Sunday, May 31, 2020

Resume Bias Gender, Names, Ethnicity [2020 Study]

Resume Bias Gender, Names, Ethnicity [2020 Study] One of the first steps during a job hunt is to submit a resume with your name at the top in big, bold letters. While your work experience and education are the qualities you hope will stand out, there is still a possibility that hiring managers hold on to some biases and mentally rate candidates based on their names alone.We surveyed hiring managers to see if there was any gender bias present when they looked over our sample resumes (which were identical in every aspect other than the applicants names), so we could pinpoint which applicants were more likely to get an interview. Lets take a look to see what we found out.By the NameFirst, we checked which names of our theoretical applicants were the likeliest to receive a callback from a hiring manager. Malik Washington had the highest percentage of hiring managers who said they were likely to call for an interview, while Destiny Washington had the lowest percentage. The name with the largest percentage of hiring managers who said the y were unlikely to call was Jose Vazquez.We looked into the reasons Destiny wouldnt get a callback. The No. 1 reason cited by our respondents was her lack of education, although everyone had the same resume except for the name.Its a Matter of SexNext, we looked at the gender of the applicants and how that affected their chances of getting a callback from a hiring manager. Our carefully chosen gender-neutral name, Casey Smith, was less likely (80 percent) to merit a call than applicants with female names (82 percent) or male names (84 percent).Those hiring managers who didnt think Casey deserved a callback said it was because the applicant lacked experience. Again, all our resumes had the same information it was just the names that differed.Does a Callback Depend on the Managers Gender?Next, we analyzed the data to see if hiring managers gender factored into the decision to call an applicant or toss their resume aside. Hiring managers seemed to prefer the opposite sex when making hi ring decisions. In other words, men were slightly more likely to call female applicants, and women were somewhat more likely to call male applicants.When we broke it down by name, there was more of a disparity in some cases, but for some applicants, it was pretty close for male and female hiring managers. For example, women were far more likely to call Malik Washington (93 percent) than men (84 percent), while both were equally likely to call Destiny Washington (79 percent of and 78 percent of men would call her back).Gender DifferencesThere were a few names that really stood out as differences among hiring managers. The most polarizing name in our job applicant pool was the gender-neutral Casey Smith. Ninety percent of female hiring managers stated they were likely to call him or her for an interview, but only 71 percent of men said the same.Some percentages were a lot closer than that, however. Seventy-eight percent of men and 79 percent of women would be likely to give Destiny a call.Eighty-three percent of male hiring managers and 84 percent of female hiring managers said theyd likely give Emily Schmitt a call.Whats in a Name?As much as wed like to think that our professional experience, education, and skill set are what pop out to hiring managers, our survey reveals this doesnt always happen. It was a little shocking to have some of our respondents say outright that they would not consider an applicant, and it was also insightful to see the biases that were present when our respondents viewed the same resumes, with the only difference being the name at the top of the document.While many people are taking strides to eliminate gender biases, it may be true that some are so ingrained people may not realize they carry these presumptions until theyre highlighted.Sourceshttps://www2.census.gov/topics/genealogy/2010surnames/surnames.pdfhttps://surnames.behindthename.com/name/schmittMethodology and LimitationsWe collected responses from 910 participants from Amaz ons Mechanical Turk. Only respondents who said one of their responsibilities at their job in the past year included hiring were allowed to take the survey. Eighty-one percent of these employees involved in hiring were white or Caucasian, 7 percent said they were black or African-American, 6 percent said they were Hispanic, and 6 percent said they were Asian or Asian-American. Fifty-three percent were men, and 47 percent were women.The first names of the fictitious job applicants were based on the most popular names in Georgias Online Analytical Statistical Information System (OASIS) in 1997. The gender-neutral name was chosen based on the BabyNames1000 listing for the most popular gender-neutral names from 1997. Last names came from the Demographic Aspects of Surnames From Census 2000 on Table 2.The survey shown to each hiring manager was done through random assignment. Every resume had an 11.12 percent chance of being shown to a hiring manager. Because it was random, resumes were n ot shown the same number of times. The breakdown was:Malik WashingtonTotal number of hiring managers: 117Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 62Women: 55Hiring managers race/ethnicity breakdown:White or Caucasian: 95Asian or Asian-American: 10Black or African-American: 7Hispanic: 5Casey SmithTotal number of hiring managers: 114Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 63Women: 51Hiring managers race/ethnicity breakdown:White or Caucasian: 84Asian or Asian-American: 9Black or African American: 11Hispanic: 7Multiracial or Biracial: 3Jose VazquezTotal number of hiring managers: 104Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 49Women: 55Hiring managers race/ethnicity breakdown:White or Caucasian: 77Asian or Asian-American: 6Black or African American: 8Hispanic: 10Multiracial or Biracial: 3William SchmittTotal number of hiring managers: 101Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 51Women: 50Hiring managers race/ethnicity breakdown:White or Caucasian: 76Asian or Asian-American: 10Black or African Amer ican: 9Hispanic: 3Multiracial or Biracial: 2American Indian or Alaskan Native: 1Gabriela VazquezTotal number of hiring managers: 95Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 51Women: 44Hiring managers race/ethnicity breakdown:White or Caucasian: 66Asian or Asian-American: 8Black or African American: 8Hispanic: 6Multiracial or Biracial: 7Emily SchmittTotal number of hiring managers: 98Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 48Women: 50Hiring managers race/ethnicity breakdown:White or Caucasian: 78Asian or Asian-American: 10Black or African American: 6Hispanic: 2Multiracial or Biracial: 1Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 1Tina WuTotal number of hiring managers: 99Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 45Women: 54Hiring managers race/ethnicity breakdown:White or Caucasian: 78Asian or Asian-American: 7Black or African American: 5Hispanic: 8Multiracial or Biracial: 1Destiny WashingtonTotal number of hiring managers: 92Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 47Women: 45Hiring managers race/ethni city breakdown:White or Caucasian: 62Asian or Asian-American: 12Black or African American: 8Hispanic: 7Multiracial or Biracial: 2American Indian or Alaskan Native: 1Christopher WuTotal number of hiring managers: 90Hiring managers gender breakdown:Men: 53Women: 37Hiring managers race/ethnicity breakdown:White or Caucasian: 78Asian or Asian-American: 2Black or African American: 2Hispanic: 6Multiracial or Biracial: 2Each person with hiring responsibilities saw one resume. They were presented with a job listing for which the applicant was applying.Every resume was nearly identical apart from each applicants name and email address, which only differed by the name of the job applicant.Because there was no set quota for how many hiring managers from each race or ethnicity would see each of the resumes, one resume may have been reviewed by more people than others. For example, eight Asian or Asian-American hiring managers saw Gabriela Vazquezs resume, but 12 saw Destiny Washingtons. Because the resume that each hiring manager saw was random, the total number of reviews each resume received varied.Fair Use StatementShocked to see bias in hiring managers decision-making in 2018? We are too. Perhaps making others aware of the problem will put us on the right track. Continue the dialogue with your readers by sharing this article with them, as long as its for noncommercial purposes. Please remember to link back to this page so that they can view the full breadth of our research.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Using Your Online Networking Profile to Hire a US Resume Writing Service

Using Your Online Networking Profile to Hire a US Resume Writing ServiceUS resume writing service providers are usually very busy with the job market. As such, they do not have time to study or read through a lot of resumes. This is where you can come in and share your skills and expertise. You can provide a resume writer the necessary knowledge needed to create a good resume.Sometimes, a person's online skill-set may not translate well in writing. You can offer guidance on these as well. You may offer your own personal experience, but this can be expanded upon. The main idea is to allow the company to tap into your knowledge base. So how can you do this?A simple strategy would be to ask for a sample resume. This is your chance to show your expertise in the industry. You can offer a sample and let the company know what you can do and what you will be capable of doing.Many companies run their own resume services and hire their own writers, so you may want to first create a resume that represents your personal style. You may want to use your own experience in your resume. You can highlight the skills you bring to the table. You can even use your own family members and friends as examples in your resume.If you do not have much experience, creating a resume for yourself may not be a bad idea. However, it may require more time than if you were to hire a professional. Make sure that you ask if the company has any requirement on the job. Once you have given them an outline of what you can do, then you can move on to making the resume of your own.You may even take time to interview for the position you are applying for. Youmay want to learn how the company works and what it takes to become a part of their team. Once you feel comfortable with their operation, you can turn your attention to what is required on your resume.Of course, the amount of time required to create a resume can vary based on the size of the company. One resume writing service may only take a few hou rs to create a simple resume. While another may take weeks to do the same. It is a matter of preference.Keep in mind that each resume will be different. By allowing a company to see what you can do, they can work out what you will be able to do. They will also be able to assess your potential based on what you offer.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

A Compelling Resume Example for Sales To Nail Your Application

A Compelling Resume Example for Sales To Nail Your Application A Compelling Resume Example for Sales To Nail Your Application Sales. It’s a profession that requires unique skills and talents. Anyone who understands success in sales knows that it takes a combination of psychology, an extroverted personality, diplomacy, organization, and more to be a competent professional.It is definitely not a career for those who prefer sitting behind a desk or sitting at a computer. Successful salespeople are “people persons,” and they are enthusiastic about developing connections and relationships with others, especially customers. All of these qualities and attributes should be strategically highlighted in your resume. But as we all know well enough selling oneself is the hardest job! Below you’ll find the essential tips for writing a banging resume and a detailed resume example for sales pros to use.Reserve the “Executive Summary” Section For Your AchievementsYou should highlight your biggest achievements in your “executive summary” at the beginning of the resume. You want a potential employer to se e those up-front major achievements. If you managed a sales department that had a 25% growth rate during your tenure, shout it out. This is big stuff and it deserves a prominent place.Your Resume Should Be Result-DrivenDon’t list up your duties and skills. Instead, make sure that the rest of your resume also focuses on results that you have accomplished. They may not be as major as this first achievement, but you need to relate that you have been successful in each position you have held.Sale yourself as a good hire to even more employers by taking the best bits from other well-written resume samples!Here are some prompts to help you get going in the right direction:Did you achieve a high sales ranking within your department?Did you grow your client base? By how much?How many new accounts did you sign?What awards did you receive?You Degree is Not as Important as Your Training and Certifications.Successful salespeople come with all sorts of degrees, some even with high school diplo mas or Associate degrees. What matters more throughout a career will be the additional training and certifications obtained, plus the coveted achievements. Hence, you should not dwell too much on the education section and absolutely consider the chronological resume format.Mind the Target the Audience.Are you currently employed by a large corporation, looking to become a big fish in the little pond of a smaller company? Or is it the opposite (or the same)? Are you applying for a position in sales that is within the same niche or a different one? These things will “color” how you word your resume. The key will be to demonstrate the value that you can bring to the target organization. And this will vary depending on the size and the niche.Demonstrate Confidence.A big factor in your resume wording will be conveying a message of confidence. If you have had prior and current successes, this should not be difficult. Words such as “I can, will, have decided, definitely, always” convey confidence (but don’t use the ‘I” word too often).Finally, this is already well-known but is worth repeating. Review the job posting carefully. Pick out keywords in that posting that you believe might be used via a digital screening. Be certain that these are included in your resume, and as close to the top as possible.Sales Resume Sample (.docx version)Download resume example (.docx)Your Resume Example for Sales (text version) Kathy D. Johnston4083 Rockford Mountain Lane Grand Chute, WI 54913 (123)555-1234 kathy@email.comRecord-Setting pharmaceutical sales professional whose sales exceeded corporate goals by 24%. Committed to developing long-term customer relationships to advance organizational value.PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEABC Pharmaceuticals, St. Louis MO                                                                                                                      2012-PresentDistrict Sales ManagerManage district sales staff of 4. Repeatedly invited to host tra inings for reps from other divisions.Maintain customer relations; network with physicians and medical groups to obtain new customers. Average 28% growth in sales over the past 8 years; average 13% increase in customer base.Transformed bottom-ranked sales territory (previously in the lowest 15% companywide) to become a top-producing revenue-generator.XYZ Pharmaceutical                                                                                                                                                                             2007-2012District SalespersonResponsible for sales, customer relations, and marketing to potential customers. Exceeded corporate sales goals by 23%; received award for highest-performing district, 4 years.EDUCATION AND TRAININGUniversity of Missouri                                                                                                                                                                         2001-2005 B.S. Business Administrat ion, Cum LaudeUniversity of Missouri                                                                                                                                                                         2005-2007 M.A., Marketing, 4.0 GPAHoffman Sales Training                                                                                                                                                                                             2008Sandler Selling Systems                                                                                                                                                                                             2013ConclusionsDepending on the resume template you’ll choose, you may also want to include a list of key skills separately to go along with your career details. Finally, keep the same bold and confident tone in your cover letter, where you’ll further comment on your achievements and explain your particular strengths! previo us article Resume Example For Nurses: How to Land an Interview in This Competitive Field next article How Long Should Your Resume Be? How Long is Too Long? you might also likeA Model Resume Example That Will Get Results

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Handle Critique to Improve Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Handle Critique to Improve Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “Do you get offended upon hearing critique?” The heart of the matter is, our ego is at stake when we hear suggestions for improvement whether we ask for recommendations or not. Diplomacy isn’t the major factor although a friendly tone certainly helps, but it is more about whether we are receptive to the idea of change and our ability to get over the fact not everything we do is perfect. Looking back, the most sensitive critiques I received in business (I had to brace myself to receive some of these messages with seemingly good spirit) were, without doubt, of the biggest help. Many years ago, I actually felt like smacking someone when he belittled my newly self-published book upon hearing, “If your book were any good, a publisher would have picked it up.” I still believe self-published books do not belittle the quality of the content. But hearing the nastiness in his voice, it became my mission to find a publisher and I did. And doing so launched my credibility and business. The fact is, I listened. That experience taught me to seek out critique for more rapid advancement. Now in practice of welcoming critique, I sent another manuscript to a friend to see how she liked it. To my surprise she let me know she had a big problem with some of the writing style in that piece. I listened, and I removed what was disliked. My thinking was, if she did not like it then there are other potential readers out there who might not like it as well. Realizing much was at stake, I sent the manuscript to another good friend to read through as she had authored a few books herself. She kindly gave me excellent suggestions for keeping me on track with the content of each chapter. The differentiator in moving ahead more quickly is whether or not you take action on the requested as well as unsolicited advice. Examine comments for validity. Are you able to see what they see? Can you admit they are right? How do you believe making the change might enhance what you are attempting to accomplish? Taking action may well bring about the most significant leap forward in your business. Interestingly, a curious turn of events took place upon my being asked to review a new project of one of the people who previously critiqued my manuscript. Perhaps it was because my comments were unexpected, but the stiffness on the other end of the phone could be heard as if a wall went up. I explained that I was so appreciative of how she previously helped me, and that my intention was to reciprocate. We ended okay but my insight was not taken particularly well and it’s doubtful action will be taken. When we can put ego aside, much may be gained from the insight of others, and that’s when we leapfrog forward. This newfound style adds to your personal brand of being easy to work with. Simply doing this will advance you to the wave of the Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of  Smooth Sale,  (800) 704-1499; authored “INSPIRED Business A New View for Building Business and Communities”;  â€œNice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, and “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews“. Elinor was designated as a “Top 25 Sales Influencer for 2012.”

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Finding the Best Affordable Resume Writing Services

Finding the Best Affordable Resume Writing ServicesThe best affordable resume writing services can offer all of the services that you need without charging too much. They do not have to be specialists in every area of resume writing. In fact, there are a number of services that specialize in just one type of resume or no resume at all.When you meet with a specialist, they will be able to discuss their unique services with you and tell you what they can do for you. This will allow you to get started with your own unique project without needing to meet with another company. However, you should take the time to talk to the company to find out what their particular skills are in this area.When you start looking for the services you need, be sure to mention any special requirements that you may have. A lot of companies will offer this to you. You should be aware of this if you are unsure about what they are offering.The best affordable resume writing services are going to offer services t hat allow you to choose exactly what you need. There is a service that is for individuals only, and a service that is for companies only. This is important to know because these two types of services will help to make your process much easier.Will they do the same work? This is something that you need to think about, as well. Sometimes the same company can do very different things, so you need to consider whether or not you want them to do the same work.Some companies will charge a flat fee, and others may have a set price. You want to be sure that the company charges a flat fee because it will save you time in the long run. Not only that, but it will save you money in the long run, as well.The best affordable resume writing services will offer a free quote before any work begins. You can then get an idea of how much work you will need to do in order to complete a project. This will help you decide how much you can afford to spend on the project.You need to do a little research to f ind the right work. You will need to consider how long the project will take, what type of fees are involved, and what kind of support the company offers. Once you have all of this information, you will be able to get started on a project that will provide you with the results you are looking for.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

3 Powerful Ways to Exhibit Confidence even When You are An Introvert CareerMetis.com

3 Powerful Ways to Exhibit Confidence even When You are An Introvert â€" CareerMetis.com Do you feel like you are a shy and introverted nature is hindering your confidence?Well, you may be incorrectly associating your introverted nature as a lack of social skills and confidence.evalSeveral famous personalities exhibit confidence effortlessly and the lead the world, showing that you don’t need to be ‘loud’ to be heard.Don’t believe it?Well, here is a list of famous introverts who’ve left a mark on history:Albert EinsteinRosa ParksBill GatesSteven SpielbergSir Isaac NewtonEleanor RooseveltMark ZuckerbergLarry PageIf they can do it, so can you!Before, we reveal the three realizations that that will enable you to believe that you can be confident even if you are an introvert, let’s first understand what it is to be an introvert and what is the notion of confidence.What is it to be an introvert?Introvert comes from Latin intro-, “inward,” and “turning.” It describes a person who tends to turn inward mentally.Notice, that the definition in no way talks abou t a lack of confidence or ability. Being an introvert is very common. You’d be surprised to know that, at least 45% of the US population is introverted.evalIntroversion and extroversion are temperaments â€" that is, a way that you prefer to interact with the world. Your genes largely determine this temperament.Your confidence, however, has nothing to do with your temperament. Our life experiences shape us â€" as an introvert, if you were constantly bullied and told to “come out of your shell,” you may have developed social anxiety and feel less confident. However, note that being an introvert doesn’t necessarily make you less confident â€" this is one of the most misunderstood myths.Here are 2 other myths about introversion that you must keep in mind:Introverts are socially awkward = Myth.Social awkwardness has nothing to do with introversion. Many introverts are very charismatic.Introverts wish to be extroverts = Myth.evalBeing an introvert is part of a person’s innate pe rsonality. It is not something that needs to be “fixed.” Introversion and extraversion come with their respective advantages and disadvantages, not making anyone’s temperament better than the other.So, what is confidence? Self-confidence is a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgment.Here are 5 common self-confidence myths:“Some people were just born confident. I know I’ll never havethatkind of confidence no matter how much I practice.”“My self-worth is directly associated with how I look and how much money I have.”“When I’m confident, I won’t feel afraid or nervous anymore.”“Confidence: You either have it, or you don’t.”“Very successful people have highself-esteem.”Now that we understand what introversion and confidence are NOT, let us learn of a few realizations that will allow us to exhibit confidence even when as an introvert who is seemingly mistaken for not having confidence.Realization 1: Confidence comes from within “I just want to feel more confident” is a common wish of many introverts. They try many ways to feel so: ‘fake it till they make it,’ have some alcohol to get liquid courage, etc.However, this pseudo-confidence and ‘fake it till you make it’ approach usually manifests itself as passive-aggressiveness, eating disorders and negative body image, and general anxiety. There’s a transparency to real confidence, making it harder to fake it.What if you could genuinely feel confident, and not have to fake it?Well, it’s possible. Here is one realization that will allow you to do so: Confidence comes from withinConfidence is not “they will like me.” Rather, confidence is “I will like myself, even if they don’t.” Confidence is not about ‘how others view you.’ Rather, confidence is about ‘how you view yourself.’ That is, confidence is inward. When you start respecting and valuing yourself, you will be able to exhibit confidence effortlessly.evalConfidence is built t hrough our dealings with the world. Since our situations, social networks and relationshipsare ever-changing, so is our spirit â€" it is fluid. It usually comes from our attitudes about ourselves and reactions to others. Therefore, we need to work on our inner self, thoughts, and mindsets continually. The way we relate to ourselves iswhat determines our anxiety and confidence.The way we relate to ourselves is subject to external factors such as past and current family, peer, and romantic relationships or work environment, etc. Therefore, Realization 3: Confidence is alignment When you are true to your values, dreams, and potential, your confidence is natural and not forced. That is, when your mind, body, and spirit are in complete alignment, the natural confidence you exhibit can be noticed by everyone.This alignment extends to what you feel and what you do too. When you feel like doing X, but end up doing Y, the disparity can shake hamper confidence. On the contrary, when you align your values with your behavior, you are not only naturally good at what you are doing, but you are happier when doing the same â€" this unleashes a raw sense of confidence that is magnetic.As an introvert, there is no reason for you to behave like you an extrovert. Staying true to your feelings of what you want to do, is the best approach to confidence.Real confidence is being authentic, not arrogant.CONCLUSION:Here are three realizations that will enable you to believe that you can be confident even if you are an introvert:Confidence comes from withinYou can design your immediate environment such that you feel confidentConfidence is alignmentWith the above three realizations, you will find that YOU have the agency to take charge of YOUR confidence and happiness.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Simplicity - complexity - simplicity - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Simplicity - complexity - simplicity - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I posted an Oliver Wendell Holmes quote a while ago: I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for for the simplicity on the other side of complexity. Sandy Wilder of Communico used this quote in his presentation at the CEO round table, and that got me thinking. Id say that the first simplicity comes from thinking you understand any given system. Yep, weve got it figured we know how the system will react in most situations, and we can manage that. The complexity comes when you realize, that you dont understand the system. An example: You give you salesforce bonuses to make them sell more. It works for a while, but suddenly sales drop. More bonuses help, but not as much as the first time. Whats going on? Apparently the system is more complex than we thought. The specific reasons, why additional bonuses dont make much of an impact can vary. Maybe the first round of bonuses motivated the sales people to close a lot of easy sales, and now there are only the hard cases left. Maybt it has fostered strong internal competition, so they actually undercut each others work to get the bonus. The point is, that the system was apparently more complicated than we thought and in truth, most systems are. The simplicity on the other side of complexity does not come, however, from understanding the system. Most systems in a business setting are so complex, that we wont ever be able to predict them. Trying to understand the system is, in all probability, ultimately futile. However, trying to develop your values and principles, so that they align with your goals is certainly a worthwhile pursuit. And that is the simplicity on the other side of complexity. That simplicity comes from knowing yourself and your values, and living by them. It comes from the belief or faith that, as long as we work in the right way and stick to our principles, it will turn out right. And thats a crucial distinction. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Friday, May 8, 2020

Are You Jumping from the Frying Pan Into the Fire Would You Accept a Position Because You are Desperate for a Job -

Are You Jumping from the Frying Pan Into the Fire Would You Accept a Position Because You are Desperate for a Job - Maybe youve been out of work for a while. You are watching your savings dwindle, the holidays arent looking very jolly and you are envisioning a long wait for the right job. So, when you finally land an offer, it is easy to try to overlook the fact that: During your interactions with the company, they treated you badly, They werent particularly well organized and Everyone working there seemed unhappy. Ive written about this before, but since todays economy seems even more likely than ever to make job seekers grab the first job that comes their way, it seems a good time to remind everyone to consider a few important facts: When a company is hiring, an applicant should assume that  they (the company) are on their best behavior during the process.   So, if arrangements are disorganized, interviewers seem unfriendly, people around the office seem unhappy or disgruntled, someone makes a snide remark about the boss or HR is unclear about the positions duties consider yourself forewarned. If you take a job with a company that you know comes with problems, you may very well be jumping from the frying pan (unemployment) to the fire (employment with a badly run organization). If you are miserable in your new job, it will be difficult to spend time searching for yet another job, and you may wind up in a situation (if you leave the   new job) of explaining why you left, which is never easy. The main point of this post is not to convince you not to take a job offer that will help you pay your bills. Its to remind you that you should try not to let desperation make a decision for you. If you go into a situation with your eyes open to potential problems, dont put on rose-colored glasses and assume everything is going to be okay. Use whatever skills you can muster to manage yourself and protect your career. Focus on how you can make the most of the situation while you are there. Im a big believer in the idea that awareness of a problem actually helps lead to a solution. So, if you take a job despite red flags during the interview process, remember that forewarned is forearmed. Act accordingly. Have you REALLY done everything you can to help yourself and the RIGHT job? We can help! You may need a transformed resume, some outside-of-the-box advice and a professional to coach you along. I can help you! photo by image-ination