10 Questions the Boss Should Ask Every Employee

These questions help determine how your employees feel about their jobs. The answers to these questions often determine whether or not they will stay on their jobs.

• What would be the one thing that, if it changed in your current role, would make you consider moving on?
• If you could make any changes about your job, what would they be?
• If you could go back to any previous position and stay for an extended period of time, which one would it be and why?
• If you suddenly became financially independent, what would you miss most about your job?
• In the morning, does your job make you jump out of bed or hit the snooze button?
• What makes for a great day?What can we do to make your job more satisfying?
• What can we do to support your career goals?
• Do you get enough recognition?
• What can we do to keep you with us?

My lunch companion sent me an email from ACA to support the designation of April as Limb Loss Awareness Month, see below.  It only takes 2 minutes to fill out.  All you have to do is use the link below to contact your Governor, click on your State, and then copy and paste and fill in your name and information.

Here is the email:

Alert!! Ask your Governor to sign The Limb Loss Awareness Month Proclamation!

The Amputee Coalition has submitted a proclamation to all 50 state governors to designate April as Limb Loss Awareness Month.  This is important to the limb loss community because it helps us to raise awareness, provide additional support and information, reach out to the broader community, and talk about measures to reduce and prevent limb loss. 

We need you to contact your governor this week to show your support and ask them to sign this important proclamation so we can recognize Limb Loss Awareness Month with the governor's support in all 50 states! 

Taking Action is Simple

This email contains a sample e-mail and call script below for you to send to your governor's office, all you have to do is use the link below to contact your governor, click on your state, and then copy and paste and fill in your name and information.  Be sure to fill in all of the blanks.

Contact your Governor!

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml

Sample email:

Dear Governor (NAME), 

I am writing to urge you to sign the Limb Loss Awareness Month proclamation that would designate April as Limb Loss Awareness Month. This proclamation will allow members of the limb loss community to raise awareness, provide added support and preventative information to the limb loss community and broader community about the issues the limb loss community faces.  We will also be focusing on the dangers of diabetes and other health and safety concerns to prevent limb loss in the future.

This is an opportunity to give people with limb loss a time for recognition and a voice to help reintegrate new amputees, raise awareness of the limb loss community, and get the message out that limb loss can be prevented.

I hope you will consider signing this important proclamation to give the amputees in (STATE) an opportunity to reach out to one another and the larger community to raise awareness about limb loss.

Sincerely,

 NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE

Sample call script:

Governor (NAME),

My name is (NAME), and I am from (CITY).  I am calling to urge you to support the proclamation that would designate April as Limb Loss Awareness Month. This will allow members of the limb loss community to raise awareness, provide added support and preventative information about the issues the limb loss community faces, and the dangers of diabetes and other health and safety concerns to prevent limb loss in the future.

This is an opportunity to give people with limb loss a time for recognition and a voice to help reintegrate new amputees, raise awareness of the limb loss community, and get the message out that limb loss can be prevented.

I hope you will consider signing this important proclamation to give the amputees in (STATE) an opportunity to reach out to one another and the larger community to raise awareness about limb loss.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

You want to work for the company, they've seen your credentials and they've asked you in for an interview.  You want the job.  Here are some suggestions that will help you make sure your interview goes as well as possible.

Preparing for the interview

Thorough preparation is critical.  It is great for your confidence in the interview room and it leaves a very positive impression with the interviewers.

1. Get the logistics right. Time, location, interviewer's name and position title.

2. Do your research. Find out as much as possible about the company: size, scope, location of branches and offices, financial/share performance, range of products and services, etc.  The company website and annual report are two very good sources.

3. Do some more research. Make sure you have key data in your head about your existing and most recent employers.

4. Do even more research. Ask former co-workers to tell you about your professional traits.  What did they most admire?  Try to find some faults as well.  This leaves you more prepared for questions such as "what are your greatest faults" or "if I were working with you...”

5. Prepare questions. The employer will be trying to work out whether you fit the available role. You should also take the opportunity to ensure that the company is right for you.

6. Practice (see below).  Take time to run through some of your answers.  Don't over-rehearse, but make sure that you are coming across confidently.

7. Present yourself well.  Find out what the company culture is regarding business dress.  If in doubt, go more formal, not less formal. Make sure you are well groomed on the day.

What you should practice

When practicing for an interview, you should focus particularly on the way you answer questions.

1. Be descriptive. Don't just answer "yes" or "no" to questions.  But also avoid "over-answering." Make your answers colorful but not lengthy.

2. Sell yourself to the interviewer, but without exaggeration or telling lies.  You are there to market yourself, "blow your own trumpet" and explain why you'd be right for the role.  But don't come across as arrogant.

3. Avoid making negative remarks about your current employer, or past employers or colleagues.  This will only reflect on you in the interview.

4. Be determined. Make it clear that you want to get the job, even if you are given information in the interview that sheds a new light on the role.  Be positive, and then evaluate the opportunity again when you are away from the interview.  Don't burn your bridges.

5. Have positive body language, and maintain a good posture.

Remember: expect unexpected questions.  It's fine to pause for thought.  It's also acceptable to admit you don't know the answer.