Monday, November 4, 2024

CNBC Make It Work helps you get ahead in your career.
By Ashton Jackson

Billionaire CEO shares the No. 1 red flag he sees in employees

I’m part of Gen Z, the generation that’s shaken up the corporate world with our desire to dress more casually, work from home and hop from job to job. Many of my Gen Z friends and family members have no problem leaving a job over the smallest inconvenience, and they don’t feel obligated to give two-weeks notice, either.

For some bosses, especially those who need to fill a position quickly, this may not be a dealbreaker. For Raising Cane’s CEO Todd Graves, it’s the ultimate red flag.

When Graves, 52, sees frequent job changes every two to three years on someone’s resume, alarm bells go off in his head.

“I question that, because it’s like, ‘Are you in it just for you?’” Graves says

Job-hopping can make an applicant come across as someone who’s on a “quest for titles,” says Graves. Such people also tend to use language during interviews that they think the hiring manager wants to hear, rather than giving authentic answers, he notes — which you can catch by looking for inconsistencies in candidates’ responses across multiple interviews.

“When they’re more into title and control versus teamwork, it’s a huge red flag for me,” says Graves.

If you find yourself in an interview where you’re asked about your job-hopping, “don’t make apologies for it,” LinkedIn career expert Drew McCaskill told CNBC Make It in August. You should be ready with a succinct explanation that focuses on what you’ve gained through each of your past experiences, and how that makes you a fit for the role you want now.

How to know when to walk away from a job offer

As a jobseeker, it’s easy to feel like any job opportunity is a good one. You want to advance your career. You want to grow your skills and be part of a team. You need a paycheck, of course.

Still, you don’t always need to say yes. “Getting to a job offer is a great thing,” says Amanda Augustine, career expert at TopResume. “But that doesn’t mean that you should accept it just because you got the offer.”

Some places are not a good fit for various reasons, and you’ll want to suss that out before you agree to anything.

Start by assessing your needs. Before you go into any interview, you’ll need “your own personal list of your must-haves, and then the things you’re willing to maybe do without,” says Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at Resume Builder. If the job doesn’t fill your needs, it likely isn’t the right fit.

Then scope out the environment. When you visit an office for an interview, pay attention to what you see. “Does there seem to be a happy banter going around?” says Augustine. “Or do people look miserable and stressed?” The answer could indicate what your experience at the company would look like.

Whenever you realize a company or position isn’t right for you, politely let the hiring manager know you’re no longer interested.

Say something like, “Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me,” recommends Augustine. “It was great learning more about this. However, as [I’ve] learned more, I just don’t think it’s a right fit for me.”

Millennial Money: I make $87,000 a year as an undertaker—and I'm wildly happy

Victor M. Sweeney, 33, doesn't fear death: The licensed mortician and funeral director in Warren, Minnesota, observed his first embalming at age 18. Here's a look at what it takes to do his job, and why he's happy with the way his life has turned out.

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The most successful new hires do these 3 things, says Mark Cuban

Millions of jobs could be eliminated or created in the next decade by artificial intelligence, according to the World Economic Forum.

To navigate this change — and maybe even new job requirements — Mark Cuban says you’ll need to be curious, agile and adaptable.

“I can pretend that I’m gonna be able to predict where AI’s going and the exact impact on the job market, but I’d be lying, I have no idea,” the billionaire entrepreneur and investor says. “But I do know that I am going to pay attention, and be agile, and be curious, and be able to adapt.”

Adaptability in particular is a soft skill that’s “increasingly in demand” across a wide range of industries, according to a recent LinkedIn report. Employers want to hire people who can quickly navigate ongoing changes in the workplace, says Aneesh Raman, LinkedIn’s chief economic opportunity officer.

Honing these three soft skills — curiosity, agility and adaptability — will never stop paying dividends for your career, Cuban says. You can build them by exploring topics you’re unfamiliar with and finding new ways to apply what you’ve learned at work.

“The skills you need for a job today, 10 years, 100 years from now, are always the same,” says Cuban.