Instant Interviews_ 101 Ways to Get the Best Job of Your Life - Jeffrey G. Allen [46]
Ask to Work
Don’t be a “Gee-whizzer” about this. Don’t say, “Well, I guess good things come to those who wait. I’ll be hoping to hear from you soon.” (Ugh!)
Say, “When do I start?” “Make me an offer!” “Let’s get busy!”
Incite right.
Now you know how to talk so an offeror listens. This will work to incite if you know how to listen so an offer talks. Around twice as much as you do.
It’s why your inciteful self has one mouth and two ears!
Do: 30 Answering Inside Job Listings: Gold without the Shaft
If you’re working now, the very best move—particularly while you’re instant interviewing—is often another job with your current employer. Internal interviewing.
There are the obvious reasons like maintaining seniority, keeping vested benefits, receiving the same or better pay, knowing how the company works, and being familiar with its products. These reasons are very compelling, particularly if you don’t have a job offer to compare them with.
But less obvious reasons should inspire you to jump at the chance: You know where the company has weak departments, where you can make a positive contribution, where the high profile jobs are, what managers are popular, which ones to avoid, what projects are hot, what the policies really mean, how to score high on performance reviews, how to get raises, which areas have the best promotion potential, and umpteen other things that take any new hire a long time to figure out. (Many never do.)
The big thing we need to discuss here is politics. Pure, raw, and ever-present.
I learned this lesson early in my first HR job after working that desk as an executive recruiter. I learned it from an amazing man who combined the vigor of youth with the wisdom of age. It has probably saved tens of thousands of workplace warriors when I wrote about it in Surviving Corporate Downsizing.
It’s the deceptively simple military protocol known as the chain of command. It means that you go through your next higher-up. Check what I’m saying. Not over, not under, not around. Through.
Shinnying Up the Chain of Command
Let’s look at how the chain of command works to finesse interviewing for a contract administrator posting. In this case, you know and like the contract administrator who’s getting promoted. You discussed the job, and he’s promised to teach you everything he knows. His boss is a gem—well respected and knowledgeable. The job pays 25 percent more than you’re making as a buyer. You get to travel, meet professionals, and are responsible for running large projects.
Your boss keeps you around because you know your job well. However, he’s got personal issues and is insecure about himself and his role in the company. He was passed up for a promotion recently and tries to keep a low profile.
So, you can’t look better than him or your job is in jeopardy. You also can’t say anything to anyone about his personal issues (he drinks too much—maybe does drugs too).
In fact, you’re the one who has to cover for his mental lapses and times away from the office when he’s on a binge. Worst of all, the boss doesn’t think he has a problem.
You’re this far along in Instant Interviews, so no problem with self-confidence and bailing if the right offer comes. The only thing is you’ve been working full time, and often doing your boss’s job too. Your interviewing, therefore, is done on nights and weekends. The offers are now coming at you a few times a week, but this contract admin gig looks like a no-brainer. You like everything about the company. An immediate increase in pay, benefits, and responsibility while losing the baggage.
What can you do?
Option 1: Go Over Your Boss’s Head
Simple enough. Just march over to HR and tell them you want to apply. They’ll send your personnel file over to the new manager and arrange for an interview.
Discussing the problem with HR is not an option. It’s hari-kari. When your boss finds out