Career Corner

Success! You Can Reach Your Goals
Q: I do fabulously at working toward my goals until the end. Then, I either sabotage myself or just don''t finish. I guess I feel that by giving up, I am in control of the project going downhill. On the other hand, if I put my all into something, there is a chance of finding out that I wasn''t good enough -- and failure terrifies me. This problem worries me because I am finishing up a degree, and will soon be required to start an internship. In other words, right now is the time when "staying in the game" is vital. How can I move past my fear of failing?

Katherine Martin
Katherine Martin is the author of Women of Courage.

Dear
It sounds as though you''ve got a good handle on what''s going wrong. That''s the first important step, recognizing what you''re doing. From here, you need to forgive yourself for what you''ve been doing. I can really beat myself up for missed opportunities, but doing that won''t get me anywhere.
Personally, I''ve started to practice making mistakes. I bleed off mistakes on small tasks -- on purpose. That way, I don''t have to do it on things that really matter to me. It really works. You can try by taking up a hobby with the sole (intentional) purpose of using it for "mistake practice."
You can also enlist the help of a friend. Tell this person that you''re trying to break through your fear of failure, and keep her closely posted on whatever project is getting close to being done with. Ask her to check up on you at crucial last moments: How are you doing? Are you scared? What are you feeling? What are you afraid of? That kind of checking up. By reminding you of your tendency to stop working, your friend will be the wind at your back helping you to reach the finish line. The good news is that once you finish a project, it''s easier the next time. Done several times, it will start to become a habit because success feels so good -- and it is so much more fun!
Don''t forget, you also have us here on the board to check up with you. Post to let us know when you''re getting close to a goal and could fall into that old habit of close-but-no-cigar.

10 Critical Interview Tips
It''s important to make a great impression during an interview. Here are 10 basic tips to convince a prospective employer that you''re the one for the job.
- Talk specifics about the company. Thoroughly research the job, the company and its products or services. The more specific you are when discussing the position, the better. Also, preparing will make you feel confident if you''re asked specific company-related questions.
- Bring an extra copy of your resume -- just in case.
- Make eye contact. It shows that you are focused and confident.
-Demonstrate interest and enthusiasm about the company.
-Dress professionally. ''''Professional'''' can be interpreted in many ways these days. Basically, whether the company''s style requires a suit or is laid back, make an effort to look presentable. It matters.
-Try to respond to questions within 60 seconds. You don''t want to be monosyllabic, but lengthy responses will make the employer lose interest and you might lose your own focus.
-Listen and respond to answers directly. If you are unclear about a question, ask for clarification.
-Be prepared to discuss how what you''ve done in the past will affect how you''ll perform in your future position. Give examples that show your value.
-Ask questions. Sharp questions show that you are proactive and want to make sure that this company is the right place for you.
-Send a thank you note within two days of the interview. Express your interest in the position and thank the interviewer for his or her time. Even if you''re not interested in the job, you never know who might be a good contact for you down the line.

Should I disclose my pregnancy in job interviews?
Dear
I would like to know how to go about bringing up my pregnancy during job interviews. Should I be up-front about it, or wait until after I am hired and pretend I just found out?



Dear Expecting:
Don''t begin any relationship with a lie, much less one with an employer. Your credibility is your biggest asset.
If no one asks whether you''re pregnant, don''t mention it. If, however, you need to reveal your pregnancy in order to fairly or accurately answer a question once you''ve been offered the job, then disclose it. For example, if your employer tells you that your job would entail a six-month training program once you''ve been on site for two months, you could say something such as, "I would need to make special arrangements for that, since I''m expecting a baby in six months."
When I posed your question to Jane Dalton, a lawyer specializing in employment law, she assured me that you are under no obligation to disclose it. We both agree that pretending not to know, however, is bad strategy and bad karma.