Comments on: Blowing Your Horn Re: China and/or India

By: Ashley Tyra

Ashley Tyra — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:15:21 +0000

Interviewing and self-promotion play an important role in landing any job. Being able to put this trip to China on a resume is a big plus. Companies hiring for a job should be able to see the tremendous benefits of selecting someone well versed in – or at least more than familiar with – China.

Like Kevin and Charles, I too already have this trip listed on my resume. It is a great way to stand out among other MBAs we will be competing against.

Although looking good on a resume is a must, it has to be backed up by a good interview. I like the truth behind the “airport test” from the article – no one wants to work with someone they can’t stand. I think one of the keys to an interview is being able to keep your cool and remain conversational – all they really want to do is get to know you and see if you are a good fit for their company.

By: Keith Cody

Keith Cody — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:29:12 +0000

The China trip is part of my game plan. Since I deal in software and hardware, this industry’s supply chain runs through china. The business trip plus my 2 years studying Chinese at CalPoly should give me the edge I need. Plus, I’m a BSD — ask Professor York or anyone who sat through my first entrepreneur pitch.

With regards to getting a job. It’s all in who you know. Very rarely to people get blinded hired by companies, but it doesn’t happen too often. (I did by Apple, years ago, believe it or not). Anything you can do to build Guanxi (connections) helps, in business or otherwise.

Tooting your own horn is something that a lot of sales-y business types have already learned, but engineering types are usually more cautious and humble. It’s hard to get a head if you don’t stand out. But remember, the nail that sticks out is also the one that gets hammered, so be careful.

By: Fred S.

Fred S. — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:58:04 +0000

Tooting your own horn in the balance of likability and competence is a tough road to navigate. Like the Wall Street Journal mentions, it highly depends on whom you are dealing with. For those who do not know your background, you may need to toot your horn a little. If it’s the lady at the front desk, she’s going to care that you are likable. From my experience in the engineering and construction industry, she doesn’t care that you’re another MBA student; She’s heard it 1000 times. To your peers, you are going to need to be both likable and have a supportive background. To the guys in the field, you are going to need to be likable, yet witty – they love catchy sayings or similes. To the boss who rarely sees you, he wants to know you are competent, but he’ll likely only hear that from what the direct reports, who like you, tell him. It is very dynamic and takes experience and practice dealing with different types/levels of people.

With respect to China, I have tooted my horn. It is a line on my resume and I have been asked about it in an interview for a job this summer. The employer found it intriguing, and we chatted a bit about the current situation in China. A lot of the information I used was from these blogs. The difficult part is getting past the HR or front desk lady and getting your resume into the hands of someone who can use your competencies. This is the current feat I am going through in trying to land an internship this summer. So far my most successful messages to HR go along the lines that I am a student in California that is applying to an internship in Seattle so that I can be close to my girlfriend this summer. It was out there, but they seemed to like it (must have been HR employees of the female type). It was, of course, backed up by a resume with China on it!

By: Daniel Fleek

Daniel Fleek — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:54:20 +0000

I think overall, using most of the tricks in the workplace described in article one seems pretty unethical to me. Some of these include stealing of memos, faxes, and mail or the guy who joined his vice presidents church to win the promotion. I was surprised by the statement in the article which mentions that “grandstanders typically secure managerial approval in inverse proportion to colleagues’ admiration.” I guess it depends on the scale of the work environment but I would hope that managers would be able to identify these “sour grapes” who are pretty much sucking up to people above them either to get a job or to get promoted. Therefore, I agree with the thought process of the interviewers in the second article where giving a answer such as “I am a perfectionist” to the what is your weakness question hampers their chances at employment because this pretty much weeds out people who are just trying to suck up from the people who are actually capable. However, I still think that it is important for a superior who does not know you to understand your credentials and that some of the tactics described are good ideas to promote yourself such as the e-mailing late at night tactic. I just don’t think most of the other tactics used and described in the article are acceptable.

By: Jeffrey Brown

Jeffrey Brown — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:12:54 +0000

It can be hard for people to realize the difference between tooting their own horn for the sake of bragging and doing it for the sake of informing potential employers. An interview really is a time for you to sell yourself to an employer, and you cannot sell any product by not describing how it is better than any other product out there. I believe the first article hit the nail on the head when comparing competence to likeability - those that are most competent in the workplace may not necessarily be the most popular amongst co-workers. As such, those that are most competent must sell themselves and inform their superiors of how they deserve a promotion over the other guy.

In an increasingly competitive job market, global experience will definitely make one stand out amongst a crowd with no global experience.

By: Grant

Grant — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:29:30 +0000

I have always been uncomfortable blowing my own horn. I have felt as though my actions should speak louder than my words, but sometimes the words of others are louder still. While I still believe that actions are more of a sign of my abilities than my words, i believe it is important to not undercommunicate. There are some tactful ways to assert your abilities without it sounding like you are bragging, but I think it does take some finesse so that it doesn’t come across wrong.
With respect to China on the resume, I think it is best just to be straight forward and say what it was and not try to overdo it. If it is overdone, the interviewee will likely have to backpedal when pressed on the issue, which will ultimately have done more harm than good.
Ideally, just having participated in the project will give the interviewee more experience with China than the interviewer has, so that alone should be sufficient. Let the actions speak louder than the words.

By: Charles Dornbush

Charles Dornbush — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:50:52 +0000

The interviewing process and self-promotion in general are real causes of concern for me as I continue the job search. While a short blurb about the China trip is already on my resume, I have found it hard to talk to potential employers about it, mostly because it hasn’t happened yet.
The first article about office politicking also proved worrisome, it made me think that even if you are very good at what you do, you can’t get to the top without some uncomfortable schmoozing. Maybe that is true, I don’t know. One thing I did find interesting was the ‘likeability and competence’ hypothesis. In particular the ‘airport test’ rings true: if I couldn’t see myself spending a couple hours stuck with the person, I really wouldn’t want them to work with me.
I think the hardest part of the interview is feeling prepared and relaxed when questions like ‘What’s your greatest weakness?’ or some of the other brainteasers might be asked.

By: Kevin K.

Kevin K. — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:22:04 +0000

I haven’t even left the country, and the planned trip to China is already on my resume — albeit simply as a planned trip to China’s largest business sectors, but it still seems like a huge differentiator when it comes to experience in the global business environment.

While the MBA program already gives us students an advantage in the interview room, this China trip is something we should all brag about, even if we haven’t left the states yet.

As far as interviewing, we’ve read a few articles on the subject by now — including in Prof. Carr’s summer Communication class that I suggest everyone take if they have the chance — and how that it has become an art form in this job market. I really liked the final addendum article and how it addresses the common “greatest weakness” question. In an interview I once had I didn’t get this question, I got a similar permutation of it: “What was your greatest mistake.” As in what was a mistake that you made that turned out to be a good thing. Also, if you were a tree what tree would you be and why? (I chose the noble redwood by the way…).

By: Georgia

Georgia — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:00:48 +0000

I liked Sandberg’s list of different techniques. I think that there is a fine line that one has to walk in order to show off their strengths while not grating against coworkers. Taking over other’s meetings is going way to far. But bringing up the boss’s agenda before he does (as long as you aren’t faking your support for it) seems like a good technique. If you step on others on the way up they will look for reasons to bring you down. And in the end you are worse off with no one to turn to. Robert Cialdini’s two main dimensions on which people are judged are likeability and competence. You have to be able to show off your skills while remaining on everyone’s good side.
I think it would be easy to sound arrogant bringing up the China trip in an interview. My main problem with interviewing is getting stiff and giving rambling answers. I think the key is having many different learning experiences in mind so you can tailor your answer to the question. If you have one set example it may not be congruent with the actual question and it will seem rehearsed and fake.

By: Vladimir

Vladimir — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:52:30 +0000

I heard several psychology professors say that interviewing is not a good way to predict job performance. One told me that a better way would be to check their experience and ask them questions that pertain to the job. I agree. As a hiring manager I would give the candidate some typical job tasks and see how he or she performs. But since the interview is part of the process, we need to be ready. I don’t think the question about the most controversial belief is appropriate for almost any position, and the response about cars coming without safety devices didn’t impress me. I might respond, “Hmmm, I’d have to think about that.” The interview largely tests preparation and preparation is a sign of a serious candidate.

The cubicle culture article mentions likeability and competence, but both help one get hired. If a hiring manager doesn’t like you, he’s looking for a reason to not hire you. If he likes you, he’s looking for a reason to hire you. After getting the job, show what you can do, don’t brag about it. Annoying your co-workers can backfire. When one needs to make others aware of his competence he should do it without coming across as annoying.

I’m thinking about putting the trip to China on my resume and I like the tips given for marketing it. It’s also a great differentiating experience to bring up in an interview, especially if I explain how it adds value to my position.