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Sorry, but there's no way around doing homework
Q: As an applicant, I get frustrated when interviewers don't bother to tell me anything about the company or the job. Without this information, how can I know whether I want a future with a potential employer? Are job applicants expected to learn about the company on their own before accepting a position?
A: Sounds to me like someone is being a bit lazy. Before you ever set foot in an interviewer's office, you should have researched the company thoroughly. Fortunately, the Internet makes this very easy. In the olden times, people had to dig around in libraries, but now you can gather a wealth of information with just a few clicks.
Interviewers expect you to have done some homework, so a lack of knowledge may cause them to question both your interest and your common sense. Employers look for applicants who are motivated to work for their organization. If you know nothing about the place, how can you be excited to work there?
Research also has other benefits. You can ask questions that may impress the interviewer, such as "How was your company able to achieve such a significant increase in market share?" And the more you learn, the better-equipped you will be to decide whether an employer is a good fit for you.
You seem surprised that interviewers withhold information, so here's the reason: They want unbiased answers to their questions. The more they tell you, the more clues you have about how to respond.
If you need more information to answer a question, however, politely request it. For example: "I could address that subject more thoroughly if I knew more about the type of projects involved in this position." You may or may not get an answer, but there's no harm in asking.
Q: My husband, "Jerry," was the acting manager of his team for five months. Now he has a new boss, whose style is very different from that of his previous manager. She is slow to act on things such as filling open positions and resolving customer service issues. Morale is at an all-time low, and Jerry feels responsible for the downward spiral in the department. He has tried talking with her, but she is not a strong communicator. What can he do?
A: Getting a new boss can be a tough transition, especially if you liked your previous manager. And when you have to step down from an "acting" role, the adjustment is even more difficult. Unfortunately, however, everyone has to adapt to the boss that he or she is given.
If Jerry plans to continue in this job, he must accept the fact that he has a challenging manager. He should put on his game face and maintain a pleasant and cooperative demeanor at the office.
Jerry should figure out how to manage her slower decision-making style. Strategies could include clear agreement on schedules, reminders about important issues and independent action, when appropriate.
If he can do it without complaining or criticizing, Jerry also might help her understand the problems caused by delays. For example: "We have a customer issue that's been pending. If we don't address it soon, we might lose this account. Would you like me to follow up on it?"
Although the decline in morale is understandably troubling, that's really no longer Jerry's responsibility. But he can help by refusing to participate in gripe sessions and by coaching others on how to work successfully with the new boss.
- Marie G. McIntyre is an Atlanta-based workplace coach. Her weekly column is syndicated by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. Send questions at www.yourofficecoach.com.
