

That is priceless!

Your Karmic ally job hunt options

I go through this and more with my clients who enroll in the Career Coaching Program and have a career change or job hunt as an issue.

I’ve also got a package for the DIY professional who needs a bit of tweaking of actions in their job search strategy. Learn more about Job Search Success: Find your Hidden Professional Opportunities by clicking the preceding blue link or the image below. A new window will open to show you the information.

I’ve also included bonuses that will ensure you play your A Game to land that dream job.

Ever wondered how to answer the ‘what is your greatest weakness’ and variants like ‘what are your 2 weakest areas’, ‘what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses’?

Or even the question that if the interviewer were to call your former employer, what would they say about you?

These are all ways that the interviewer tries to find out more about the real you. The part that is hidden behind the interview persona and what it would be like to work with you.

Often called the trick question part because it can stump even the best interviewee, it is easy to win with a strong answer.

In this post, I am going to share 2 options on how to tackle this challenge without falling flat on your face.

Don’t let the stress of the weakness interview question get you down

Being interviewed for a job, especially if you have been out of work for some time can be stressful in itself. You may have your guard up so high that your responses may be knee jerk ones despite the best pre-interview preparation.

The first thing to remember is that this is an age-old question.

If you give a trite or hackneyed run of the mill answer, like turning a negative into a positive, you might send out the wrong signals that something is really wrong with you or there is a cover up in progress.

In any case, if the question is a well beaten one, then the interviewer would also know the standard answers. He can trip you up with a follow up question or ask you to elaborate with examples.

During my corporate world days, the answers were easier by simply turning a positive which when taken to the extreme could be a negative. Since many of us did not have coaches to tutor us for the interviews, the answers were sincere and unpracticed.

It also helped to tell the interviewer that I was aware of the weakness and was working on it with a few examples.

That usually helped to move the interview to the next question after being told with great empathy that there was nothing wrong with the weakness.

If the interviewer was nice, the weakness was rephrased, and I would make a mental note to include it in my next CV update. It would also lead to learning more about the company’s training and professional development initiatives.

To be honest, the interviewer really does not want to know a lot about your weakness.

He or she is just checking to see how well prepared you are for the interview and to try to gain a better understanding of you and how you would fit in the organization.

A lot of information is gleaned during the interview with the ‘Tell me about yourself’’ and ‘Why do you want to work for us’ questions. This is just a continuation of the discovery and assess protocol.

Even today, there are certain ground rules to answering this question.

Be authentic, be brief and be general with your reply. Make sure you answer the question. Whatever else you do or don’t do, please do not say that you have no weaknesses. You risk coming off as cheeky and arrogant.

Besides, we all have weaknesses and shortcomings.

Remember, that you were invited for the interview. The recruiter must have seen something in your Resume and profile to issue the invite. Time is a precious commodity, and they are looking to hire a compatible competent professional, not torture you because they have nothing better to do.

How to choose your weakness and convey it from a place of strength

First things first, do not choose a weakness because you read about it somewhere and liked how it sounded.

This is where the authentic part comes in. Just because it sounds good, does not mean that it will work out during the interview process. Especially if the interviewer asks you to elaborate, asks what self-improvement initiatives you have taken or suddenly flips the switch by asking for a real weakness.

The cardinal rule to follow is to first choose the weakness and then demonstrate what you are already doing to dilute it and improve yourself.

Make sure that your answer is genuine. Some firms actually do background checks and also vet candidates via their social media profiles. If you say you have undertaken some training to overcome a weakness, back it up with evidence.

Here are 2 options for choosing your weakness or maybe 2 weaknesses as part of your back up plan and how to discuss them.

Option 1 – choose a weakness that is evident from your resume

Assuming that you have done your homework about the company and studied the job description beforehand, you would already know if there is an area which can be a competency gap and where you might need to put in some extra work and demonstrate that you are either working on it or are willing to work on it. Your interviewer would also have noticed it.

By bringing this up as your answer, you get a chance to highlight to the interviewer the seriousness of your intent for the job and your awareness of a deficiency that has to be overcome.

For example, supposing the job description talks about teams and knowing how to work in a team. Now, if in your previous job your work did not involve team members although you did interact with the rest of the department on an as required basis, you could state your weakness as not having that experience.

“Your role requires that I be able to work as a team member. In my previous jobs, I did not have to work as part of a team and used to mostly work alone reporting directly to my boss. However, I did participate in department meetings and liaise with other colleagues as part of my work. I am sure I can transfer that skill to a more concentrated team as I am used to working with others. This is an area that I know I have to improve on.”

No one will kill you for lack of experience if you show that you are aware of the weakness and are willing to overcome it.

Option 2 – choose a weakness that is not relevant to the position or of minor consequence

Mention weaknesses that won’t affect your ability to work effectively in the position.

For example, there are many people who are alright talking to people face to face or with small groups but feel uncomfortable talking to people on the phone or are afraid of public speaking. They are quasi-confident.

In this case, you could say, “I know I need to work on my discomfort of talking to people on the phone even though I love interacting with people in person and in groups and have no problem with skype or video conferencing. Not being able to see the person and their reactions tends to make me nervous. So after researching this area, I have taken classes to develop active listening skills and breathing skills to overcome my fear.”

By acknowledging the weakness and indicating that this is an area that you are working on. You show that you are proactive and know your skill development needs and are working on it.

You can continue the dialogue by asking if the company provides in-house training on soft skills that could help you with your professional development if required.

My recommendation for this question

When preparing for this interview question, look at the job description carefully before choosing your weakness. If you are applying for a job that requires diplomacy or confidentiality, revealing your weakness for voyeurism, snooping on others or bashing people on social media is not a good weakness even if you declare that you are undergoing therapy for this.

Your mission is to move gracefully to the next question and not ruin your chances of getting the job offer.

What experiences have you had with the weakness question during a job interview?

Did you win with a strong answer or was it back to pavilion? Do share your story in the comments box and please do share this post with others. Who knows who needs to read it right now?

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Written by: Vatsala Shukla

Have you ever applied online for a position that you felt matched your skills and competencies and yet did not get invited for an interview, leave alone land the position?

If yes, then all things being equal your CV was stopped by the online gatekeeper.

You aren’t alone. Reading some of the questions and comments on sites such as Yahoo Answers, Quora and

This is a prevalent problem for the earnest job seeker.

One discussion caught my eye. It shows the frustration of the job seeker and the feeling that online job applications do not work.

“Just lost in a sea of wasted data. I understand that there is a lot of competition, but after 5 years I have never gotten an interview? At least? Something is very wrong with the system. I have always been hired when I walk into a blue collar job and get to talk with a manager on the spot. I am tired of working jobs I’m make too little to get ahead and I’m over qualified for.”

Source: Indeed.com : Frustrated Internet Job Hunting. Update 9 February 2021: This article appeared in Indeed Community which was sunset on December 14, 2020.

The job seeker mentioned that most of the job postings on the job search sites directed him to the company’s on-line application website.

He mentioned going directly to the companies HR departments in order to by-pass the online gatekeeper but was told that they did not accept applications in person.

In one case he was referred by a friend who worked closely with the hiring manager and still told to go through the on-line application process.

He concluded that the problem lay with the on-line application process that these companies used where programmers were told to only draw out CVs that triggered “keyword” or else the CVs would never get seen.

The post drew over 50 responses. Some tried to help with ideas and telling the reality of online job hunting. Others were venting their own spleen and some reducing to blaming others.

Of course, there could be other reasons why our job hunt doesn’t get us the desired results but here we’re looking at the gatekeeper.

Don’t blame it on the online gatekeeper –face reality or get bitten

If you are applying online for jobs without success, then it is time to face up to some truths.

Truth #1 – Technology is playing an increasing role in the hiring process.

This trend has been around for as long back as I can remember. I remember when one of the companies that I worked for downsized and quite a few of us needed jobs in a recessionary economy.

I called the Country Head of a major Executive Search Firm with whom I had done business hoping he could get me back into employment. After all, he knew me. We had worked across the table together.

He was very sympathetic but advised me to first set up my online account with their firm, complete my details and THEN revert back as they had certain systems that could not be overridden, not even by him.

I did the needful. By chance I got a direct offer from an employer before I got to test the system and see if it worked.

The point is that nowadays, most mid-sized to large companies are using the online application process. With the help of technology, they are able to sift through 1000s of CVs to identify the ones whose content meets the job opening’s criteria.

Truth #2 – Bypassing the online application process may be more detrimental than beneficial to your candidature

One of the other reasons for setting up an online gatekeeper is to prevent hundreds of applicants inundating the inbox of the recruiter or HR department every time they post a position.

There’s an exception to this rule – when the job announcement asks for an email to be sent with the CV and other documentation. In such a case you can do a follow up to ensure your CV has been received. Call before sending it to find out who needs to be addressed in the covering letter. Other than that, there should be no circumvention of the process.

Sad truth, but there have been instances of large companies being accused of and sued for discrimination while hiring.

Even if you know the person who is doing the hiring, it is better to go through the process and via the HR department. The prospective employer would not want to appear partial or of committing any impropriety. Bypass their systems at your own peril.

What you can do instead to make the online bouncer let you in

Instead of focusing on how to beat the system, why not work with the system?

Your electronic résumé is important. So let us focus on it.

Accept it as a fact that when a position is announced, there will be thousands of applicants for it.

Don’t believe me?

Check out a job announcement on LinkedIn or any job portal. If you find images and the word ‘hot’, know that there are lots of applicants competing for the opening.

Assuming that you are qualified for the position, your objective should be to rise above the noise and stand out.

Here’s how:

• You already know that a computer is going to go through your CV looking for trigger words. So, take a good look at the job posting and at your CV. Are there any matching skills with a different wording that can be changed to match the job spec?

• Computer databases utilize plain text and do not recognize any formatting other than indent and return. Unless you’re asked to upload a word or pdf document, keep your CV simple. Make it easier for the computer to read and input into the right fields. Many portals allow you to review the input information before finalizing or ask you to upload the CV in word doc and then show you how it looks on the system. Make use of these opportunities to ensure that the information is placed in the correct fields.

• Avoid Functional CV formats because these are not online gatekeeper friendly and may not be properly read thus bouncing you out even before a pair of human eyes gets to see the CV.

Above all, do not blindly submit your CV or fill out job applications.

Put some thought into it to improve your chances of getting the interview call. Even if that happy event does not occur quickly, there are other avenues of job hunting which is a topic for another day.

How about your experience with online job applications? Good, bad or ugly? Do share your experiences and insights with me. I’d love to read about them!

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