BODY LANGUAGE IN THE WORKPLACE

THE JOB INTERVIEW

were terrific at your last job, the obvious question is "Why were

you fired?"

Being fired isn't an obstacle to being hired. Joe Redmond,

Pepsico's personnel administrative manager, points out that "people

are often fired because the company is cutting back, or there's a

personality conflict."

As a precaution against the problem of having been fired, job

applicants should try to reach an agreement with the boss who

fires them not to send a bad reference. The reverse is also true.

Never bad-mouth a former employer. It raises the interviewer's

suspicions that you may talk the same way about anyone who

hires you.

When it comes to salary, Dudley Darling, a New York executive

recruiter, says, "I'd advise the candidate to go for the highest

realistic figure. Ask for a 15 to 20 percent raise over your last

job, and let the interviewer either meet it or make a counteroffer.

If the rest of the interview went well, the chances are the interviewer

will meet it."

HANDLING TRICKY QUESTIONS

There are many questions asked in an interview that are designed

to trick you or to put you on the defensive. Here are some samples

and some suggestions about handling them.

What do you know about our company? If you've done your home-
work, you can come up with some discussion of products produced,
company size and income, company reputation, and its image.
Whether or not the question comes up, be prepared to answer it.
You want to send out a knowledgeable subtext. Whatever you