There is a Time and a Place

I have always been outspoken, even as a child.  However, my Mother taught me early on that there is a time and a place for discussions about certain topics.  As I grew older, more mature and started to wear a professional "hat", I learned that depending on your profession, the workplace is generally NOT a good venue for political discussions, religious discussions, and of course - sexual discussions, and any other potentially polarizing topics.  You never know who will over-hear you, what their personal beliefs are, if they might be offended and how they might react.

In our current political environment, the need for decorum is becoming more and more evident, and fortunately, the lack of tolerance for inappropriate words and actions is becoming less and less standard.

My professional responsibilities include interviewing and hiring many people every year.  Even though my sensibilities are certainly not delicate, I am often astounded at what people will say during an interview process.  While I have not walked a mile in their shoes, I am still of the school of thought that if you are trying to obtain a job, that you would be on your best behavior during the interview process.  Bringing up your opinions on various political topics, politicians, racial topics, gun rights, women's rights, religious beliefs and of course, the never appropriate sexual innuendos is not a step in the right direction toward securing that job.

Many will say "What about the right to freedom of speech"?  "I have a right to have my own beliefs".  All that is true, there is freedom of speech in this country and everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.  At the same time, there is a level of decorum that should be adhered to.  Take into account that the job you are interviewing for and the folks you are interviewing with also have a right to their own beliefs which might differ greatly from your own.  In turn, they have a right not to hire you due to something you said during the interview process.

Always keep in mind that it is also your right to work in an environment where you are not discriminated against or made to feel uncomfortable.  Everyone you work with has that right as well.  This is why keeping your political beliefs, religious beliefs etc. off the table at the workplace and definitely during the interview process, is important.  I shouldn't even have to mention sexual advances and innuendos, but with the recent headlines, it seems it needs to be included.

Comedians have a term "learn your audience" because not every audience is going to get your jokes, understand your humor or think specific content is funny.  The same goes for the workplace.  Get to know the people you work with before you say something that might put your job on the line.

As a rule of thumb, while interviewing for a job it is never a good idea to express your religious or political points of view during the interview process if the job is not in either of those arenas.  Should a person interviewing you ask you specifically about your religious or political views and those views do not pertain to the job at hand, be polite but clear and state that those topics are not of any relevance to the position.    It is actually your right to not have to discuss those topics to avoid any type of discrimination.

There is a time and a place to present your opinions on every topic imaginable, just know your audience and remember that everyone is entitled to their opinions, they might just not be the same as your own.

Identify Yourself

When contacting a Recruiter or potential employer it is important to identify yourself.  Whether you are submitting a resume for the first time, or checking in via voicemail or text about the status of your resume, it is crucial to let the other party know who you are!

A typical recruiter or hiring manager will have multiple people in the interview process at once.  Many recruiters and hiring managers are trying to fill numerous jobs at once.  By identifying who you are when you reach out, it will save you and your point of contact precious time.

Here are just a few example scenarios:

Phone Call / Answered:  "Hi, we've spoken in the past and I saw you had an Ambulatory role posted online, I'm really interested"  - typically this dialog goes on for a few more minutes, but I'm unable to look the person up in the database to see if they're qualified for the role until they take a breath and I can ask them who they are. 
Solution:  "Hi There, this is James, we spoke back in May.  I'm an Ambulatory Certified Analyst and saw you have posted a role that fits my qualifications do you have time to discuss"?

Voice Mail:  "Hi, I'm calling to find out if you have gotten any feedback from the client about my resume, let me know".  - the recruiter / hiring manager will have to try to run your phone number through the database to see if your information comes up, or try to call you back and ask who you are. 
Solution:  "Hello, this is Mark, I'm calling to see if XYZ Hospital has responded to my resume"?

Text Message - "Hi!  Did you get any feedback from the client yet"? - I have to text back "who is this"?.  It would be impossible for every recruiter/hiring manager to have the phone numbers of everyone they have in the submittal/interview process in their phones.
Solution:  "Hi!  This is Trina.  Did XYZ Hospital respond to my resume yet?"

Email: - Hi, I'm interested in hearing more about your go-live projects" - often there is no resume attached, no name and no other contact info.  Typically these emails do not get responded to.
Solution:  "Hi, my name is Adeola, my resume is attached for your review, I'm very interested in your upcoming Epic go-lives".

Taking a few extra seconds to identify yourself will help assure you get a timely response!

How to Nail a Telephone Interview

How to Nail a Telephone Interview

I’ve posted blogs with interview tips before, but this topic is always relevant.  More and more interviews are being done over the phone, particularly in the Tech industry. 
If you’re going to be sitting in on a video/skype/facetime interview – see other important tips here:  http://engagemehit.blogspot.com/2011/10/tips-for-video-skype-interviewing.html

The Dreaded Telephone Interview 201

Ø  If you’re using your cell phone, make darn sure you’re in a place with great reception.
Ø  Take the interview call in a place where you won’t be interrupted by people, dogs, noises etc.
Ø  Try to build rapport early in the conversation.  If you can, start the call out with a bit of friendly banter with the potential employer – even if it’s just a comment about their weather.  Show interest in them, how their day is going etc.  The employer wants to hire someone they like, someone that they’ll enjoy working with.  It isn’t all about experience and qualifications.
Ø  Always keep your answers to the point, you will likely have only 30 minutes to impress your potential employer:  When answering questions about your experience, follow this rule of thumb:
1.       Answer the question positively – “Yes, I do have experience with XYZ”
2.       Explain where you have had the experience – “I worked on XYZ at my previous 2 employers, so I have almost 10 years of experience with it”
3.       Explain your experience with enough detail to make sense but not so much detail that you’re running on and on and on – “I started building XYZ about 9 years ago, XYZ has changed some since then, with my last employer I was not only responsible for the build, but I trained new employees on how to build and I served as Lead Analyst throughout the implementation.”  If the potential employer wants more specifics, they’ll ask.
Ø  Don’t start talking until you’re sure they’ve finished talking.  Many conference lines have a bit of a delay.  I’ve sat in on more interviews than I care to count where the candidate and the potential employer spent most of their time talking over each other because both were jumping in before the other had finished talking.  Its ok to have a brief pause before you start answering a question.
Ø  Never, Never, Never, downplay your qualifications!  Talk about what you do know and discuss your qualifications confidently.  Don’t elaborate on what you don’t know!  If a client asks you about a qualification that you don’t have, just say “I haven’t had any experience with that yet” or “I have a working knowledge of that from my experience at my last client but it wasn’t my focus” etc.
Ø  Don’t try to oversell yourself.  People that say things like “I’m the best in the business with XYZ” or “you won’t find someone more qualified” and similar statements typically get overlooked for job openings.  It’s a rare candidate that can pull off that level of narcissism and get away with it.  Confidence is good, an over-active ego is not.
Ø  Don’t get defensive, ever – for any reason.  I’ve had candidates flat out yell at me when I’ve told them I don’t think they’re right for the position.  If you feel the person interviewing you is mistaken about your qualifications, politely explain where you feel they’ve missed the mark, never yell, never become rude.  Typically, the person interviewing you knows what they’re talking about, but if they don’t, consider it an opportunity to educate them.  Turning them off by yelling or being rude isn’t going to get you the position.
Ø  Always have a copy of your resume in front of you so you can refer to it if necessary.  If a recruiter submitted your resume, ask them for a copy of what they sent prior to the interview.
Ø   Wrap Up:  Typically the potential employer will ask if you have any questions.  During the interview you should have been jotting down any points you want to cover.  At this time try to ask a few questions, not just to show interest but to show you’re paying attention.  Also, take this time to bring up any points about your qualifications you feel you might have missed earlier in the interview.
Ø  Thank them – before hanging up cheerfully thank them for their time and express your continued interest in the position (if you are still interested) and ask when you might expect to hear back.

After your interview has concluded, take a few minutes to review any notes you’ve taken and go over the call in your mind, then write a thank you note via email to express your continued interest, reiterate how your experience lends itself to their needs and your excitement in hearing back from them.  No matter how good you are, you can’t win the job 100% of the time, but by following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to nailing telephone interviews!

 

 

 

The Communication Highway Updated 2025

Technology is advancing so fast most of us cannot keep up with the new trends and software and gadgets.  Over the years I've found that many people that have a career in Technology, don't always embrace it after-hours.  My brother has been a programmer within Healthcare IT for over 20 years.  He didn't get his first Smart Phone until 2015.

With all this new technology there are now multiple ways to communicate with others through social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok etc), email, telephone, text, TEAMS and the list goes on.  How is one to know the best way or fastest method to reach their recruiter?  Ask! That's how!  Always inquire with your recruiter what method of communication they prefer.

A few things to keep in mind when contacting your recruiter:

• Recruiters at any given time could have up to a hundred candidates submitted to various job opportunities AND on top of that, they may also be responsible to care for and manage everyone they have placed on various contracts.  This means that recruiters are typically open to answering communication 24/7 if the need is urgent.
• ALWAYS include your first & late name when contacting your recruiter.  Recruiters receive 100s of emails, phone calls, texts etc. a week.  If you do not include your name in the text, email, voice mail, how are they to know who they're to respond to?  (I regularly get emails saying "do you have any upcoming work?" with nothing else, no phone, no name, no resume.  I also will receive random texts that go something like this:  "Hi!  Any word from the client yet?".... What client?  Who are you?  There is unfortunately no way for me to memorize every phone number of every person I've spoken with and depending on the way the email or number was entered into the database, I still may not be able to find out who it's from)
• Don't be offended if the Recruiter responds asking "who is this?".  Recruiters typically keep good track of who they've submitted and who they have working on projects, but we don't always remember everyone's phone number or email address. 
• All recruiters utilize a database to keep track of candidates, consultants, activity and so-forth.  Anytime you update your phone number or email, it is best to notify the recruiters you work with.  With this being said - most data bases will allow Recruiters to search for someone via email or phone - but providing your name in your communications will net you a much faster response.
• Social Media - for me Facebook is a professional no-go.  I strongly believe that Facebook (Instagram, Snap Chat etc) is for friends and family and not for work related communication.  LinkedIn is for business!  Save your professional communications for professional web sites.  If a recruiter contacts you via Facebook, ask for their email/phone and reach out to them that way.  Facebook can be professional suicide.  If a potential employer is scrolling through your Facebook feed - you never know what they might be turned off by - political posts, cat videos, family conversations.
• Message Alerts - we all get message alerts on our phone.  Personally I receive text messages, TEAMS messages, LinkedIn, Pinterest messages, Tweets, Facebook messages, email messages from both personal and business accounts and phone calls.  To cut down on the noise & insanity I've turned off every alert except for email and text.  Typically the best method to reach your recruiter will be phone or email, followed by text and LinkedIn and so on. 
• Which brings us back to - Ask... Each recruiter will have their preferred method of communication and they'll be happy to let you know the best way to reach them and at what times, just remember to include your name when you reach out :) 

The Challenges of Working From Home / Remotely - Updated 2025

There are PLENTY of up-sides to working from home;  not having to deal with morning or afternoon commute traffic, not having to "dress up", not dealing with the constant office interruptions, being more available for your family and many more.  I've worked from home since the year 2000, and the #1 question I get asked is:  "I want to do what you do! How you I find a job where I can work from home?"  There is no easy answer to that question, and not everyone is wired to be able to work from home... by "wired" I mean mentally - not technologically.  

Working from home takes patience, and with that being said, there are a few drawbacks - for instance; neighborhood noise (no matter where you try to hide in your home to take a business call you can still hear your neighbor's dog barking or that chainsaw running etc), Delivery Personnel knocking on your door, electricity or internet outages, your own animals or children making noise, and other unexpected interruptions.  I've dealt with all of those issues over the years, but the most challenging by far has been the assumption of others that because I work from home that means I'm available at anytime.

Most people that do not work from home seem to believe that everyone that does work from home is  available at the drop of a hat for an impromptu visit, a lunch break, to do them a favor like picking their kids up from school or letting their dog out or any number of other things.  I have often thought, if I was working in an office would people assume it was ok to call me as ask me to leave my office to go pick up their children?  Probably not.  This is not to say that I mind doing favors for my neighbors/friends/relatives whenever possible, but I do work 8 - 10 hrs a day and cannot always flex my schedule to meet their needs.  Its surprising how often people will get upset when you are unavailable for lunch or when they randomly stop by and you meet them at the door, phone to your ear - muted - on a conference call, letting them know you don't have time to hang out with them at that moment.  I'm absolutely convinced they wouldn't just randomly stop by my place of work if I worked downtown and expect me to drop everything and have a cup of tea and a chat with them.  

Regardless of my efforts over the years to help people to understand that I actually am busy during normal business hours and often well beyond them,  the belief that since I'm home I can't be that busy has not changed.

Working from home is a luxury that I have never taken for granted, it has allowed me to be very active in the raising of my children, to have animals that get a fair amount of attention, and to excel in an industry that I love.  I have found that putting a simple sign (Please do not knock unless this is an emergency or you have a delivery that requires a signature, home office 8a - 5p. Send us a quick text and we'll get back to you as soon as possible) on the front door when I'm really busy seems to do the trick.

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Candidate Fraud - Just When You Thought You'd Seen It All

I honestly thought I'd seen it all, from the lamest to the most elaborate excuses for not showing up to work or to an interview - to the most outrageous reasons for being fired, but recently I learned there was a level of unprofessionalism I had yet to uncover.

Not long ago while pre-screening candidates for an upcoming  project I communicated via email and spoke with a very friendly woman with an unusual name.  She was polite, well spoken and knowledgeable.  Later a technical subject matter expert also spoke with the woman and was impressed with her technical knowledge and communication skills so it was recommended that she be hired for the project.

The next step was for the candidate to speak with a travel agent and schedule travel... however at that time it was discovered that the candidate booking the travel was a man... he provided ID, Credit Card and other information with the same name as the person that had screened for the job.  When called to inquire if he was the same person that was screened, he had difficulty communicating, spoke very little English and made excuses to get off the phone, eventually he admitted to having someone else screen for him because "he just didn't have time". 

In the past almost 20 years I have never experienced anything like this.  Maybe I'm naïve in thinking that people would never go to this length and assume they wouldn't be caught. Not only did the candidate make a huge mistake by having someone else screen for him, but the woman that accepted the call and took the interviews for him is just as fraudulent.  Even more concerning is the fact that they must've gotten away with this in the past. 

Had the candidate managed to get to the client site without the deception being discovered, it wouldn't have taken the client long to determine he was not a fit for the job.  The repercussions could've been deep and long lasting for everyone involved. 

From a candidate/job-seeker standpoint it is NEVER advisable to falsify information or allow someone else to represent you in the interview process. 
From an employer standpoint, it is increasingly more important to fact check and back check each candidate prior to placing them on a project.

 SMH....

The Recruiter – A Consultant’s Main Source of Support

The Recruiter – A Consultant’s Main Source of Support

Within most Healthcare IT industry firms, the Recruiter is a Consultant’s main source of support.  This means that the Consultant should have their Recruiter on speed dial.  If the consultant gets stuck in an airport due to a delayed flight and will be late to the client site, they should call their recruiter, if the consultant feels they are being treated unfairly at a client site, they should call their recruiter, if their payroll check is incorrect, they should call their recruiter – etc., etc., etc.  It is primarily up to the Recruiter to make sure things flow smoothly for the Consultant throughout their engagement. 

All that being said, it is up to the Consultant to remember important facts about their engagement:  What are their responsibilities, who is their main contact at the client site, what time are they due on site, when they should enter their time and expenses and how to use the time/expenses applications and so forth.  While a Recruiter should be the Consultant’s go-to person, consultants have to keep in mind that their Recruiter is also managing dozens of other consultants at the same time.  Recruiters are there to help the consultant but not be their fulltime personal assistant. 

While there are likely plenty of consultants that have worked with inexperienced or unknowledgeable recruiters, recruiters can only provide you with the information they are aware of, which occasionally means you’re flying by the seat of your pants for the beginning of your engagement.  Learning to “wing it” is a great strength for consultants in the Healthcare Technology industry.

During a standard onboarding process there is a ton of information being exchanged between the firm and the Consultant; from standard onboarding paperwork to infinite details about the client, travel, payroll, responsibilities and more.  It is up to the Consultant to consolidate that information into one place so they can easily return to it if they forget something.  A good suggestion is for the Consultant to create a folder on their laptop/phone/smart pad and place important information there.  If the Consultant receives the names and contact information for people at the client site in an email, copy and paste that information into a document, label it “Client Contacts” and throw it in the folder along with any other important items like directions, hotel confirmations, rental car confirmations, travel expense particulars and so forth. That way the Consultant can easily refer back to the folder instead of calling their Recruiter to ask questions that have already been answered.

Below is a list of the most important reasons to contact your recruiter:

You are being held responsible for many tasks at the client site that were not part of the original job description.  (While it is great to work for a client that has faith in your abilities and feels you can handle additional responsibilities, if you were engaged to perform instructional design and a few months into the engagement you’re managing a team of trainers, conducting training classes AND completing instructional design tasks, it is time to call your recruiter.  The recruiter can bring the changes in scope to their management team who can in turn speak to the client and discuss an hourly rate raise.)

You are frustrated for any number of reasons and considering quitting the engagement.  (In most instances, the issues you are dealing with can be dealt with and corrected.  Never quit an engagement without having a heart to heart with your recruiter first and if the decision is made for you to exit, give notice whenever possible)

You are unable for any reason to be onsite on time or you’re taking vacation time.  (If you are taking vacation, always clear the dates with the client and then let your recruiter know. If you are stuck in an airport or you’re ill or any number of reasons you might not be on site on time – call your recruiter, even if you have your client site manager’s number, call the manager first and then your recruiter. The same goes for running late to an interview)

You have discussed something specific with the client that affects your engagement.  (If the client has informed you that dates of your engagement are changing or that your responsibilities are going to change, that they have an issue with something you’ve done, contact your recruiter immediately so it can be documented.  It is always important to have a paper trail)

And finally, always remember your recruiter is there to help and support you, treat them as you would a colleague.  If you happen to land a recruiter that is not supportive, it is OK to remind them that you have expectations and be clear about what those expectations are.  At the very least you should hear from your recruiter via phone or email once a month during your engagement, once a week is ideal.  Additionally, don’t have unreasonable expectations, remember that your recruiter is also managing up to dozens of other consultants, along with trying to fill multiple job openings.  With that in mind, don’t email or call your recruiter multiple times a day with minor issues, save your thoughts for the end of the day and make 1 phone call or send 1 email encompassing all of your needs.  By working together and forming a relationship built on mutual respect, your recruiter will be your best ally in the industry.

 

 

Job Board and Social Media Points To Remember (Updated 2025)

There are a few things that are important to remember when posting your resume to job boards (CareerBuilder, Monster, Indeed etc.)

*  If you want to post your resume but would prefer your current employer doesn't become aware of your job search, try posting anonymously.  Ideally you will create a new email specifically for your job search. (cannot say how many times I've seen an anonymous resume but the email used on the job board account includes the person's name).  Additionally make sure your current employer is not listed on the resume. 

*  If you secure a new job, go into the job boards where your resume has been posted and either remove it or temporarily close the account.

*  If you chose to leave your resume available to view on the job boards, make sure you set a reminder to go in regularly and update the information whenever you change jobs, titles, contact information etc. 

*  Keep a log of which sites you have used and any login information so you can easily make changes when necessary.

* After creating an account or changing information always log out and log back in and review your profile as others will see it to make sure everything is correct.

The same methods are also important on social media sites like LinkedIn.com. 

*  Make sure your contact and employment information is up to date. 

*  If you want Recruiters to easily reach you, include your contact information in the Summary section. 

*  Use your Full name on your profile.  I've had people express to me that they don't use their full name until they've agreed to be submitted to a job, yet their email address IS their full name.  Keeping your name hidden actually hurts you more than it helps you.  An easier way to keep Recruiters from bugging you is to list your status in your Summary by saying things like "Not Seeking Employment Opportunities" or "Available for new Opportunities in Oct 2026"  etc.

*  Ideally your LinkedIn profile Employment History and Education should mirror your resume.  You don't need to put ALL the information from your resume on LinkedIn but it is important to make sure the dates of employment/employer and education are the same.  Potential employers will look you up on LinkedIn.  If your profile doesn't match your resume it will call the validity of the information into question.

* After creating an account or changing information always log out and log back in and review your profile as others will see it to make sure everything is correct.

When responding to recruiters
* If a Recruiter has approached you via a job board on LinkedIn and you are interested always reply with your contact information, never assume they have it, even if it's available in your profile.

*  When responding to a recruiter via email always attach your resume, even if they might have already gathered it from the job board, include a document copy.

* If you are not interested in a position a recruiter has approached you about, always include why:  "Thank you but I'm in a permanent role and not looking for new employment" , "Thank you but I'm on a contract until 12/2026, please approach me closer to that time"  "Thank you but that position isn't the right fit for me, I'm looking for  "X"" and provide a description of what does interest you so they know what to contact you about in the future.

In the Healthcare Technology Industry there are some people that will get contacted constantly by recruiters because of their rare or popular skill sets.  The best way to fend off the constant influx of inmails, emails and phone calls is to put "NOT CURRENTLY SEEKING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES" in plain site on your profile.

Recruiters really don't want to pester you.  Our job is to find the best candidates available for our clients.  Our goal is to help the client find the right person for the job and to help the candidates find a job that will tick all their boxes.  Help us to help you :)

How to's for Tendering Your Resignation

Things have changed since the days when people would stay employed by the same company for 45 years and retire never having had to tender a resignation or format a resume.  While a precious few of us will have that experience, at one time or another most of us will find ourselves in a position where we are determining the best way to tender our resignation to our employer. 
Based on your experiences with your employer, sometimes resigning is an easy decision, but it can also be one of the toughest decisions you've ever made.  In either case, there are a lot of factors that go into resigning:

• How much notice do I give?
• How do I provide that notice?
• Who do I provide that notice to?
• Do I call someone first or just email my letter of resignation?
• What do I put in my letter of resignation?
• Do I put my letter of resignation in the body of the email or in an attached document?

How Much Notice:  Excluding situations where harassment or a hostile work environment is involved and an immediate exit is necessary, all other circumstances should require a 2 - 3 week notice.  Some companies require up to a 30 day notice so make sure you re-read the agreements you signed when accepting your job.
How To Notify:  Face to face is always preferable.  If that is impossible then an over the phone discussion is the next best option.  If for any reason you are uncomfortable with a direct conversation, the last option is to email your resignation without prior notification.  When providing resignation through email, it is always best to write your resignation in a document and attach that document to the email. In the body of the email write something like: "It is with deep sadness that I am writing to notify you of my decision to resign from my position, attached you will find my formal letter of resignation"
Who To Notify:  Typically notice should be provided to your direct manager first.  In some situations this many not be appropriate and in those cases you can either provide notice to your direct manager's boss, the company owner or human resources depending on the size and scope of your employer.
What To Put In The Letter:  What you want to say will greatly depend on why you are resigning and whether or not you've had the opportunity to speak with someone about your departure first.  If you're leaving your job because you're completely disgruntled, the resignation letter is NEVER the place to complain about all the things that lead you making your decision.  Save those for the "exit interview".  If you don't anticipate an exit interview, find a polite way to touch on those subjects without putting your employer on the defensive.  You want to leave the job on the best possible note so future employers will receive positive feedback if they ever call for a reference.  The resignation letter does not need to be a long drawn-out affair.  A paragraph or two is sufficient.  There are many examples available online for reference.  In short, the letter of resignation should include the following:

• A Heading (Dear name of your boss here) Or (To Whom It My Concern) etc.
• An opening sentence (it is with deep regret that I am tendering my resignation) etc.
• A paragraph or two on your experience (it has been my pleasure to work for xyz company over the last 10 years.  The knowledge I have gained and) etc.  If you have concerns that have caused you to leave and you want to touch on them, do so professionally: (while I am grateful for the experience, the lack of opportunity to move into a managerial role has caused me to make the difficult decision to accept a position with another company where there is more room for advancement) etc. 
• Provide an end date (I am providing my 3 week notice, with my last day of employment being Friday, June 17th) etc.
• Leave the door open for conversation (If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call.  I'm happy to discuss my thoughts and end date) etc.

Finally, double check for errors.  It helps to have another person review your letter of resignation prior to sending it.  Make sure you either CC or BCC your personal email address when sending the letter so you have a record of the date you sent it and the information you provided.  Most of the time separating from a job is not easy, as the old song says "breaking up is hard to do".  By making your exit in the most professional way possible, you can leave the door open for good references and future communication.

Why "I Forgot" is never a good excuse... (Updated 2025)

We all forget things; we forget where we put our keys, we forget to feed the fish, we forget to turn the oven on or to water the plants but "I forgot" should NEVER be the reason you miss a job interview.
I would absolutely forget appointments if I didn't keep an up to date outlook calendar. 

Forgetting things is human nature.  Most people forget to do something on a daily basis.  However, when it comes to your livelihood - your future - your career, you should absolutely never forget a job interview.  Forgetting an interview is employment kryptonite, even though most people are unlikely to admit to a potential employer that they forgot the interview, employers generally will not give a candidate a second chance if they miss an interview with no prior notice.

Fortunately, even though our human brains may be lacking in the memory department, there is a miracle device that almost everyone has, it's called a cell phone, and with very little effort your cell phone can remind you about important appointments.  If necessary you can set an alarm on your laptop, your tablet, your oven, Alexa, your microwave, your alarm clock (if you still have one) and some cars will even remind you of appointments.  If you're someone who is devoid of recent technology you can ask family members and friends to remind you - although that is the least reliable method - as we've already discussed, forgetfulness is human nature, if you can't remember your own appointments - how is someone else going to remember them for you?

There are plenty of books available regarding how to improve your memory but with so many options available to help you, there is no need to work that hard at it unless you want to.  The next time you schedule an appointment that could affect the rest of your life, do whatever it takes to make sure you keep it.

Know How To Pick Your Battles

Early in my Recruitment career my boss at the time provided me with a piece of advice that sincerely changed my life, he said: "You have to know when to pick your battles".  At the time I was very frustrated by some changes that had been made in the workplace and I'm sure I was ready to take up arms and do battle with whomever I could to "fix" what I considered was broken.  What my boss was trying to tell me was to slow-my-roll, take time to assess the situation with a clear head, and then determine how important it was to go into battle.  Going into any situation guns blazing without a clear head and enough information is a recipe for disaster, especially in business.

Learning to diplomatically state your opinion after carefully reviewing a situation is a talent some people have never developed and that is unfortunate.  We've all at one point or another worked with a hot-headed person that will ream you out first and ask questions later, or rampage about things that are not, in the larger scheme of things, all that important.  Not only is it uncomfortable, but it makes for a hostile work environment and no one wants to work with a person like that.

Some people come by the ability to pick their battles wisely, for others (like myself) it is a learned skill.  Not that I was ever a combative or aggressive person, I just had a tendency to get up in arms about things and voice my opinion before I took time to fully consider the situation.  Thanks to my prior boss - I developed the 24 Hour Rule and I use it in all aspects of my life.  If something tweaks me the wrong way, I wait for 24 hours to give myself time to mull it over and try to understand the opposing side.  If I'm still up in arms a day later I will diplomatically and thoughtfully state my concerns.

During my years in recruitment I've interviewed all personality types.  I've been in situations where I've had to tell someone they didn't get the job only to have them scream at me and dismiss me as an "idiot that clearly doesn't know what I'm talking about", and I've received emails that advise me to go "screw myself" because I just lost out on the opportunity to work with "the best in the business".  The only outcome to that type of behavior is to be fast tracked to the DNU (do not use) pile.  No one wants to work with someone like that.  These folks could've benefited from knowing how to pick their battles.

The next time you find yourself frustrated and ready to vent your opinions, take a deep breath, then give yourself 24 hours to assess the situation and if you decide its a worthwhile battle - go in armed and ready with a cool head.  "Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?".  Some battles just aren't worth the effort, even if you're right.  The only way to realize that is to take the time to think about each situation before you react. 

Food For Thought:

• Anger and bitterness and other negative emotions come from a place of fear.  Always remember when dealing with an angry person they are fearful of something (losing their job, change, etc).  By remembering this you can sometimes get to the bottom of the situation and dispel their fears before things escalate.
• You teach people how to treat you.  It is OK to tell someone that their behavior is unacceptable.  If someone is acting negatively, explain to them calmly that you will not carry on a conversation until they're composed.
• Crap rolls down hill - if you are being treated poorly by your boss, your boss is often being treated poorly by his/her boss etc. Don't be the next in line to continue that lineage.
• Learning to meditate or even something as simple as setting alarms on your phone at specific times during the day to remind you to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths can surprisingly go a long way in improving your mood.

Why No-Showing Gets You No Where

When looking for new employment its important to realize that the top requirement on every employer's "requirements list" is:  PROFESSIONALISM.

Professionalism isn't something you can show on a resume.  It is a characteristic that is only apparent through your actions as you proceed through the interview process with the client.  One of the major indicators that someone lacks professionalism is the "No-Call-No-Show" - when a candidate agrees to a set interview day/time and then is not present for the interview with no indication that they were not going to make it.  It doesn't matter what the venue for the interview is; in-person, telephone or video, being prepared and on-time showcases your level of professionalism.

If there is ever a time that you are running late or need to cancel an interview, you should always have the name and number of the person you are meeting with, or at the very least the contact information for your recruiter so you can call or email to alert them of your delay and the reason you are going to be late.  Barring a major emergency there is no excuse for not providing notice that you are not showing up for an interview. 

Typically, as a recruiter, I will give candidates a pass if they fail to answer my call at the scheduled time for an initial phone interview, depending on their reasoning and whether or not they followed up with me quickly.  Things happen, we get delayed in meetings, we get unexpected phone calls and so on.  This is not the case for a client interview.  Client interviews are of the utmost importance.  The firm has presented the resume to the client with the assurance that the person is one of the most qualified candidates for their opportunity.  This assures the client that the firm has vetted not only the candidate's experience but also personality fit and professionalism.  When a candidate no-call-no-shows to a client interview this demonstrates an extreme lack in professionalism.  Routinely this behavior will get the candidate black listed from both the client and the recruitment firm, additionally this doesn't bode well for the firm because the client is relying on them to make sure things like this don't happen.  Not only does the candidate look bad, but they make the firm look bad as well.

The repercussions of an interview no-show can be felt for a long time after the incident.  I've had the experience of submitting a candidate to a job opening only to have the hiring manager respond saying "when I used to work for XYZ company, this candidate no-showed on an interview so we are not interested in considering them for employment".  Additionally when a candidate is red-flagged at a staffing firm as an undesirable candidate not only do they lose out on multiple future job opportunities, but recruiters speak to one another.  Both consulting firms/staffing firms and healthcare systems keep detailed candidate files via their individual staffing/employment software.  It just takes 1 click to mark a candidate as a "DNU" (do not use).  One no-call-no-show has the potential to ruin numerous potential opportunities across a variety of employers for the foreseeable future.

If you are unable to make an interview for any reason, take just a moment to either call or email the person you are scheduled to meet with - or your recruiter when applicable - even a one line email stating "I'm sorry but an unexpected situation arose and I need to cancel (or reschedule) the interview.  My deepest apologies for this inconvenience" is better than nothing at all.  Taking the time to send that communication is all it takes to show you have the professionalism the client is seeking.

Immunization Records - Vaccine Requirements in the HIT Industry

More and more we are seeing requirements from Healthcare IT Clients for up-to-date vaccinations.  This has caused issues with new hire on-boarding / start dates and a consultant's ability to get hired.

Regardless of your feelings on vaccines and immunizations, there are going to be stricter requirements in the HIT Consulting industry.  For someone that does not have their immunization record you will be required to have a titer run by your physician to determine if you are lacking any of the necessary immunizations.  If you are missing any of the required vaccinations you will need to receive them prior to your start date OR present a letter from your physician as to why you are unable to receive the vaccine(s).  With many employers these requirements will hold true even for consultants / employees that are working remotely or never come in contact with the patient population.

To date; candidates have removed themselves from consideration due to these regulations and many have had to push back their start date after being unable to produce their vaccine records immediately.  If you have to have a titer run it can take days to receive the information back from a lab and then additional time to get back into your physician to get up to date on the necessary vaccines. 

Due to the fact that most employers are moving to require vaccination records prior to hire, it is extremely beneficial to have your complete vaccination record ready to present when necessary.  By going and gathering that information now, proactively, it can save a consultant huge headaches, time and potential loss of an engagement by making sure their immunizations are up-to-date and by having the documentation on hand.