Change-makers' Career Tips April 2006 - interview questions, complex interactions

Under The Radar

JOBS INVOLVING COMPLEX INTERACTIONS

     “The number of jobs that involve relatively complex interactions is growing at a phenomenal rate. During the past six years, the number of US jobs that include tacit interactions as an essential component has been growing two and a half times faster than the number of transactional jobs and three times faster than employment in the entire national economy. To put it another way, 70 percent of all US jobs created since 1998, 4.5 million, or roughly the combined US workforce of the 56 largest public companies by market capitalization require judgment and experience. These jobs now make up 41 percent of the labor market in the United States. Indeed, most developed nations are experiencing this trend.”
     “As companies explore how to expand the potential of their most valuable employees, they face more than a few challenges. For one thing, they will have to understand what profile of interactions, transactional and tacit, is critical to their business success and to allocate investments for improving the performance of each.”
     “On the human-resources side, companies will need a better understanding of how they can hire, develop and manage for tacit skills rather than transactional ones something that will increasingly determine their ability to grow.”
     “Companies will also have to think differently about the way they prioritize their investments in technology. On the whole, such investments are now intended largely to boost the performance of transformational activities such as manufacturing and construction or of transactional ones. Companies invest far less to support tacit tasks.”  “…now a green pasture for improvement.”

Excerpted from Bradford C. Johnson, James M. Manyika, and Lareina A. Yee. FutureWork: The Next Revolution In Interactions iseek, http://www.iseek.org/sv/11010.jsp?fwa=fw/fw5931.jsp&id=5931 The original article was in the McKinsey Quarterly, 1/6/06

Recent Career Trends

9 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

“Tell me a little about yourself?” (An opener, to start the interaction.) “Sell yourself, be honest and be brief!” in talking about your background — “…early years, education, work history and recent career experience.”
“What are five adjectives that describe you?” (To be sure you know yourself.) Before the interview, write down your top qualities “…and then identify the six that relate most to the role for which [they] are interviewing.”
“What is your greatest weakness?” (Helps you identify learning curves.) You may state one or two, but shortly and end with, “However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve taken steps to correct it.”
“What can you do for us?”(Where you really sell your skills, interests and abilities). What’s special about you and the benefits you’ll contribute? Succinctly provide the potential employer with honest, enthusiastic answers.
“Tell me about a decision you made in the last year?” (Shows how you make decisions.) “…use a logical and understandable approach that reflects clear goal orientation…” and demonstrates your values.
“Where do you see yourself in the next five or 10 years?” (Where you talk about how you hope to grow with them.) i.e. “I would like to become the expert that others rely on…” and be prepared for further responsibilities.
“Why did you leave your last job?” (Talk about what you’ve been working towards). Don’t bring up negative feelings towards former jobs. Speak about “…how the prospective employer fits into your aspirations.”
“What is the most significant challenge you have faced in the last year?” (They’re looking for your resourcefulness, solid character and follow-through.) State the challenge and 3 or 4 actions taken to address it.
“Do you have any questions?” (Demonstrate interest, not desperation.) Find out where you are in the job process timeframe with a question such as, “when are you looking to bring someone in for this position?”

Excerpted from The Interview 9. career builder, Los Angeles Times, 4/2/06

Career Life Symmetry

HASTE AS WASTE

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round
       or listened to the rain lapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
       or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
Do you run through each day on the fly?
       When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
       with the next hundred chores running through your head?
Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow."
       and in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"
When you worry and hurry through your day,
       it’s like an unopened gift....Thrown away....
Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over..

Though you may have seen this before, it’s a good reminder to pursue a more balanced approach to living by slowing down and enjoying it… even if deadlines must get adjusted. (Source: an anonymous Internet email.)

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