Job Hunting on the Sly - Finding a Way Out of That Dead-End Job

Job Hunting on the Sly - Finding a Way Out of That Dead-End JobDespite what you tell your colleagues, youve looked online for work while at work. It doesnt matter if you say its only happened during your lunch break, sure thing, or you admit to taking an entire morning to peruse the job market. Everyone has killed some time looking for that dream job, while your current one takes a back seat. No one is here to judge you. Instead, why not find some ways to make your job hund easier? After all its your life and if you find a way to make it better, why not leap at that chance?If youve ever looked for a job while at work, its probably not the smartest move you can make. You dont have to be an Einsteinian genius to know that looking for work while on the job is a bad move. But, people do it a lot and employers are not oblivious to it. The key is being able to look for a job and keep it on the down low. You dont want some work place colleague to go back and spill the beans to HR or your bo ss.What are some things you can do to continue your job hunting without getting the hook from your boss?Maintaining productivityOne of the earliest signs of a distracted employee is loss of productivity. Excessive job hunting on the clock can kill productivity and make managers look for replacements before youve even found your new job. Managers can monitor computer habits so make sure that your job search stays within an appropriate amount of time. You dont want to get fired and your work computer is one hundred percent the property of your employer, so be careful when looking for another gig.Examining repercussionsEven if you do your search at home, make sure youre using your personal computer. If you use a work related computer, there could be active monitoring software installed, which is completely up to the company. Make sure that nothing you do can be traced back to you. And always remember that US companies have the right to fire an employee for any reason. If they are not j ust, then why should you be? There are plenty of opportunities out there and all it takes is you applying yourself to get them.When is it appropriate?Even if youre browsing out of casual curiosity, it can send the message that youre ready to leave your current job. About the only time it is acceptable to look for work while at work is in the event that you have all ready been terminated and you need the time to look for another job. Employees can spend some time job hunting if theyve already received a notice saying they will be laid off, just dont abuse the situation. Know the laws in your state and always have a way to fight your employer.Guest Post by Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CERW, BS/HR, is a Certified Professional Executive Resume Writer/Career Consultant and President of Professional Resume Services, Inc. She is a nationally published writer and contributor of 9+ best-selling career books. She has achieved international recognition following yearly nominations of the prestigious T .O.R.I. (Toast of the Resume Industry) Award. Erin has written thousands of resumes for executives and professionals. As a proud member of PARW, CDI, AORCP, Erin also sits on CDIs Credentialing Committee for new certification candidates and serves as a berater for CDIs Member Mentoring Committee. She also is a featured blogger on several well-known career sites. www.exclusive-executive-resumes.com.For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter GreatResume or visit our blog.

3 Crazy Interview Questions and How to Prepare for Them

3 Crazy Interview Questions and How to Prepare for Them 3 Crazy Interview Questions and How to Prepare for ThemAre you prepared for any odd questions an bewerbungsinterviewer may throw your way? TWEETCareer absatzwirtschaft is at its height as hiring managers search for new means to find the right candidate for the job. Whether its social media, such as behemoth career networking site LinkedIn, or traditional recruiting, the world of human resources is changing. And so must those searching for the right fit.Recently, major companies such as Dropbox, Google, Dell, and Apple have departureed polishing its interview policies. Gone are the days where hiring managers only asked common job interview questions about experience, skills, education, and job readiness. Now they mix in a little craziness just to shake the candidate and see where their mind is. Here are a few examples of crazy interview questions and why employers ask them.Shipwrecked with ChoicesIf you were shipwrecked on a dese rted island and had to choose from three people to help you, who would you choose. You can choose from ten people the lawyer, the doctor, the carpenter, the ships captain, the politician, the high school teacher, the cook, the scientist, the soldier and the policeman.This question may seem silly at first, but it tells the hiring manager about the candidates ability to adapt and their overall drive and personality. For example, if the person chooses the high school teacher, doctor, and carpenter, it would suggest they are planning to rebuild and start a new society. This shows the hiring manager the person is capable of bouncing back from a situation.On the other hand, suppose the candidate chooses the ships captain, lawyer, and carpenter. This shows a strong inclination the person values strong leadership over individual talents. But the ultimate scenario desired is the candidate who chooses the carpenter, the ships captain, and the soldier. This shows they are planning to get off t he island and turn lemons into lemonade.Extra CargoIf you were asked to unload a Boeing 747 full of jelly beans, what would you do first?This crazy interview question gauges the candidates ability to think outside of the box. A person who answers that would ask for help shows a strong inclination to team building. Some would say they would schedule time to unload the pile more efficiently. According to Bose, who frequently asks crazy interview questions, one of the most popular answers indicated the persons creativity, compassion towards others, and ability to solve problems on the spot. The person who received the highest praise said they would open the belly of the tuch and dump the entire contents on a poor, starving country.Others said they would order the cargo staff to unload the plane, while one even attempted to hide the beans. Whatever the answer, employers learned whether the candidate was able to make solid decisions on the spot or whether they could excel in a nicht weit davon entfernt sein-paced atmosphere.Clash of TitansWho would win in a fight between Superman and Batman?While this is the age-old question of comic book geeks everywhere, this simple question also shows the thought process behind answering strange questions. First Superman is super strong, able to fly, has heat vision and blizzard breath, and is virtually indestructible. On the other hand, while Batman is strong and fast, he is nowhere near as strong or fast as Superman. But Batman does have superior fighting skills, a utility belt full of dangerous surprises, and the cunning and wit of the best insane criminal.One candidate said Batmans alter-ego, billionaire Bruce Wayne, has enough money to buy kryptonite and create a weapon to wound or even kill Superman. This shows the job seeker as an individual who doesnt give up until they have found a solution to a serious, unsolvable problem. This out of the box thinking is what helps these candidates succeed.Get ready for the hard, crazy interview QuestionsHow can a candidate prepare themselves for these type of questions along with common job interview questions? Simple answer is there is no way to prepare for the unknown. Its how you work with the information thats important. The following dos and donts will help candidates make the best choice and win the job.DoTake time to understand what they are asking.Ask questions to see if more information is available.Consider the outcomes.DontOverthink the question.Go for the obvious answer.Say you dont know.No matter what, whether you are asked only a few crazy interview questions or mostly common job interview questions, hiring managers have learned these often silly and strange questions cause candidates to use brain power they normally wouldnt exhibit. Any interviewer can ask them to solve a problem in their specialty, but what does that prove? Asking questions that force candidates in an uncomfortable and impossible situation brings out their true abilities and skil ls.Related Articles