5 Ways Great Bosses Are Like Batman

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There's no superhero cooler than Batman. I'm sorry, but this isn't up for debate; Batman's the best. He's an average guy (with, admittedly, a very fat wallet) who is able to overcome insurmountable odds and defeat those who wish to inflict evil upon society. And his costume and gizmos are pretty darn cool, too.

Great bosses can also do amazing things – for members of their team.

Here's 5 ways great bosses are like Batman:

1. They want to do what's right. Sure, the moral compass can get a bit disoriented from time to time in the chaos of the workplace. But like Batman, great bosses provide clarity and guidance on doing the right thing, and making sound decisions.
    

2. They work in the shadows to protect you. Batman usually fights evildoers in the dark, out of the public eye. Good bosses do the same - supporting your success by advocating on your behalf during informal conversations, and by defending your reputation to those who would do it harm.
    

3. They care. Batman is deeply invested the welfare of the citizens of Gotham. Great bosses feel the same about their employees, going to any reasonable length to support them in both good times and bad.
    

4. They investigate. Batman's the Detective, looking for clues. Great bosses do the same – if they see that you're struggling, if they receive negative feedback about your performance, if they observe anything out of the ordinary – they examine the situation from all angles, and try to identify both the problem and the solution.
    

5. They inspire. Batman sets the example that anyone can stand up to adversity. Great bosses accept challenges, and overcome them. Then they work with their team to encourage similar risk-taking and fearlessness.

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Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

In Praise of Professional Manners for Job Seekers

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When it comes time to look for a job, manners matter.

If you treat the people involved in the process poorly at any contact point – the initial contact, the phone screen, the interview, salary negotiation, or any other part of the process – you may kill your chances of getting the job.

Let me be blunt: nobody wants to work with a jerk.

Surely, many employers could stand to learn how to better treat their job applicants, and the candidate experience is known to frequently suffer. But that's a topic for another day.

I spent 19 years filling jobs, both as an internal corporate recruiter and as an outside recruiter with staffing firms. The most difficult part of my line of work was not trying to find that "Purple Squirrel" – the rare candidate with a highly specific set of skills.

By far, the most challenging aspect of my job was trying to convince managers to hire people who possessed every required and preferred skill in the job description, but whom the hiring manager simply didn't like. If a manager told me they just "weren't feeling it" about a candidate, that usually meant they didn't like the person.

You may be thinking to yourself, "Why would a company be so dumb as to pass on somebody who clearly meets all the requirements, and then some? What kind of idiots are these hiring managers?"

The answer can be explained by a simple number: 2,080.

That's how many hours of work there are in a year, based upon an average of 40 hours per week, and 52 weeks in a year. Sure, you need to factor in overtime and deduct vacation days and holidays, but generally speaking, that's how many hours your hiring manager and peers would spend alongside you. Every. Single. Year.

Sure, sometimes personalities simply don't mesh, but just as often, this personal aversion comes down to basic human interaction. People with poor manners can be rude, annoying, and generally uncomfortable to be around.

So, why give employers additional reasons not to extend you a job offer? The job interview process is the time to be on your absolute best behavior. Interviews are an intensely social setting - I can promise you that you're being observed for your ability to positively enhance the dynamics of the workplace (or at a minimum, not detract from them). Failing to use your absolute best manners sends a clear message about what it would be like to spend time with you.

Here are some (rather) common breaches of etiquette that are quite likely to cause annoyance or offense:

• Showing up late to the interview.
   
• Not saying "please" or "thank you," or not saying these with enough frequency or to everyone involved in the process.
   
• Checking your cell phone during an interview.
   
• Bringing up inappropriate topics, such as sex or politics. If you're applying for a job at the Kinsey Institute or at a Washington, DC, think tank, these topics could be quite appropriate – otherwise, steer clear.
   
• Swearing, cursing, blasphemy, or irreverence.
   
• Sexist or racist comments.
   
• Complaining. About anything.
   
• Being dismissive or condescending toward anyone you encounter.
   
• Not sending "thank you" notes after the interview.

Clearly, these demonstrations of poor manners don't all carry equal weight, but any of these, during any point of the interview process, could give an employer ample reason to label you "unprofessional."

While it's difficult to muster empathy for interviewers who are passing judgment on you, failing to do so could cause you to come across as someone they don't want in their organization. Be your best self, and show ample respect for everyone. Don't be "That guy."

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Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Free Webinar: Career Strategies For Residents of Puerto Rico & The U.S.V.I. Seeking Employment In The Continental U.S.

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Are you or a loved one a resident of Puerto Rico or the United States Virgin Islands, been impacted by Hurricane Maria, and  looking for work in the Continental United States? Please join Scott Singer, President of Insider Career Strategies and Rodney Apple, President of SCM Talent Group, for this free webinar workshop:

★★★ Career Strategies for Residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Seeking Employment in the Continental U.S. ★★★

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. You'll learn:

►Important information about work authorization, the job market, and language skills.

►How a resume is used and reviewed by employers – and how to prepare and "localize" it for the local market to increase your chances of getting an interview.

►The most popular job postings sites and tools, and the best ways to apply for positions.

►How LinkedIn fits into your job search strategy, and what you need to do to boost your profile.

This webinar is completely free of charge, friends and families of job seekers are also welcome to attend, and all presentation materials will be freely shared with all attendees. The link to register is https://scmtalent.clickmeeting.com/career-strategies-usvi-puerto-rico/register. Registration is limited to the first 100 attendees; however, if there is sufficient demand, we will schedule additional webinars.

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Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.