Penelope Trunk – Career Advice Guru

Don’t tell my boss but I’ve completely addicted to Penelope Trunk’s blog and every since my friend Elaine introduced me to her, I haven’t been able to stop reading her blog.  I read her blog entries at work (throughout the day) and when I get home.  She’s been blogging for many years now so I have a lot to catch up on.   Penelope is a very successful entrepreneur, writer, author, divorced single mom.  She’s been through a lot and she doesn’t hold back about anything in her life.  Not only does she share career advice and her work experiences, she tells you about her dates, about her divorce and her kids.  Trust me …. once you start to read her blogs, you’ll want to know more about her!

Right now, I’m reading a lot about her interviewing advice and I must say, some of it comes to me as a surprise probably because I haven’t gone for an interview since I left Scotiabank in 2004.  Her unconventional answers to interview questions and questions you should ask the interviewer really helped me through my last interview.  One question, however, didn’t exactly go as she had advised it should.

Basically, the interview asked me what figure I was looking for.  Luckily she asked me as I was just about to ask her so I said, “Actually, I was just about to ask you what salary range the position is in.”.  She said, “Well.. there really isn’t a range (BS) but it will depend on experience and what the market is at at the moment.  Did you have a figure in mind that you’re looking for?”.  Obviously I’m not as strong of a salary negotiator cuz I paused for a pretty long time and ended up giving her a number.  DOH!!!

I think I’m going to go back to her advice and really be strong and fight for the interviewer to give me that god damn salary range!!!

I’ll let you know if I have another interview.