Every week I check dozens of “career” blogs and other online publications, looking for things that will help you find a job, get promoted, develop your skills, and keep everything in perspective and balance. Here’s the pick of the lot for this week. I’m pointing you to items about handling off-the-wall interview questions, positive stereotypes, dumb advice questions, becoming indispensable, and getting your resume noticed.

From the Washington Post: How to Field an Interview Curveball

“As executive director of the Washington Improv Theater, Chalfant uses interview tactics that work in his artistic milieu. But investment banks, biotech firms, media companies and start-ups also are throwing out strange and offbeat job interview questions as they consider which MBA or project manager to hire. ”

Wally’s Comment: Sometimes I think there’s a sort of “arms race” going on in the recruiting/job hunting world. Recruiters come up with new ways to learn about applicants who learn how to game the system so recruiters have to come with new ways …

From Carmen Van Kerckhove at Race in the Workplace: How positive racial stereotypes can harm your career

“People of your racial or ethnic group are stereotyped as good employees with a solid work ethic. That should bode well for your career, right? Not necessarily. Even so-called “positive” racial stereotypes could spell trouble for you in the workplace.”

Wally’s Comment: Even positive stereotypes can hurt you. Carmen tells you why.

From the Brazen Careerist Penelope Trunk: Three bad career questions people ask me all the time

“I’d like to tell you that there are no bad questions. But you know what? That’s not true. So here are the ways people ask me questions that drive me nuts.”

Wally’s Comment: Anyone who gets asked for advice frequently will recognize these questions. Penelope does a super job of pointing out why they’re dumb so you can avoid asking them.

From Dan Schwabel at Personal Branding: The Nirvana of Personal Branding is to Become Indispensable

“That’s right, if you become indispensable, you will not be subject to a firing or replacement. This is the most challenging personal branding goal. It’s lofty but wouldn’t you like to have that much job security and negotiating power? How would you feel if you could ask for any salary or benefits, as well as pick your company or start your own company, with customers or employers lined up at your door?”

Wally’s Comment: This post seems like an expanded version of some of my favorite career advice. It’s from Steve Martin: “Be so good that they have to ask you back.

From Career News: Tips for Getting your Resume Noticed

Wally’s Comment: No fluff, just good advice you can use as a checklist.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 17th, 2008 at 8:54 am and is filed under Tools and Strategies for Success. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.