This Week In Your Wallet: How To Ace Your Job Interview
Here’s the scenario: You’re waiting on a quasi-comfortable chair in an unfamiliar office waiting to be called in for your job interview. You keep trying to wipe the sweat off your palms before that fated first handshake, and in your head, you’re going over your answers to those famous few interview questions that seem like traps. Well, sweat no more. We’ve got answers to two of the biggies.
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?” Skip the inevitable (and uncomfortable) pregnant pause and say: “Well, let me tell you about my weaknesses first.” Give an answer about yourself that’s honest, suggests PureWow, but also — and this is key — details how you overcame something. For example, if you’re not great with marketing but knew that skill would add to your job performance, talk about how you set up weekly coffee dates with someone in the company’s marketing department to expand your horizons. Then, go into your strengths, which allows you to wrap up on a positive note.
As for the dreaded salary history question? First, know you’re never legally obligated to answer. Some cities (recently Philadelphia and, starting on October 31, 2017, New York City) have banned employers from even asking. But here’s where it gets tricky. On average: People who choose not to disclose salary history make more than those who do, according to new research from PayScale — except when those people are women. Come again? “Women who refuse to disclose what they make generally earn 1.8 percent less than women who do give up the details,” writes Megan Leonhardt in MONEY. “If a man refuses to disclose his current salary, however, he gets paid 1.2 percent more.” So what do you do? If and when the topic comes up: Flip the conversation by doing research beforehand and discussing your expectations, or respond to a direct question by saying you’ll consider a “competitive offer.”
Consumer Corner
How many times have you been frustrated after a flight delay, bad customer service or an overcharge from a company? If you’ve lost count, you’re not alone. The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network collected more than 3.1 million consumer complaints in 2016. The good news: There’s usually something you can do about it — and you may be able to reap some financial compensation, too. We’re launching a new segment on HerMoney Podcast called Hayden Helps, where my reporter Hayden gives tips for getting money back from companies and does her best to solve your consumer issues on your behalf. (For example, she just tackled a rental car complaint and secured a $152 refund for one consumer.) You can submit your own on JeanChatzky.com, under the “podcast” tab, here.
Our top tips for being your own advocate? Set aside some time and always call a company instead of emailing if that’s an option — you’re much more likely to be heard and create a personal connection instead of just receiving a formulaic text response. The personal connection is where you need to start in order to receive any type of compensation from a company — put yourself in the representative’s shoes (they’ve likely been dealing with people with short fuses for much of the day), and make them want to help you. Be kind, thoughtful and empathetic, but be upfront about the fact that you’d like a credit, refund or partial refund depending on the situation. If your representative says they don’t have the authority or they can’t procure you a credit, ask nicely to speak with their supervisor — and don’t accept the first offer amount without asking for more. For more tips, listen to us on HerMoney!
In Search Of Lost Time
As the old adage goes, “there are only so many hours in a day.” But what if you could get some of them back? Carl Richards, The New York Times’ “Sketch Guy,” conducted an investigation recently to figure out where his time was going (much like tracking your spending, but with minutes instead of dollars). He used RescueTime and some other services to track how much time he spent on different sites and apps, then looked over the results at the end of the month. The shocker: He found out he’d spent 45 hours and 38 minutes on things he’d labeled “unproductive.” Yes, he beat himself up a little, but then he realized they were hours he could get back and reallocate towards something else. If you’re thinking about following suit, start by downloading a time-tracking service, then go about your month as usual. On the 30th, sit down (maybe with a glass of wine), go over the results and create a plan of action for the future. He details his process here.
Have a great week,
Jean
