Jan 22 2009
Giving Feedback
If a friend or colleague asks for your feedback on how they are doing, how they look, the resume they are using or whatever, try to use it as an opportunity to really help by giving honest feedback.
Now, that does not mean you tell them mean or negative things, certainly skilled tactfulness is your best way of proceeding, but don’t just say everything is “fine” when you know it is not fine.
If they have problems on the resume, offer specific suggestions on ways to improve and offer to help them come up with better alternatives. If she wears inappropriate clothes to work or to an interview, show her something that would look nice, without having to insult her or call her a skank.
Constructive feedback and criticism with a suggestion on what would be better may hurt her feelings a tad, but it is better than lying to her and saying she looks great if she goes to work looking like a castoff from a Vegas curbside.
