KRISTA OVERBY BEST FRIEND

Hi Best Friend,

They say that knowing is half the battle, and I know I need to make a change, but I am having a hard time actually doing that. I have had the same job for almost six years, and I’ve totally outgrown it. It’s time for me to move on. But I am having trouble actually motivating myself to look for a new job — any ass-kicking tips on getting over the fear of the unknown and finding something bigger and better? Also, I haven’t gone on a job interview for years, and I’m pretty terrified of having to do it. What are your tips for a nervous interviewee-to-be?

Yours,

Stuck in a Rut

Dear Stucky,

Have you thought about becoming a really bad employee and forcing your employer to fire you, therefore taking the onus off you and putting it on your employer?  It’s just a thought because then you wouldn’t have to make any yucky decisions at all.  Yes?  No?  I’ve heard it’s worked in the past.

Ignore that comment above, it’s a bad idea.

I think I’m going to turn the tables on your for a moment and ask you this question, What are you getting out of staying at this job?   What is it that you are feeding off of in this situation, because no one in their right mind stays in a bad situation unless they are getting something out of it, even if it’s something a little twisted.  Do you crave stability more than advancement?  Does staying at this job allow you to take the focus off of other areas of your life?

Even if that was true in the past, I think the fact that you wrote me, shows you are ready to make some changes, like you said - knowing is half the battle - so it’s time to make a charge at the other half.  Get your resume together and start putting feelers out there.  Take baby steps.  Just because your resume is being sent out doesn’t mean you have to take another job.  Just make some movement in that direction.  Build up your speed gradually.  Think of it like dating an ugly guy.  At first you are repulsed by his giant head and hairy ass.  Then after awhile you are like, wait a minute, when I rub up against his butt it’s like petty a furry kitty and his giant head is sometimes good when need to find him in a crowd.  So you see…giant head…job….kitty…..resume….what was I saying?

Oh yeah, and about interviewing.  I’ve heard blue is the best color to wear in an interview.  Apparently it’s a more trustworthy color, whatever that means.  I’ve find no matter what color you wear you need to feel like you look really good.  It helps the confidence factor.  Once you feel like you look good enough to hire you need to talk the rest of yourself into feeling good enough to hire as well.  It always helps me if I write out a series of questions to ask the interviewer.  That way if I space I always have notes.  Plus, employers like people who are inquisitive.  Remember you are interviewing them too.  You hold the upper hand.  I’ve also read that people naturally like people more when they’ve been the one doing most of the talking (we are all, afterall, most interested in ourselves) so have questions ready to keep them talking. 

One last thing, I’ve been on the other side of the interview table many times and I have to tell you, it’s almost more nervewracking to be the interviewer, especially when you are new at it.  It’s really an art and I don’t think many people have much talent for it.  So, chill - don’t freak out and remember if you don’t get the job, there is always your ugly boyfriend with the big head to greet you at the door when you get home…or not.  Sometimes it’s best to be single and date hot guys. 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 15th, 2006 at 8:42 am and is filed under Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.