Your career not going exactly the way you planned? Feeling despondent because you didn’t get that promotion? 

Here’s how to stay positive when life throws you a curve ball.

Disappointment is a natural emotion that can leave you feeling negative with a consequent loss of perspective. You can choose “to sit and mope about your disappointment or to deal with it constructively and move on to a happy future. Here’s what you do:

- Focus on what you want and look at alternative ways of getting it. Reflect on what it is you want. Maybe seek help from psychologists, career counsellors, mentors, coaches, etc. Once you are clear on what you want, consider the alternatives of how to achieve it.

- Avoid constantly thinking about what could have been if you were not disappointed. The reality is that things did not go according to plan and you just have to deal with it. Life goes on and you may miss out on wonderful opportunities for success and joy if you waste time brooding over what could have been.

- Reflect on what you have learned from your disappointment. When things go wrong or haven’t gone according to plan, take the time to analyse the situation and try to understand why it did not go according to plan. Remember, anybody can make a mistake, just do not make the same mistake over and over again. What we learn from our disappointments can capacitate us to deal with challenges more effectively in the future.

- Take the opportunity to bring balance into your life. Very often the disappointments in your career are worsened because it was the only focus in your life. Whenever you experienced disappointment, spend time with your family and friends and enjoy things that you never had time for. This will assist to counter negative thoughts.

- Put things into perspective. Take time to reflect and step away from the situation to put it into perspective. What impact will the disappointment have on you tomorrow, next week, next month, etc.? Keep the big picture in mind and focus on the positive aspects in your life.

- Never doubt yourself. Disappointment often makes you feel like a failure. Never fall into this spiral of negative thoughts. Surely you have experienced successes and joys in your life? Reflect on those successes and joys and take the positive from them to assist you in dealing with your disappointment.

- Once you came to terms with the disappointment, take active steps to move on. Things are not going to change if you do not take active steps to improve your situation. Remember, you remain responsible for creating your future and getting recognition in the workplace.

by:  Teresa Alho

Finding work is probably one of the most frustrating and mind-numbing processes imaginable; or it can be. Unless you can find a consultant that really understands your background, what you are looking for and one that you can partner with.

This too is easier said than done ….

The key to really finding the right job is finding a consultant that you trust and that you feel comfortable dealing with. Ultimately finding work is still your responsibility and this means taking action when sending out your cv. In this day and age there are thousands of agencies to choose from.

Recruiters receive on an average 350 cv’s or more per day! The key to making yourself visible is picking up the phone and following up until you can speak to the consultant in person. Some consultants will phone back but unfortunately a large number of them don’t.

Once you have made contact with the consultant keep following up with them and reminding them what specific position or industry you are looking at. This will help the consultant remember you in return. Phoning enough times and having short conversations will result in getting to know the consultant little by little. In return the consultant will also get to know you better.

Always try and set up an interview with the consultant. Meeting face to face is more powerful that you realize. You will also quickly be able to gage is the consultant is really interested in representing you or if you are just another body passing through the door. You don’t have to settle for this. Find someone serious about making a difference for you.

Build a relationship with your consultant, its not an easy process or quick fix, but it can make all the difference on how you feel and if you find that career!

Make Sure Your Facebook Profile Doesn’t Lose You A Job

Do you use Facebook? I do too — and so do a heck of a lot of other people. Including my mom and my former boss.

Employers are increasingly using Facebook (and other social networking sites) to check up on potential and current employees. People have been disciplined at work, have missed out on job positions, or have even been dismissed due to comments they’ve left on Facebook and similar sites.

In the credit crunch times, you can’t afford to have anything working against you. Here’s how to make sure your Facebook profile isn’t visible to your boss – and how to clean it up if necessary…

As you can imagine, giving potential access to your entire profile could be a no-no. If you pack your profile with rude quotes, if your status update regularly includes how drunk/stoned/lazy you are, and if the photos of you are ones you’d never want to be posted on the office noticeboard … you might want to limit all of the information in your profile to friends only.

When an employer decides to check you out on Facebook prior to interviewing you, they won’t be able to see your profile, photos of you, and so on. The first impression they get of you will be a professional one from the interview. Leaving your Facebook profile open to them is a bit like inviting them to come and nose around your home (when it’s at its most untidy, with your stack of dodgy magazines left lying around…)

Do you want to risk missing out on your dream job because of your Facebook profile?

Top ten turn-offs for employers on social networking websites

1. References to drug abuse
2. Extremist / intolerant views, including racism, sexism
3. Criminal activity
4. Evidence of excessive alcohol consumption
5. Inappropriate pictures, including nudity
6. Foul language
7. Links to unsuitable websites
8. Lewd jokes
9. Silly email addresses
10. Membership of pointless / silly groups

Your Info

Have a good read through what’s listed there. You might want to update old information; you may need to self-censor some of your “favourite music” or “favourite movies”, if you have somewhat extreme tastes in either. Think about who might read your profile here: if you’re going for a job with a right-wing political or charity body, a long list of slasher/horror movies and death metal music might not go down too well, but it could be just the thing if you’re trying to land a job with a design agency that prides itself on “alternative” styles and creating shocking, engaging concepts.

Some quick tips that might help you are:

• Get rid of any silly, profane or potentially bigoted (racist/sexist/etc.) group memberships
• Try to list some favourite books, not just films and music. Employers will be impressed if you look well-read.
• Make your Quotations ones which are funny or profound; not lewd jokes that your friends made after a few drinks.
• Check for typos and spelling mistakes: these might seem unimportant to you, but they could be sending a negative impression to potential employers

Your Photos

Click onto the “Photos” tab. This will show everything which someone’s tagged with your name. It’s worth going through every single one, and untagging it if it’s not something you want to be associated with! Again, use your own judgement here: an unflattering shot might be a disaster if you’re trying to become a supermodel, but could be an actual asset if you’re aiming for a career in stand-up comedy…

Click on the thumbnail to view a photo full-size, and click the “Remove tag” link next to your name (at the bottom, under the photo) to remove the tag – meaning snoopers can’t find that photo of you:

For most of us, photos to look out for are:

• Photos where you look drunk/stoned/comatose (even if you were “just caught at a bad angle, honest”)
• Photos containing a number of “unsuitable” looking friends
• Photos where someone’s put a really dodgy caption about you (sadly, employers may decide against you based not only on your profile, but on what your friends seem to be like).
• Any photos containing evidence of illegal or semi-illegal activity – especially if your employer or school could penalise you for it

Why Should I Bother?

Current employers (or your university/school) may check up on your Facebook profile. The Independent article mentioned the unfortunate case of:

Kevin Colvin, an intern at Anglo Irish Bank, who told his employers he had a family emergency, but whose Facebook page revealed he had, in reality, been cavorting in drag at a Halloween party.

Photographic evidence can also be used to catch student culprits:

Oxford University proctors disciplined students after pictures of them dousing each other in shaving foam, flour and silly string in post-exam revelry were found on their Facebook pages.

Keeping Your Profile Clean

Once you’ve limited access to your profile and cleaned it up, you need to keep it safe for work. In my last full time job, my boss was “friends” with a number of my co-workers: this calls for considerable caution! If you have parents who are paying your tuition fees, you might want to make sure your Facebook account gives the impression that you’re making the most of their money (rather than partying constantly…)

Some good points to pause for thought are:

• When setting your status. Do you really want to declare that “John thinks work SUCKS” or that “Jane is thinking of throwing a sickie?” Even something a bit less obvious, like moaning about a difficult client, could rebound badly on you.
• When uploading photos. Is it really something you want your office colleagues to see? Or your mum?
• When commenting on other people’s photos, wall, etc. Think about what your words might convey to someone who wasn’t in on the joke or the conversation. Would you look bigoted, illiterate or plain nasty?

It’s also unwise to use Facebook while at work – your actions are time-stamped, so if your boss sees that you’ve been updating your account at 11am when you should’ve been hard at work, s/he’s unlikely to be impressed.

Why Should I Bother?

Thoughtless use of Facebook has led to people losing their jobs in the past (though this is usually due to admission of some serious wrong-doing, such as theft from the company). Even if you don’t get sacked, you might have to face up to consequences.

I’ll leave you with the cautionary tale of Kyle Doyle, a call centre worker who pulled a sickie … and bragged about it on Facebook:

Kyle Doyle, a 21-year-old resolutions expert for telecommunications firm AAPT, bragged about his day off on the social networking site while telling his employer he was away for “medical reasons”.

But he was found out when his boss spotted this Facebook profile update on the day in question, August 21: “Kyle Doyle is not going to work, f*** it I’m still trashed. SICKIE WOO!”

So … head on over to Facebook, and check out the employer-friendliness of your profile. Let us know what you decide to change (or whether you look squeaky-clean already) — but don’t say anything too incriminating in the comments.

Being unemployed is stressful enough without hassles surrounding claiming from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

What is UIF? – According to the Department of Labour, “UIF offers short-term financial assistance to workers when they become unemployed or are unable to work because of illness, maternity or adoption leave. The Fund also assists the dependants of a contributing worker who has died.”   The Department of Labour’s website states that anyone who works for more than 24 hours a month must contribute one percent of their salaries to UIF a month.

Who can claim? – If you have been dismissed or retrenched from your job you can claim unemployment benefits. You are entitled to illness benefits if you’re off sick for more than a fortnight. Death benefits may be claimed if a spouse passes away and maternity benefits when you’re pregnant or on maternity leave. One parent of an adopted child under the age of two can claim adoption benefits.

How to claim – Visit your nearest Labour Centre and fill out the Employment Register. You will need a copy of your ID book, a copy of your last six payslips, UI19 and service certificate (supplied by your employer), completed registration form and proof of registration as a work seeker. The UIF officer will hand you a white card that he/she has signed. You need to re-sign the register once a month to indicate that you are still unemployed. Money should be paid eight weeks after the first registration and will be paid each month until the funds run out.

How much can you claim? – If you have been contributing for over four years, you can claim for up to 238 days. Alternatively, you can claim one day for every six days you worked. You will receive a percentage of the salary you earned while contributing – up to 58% per day. You can claim up to 121 days for maternity leave.

If you experience any payment problems contact the nearest Labour Centre with your query.

 Thanks to Nazley Omar

Finding the right job for you can be difficult in South Africa’s jam-packed job market.

Five tips to stand out in a crowded job market and stay motivated:

1. Word of mouth – Spread the word that you are after some work and maybe someone you know (or someone they know) will be able to help. “Remember the old saying, ‘news travels fast’ – well, it’s true!”

2. Social networking - Take advantage of what technology has to offer. “The world is fast evolving and technology is daily innovating new ways to make connections between people more efficient and further reaching. Leverage off of these opportunities and use Facebook and Twitter to let friends know you are in the job market; search company fan pages and follow them on Twitter, as they often advertise job vacancies utilising this media.”

3. Register your profile online – There are networks in place for you to find work – make sure you use them. “There are many online job boards where you can access job vacancies and register your CV and profile – sites such as Just the Job. And the best thing about it, is that it’s free!”

4. Specialist recruitment partners - ”If you have a specialist skill, perhaps along with registering with local recruitment agencies, it is suggested to find specialist agencies that recruit for your niche area of expertise, eg IT, HR or finance. These expert agencies allow for your details to sit among a specialist pool of candidates, as opposed to a general mix-match of candidates across varying job categories – the benefit being more focused attention.”

5. Like attracts like - You get out what you put in, so when you feel despondent, remind yourself that this attitude won’t help get you a job. “A positive energy goes a long way to positive things happening in your life and, in this instance, your job search. People are attracted to positive people and sure enough, something will come through for you at just the right time. Remind yourself that negativity breeds negativity: remain focused, and realise that success never comes easy.”

Thanks to Gugu Maduna

Do you like what you do, but feel stuck in your current position? If you are serious about your professional growth and development it may be time to think about moving up and getting ahead. 

Here are 5 tips on advancing your career if you are not sure what to focus on next.

1. Communicate with Intent – If your employer is unaware of your desire for advancement, you are staying stuck!  Make an appointment with your boss, where you can personally connect and communicate your intentions with confidence and poise.  Emails should only be used to schedule the discussion. Be respectful, specific and succinct.  Listen to the feedback with an open mind and take care to understand the skill, competency, experience and performance requirements.

2. Take care of your relationships – Regardless of how good you are at doing your job, you really need to get along with others in the workplace.  This means taking extra care that you demonstrate the necessary people skills to gain respect of your supervisors, peers, sub-ordinates and clients.  It is important to remain authentic, but a friendly, positive and supportive attitude goes a long way!

3. Keep refreshing your knowledge and skills – It is important to keep on learning.  You need to stay abreast of news and new trends in your industry. Identify appropriate work and industry related publications and set aside time on a weekly basis to read a few articles.  Seek opportunities to attend appropriate courses, conferences or seminars.  This may require a personal investment as well if it can contribute to getting the right skills and knowledge.

4. Get a Mentor and/or a Coach – Establish relationships with appropriate mentors both inside and outside your organisation. A mentor is someone who you can look up to for guidance and advice.  If your mentor has influence higher up in the organisation, this will most likely be to your benefit.  In addition to a mentor, you may further identify the need to get an accountability partner who can facilitate and support you in achieving your personal development agenda – in this case you may benefit from a formal coaching relationship.

5. Work on your Reputation – You need to be known for actively modelling the behaviours that your organisation value. In most organisations it really helps to have a reputation of reliability, professionalism, cooperation, trustworthiness and respect for others.

Career and professional advancement will not happen by accident – it requires your decisive and deliberate action!

Take up the challenge to get clarity on your Professional Growth for the next year.  Take one clean page and set aside a few quiet minutes to write down answers to the following:

1. What is my professional passion and purpose?

2. What do I want to be, do and have in my professional life and career in the next year?

3. What are my top 3 SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals to achieve my professional vision?

4. What are my action steps in the next week and month to achieve each of these goals?

Make this worksheet visible – place it where you can view it daily to remind you of your professional vision and goals

Thanks to: Gina Mostert

On March 31, the new Consumer Protection Act (CPA) comes into play. What does this mean to you?

1) RETURNS AND REFUNDS -

It’s all about you in the new act, especially when it comes to returning goods or asking for refunds.

Consumers will now have up to six months to return faulty or unsafe goods.

If the product fails again within the next three months, the supplier is once again obliged to replace it or refund you.

But remember, this applies only to the general wear and tear of your appliances, not gross negligence on your part.

The supplier may charge you a small amount to repackage the product.

2) DELIVERIES -

Ordering online? Goods will have to be delivered at an agreed date, time and place. If not, you will be free to accept or cancel the agreement – it’s your choice.

Companies are also obliged to deliver goods that match the sample or description of the product. You have the right to examine your purchases before accepting them, and reject them if you’re not happy.

If you didn’t get a chance to examine the product and are unhappy with it, it can be returned at the supplier’s expense.

3) SMS COMPETITIONS -

As of March 31, companies will not be allowed to charge you an exorbitant R5 or R10 to enter an SMS or MMS competition, but will have to stick to the usual network rates.

4) REPAIRS -

As of March 31, companies have to provide you with an estimate for the work – which you must approve – and cannot charge you more than that estimate.

If more work is required above and beyond the estimate, they first have to get the go-ahead from you.

Companies also can’t charge you for preparing their quote, unless you’ve agreed to that.

5) PRIVACY -

Gone are the dreaded telemarketer calls and junk mail flyers. At least in theory.

According to the new act, salespeople cannot bombard you with calls and leaflets at certain times of the day and certain days of the year.

You can also put your name on a blocking registry to one-up the telemarketers before they even begin to dial. How exactly this will be enforced, however, is still anybody’s guess.

6) COOLING-OFF PERIOD -

Impulse buyers, this one’s for you. According to this clause, you will have five business days to change your mind about that mid-life-crisis Harley or the seaside cottage you fell in love with.

Notify the company in writing, and they’ll have 15 days to pay you back in full. If goods have already been delivered to you, you’ll have to return them before you get your money back.

Note that this applies only where you bought in response to direct marketing, which is when things are advertised to you directly, in person, in the mail, or electronically.

7) CONTRACTS -

Ever been billed for that gym or cellphone contract you thought had expired?

Thanks to the new act, automatic contract renewals will be no more. Companies will have to contact you – in writing – between 40 and 80 business days before your contract expires. They have to give you the option to continue your contract, change its terms or cancel it.

Note that the contract will continue on a month-to-month basis until you make your choice.

You will also be able to cancel contracts at any time. No more waiting for the full 24 months to end. If you’re unhappy, give the company 20 days’ notice – in writing – and you’re home free.

And while you won’t have to pay the full value of the contract, keep in mind that you still have to pay anything you owe the company up to the date of cancellation.

The company might also charge you a cancellation fee, possibly no more than 10 percent of the amounts still owed.

VOETSTOOTS -

Voetstoots, especially in the car industry, means buying it as you see it. Don’t go complaining to the seller when your 1962 skedonk no longer gets you from A to B. What you see is what you get.

But not anymore.  From March 31, suppliers will have to let you know of all defects – both obvious and hidden – of your purchase, and you have to agree to buying the product in that condition.

9) RESERVATIONS -

This one is still on you. Cancel a booking or reservation, and the supplier is entitled to charge you a “reasonable” cancellation fee. The “reasonableness” depends on how early you cancel and if the supplier can fill your now-empty spot.

If, however, the booking is cancelled because of the death or hospitalisation of the person who made the booking, no cancellation fee can be charged.

If you’re feeling hard done by as a consumer, contact the Department of Trade and Industry’s National Consumer Commission, previously the Office of Consumer Protection, at 0861 843 384, fax 012 394 2558, e-mail contactus@thedti.gov.za or write to: The DTI, National Consumer Commission, Consumer Complaints, Private Bag X84, Pretoria 0001

Complaint forms can be downloaded at http://www.dti.gov.za/ccrd/complaint forms.htm

(Thanks to: Emma Donovan from www.getclosure.co.za consumer complaints blog; Trudie Broekmann at Webber Wentzel Attorneys. – The Star)

Employment relationships are built on trust and the rights of parties. Employees and employers have very specific rights in terms of common law and labour legislation. Balancing these rights is extremely important and pivotal to a fair and successful employment relationship.

 It must always be remembered that with every right there is an obligation. In other words the rights of the employee are the obligations of the employer; and the rights of the employer are the obligations of the employee.

 General Employees’ rights: 

• not to be unfairly dismissed or discriminated against
• to be provided with appropriate resources and equipment
• to have safe working conditions
• to receive the agreed remuneration on the agreed date and time
• to receive fair labour practices
• to be treated with dignity and respect
• to non-victimisation in claiming rights and using procedures
• to leave benefits and other basic conditions of employment as stipulated in the BCEA.

 Employee rights – Basic Conditions of Employment Act

 In terms of section 78 of the BCEA, the employee is entitled to the following legal rights:

 (1) Every employee has the right to:

 (a) make a complaint to a trade union representative, a trade union official, or a Labour inspector concerning any alleged failure or refusal by an employer to comply with this act;

(b) discuss his or her conditions of employment with his or her fellow employees, his or her employer, or any other person;

(c) refuse to comply with an instruction that is contrary to this act or any sectoral determination;

(d) refuse to agree to any term or conditions of employment that is contrary to this act or any sectoral determination;

(e) inspect any record kept in terms of this act that relates to the employment of that employee;

(f) participate in proceedings in terms of this act;

(g) request a trade union representative order a Labour inspector to inspect any record in terms of this act and that relates to the employment of that employee.

(2) every trade union representative has the right, at the request of an employee, to inspect any record kept in terms of this act that relates to the employment of that employee.

Subsection (1) (b) above can cause a problem, because “conditions of employment” includes matters like salary, wages, salary or wage increases, bonuses and so on. Employers may not prohibit employees from discussing matters such as salary, wages etc with fellow employees, because the right to do this is a legal entitlement bestowed upon the employee by Act of Parliament, and the employer has no authority to deprive an employee of a legal entitlement bestowed upon that employee by any law.

 Section 79 (2) goes on to state as follows:

 (2) no person may discriminate against an employee (including a former employee or an applicant for employment) for exercising a right conferred by this part, and in no person may do or threaten to do any of the following:

(a) require an employee not to exercise a right conferred by this Part;

(b) prevent an employee from exercising a right conferred by this part or;

(c) prejudice an employee because of a past, present or anticipated –

(i) failure or refusal to do anything that an employer may not lawfully promote or require an employee to do;

(ii) disclosure of information that the employee is lawfully entitled or required to give to another person; or

 (iii) exercise of a right conferred by this Part.

(3) no person may favour, or promise to favour, and employee in exchange for the employee not exercising a right conferred by this Part.  However, nothing in this section precludes the parties to a dispute from concluding an agreement to settle the disputes.

 To view full details of the Basic Conditions of Employment please visit, www.labour.gov.za

(thanks to SA Labour Guide)

Regardless of your money management skills, your partner, children and family members could drain your bank balance.

According to the SA Credit Bureau Monitor, there are over 11 million South Africans who are overwhelmed by their debt. Chris van Rensburg, CEO of financial services company Kudough, says buying almost anything on credit is remarkably easy. “Credit can quickly spiral out of control and can become a tremendous financial burden if it’s not managed with absolute discipline.”

Lerato Maknete, Executive of Risk and Compliance at Liberty, adds that your loved one’s debts could affect your credit rating. Here’s how:

Signing surety:
It’s important that you don’t take signing surety for family and friends lightly, says Makenete. “Signing surety for someone is as good as signing up for the loan. If the first signatory does not pay, you are next in line. If you fall behind on the payments, your credit record will be tarnished, along with the person for whom you signed surety.”
When signing for someone, ensure that you have a close relationship with them, know why they need the loan. You should also sign a clear contract about the terms and conditions of the loan and what should happen if he/she is unable to make payments.

Marriage:
If you choose to marry in community of property you share everything – including debt. If your partner misses payment on their loan, creditors will hold you liable, too. They will attempt to recover the amount from your partner before targeting your mutual assets, which may include your property. 
If you choose to marry with a pre-nuptial agreement, your assets are legally yours regardless of his actions. 
Makenete recommends fully discussing both of your financial situations prior to getting married. If he is under financial strain, it is advisable to marry out of community of property. It’s also important to draw up a budget that you can both agree and adhere to. She adds that risk insurance, such as life insurance and disability cover, is essential to ensure that should something happen to either of you, your needs will be covered.

Thanks to:  Nazley Omar

This is a multi-faceted question with several answers. There are several different times throughout the interview to ask questions and several types of questions to ask. Asking the right questions also can signal how interested you are in the opportunity.

The Introductory Question:

Toward the very beginning of the interview, it is a good idea to pose one question before getting started: “As the hiring manager for the position, I’d love to hear your perspective on what you’re looking for in a candidate and what you expect the candidate to accomplish soon after being hired.” By asking this up front, the interviewee gets the chance to understand directly from the hiring manager what they consider to be key attributes for the hired applicant. This allows you focus on the specific strengths in your answers to interview questions. You may have to take initiative to get this question on the table first. You will have to find a convenient time to ask. When getting ready to sit down at the table, you might say you would like to ask one question before the interview begins.

The Obligatory Question:

In almost all interviews, the interviewer will ask the candidate if they have any questions for them. If it does not appear as if they are going to offer this, be sure to ask them if you can take a little more of their time to learn more about the team and company by asking a few questions.

When given the floor to ask questions, candidates should realise this is another time to provide insights on why you’re the best candidate. It is imperative that a candidate ask questions that do three things:

1. Show you did a little research about the company.
2. Mention something else (related, but interesting) about you.
3. Will have an interesting answer or prompt a good discussion.

Just asking, “when will you make a decision?” is not a good question. Ask about the company, the technology, the vision for the future, or something insightful. Questions about the hiring process can be asked through a recruiter or in a follow-up after the interview.

Candidates can also opt to ask some of the more generic questions, but these should still have useful and interesting responses. Examples include:

• What are the most attractive aspects of this job? What are the worst parts?
• What are the biggest challenges facing this department/company in the next six months?
• What makes this company a great place to work? Are there entities outside the company who would concur with rankings or awards?
• What would I see if I stood outside the front door at 5 o’clock? Would everyone be smiling? Staying late or leaving early?
• What are some examples of the decisions I could make in this job? What is the degree of autonomy and control I would have in this position?

Be sure to put your questions in writing so you do not forget them after a long interview. It is also a good idea to put the questions in priority order. This ensures that, if you run out of time, you have gotten to the more important ones. While asking questions, candidates should watch for cues that the interviewer is running out of time or wants to move on. If interviewing with different levels and roles in the organisation, present different questions to each of the interviewers based on their responsibility

The Validation Question:

After you have had a chance to ask your questions, you will want to validate that you are an ideal candidate for the job. To do this, you should probe into the minds of the interviewers and see if there are any concerns they have about you. The key question to do this can be along the lines of:

“After discussing this job, I feel as if I would be a perfect fit for it. I’m curious to know if there is anything I said or DID NOT say that would make you believe otherwise.”

The answer you get to this question may open the door to mentioning something you did not get to talk about during the interview or clarify any potential misconception over something that was covered. You may not get a chance to address shortcomings in a follow-up interview; therefore, it is imperative to understand what was missing from the discussion while still in the interview.

The Closing Question:

As you sense the interview is over and all the questions have been asked, you will want to leave on a high note with great enthusiasm. You will want the interviewer to know that you are excited about the potential of working there and would like to know the next steps toward this. A simple way to convey this is with the comment and question:

“I must say that I am even more excited about the prospect of working here than I was when I walked in the door. It seems like this would be a good fit for both of us. I am excited to know what the next steps are in the process.”