Simply Hired Blog

Small Talk Topics To Avoid

This post is the follow up to The Art of American Small Talk.

In my previous post I discussed how important it is to build your small talk skills thereby enabling you to quickly build personal connections with others. However, it is important that you realize how easily one can destroy these new relationships.

Every country has different faux pas topics that you need to avoid. 

 

Any of these topics are inappropriate small talk topics to discuss with Americans:

• Money
• Sex
• Politics
• Religion
• Family Problems (i.e. divorce)
• Death
• Economic Problems
• Terrorism & War

For example, in India it is common to ask “How’s the health of your family?” This question would not be well-received in the States, as that kind of “intimate” question would be deemed inappropriate.

Money is a touchy topic and you need to treat it delicately. In some countries it is very common to ask, “How much do you make?” However, if you ask an American that question it is considered rude and offensive. Like family matters, we tend to keep things closer to the vest.

Sex is another topic highlights the American feeling on impropriety.  What may be easily, casually discussed in a European country, for example, would cause an Americana to blush. You might be noticing the general theme of the American idea of “personal” information.  We tend not to share this information in a first meeting, so topics like sex, family problems, divorce and death are not mentioned. It may be confusing to see “politics” on the list as well, because you likely hear people talking about politics quite often.

However, I exclude it from the list of small talk topics because it can very easily lead to an argument. Discussion of economic matters and opinions could lead to a similar outcome. Imagine, for example, that you happen to love the President and his policies, and the person you are talking to cannot stand him. Sparks will fly. The same applies to religion: with such a variety and intensity of opinions regarding religion, it is best to just leave the subject along in an initial small talk session.

If someone else brings up one of these topics, then it is your job to steer the conversation in another direction. The last thing you want is a feeling of negativity, and it is better to make the conversation slightly awkward for a moment than to fall into a tense discussion of an uncomfortable topic.  Remember, the goal of your conversation is to build that connection where eventually can lead to a job, not a shouting match.

I believe that the hardest part of a conversation is having the courage to start it. It is intimidating to have to open with an engaging, interesting topic. Of course, that’s usually the first thing that people forget when they are nervous. So if you tend to have trouble doing that, I’d suggest trying each of these conversation openers:

• “Hi, I’m new to (city name) and am looking for amazing new experience this weekend. Do you have any suggestions?” (works even if you have lived there for 10 years)
• “Did you do/like/dislike the reading we had to do?” (for students)
• “Did you hear about…?” (refer to a recent event most will have knowledge about)
• “Do you know____________?” (make a connection with a mutual acquaintance)
• “Do you always get the same drink?” (coffee shop introduction)         
• “I like your shirt/hat/sweater/shoes, etc.  Where did you get them?” (everyone loves compliments)

Find out which works best for you and reuse it. I strongly believe in Pareto’s principle and know that 20% of the things I say to start a conversation will lead to 80% of my success. So today I want you to try out as many of these as you can and figure out which works best for you. Set a personal goal to talk to 20 people.

Then I want to hear how your tests go! Leave a comment below with your favorite opening line!

Michael Miller is the author of 4 Weeks To Your American Dream Job and the founder of Culture Adapt, a career education and consulting firm focused on international business people who are eager to work in the USA.

Can MOOCs Really Help You Get a Job?

Recently there has been a lot of discussion regarding the value of massive open online courses (MOOCs).

MOOCs are large-scale, easily accessible online courses. These courses are often associated with top-tier universities such as MIT and Harvard, and anyone interested can sign up for little or no cost.

The ease of access and world-class instruction make MOOCs a very attractive option for people seeking to further their learning and expand their skill sets. Some even hope to leverage this experience to secure their next job.

Could MOOCs, a still untested form of education, really strengthen your resume and help you find a job? Let’s look at the pros and the cons.

Disadvantages of MOOCs

They don’t replicate an in-person learning environment. The solitary nature of online learning means that MOOCs are not equivalent to courses taken at a college or university. Attending lectures and completing assignments and examinations without supervision simply can't offer the same benefits of in-person instruction. Although some MOOC services provide discussion forums and encourage student meet-ups, personal interactions and hands-on learning are very difficult, if not impossible, to replicate outside of the class environment.

Accreditation is not guaranteed. MOOCs are not necessarily accredited supplements to higher education. Although they may have ties to some of the best schools in the world, most of the courses do not offer academic credit. While some schools such as Antioch University and Colorado State University offer credit for select courses, it remains difficult to gain official recognition for your course work.

If MOOCs have all these drawbacks, should anyone be considering them to strengthen their education and skill sets? How much could a certificate of completion from a MOOC service be worth? The truth is they may provide intangible benefits that can help land your next job. MOOCs may not add to college transcript, but taking a MOOC can be an asset to your job search.

Advantages of MOOCs

It gives you something positive to talk about. HR can be very conservative, but no interviewer would count your efforts to improve yourself against you, particularly if you have been unemployed for a long time. Not only that, it also shows that you are an early adopter of a useful technolog

It demonstrates drive and motivation.  Finishing an entire class on your own demonstrates self-motivation and ability to work independently without supervision. Anyone can claim that they are driven in an interview. You, on the other hand, will be able to clearly demonstrate it.

MOOCs can help you build expertise. If you’ve been out of school for a while, MOOCs are easily accessible resources that could help refresh your skills or learn about new subjects. With your new base of knowledge, you can publicly demonstrate your expertise by using it to help real people. An easy place to start testing your knowledge would be the MOOC service’s own discussion forums (if they provide one). However, your real target should be Q&A forums on sites like Quora, where you can help real industry professionals resolve issues relevant to their work. Participating in topic-specific Quora forums in a productive manner can help you gain the attention of niche influencers and possibly lead to a job. While your participation isn’t guaranteed to fill your inbox with inquiries from headhunters, it could at the least help you network with industry professionals.

Conclusion

So what can we conclude regarding MOOCs? There are distinct pros and cons to investing time and they are still quite new and untested. Nevertheless they provide free and easy access to information and and help you build new skills. It might be worth a shot even if the rewards are less tangible than traditional college classes. After all, any education is better than none at all.

Jenna Kossoff is a digital marketing professional supporting IT Accel, a NYC and Columbus, OH-based recruiting firm committed to the development of contract and permanent IT placement for technology professionals.

Prepare for the Job Interview and Make a Great First Impression

Advice on how to prepare for a job interview often focuses on studying a list of generic questions like "What is my greatest weakness?" or "Tell me about yourself" and preparing answers in advance. While knowing how to answer these questions is important, preparing for an interview must be more sophisticated.

The job interview is your best opportunity to impress a company and distinguish yourself from other applicants. It’s where you get to stand out as a candidate by demonstrating your insight into the job and your knowledge of the company. Advance research and preparation will help you get there. What follows is a list of items you’ll want to know before going into your interview.

1.  Know the job description.

Carefully study the job description and note the exact objectives and skills discussed. Once you identify the objectives, look at your own work history for instances where you fulfilled similar objectives. You want to associate each of the mentioned objectives with an instance of success in your own career. If you show previous success at required tasks you will exhibit your ability to flourish in the job.

2.  Know the product.

Often interviewers will ask you what you know about a company. For this reason you want to have a firm understanding of what the company sells, the services it provides, etc. The more intelligently you can speak about a company’s products and services, the better.

3.  Know the company’s competitors.

Have a good understanding of the company’s competitors and how the company distinguishes itself from them. This will give you insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the company.

4.  Know the company’s language.

Learn the way a company describes itself and adopt the same language to discuss yourself, your skills, and the company. By reading what the company has produced—on company website, press releases, so forth--you’ll get a sense of the language they use. If you use the same language when you speak, the interviewer will have an easier time picturing you at the company--you’ll already sound like an employee.  

5.  Know who works at the company.

Use social media and company websites to uncover colleagues, managers, and any other key members of the organization. Knowing the names of these individuals will allow you to better follow along with the interviewer. Finding out who works at a given company may also help you identify potential network connections to contact for a referral or advice.

6.  Know how you will succeed at the job.

If you can speak intelligently about how you would succeed at a job, you will come across as the right person for that position. For example, if I were interviewing for a blog contributor position I would develop concepts for the company’s intended audience. Then I would show why those concepts would resonate with the blog’s audience, referencing research I had done (interest in similar topics, frequency of questions related to a topic, etc.).

It is important to keep in mind you won’t be aware of every company goal. However, offering an educated, well-planned proposal will showcase the benefits you will bring the company.

7.  Know what to ask.

Every interviewer will provide you a chance to ask questions. So while you prepare for the interview, note any information that you are unable to locate. Questions related to how the company operates, the products and services it provides, or how the company positions itself are excellent topics to ask the interviewer about. This will show the extent of your preparation and your inquisitive mind. Both will impress potential employers.

What do you always make sure to know before you walk into a job interview?

3 Secrets to Winning More Job Interviews

Do you remember the last movie you saw? Was it a romance? A comedy? A great action thriller? Movies stick with us because they tell stories and our brains tend to think in story lines. Stories have conflict, rising actions and resolutions - all of which help to create a solid picture in our memories.

The next time you sit down to write your resume, use the secret of storytelling to make your resume stick with potential employers and win more interviews.

1. Identify the conflict: Write a personal branding statement

Just like every story needs a strong conflict for the hero to overcome, every employer has a conflict he needs resolved. Does he need more sales? Better office management? A tech solution? Your first job when writing a resume is to determine the biggest conflict, or problem, your target employer needs solved and present yourself as the solution. The best place to do this is in the branding statement which should sit at the top of your resume. This is the first thing a potential employer sees and expresses how you meet his most immediate need. To write an interview-winning branding statement, include who you are, your top 3 skills, your specialty, and center it at the top of your resume just below your name and contact information. 

2. Be the hero: Include a summary

Once a story establishes a conflict, the hero needs to perform a series of rising actions which lead him towards solving the problem. The next section of your resume, the summary, is where you can show a potential employer how you can “be his hero.” In a well-written resume, the summary includes the skills, experiences, and attributes that you will bring to the job. Research the specific needs of the company you are applying to and make sure your skills match. Do not over-do it though. Aim for 10 to 15 concise bullet points that highlight how you can solve the employer's most pressing problems. Once the conflict has been addressed and the skills to solve it are shown, the stage is set for the resolution.

3. Save the day: Your work history

The resolution is where our hero wins the day. This is how you should view your work history: as the proof of how you have won in the past and can do it again for your target employer. With this frame in mind it is important to only include those things which directly address the conflict. Just as editors will leave more movie footage on the cutting room floor than ends up in the finished version of the film, you need to be a bit ruthless with your own professional history. Your resume should not be a personal biography. It should be a brief and concise document that shows how you can solve the most pressing needs of your potential employer.

Conflict, rising actions and resolution are the 3 most important aspects of good storytelling. This is the secret hiding in your local movieplex that can help job seekers to win more interviews. And the best thing? You can be the writer, director and star of your own career blockbuster.

Steve Brady is a 10 year veteran resume writer and freelance writer who runs Quality Resumes, a full service writing business.

8 Inspiring Ways to Salvage a Negative First Impression on Your Job Interview

Let’s face it. The process of proving your worth against a pool of other candidates is an overwhelming task. While you know you have enormous potential and would be a great fit for the position, you don’t know what your competition is saying or doing to get their foot in the door.

You prepare, buy a new outfit so you can feel your best and walk into the room to face your potential future bosses with confidence. Suddenly, you freeze and everything you remembered about being on top of your game goes out the window. Now, you are left with the sad realization that your first impression in the interview for the job of your dreams was less than fantastic.

Many people struggle with the first few minutes of an interview. The nerves you experience alone are enough to throw off your natural talent and ability to present yourself well.

Fortunately, not all hope is lost. Here are eight ways you can redeem yourself from a negative first impression on your job interview. This can well be applied on face-to-face interviews as well as phone or Skype interviews.

1. Admit you misspoke – The first moment you realize that the answer you just gave to a question came out wrong and left your interviewer raising their eyebrows, stop in your tracks, take a breath and ask to start over. The people interviewing you got to their position by going through the same process you face. They understand that nerves can make things sound differently than intended and will more than likely welcome a second attempt when you are calm.
2. Start a conversation – If you notice that your interviewers are yawning and trying to wrap up the interview as quickly as possible, start your own conversation with them. Ask questions to get them engaged. This will help your interview to flow more naturally and show them that you are genuinely interested in the company.
3. Avoid the words ‘I Don’t Know’ – Although you have prepared, it is not uncommon for an interviewer to throw in a curveball question to see how you react under pressure. Before answering this type of question take a breath and pause for a moment. Then, even if you are unsure of how you should respond or what you want to say, work through your response openly so that the interviewer can see your masterful problem solving skills and thought.
4. Embrace your weaknesses – Maybe your weakness is the job interview. Embrace this and when asked, let your job interviewer know that you are feeling more nervous than usual in the situation. Once you’ve stated you are uncomfortable, follow it up with why it makes you nervous and how you have worked to overcome your fears. This will end the question on a high note and let the interviewer know that you are aware of your shortcomings.
5. Be human – If you have made it half way through the interview and do not feel like you are acting like yourself, take a mental step back and reevaluate how you are answering questions. Then, focus the rest of the interview on being natural with how you answer. Often times when job seekers get so overwhelmed with how to answer specific questions, they end up sounding rehearsed which turns interviewers off. If you get this impression, take a moment to readjust your style and focus on just being you.
6. Send a thank you note – Once you leave, the negative first impression has been made and now you must work to recover from your poor showing. One of the first things you should do is send a thank you note to the people you interviewed with. If you have their email addresses, sending a quick email to say thank you will show your appreciation and keep you at the forefront of their minds without having to wait a few days for the mail to arrive at the office. Be genuine in your appreciation for their time and put your best foot forward in writing.
7. Ask for another chance – Take the opportunity to ask for the chance to meet with the interviewers again. Be honest about your shortcomings and let them know that you want another shot at the position, and why. Expressing your desire to work with the company of your dreams will show your determination and will likely get you another opportunity to make a second impression.
8. Take a lesson learned from your fumble – Mistakes happen to everyone. It is those who can learn from their mistakes, pick up their pride and move forward onto another dream job that ultimately lands the position they hope for. If you cannot recover from one bad impression in a job interview, simply take it as a life experience and do your best to move forward quickly from the negative experience. Then, apply your lesson learned to your next job interview for better success.

Negative interviews are not the end of the world. While in the job interview and after, you have plenty of chances to recover from a poor start. Use these tips to help you land the job of your dreams.

Tess Pajaron is part of the team behind Open Colleges. Her desire to consistently improve her life led her down the road of psychology. When not working, she loves to travel and discover new places and cultures, having a fancy for modern minimalist architecture and interior design. She can also be found on InformEd, where she regularly contributes about eLearning and education.