SkyWater Blog

What to Do When Someone Takes Credit for Your Work

You remember it all so clearly. You were pouring coffee into your favorite mug at work one morning when all of a sudden it hit you: your great idea to reach a new, untapped market for an underselling product. Excited about the possibilities, you rushed back to your desk and used the few minutes you had before your next meeting to type up your thoughts and check a few facts and figures online. A coworker joined you as you walked to the conference room and you bounced your idea off him. You said you were hoping to have a fleshed out draft ready to run by your boss next week. Your coworker didn’t seem that impressed with your amazing idea but, ok, whatever.

You get a call from a headhunter.  Or a friend mentions that their employer is hiring.  Maybe you’ve just been keeping your ear to the ground, daydreaming about a new job. And that new job pays more money.

The longer you’ve been job hunting, the sweeter it is when you hear the words, “we want to extend an offer…”  Yes!  You’re in the final lap of the race.  But it’s not over yet.  So don’t lose your focus now.  It could end up costing you, big time.

You know the three rules of job interviewing:  1. PREPARE, 2. PREPARE, 3. PREPARE.  But as you gear up for a great first interview with a potential employer, you may be so focused on what to do — that you may not give enough thought to what not to do.  During your first interview, you’ll likely be asked if you have any questions.  No matter how well you may have answered their questions, it is equally important that you ask your own questions masterfully.  The interview is an audition.  And asking questions is your opportunity to showcase your leadership skills, your ability to ask insightful questions and conduct yourself intelligently during high-stakes meetings, your knowledge of the company and the industry, and your career priorities.  It is also a moment fraught with risks and potential pitfalls.  Before your next interview, do your homework, write down your questions, and be sure you avoid the kinds of deal-killer questions we’ve listed below.  

What does your company do?
Never, ever ask your interviewer for information that you’d already know if you had bothered to do a few quick online searches.  That said, if your intention is to better understand the specifics of how the company functions, ask your question by prefacing it with what you do know about them.

Preparing for a job interview can be daunting.  If you want to impress that prospective employer, you’ve got some homework to do: fully research the company, prepare strong answers to anticipated questions, even choose the right clothes.  But in all of your eagerness to impress your interviewer, don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re on another important mission during that interview:  assessing how they impress you.

Even for the most qualified applicants, interviews can be a daunting experience. At SkyWater, we advise all of our candidates to research the company, understand the role and rehearse their answers to the most common interview questions.

Starting a new job is a reason for celebration which usually energizes and motivates us. We often prioritize the title, compensation, location and responsibilities. If it ticks those boxes, many professionals don’t give much consideration to the three principal reasons a job doesn’t work out.

At SkyWater Search, we are often asked about the legal status of pre-employment tests and background checks. The fact is that companies are entitled to carry out pre-employment assessments provided that they are not discriminatory based on race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, national origin or religion. They must also be properly administered.