Get Hıred, Not Fired

Ah, those inscrutable human resources professionals—also known as HR specialists, HR liaisons, personnel managers or simply “the people upstairs.” Like another mythic figure, they know who’s been naughty or nice, and workers everywhere—desperate to hold on to their jobs in these tough times—know they’d better watch out. We gave several HR professionals a chance to tell us what really happens behind the closed doors of companies. Whether you use their insider tips to keep a job or get a job, these people definitely come across as human—and resourceful.

Hiring & Your (Boastful) Résumé
>> Never presume the gender or marital status of the hiring manager when communicating over mail. It is better to check before sending the communication, or use the classic “Sir or Madam.” If you are aware of the gender, use Ms when addressing a woman and Mr when addressing a man.
Manu Dua, freelance HR consultant, New Delhi

>> Once you’re unemployed more than six months, you’re considered quite unemployable. We assume that other people have already passed you over, so we don’t want anything to do with you.    
Cynthia Shapiro, former HR executive and author of
Corporate Confidential: 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn’t Want You to Know

>> When it comes to getting a job, who you know really does matter. No matter how nice your résumé is or how great your experience may be, it’s all about connections. 
HR director at a health-care facility

>> If you’re trying to get a job at a specific company, often the best thing to do is to avoid HR entirely. Find someone at the company you know, or go straight to the manager who is hiring.        
Shauna Moerke, HR administrator who blogs at hrminion.com

>> The trickiest question at a job interview is “What are your weaknesses?” I still don’t know what the ideal answer is. If you say you have no weaknesses, then you are either lying or ignorant. If you give a diplomatic answer like “I’m a perfectionist” or “I work so hard that I don’t have a work-life balance,” then you’re seen as dramatic. If you genuinely mention a weakness that could affect your work, then we consider you unfit for the job. The best one can do is mention a tiny flaw that has an obvious solution. Something like “I generally prefer to work on one project at a time but I’ve been trying to change that ever since I realized the importance of multitasking.”           
D.B., HR manager in Mumbai