grounds to stand on.
Start by scheduling a one-on-one meeting with your manager. The best solution is to meet the problem head on. Don't avoid talking to your supervisor and don't start being absent more frequently, Andrade says. This will only give your boss a bad impression of your work ethic. Also avoid having a bitch session with your coworkers, Miller says. Eventually, what you say will get back to your manager.
Before the meeting, think about what your agenda is and write it down. Be specific and give examples. This way your reasoning will stay clear and you both will stay on task. The best way to open communication between you and your boss is to start with questions rather
than accusations, Andrade says.
Once in the meeting, ask questions. Ask what is expected of you in your job and how you can better meet those expectations. Ask for feedback on your performance and make sure to inquire further if any requirements are not clear to you. This way personality conflicts are avoided by focusing on specific problems, and your manager takes on a mentoring role, Miller says. After you understand what you need to do to improve your performance, make sure your boss knows what you need to be successful and what can be done to help you do your best.
When you are meeting with your supervisor, stay calm. "The one thing you can control is your attitude," Miller says.
Keep in mind that becoming angry or defensive will quickly end the meeting and could result in you losing your job. Your boss has the power to fire you and will weight in your actions and words the next time you apply for a position. Andrade advises to use non-defensive language. Begin your statements with "I" instead of "You." Saying "You overwork me," instead of "I feel stressed out" accuses your manager and makes him or her defensive.
Stay in the meeting until you have worked out your problems and have reached an agreement. Give your boss at least one week to start implementing changes. And, make sure to live up to your end of the bargain. Your manager will be more willing to make an effort if
you do too.
If you feel that your concerns are not being taken seriously or are just being flat out ignored, more drastic steps might be needed. Try to talk to your boss one more time before going to the next level of management.
Miller advises that this should be the very last step in the process and only resorted to if necessary. Often this can backfire because supervisors will back up other members of management before supporting a regular employee. However, a talk with another manager could be just what your boss needs get it in gear.
—Becky Rogers, Jayplay writer, can be reached at brodgers@kansan.com.
JOB TIPS Six things that will help get you hired or fired. BY JACQUELINE LENART
My right eye began to twitch as they fired questions at me. Beads of sweat formed on my palns with each answer I gave. It was my first panel interview and I was overcome with fear and self-doubt. Two days later I got a call that the job was mine. My stress and lack of confidence in my interview could have been non-existent though with a little prior prep time.
Preparation is the key to doing well in a job interview says Robin Ryan, career consultant and author of 60 Seconds & You're Hired. Ryan, who's appeared on Oprah and is considered American's top career coach, says the number one thing she sees with new college grads is they are directionless. "Most adults think, 'I can't help you if you don't know what you want to do,'" Ryan says. Whether you're looking for an hourly job or braving the professional job market after graduation, knowing how to face employers will help you get a job and keep it.
Hired:
1. Enthusiasm
Show that you're eager to learn. If you don't know how to do something, prove
you're ready to learn how. Willingness to try and determination in fighting for the job won't come across as desperation; it'll show you're up for a challenge. I was underqualified for an internship I interviewed for last summer, but it was my readiness to learn the necessary skills quickly that landed me the position. My boss was deciding between me and another applicant, but an extra phone call to her and the assurance that I'd put in all effort possible gave me the edge.
2. Preparation
Run through answers to possible interview questions while you wait. When it comes to interviewing, there's no such thing as overly prepared. The University of Kansas University Career and Employment Services office will tape you in a mock interview so you can see and hear how well you answer questions. Thinking ahead of time about what an interviewer could ask shows, Ann Hartley, UCES associate director says. "Employers like really specific examples from past experiences, and that's not something you can come up with real
well off the top of your head."
3. Experience
Having work experience always helps, Ryan says. While it's ideal to get experience in the industry you're interested in, showing that you've had a job is worth more than nothing. "The most critical is that you know about their company so you can tailor your experience to it," Ryan says. "You have to really the show the employer you're a good fit for what they need." She recommends finding your own top five selling points for how you can do the job. If you have computer skills or a customer service background, talk about how you'll use those strengths.
Fired:
1. Being Late
Getting there late just isn't getting the job done. If you're not putting in the expected hours then you're not putting in the effort either. Expect to get canned if you keep slipping in 15 minutes late. Human resources experts across the board agree that this behavior is unacceptable and easily replaceable.
2. Poor Performance
When you were hired, your employer was looking for someone to complete tasks. Your duties should be made clear to you, and you should complete them in the time frame designated by your boss. Make sure you and your employer are clear on what's expected of you using concrete measurements. Ask for numbers such as by what percent something should increase or how many hours you should be expected to work on something. Someone else is waiting to get your job done if you can't, so shape up or ship out.
3. Bad Attitude
A positive outlook helps bad situations get better. Working through problems instead of harping on them will get them solved. Put on a smile and be optimistic about changes and problems, and your coworkers will help work with you. No one likes to be around a sourpuss, so lose the bad and get glad.
—Jacqueline Lenart, Jayplay writer, can be reached at Jlenart@kansan.com.
jayplay
thursday, November 6, 2003
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