Whatever you do, DO NOT accept a job offer unless you're certain it's a job you really want. Once you've accepted the offer, remove your application from other searches.
Continue reading "Whatever you do, DO NOT accept a job offer..." »
During an interview, you will likely be asked why you are interested in _____ field, why you are interested in pursuing ____ career, why you're interested in working for _____ organization. There is a positive correlation between the quality of your responses and the interviewer's interest in you - the more sincere, detailed, and thoughtful your responses, the more interesting you will be to the interviewer.
So, how interested are you in your field?
About the author: Career development professional with 10 years of experience in career advising. Specializes in working with undergraduate students with little-to-no work experience. Special interests include: international students, immigrant populations, parents transitioning back into the workforce, faith in the workplace, and Christian career counseling. Grace's site, Sweet Careers, provides tips, advice, videos, and tutorials to help job seekers find meaningful careers.
You recently heard somewhere that a job fair is an excellent way to meet lots of potential employers and maximize your job search time. The problem is, how do you find job fairs and what do you do once you've found them?
To locate upcoming job fairs:
- Review media, including free job publications. Don't forget to check radio and TV stations.
- Check your target companies' Career section Web sites. They'll often promote job fairs they're attending.
- Contact college career service offices in your area. They regularly conduct or know of job fairs. Non-students or alumni may be welcome.
- Search the Internet using the key words "job fair" or "career fair" and your city and state.
- Bookmark your favorite job search resources for upcoming job fairs and locations, as well as preparation tips.
To prepare for a job fair, follow these suggestions:
- Register for the job fair in advance. Be sure to get a copy of the hiring company exhibitors.
- Select the companies you're most interested in and research their Web sites, annual reports and recent media coverage. Talk to your networking contacts. Your goal is to thoroughly understand what the companies do and how you can bring value to them
- Develop your "elevator pitch" that explains what you do, what you bring to the table, and how this aligns with the company's business. Remember, you're there to demonstrate what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.
- Develop a list of questions to ask. The worst question you can ask at a job fair is, "What do you do?" A more appropriate question might be, "I saw in your most recent annual report that you are expanding your marketing operations. Will graphic designers be part of that expansion? I have a graphic design degree and have been recognized for...."
While at the job fair, make sure you:
- Seek out your targeted companies and introduce yourself with a firm handshake and confident demeanor.
- Pitch your candidacy for a position.
- Ask questions and make a connection.
- Get business cards of people you meet at the booths.
Note: Even if the company is not hiring for your particular skills at the time, if it's a company of interest to you, make an effort to meet the company representatives and establish a connection you can follow up on after the job fair.
Once the job fair is over, what's next? If you collected business cards, you should immediately send a thank you note and reinforce your skills. Note something from the job fair you said or did that will help the recipient recall you. About one or two weeks after the job fair, follow up by telephone, as well.
Sharon DeLay is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Certified Professional Career Coach. You can visit her at Permanent Ink Professional Development Services or e-mail her for more information.
© 2008 Permanent Ink Professional Development Services
Congratulations! You landed the job interview. What now?
Many job candidates assume that their resumes will speak for them and that all they need to do is show up for the interview, looking professional and confirming a few questions about their skills. As a matter of fact, the interview is where the candidate needs to really start working! To improve your interview experience and increase your chances of becoming the preferred candidate:
Research. One of the top three deal breakers recruiters and hiring managers have identified is whether the candidate has taken the time to learn about the hiring company. Using the excuse that you're "just" out of college and new to the job search doesn't work. To learn more about a company, do an Internet search and review the news coverage, as well as the company's public Web site (including annual reports and the About Us section, as applicable). You can also ask your friends and colleagues what they know about the company.
Adjust your attitude. Another deal breaker is not having a good attitude. Some employers have even said this is more important to them than the skill level of the individual. They are willing to invest in training if the candidate's attitude is stellar and a good fit for the company. Always smile, no matter how you feel. Practice answering your interview questions in front of a mirror and check to see if you have a relaxed, approachable (and smiling) visage. Also, avoid using the interview as a platform for voicing your displeasure over your last job, boss, unsatisfactory school project, and so forth. No matter what the truth is, always formulate your answers to be positive and forward-looking. The past is just that. Learn from it and move on.
Create value. Employers prefer that you have the basic required skill set to do the job. To differentiate yourself from all the others who have the required skill set, demonstrate how you can help the company differentiate itself. When you talk about your skills and experience, do it in the manner that demonstrates how what you have done has added value to your past employer or how your unique problem-solving approach has been beneficial in adding value to an internship. Use quantifiable information, discuss efficiencies you've introduced and revenue or savings you've generated, if at all possible. Simply reiterating your skills in job-description fashion only proves you met the basic job requirements.
Sharon DeLay is a certified career coach with the goal of helping people find jobs they love and love the jobs they have. Visit our website or e-mail us for more information or to subscribe to her twice weekly blog or twice monthly ezine. (c) 2008 Permanent Ink Professional Development Services
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
NAPA , CA -- A business idea may sound great yet, in practice, flop. Sometimes it may, indeed, be a great idea but you may not have the skills to make it succeed. To reduce the risk of that happening to you, watch someone in your prospective business in action. For example, if you're thinking about being a Web designer, watch one for an hour or two.
Continue reading "Risk reducer for starting your own business" »
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
LOS ANGELES, CA -- As Internet job boards continue to evolve, it can pay to stay current on the latest job search tools and tactics. By learning how to use them, job hunters may be able to boost their chances of securing interviews. When an ad lists a hiring contact, research the person's background and make a special connection - in addition to distributing your resume on job boards and career websites.
Continue reading "Sharpen your aim when job hunting online" »
College students and recent graduates, made up mostly of the Millennial generation, are likely to be hardest hit by the worsening economic decline. Not only will these job seekers feel the largest impact due to the economy, but it will also be the first time many Millennials have experienced an economic downturn.
With looming recession worries, many companies will begin tightening hiring and training budgets, making them leery of hiring recent graduates who often require additional investments of time and training to get fully up-to-speed. Rather, employers will tend to seek out one exceptional candidate with standout credentials as opposed to several individuals with average qualifications.
Continue reading "College Students and Recent Grads Hit Hardest by Recession" »
Q: I am one year out of college and have always had an interest in photography, but have never really let myself seriously consider it as a career. My absolute dream job would be to work for National Geographic or Lonely Planet as a travel photographer.
I am having some trouble deciding where to focus my energy and I need a stable job while I build a portfolio and connections. Does it seem like a better choice to spend some time working under a professional photographer or should I take any job I can get with local magazines in order to learn the ins and outs of the business and hopefully establish connections so that I may contribute my work to the publication?
A: My advice to you is to do exactly what I did to answer your question: I searched around for photographers-through friends and friends-of-friends-and asked them for their expert advice. The best way to get advice on any specific career is to go right to the source of people who are actually doing it. Here are the two pieces of advice I heard:
In terms of what particular path to pursue right now, I think both of your ideas are great and I would encourage you to try to get any job you can related to photography, whether you're working directly for a photographer or for a publication. Go for both paths and see what works out. You might also look for positions at photography studios, photography schools, photo book publishers, etc. Cast a wide net. And why not apply now for a job at National Geographic or Lonely Planet? If those are where you ultimately want to be, send a resume now and see if you can get your foot in the door. Good luck!
Lindsey Pollak is a college campus speaker and author of "Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World" (HarperCollins, 2007). Courtesy of http://www.lindseypollak.com/blog
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
PHOENIX, AZ -- If you are currently worried about today's job market, consider exploring the careers of the future. Imagining a job of the future brings to mind pictures of space explorers and teleportation technicians. However, career experts say the next wave of jobs will more likely demand foreign language skills, high levels of creativity and high-tech knowledge.
Will recruiters continue their lively pursuit of cap-and-gowners this year as recession hovers like an unwelcome cloud bank over a three-day weekend?
Somebody keeps track of that vital issue and that somebody is NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
In November, NACE reported the outcome of its annual fall survey of employer members. The findings showed intense competition for new college grads. Good news -- 2008 was shaping up to be a blow-out year with a whopping 16 percent increase over the previous graduating crop. Many employers said they were even planning to throw in signing bonuses on top of fine pay and benefits. That was then.
This is now. Business prospects In the U.S. have dimmed. Top economic policy makers and analysts are tripping over themselves to announce that events have overtaken projections of just several months ago.
So where does that leave the job market -- specifically your job market? The picture isn't as clear as it was not so long ago. In fact, NACE moved up by a month its annual spring updating survey to see whether a gloomier outlook is whittling back hiring plans this year. Inquiring minds want to know.
Exhale. Early returns on the updating survey are looking good -- more reassuring than disappointing. Yes, some employers do say they're pulling back on hiring budgets but, thus far, the overall outlook for June grads remains upbeat. A saving grace for graduates is the need of employers to replace boomers marching into retirement. Expect complete NACE updating results in March.
In the meantime, I'm a big fan of just-in-case action. Just in case your post-graduation job isn't a done deal, take a look at these five keys to warding off demon spirits in the Great Job Race. Just in case...
Continue reading "2008: Still The Year of the Grad Chasers?" »
Conquer your emotions. Job seeking is one of the most difficult emotional experiences adults face. And especially if you've never worked before, it's difficult to understand that rejection is a natural part of the job search. Here are more techniques to conquer the inner game of job seeking:
Go for quantity. During your job search, generate many job leads and interviews. Post your resume on numerous boards. Develop many contacts. Do many information interviews. If you are juggling many opportunities, sheer numbers will work in your favor.
Be prepared. Choose a great outfit for your next interview. Have it cleaned and pressed and waiting in your closet. By preparing in the physical world, you are more likely to generate the energy that will draw opportunity to you.
Research the companies you are targeting. Of course, you are going to check the company's website. Be sure to read the latest press releases, so you know the news about that company. Ask friends and family if they know someone who works there. Then, call and talk to the employee. Drive by to be sure you know the location. Deliver your resume by hand and learn the receptionist's name. Ask her for contact names and spellings. Go to the company's parking lot at closing time and strike up a conversation with employees. One resourceful job seeker managed to have a flat tire in the parking lot of a company she was targeting. She made friends with several helpful employees and got an interview that week!
Develop a list of 80 people who can help you. You already know at least 250 people. Make a list of 80 who can help you with job leads. On your list, don't forget all your professional contacts - former supervisors, coworkers, vendors and clients. Include associates you have met through professional organizations, your church, athletic groups and hobbies. Don't forget your attorney, insurance agent, hair dresser, masseuse and other care providers. These people know hundreds of people, or they wouldn't be in business. Tell everyone you know the kind of position you are seeking, and ask for their help.
Stay in regular phone contact with your sources. Find reasons to call and email people who can help you with job leads. Contact each one every 2-4 weeks. You can send a new resume or a new cover letter and ask for feedback. Call about a conversation with a mutual acquaintance. Call with networking contacts for them, or offer an article of interest, a website or an introduction. Each time, restate clearly what you are looking for.
Create a "New Truth" and say it 50 times a day. (So many people showed an interest in this concept, I am repeating it. If your request got lost, please ask me again.) You begin with your greatest fear. For example: "I will never have a well-paying job. I will end up poor, alone and on welfare." Then, you create a new truth that speaks to that fear: "I have my pick of satisfying, well-paying jobs." Notice that the new truth has no negative ideas and is in the present tense. Create your own and begin saying it today -- 25 times in the morning and 25 times before you go to sleep. This ONE idea could be all it takes to mentally free you so that you will find, win and accept the perfect position. If you would like a list of 20 New Truths, send me an email: cj@workdharma.com.
By Catherine Jewell of www.careerpassiontest.com
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.
Even if your employer doesn't have a program in place to pay for continuing education, you still have a shot of getting them to foot the bill for an advanced degree. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask.
In this blog entry we're going to address requesting an online degree since they are A) more convenient for you and your employer B) becoming more widely accepted C) we get a lot of e-mails questioning their validity.
Here are some things to know before you decide you're going to ask your job to pay for an online course:
Continue reading "Get Your Employer to Pay for an Online Degree " »
Employment Digest has posted a brilliant article on job offers that aren’t actually as good as they look at first. Writer Carole Martin tells the story of Nicholas, who received an on-the-spot offer and was so thrilled he accepted right away. Nicholas was offered $55,000 per year, with a hiring bonus of $5,000 – a $10,000 raise from his last job.
Continue reading "A Wolf of a Job Offer in Sheep’s Clothing " »
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- There is a lot of talk these days about values. It's an easy word to toss around. Have you thought about what values mean to your job search? Have you heard yourself say you'd do anything to work for a certain company, or a certain person, or to earn a certain amount of money?
Continue reading "Show Me the Money: Values & Your Job Search" »
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
MILWAUKEE, WI -- Finding information about a potential employer can be done in a variety of ways. The Internet is probably the fastest way to find information. You can use www.google.com to target a company website or find additional information through sites like www.hoovers.com. Publications such as Inc., Fortune, The Business Journal, Success Magazine, and Fast Company are another source. You can also find some of the basics via Standard & Poor's, Thomas Registry, Dun & Bradstreet, and others. What to look for:
Continue reading "Mining For Gold: How to Research Employers" »
Lately, people feel that their pocketbooks are being drained too fast. They are anxious about the shaky economy, a possible layoff, business slowdowns, higher energy bills, the real estate downturn, and many worry that they won't have enough money for retirement. You can sit around and be a member of the "worry warts" or you can take control over your life and make it better. How?
I love watching mixed martial arts competitions. The sport doesn't appeal to everyone, but there is something appealing in the utilitarian nature of no holds barred combat. So, what does this have to do with job hunting? Here’s what you can learn from former heavyweight champion Randy Couture: you need to both 1) leverage your strengths, and 2) address the areas in which you most need improvement. An Olympic wrestler, when Randy entered the world of mixed martial arts, he learned to dominate his opponents by some of the best grappling ever seen in open competition. But the real secret to his success was new skills he had mastered, like striking — something he had no prior experience with. Here’s how to apply this model to your job search. You need to accurately assess what you do best, and you need to leverage your strengths by positioning yourself. Perhaps you are at your best when you are face to face with people. How are you going to make this happen more often? Perhaps by addressing areas in which you aren’t as strong. Maybe your resume needs work so you get more responses from employers. Maybe your phone skills need polishing so you can push through phone screenings to real interviews. Simply, the lesson Randy has for job seekers is to polish your weaknesses so you can best take advantage of your strengths.
By George Blomgren and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- To make a successful job transition, you must first understand the strategies necessary to make such a transition. So let's cover the four bases for making a successful job transition. As you leave the batter's box and head for first base, you have to want to run the bases. So the starting point is to have a passion for what you do. Without enthusiasm, the process will be significantly compromised.
Continue reading "Covering the bases for a successful job transition" »
Here is the last installment in my three part series on job search research tools.
The Corporate Finance Sourcebook features over 1,900 of today's top investment sources and over 1,400 service firms.
Securities Industry Yearbook includes information on individual securities firms, such as key personnel and department heads, number of customer accounts, registered representatives, offices, and capital.
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
NEW YORK, NY -- Building relationships with recruiters may expose you to career opportunities that you might not learn about otherwise. Most employers don't advertise the positions they hire recruiters to help fill, which are typically a firm's most senior and highest-paying. And search executives usually promote their services to employers, not job hunters.
Identifying and connecting with recruiters who specialize in your area of expertise can be very worthwhile -- though candidates should remember that recruiters are paid by the employer, and will put that employer's interests first. Such niche recruiters aren't always easy to find, so job seekers might need to use creative tactics.
Continue reading "Finding Recruiters that specialize in your niche" »
As a follow up to yesterday's post, here are some more great research tools.
The Directory of Top Computer Executives concentrates on organizations that have the highest potential to be supporting large IT functions. For an organization to be listed it must have a full-time VP, Director, or Manager of IT; have a multi-user host computer; or have more than 75 deployed PCs in the U.S. or 25 in Canada. The Directory lists the top-ranking individual over the IT function, such as the CIO or VP, Director, or Manager of information technology. In addition, second-level managers (which directly report to the top executive) include the manager of software development, manager of operations, manager of networking/data communications, manager of microcomputers, and the manager of technical support.
I love doing research on the Internet and I frequently direct my clients to job relevant resources on the web. But for certain research, you just can’t beat the public library. Some of the best research tools online are fee based, but you can gain access to these same resources in book form at your local library. Whether you need to search for recruiters, networking leads, or decision makers, the library can provide priceless (and free) access to numerous search-relevant materials. Below are a few of my favorites:
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
LOS ANGELES, CA -- On most job boards, you can register to receive emails alerting you to new postings that meet your criteria, such as location or keyword. Most also allow you to select their frequency, such as daily or weekly. It's like having a headhunter keeping an eye out for you!
Email alerts from niche job sites are likely to be even more narrowly tailored to your expertise. So it's also important to create accounts and post your resume on multiple small job boards and niche career sites.
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- When you're on the lookout for your next career move, many factors play into deciding which job is right for you. Though salary is one of the biggest issues for job seekers, it can be greatly to your advantage to take a closer look at the perks many companies are offering.
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
NEW YORK, NY -- Building relationships with recruiters may expose you to career opportunities that you might not learn about otherwise. Most employers don't advertise the positions they hire recruiters to help fill, which are typically a firm's most senior and highest-paying. And search executives usually promote their services to employers, not job hunters.
Identifying and connecting with recruiters who specialize in your area of expertise can be very worthwhile -- though candidates should remember that recruiters are paid by the employer, and will put that employer's interests first. Such niche recruiters aren't always easy to find, so job seekers might need to use creative tactics.
According to a recent survey by Mercer HR Consulting, mentioned on the Compensation Force blog, salary increases in 2007/2008 will average 3.5% and be approximately 5.7% for top performers. One of the best ways to ensure that your performance is rated on the high end of the scale is to take ownership of the performance appraisal process. By documenting your achievements each time you complete a significant project, milestone, or job task, you maximize the chances of your accomplishments being recognized at review time. Make sure to quantify your achievements by showing how the projects you managed helped make money, save money, save time, maintain the business, or grow the business and use numbers, dollars, and percentages whenever possible to validate your accomplishments.
Continue reading "Take Charge of Your Annual Performance Review" »
Where can you hear the leading experts on personal branding (including Guy Kawasaki, Phil Gerbyshak, T. Scott Gross, Dick Bolles, Anita Bruzzese, Catherine Kaputa, Martin Yate and many, many more) for a full day, in one place, for absolutely no cost?
Continue reading "Spend 12 hours with 30+ personal brand experts and watch your career soar!" »
Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
How would you feel about a interviewing someone who came in knowing little or nothing about your organization or the job being offered? What would you have to conclude about that person? Answer: That he or she doesn't really care much about the job or the company.
That's why researching a company is much more than reading the company website and spouting off some knowledge about a recent acquisition or award you read about. It goes much deeper than that, says Terese Corey Blanck, author and founder of College to Career, Inc. and author. "Quite often I see career advisers telling candidates to look at the annual report but candidates really don't know what they are looking for," says Blanck.
Continue reading "Researching the company before an interview" »
Digging Deeper Pays Big Dividends when Looking for the Ideal Position
Provided By: Associated Content, Inc.
Most of the really great jobs never make the job boards or want ads. Many of them aren't even easy to access via classic networking methods. Indeed, a lot of the real gems among job opportunities are the ones the company doesn't quite realize for themselves that they need.
Continue reading "How to Research to Find Great Hidden Jobs" »
When was the last time you Googled yourself?
Many of us go "egosurfing", as Googling yourself is called. Now William Arruda and Kirsten Dixon, authors of Career Distincton: Stand Out By Building Your Brand, have created a way for professionals to measure the value of their web-based personal brands, via an online "identity calculator".
Everyone's a Critic
"I wouldn't be able to afford my habit," said film critic Dan Kimmel. He sees more than 300 films a year. The flicks are free, and come with all-you-can-eat popcorn and occasional interviews with top-end celebrities.
Plus, he gets paid for writing about what he's seen. "Why should someone pay for my opinion? Because I can write in an eloquent manner; it's a coherent essay," Kimmel said.
"I couldn't believe anyone would actually pay me to go to the movies," The Metro's resident "Movie Guy" John Black said. He also enjoys meeting big-name celebs. "It's a bigger kick than most reviewers will let on. It's fun to be sitting in a room with John Travolta."
Here are the top 10 metro areas for new Manufacturing jobs for the 12 month period ending August 2007:
Workout Expert Has His Pie and Eats It, Too
"My favorite dessert is chocolate pudding pie with Cool Whip™," said 28-year-old fitness professional John Damon. "I just love it." Apparently it is possible to stay in shape and eat what you want.
For those with bad memories of high school physical education classes, a career as a fitness pro can conjure up nightmares of ill-fitting exercise clothing, running until you drop, or a ban on favorite treats. But in fact, a personal trainer needs less rigid discipline and more scientific knowledge coupled with financial acumen. "If you want to be good at this, you need an appreciation for both health and financial issues," Damon said.
Some people have the job that we all envy. Their job is perceived as exciting or alluring, maybe even sexy. Their job is glamorous. Glamorous jobs come with a sort of personal fascination, one that has young children aspiring to fly high as an airline pilot, or make a career out of creating the perfect wedding as an event planner. Television and movies glamorize certain jobs, from Donald Trump's gig as a commercial real estate developer, to Debra Messing's role as an interior designer on "Will and Grace." Other jobs seem glamorous because they come with the opportunity to be seen by millions, such as a reporter, or to make millions, such as an investment banker.
We posed the following question to more than 800 people: What jobs do you think are the most and least glamorous? Salary.com then calculated the median base pay of each job to find out what people cherish more in a job, the glamour, or the money. Fashion designer ended up ranking as the #1 most glamorous job, with percent of the vote.
According to a recent survey of 1,000 organizations (conducted by Mercer HR Consulting), the average merit increase for 2008 will only be about 3.8%. As a result, companies are constantly looking for creative ways to attract talent and engage employees without making large adjustments to the employee's base salary and compromising the integrity of the company's merit increase program. This can be achieved by offering short-term incentives and special recognitions that are not tied to the company's base pay. Job seekers can more effectively negotiate their total compensation package by knowing what special incentives the employer offers. Two incentives that are becoming more common are sign on bonuses and project milestone awards.
Continue reading "Negotiating Compensation Options Other Than Base Salary" »
Q. I'm a mailroom clerk for a publishing company and make $17,889 a year before taxes. I logged on to Salary.com to see if I'm making the right amount of money, and I was shocked to see that I am underpaid by at least $4,257. But when I first interviewed with the company, I requested $16,000 in my cover letter and received $17,889, not knowing how much I really should be making. How should I approach my boss about this situation - because it's not fair.
Continue reading "Salary Talk: The Salary Wizard says I'm underpaid - what can I do?" »
One of the keys to winning promotions is first preparing someone to replace you in your current position. This may sound strange at first, but really does make sense when you think about it. If you are so important in your position that no one in the company can possibly imagine you anywhere but where you are, then you are very likely, stuck right where you are.
As long as you are the only person capable of doing a particular job you will continue to be the only person doing that job. It's really that simple.
The best way to become "un-stuck" is to train a person or two to replace you. That should not be threatening to you, but rather a testament to your self-confidence and the way you empower people. True leaders do this all the time.
Continue reading "Chapter 6: No Sucking Up - Promote to be Promoted" »
It's all negotiable. Every new job - every performance review, in fact - is an opportunity to negotiate base salary, various kinds of bonuses, benefits, stock options, and other incentives that add to job satisfaction and provide financial security. Taking control of your job search before your job offer and conducting a smart search that takes into account more than just financial considerations can also lead to that elusive condition called happiness.
Are you prepared to negotiate for happiness? The negotiation process is an opportunity to define, communicate, and achieve what you want out of your job offer. But to get offered the right job that pays what you deserve, you'll need to do your homework. The first step in the negotiation clinic is to understand the negotiation basics.
Who is looking out for your career - your boss? Probably not. Your accountant? Doubtful. Headhunters, search people, and employment agencies may seem to have your interests in mind, but they're retained - and paid - by the company. So although they can be very nice to you, at the end of the day, their goal is to place candidates and collect a fee.
It's time to think like an entrepreneur, with marketable business skills and abilities. It's time to conceive of your career as a high-potential venture, with you as CEO. In this environment, you've got to be your own agent.
The best places to find a job is where employment growth exceeds the workforce growth rate. When this happens, there is less competition for jobs ... and that creates opportunities higher salaries and a faster job search.
Here are the fastest-growing metropolitan areas for Construction as of August 2007. Compare these to the United States workforce growth of 1.3% in the last 12 months, 6% in the last 5 years and 12% in the last 10 years. Each has grown faster than the workforce based on all three.
Continue reading "The Best Places for Construction Jobs - August 07" »
Q. I have been working for a company as a cooperative learning experience for eight months, even though I'm not a student but a recent graduate. (I needed the experience.) Now I am being offered a one-year contract, and have learned I am grossly underpaid. Can you give me some resources to justify not only my market value salary, but also what percentage health, 401(k), and vacation time adds to my base cash value? Since I will be a contractor, which adds risk, I feel this should be calculated into my total value as well as the out-of-pocket expenses I will pay without benefits. I feel I can negotiate with the proper resources.
Continue reading "Salary Talk: What contract rates can an entry-level person ask for?" »
Productivity bonuses have their roots in the days when manufacturers rewarded hourly workers for speeding up their work pace. For instance, a worker who finished rolling 100 packages of shrink-wrap would earn a productivity bonus because an increase in personal efficacy meant a greater rate of output - and more profit - for the company.
No longer confined to hourly workers, productivity bonuses are now being used throughout the payscale as rewards for performance and efficiency.
Continue reading " Bonuses: The Background on Productivity Bonuses" »
Bonus programs reflect a company's definition of success, how that definition is measured, and the extent to which that measure is met.
Bonuses are similar from company to company. The reason is that most companies subscribe to a pay-for-performance philosophy whereby bonuses are tied to two important measures: how well you are doing with respect to your manager's expectations; and how well your company is doing with respect to its expectations.
Let's say your resume is current, and you are beginning to speak to a few companies about a potential move. Here are some things to think about regarding your bonuses as you consider offers.
There are several types of bonus programs. Some plans simply give employees a certain share of the company profits (current profit sharing), regardless of the performance of individuals or teams or perhaps a bonus to the entire company based on the company's performance (organization-wide bonus). Other programs give incentives to individuals (individual incentive) or teams (team incentive/small group incentive) to perform at or above certain thresholds. In some companies, manufacturing teams are able to share in the gains from improvements in production and quality (gain sharing). And a variety of cash and noncash awards are possible for certain types of achievements in some companies (spot bonus awards, noncash rewards). You can also earn bonuses for being hired or getting your friend a job at your company.
Employees in approximately one-third of all companies are eligible for bonuses of some kind. Bonuses are given to employees to serve the following purposes: to create incentives to reduce costs; to pay people for doing a good job; and to encourage employees to think like shareholders.
Salespeople are a company's ambassadors to the world. They actively promote the company and its products and services. They are the front line between the company and its customers, and are typically the driving force of revenues - top-line company growth. These employees have a direct impact on how the marketplace perceives their employer and its products.
Job description
The majority of teachers are primary and secondary school teachers. They generally choose a specific grade level or area of specialty in which to teach. Teachers are responsible for planning and then evaluating student performance. They are then responsible for promoting growth through providing additional assistance and meeting with parents and school staff to discuss student development and ways to improve current teaching methods to better suit students.
It is a teacher's daunting task to add life to their student's school day by generating interest in all subject areas, even those that can be tedious for most students. They work to create lesson plans tailored to their students' level of cognitive ability and interests. Nowadays, teachers are working to move away from traditional methods of teaching and using more creative and abstract ways of presenting topics to their classes.
It is important that they have a good sense of humor and the ability to think like their students. They must also be comfortable dealing with a wide variety of personality types and ability levels, while still treating all their students equally.
A day in the life…
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Job description
Nurses provide a variety of services to their patients. In general, they help to prevent injury and disease, promote healthy living, and care for the sick. They provide direct care for their patients through administering medications, and assisting with convalescence and rehabilitation. Nurses help people improve and maintain health by creating and managing care plans for their patients. Nurses can either choose to specialize in an area or many are general nurses that perform a variety of duties as needed for the physician. Areas of specialty include surgical, neonatal, anesthetist, gynecological, and many others. Nurses often advance to become department heads and supervisors, managing over other nurses, setting standards of patient care, and even composing the department's budget.
A day in the life…
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Job description
Paralegals are responsible for handling a variety of tasks and providing support for the lawyers they work for. Under the direction of an attorney, they work to resolve routine legal issues. They help lawyers to research laws, judicial decisions, articles, treaties, and other legal documents that can be applied to cases. They may also be responsible for preparing written reports to assist lawyers in handling cases. Paralegals hold an organizational role in coordinating the activities of the law office and its employees, and also in the filing of financial records and case documents.
Paralegals work mainly in law firms, legal departments within corporations, and government offices. Their job duties and responsibilities will depend mainly on the type of organization they work for. Paralegals working in the government or for larger corporations will tend to have a specialization, while those working in smaller firms will perform a variety of tasks.
A day in the life…
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Psychologists and counselors study the human mind and behavior. Generally, they also make a living trying to help people understand and overcome their troublesome emotions and behaviors. Psychologists apply their knowledge in many different areas, including health, management, education, law, and sports.
Psychologists and counselors must have strong communication skills and be able to quickly assess emotionally charged situations. They must be able to learn new methods and skills on an ongoing basis. They also need to be interested in people and the functioning of the human mind.
A day in the life…
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Job description
Physicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.
Doctors can be general practitioners or choose a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular basis for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practitioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.
People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communication skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients as people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings.
A day in the life…
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Law enforcement officers, including both state officers, federal agents and detectives, protect our lives and personal property from harm. There are many different areas of law enforcement, and duties performed by officers and detectives will depend upon their area of focus and the size and type of organization for which they work.
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Project management is the process of planning, organizing, staffing, and guiding the process of creating a solution or system. Project managers are responsible for providing a plan and the means on which to base management decisions throughout the life of a project. There are many scheduling software tools available to help project managers perform their job, including PERT, Microsoft Project, Scitor Project Scheduler, and many others. While such applications are usually designed for certain industries or projects, they all use Critical Path Methodology, or CPM. CPM plays a large role in a PM's day-to-day life as they plan and schedule projects, as it determines the order and steps required for completion of a project.
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Whether you're already an executive or just an aspiring big cheese, it's never too early to begin studying the sophisticated art of negotiating executive compensation. Only executives are eligible for many types of perks and benefits - if you disagree, try asking for your own jet. And executives often have access to data sources that are harder for other employees to use, or less relevant. But you may be surprised to learn that some of the methods for negotiating executive pay can work just as well for you as they do for the senior VP whose salary continues to rise while everyone else worries about getting a pink slip.
Dear Sue:
I've been offered a position with a company that I don't really know a lot about. I want to educate myself and learn more about this company in order to make an intelligent decision about working there. What is the best way to investigate a company?
- Marty
I met someone the other day who is in a very intriguing position in her life.
She was recently laid off. She has a successful 20-year career behind her. She can take some time before moving onto the next thing. She's ready for a change and believes that now is the right time to discover what really lights her fire.
The only thing is she has no clue what that might be.
She's been working hard for years, intensely focused on the everyday challenges of her career. Who's had the time to think about fire, sparks, and true creative drive?
When we reach a pause in life and feel ready to create a new idea about how our career life could be, how do we uncover the passion?
America’s population is aging. Older individuals are living longer and therefore have a longer amount of time to enjoy retirement. But what about the empty positions they will leave behind them?
In San Francisco, the fasted growing age group is those nearing and those who are already elderly. According to a report done by the Local Workforce Investment Board of San Francisco, 13 percent of the city’s workforce was 55 or older at the time of the last census. These individuals have either already reached the age of retirement or will reach it by 2010.
The two industries this will affect the most are those of education and health care. With many older San Franciscans working these fields there is some concerns about the number of employees that will be needed to replace those who will soon decide to leave work behind and no longer search San Francisco jobs. The report found that school administrators, teachers from elementary to high school, and special education teachers all tend to be older than the average working individual.
By William F. Trask
In deciding which offer to accept, there are a number of points which should be considered if you are to make an intelligent career choice.
Within a few short months the ivy-colored towers of learning will be behind you and your adventure with tomorrow will begin. Are you ready? You should have been preparing for this event during the past few years. If you have neglected to do so, you must start now to stop, to look – and to THINK.
QUESTION:
I get so depressed when I cannot immediately find the work I want to do. It isn't clear what I'm doing wrong and many times it seems as though the thing that's holding me back is that I'm a minority. I have a Master's in my field of endeavor and a lot of solid experience. What else should I do to get myself positioned for the right offer?
My heart breaks each time I read an intern blog about the entry-level job their pursuing. So many are seeking filler positions such as data entry, secretarial, order clerk, postal worker. Yet at the other end of the spectrum, each one talks about the degree they've recently earned. What I want to do is have a live session with them to talk about more strategic ways to market their selves, to have more confidence in their abilities and the proper way to demonstrate that confidence, and how to talk about the knowledge and abilities they've gained from the edudation they've ained so that they may enter the initial stages of their true career path. Alas, at this point in time, I cannot have that live session. But I feel it in my bones. The day is coming.
Until the day that I can have that live session with our interns, I'll have to write these blogs and post them in strategic places where I believe the interns will read them. And that is why today I'm posting a new blog in this space.
In pursuit of good resources to back up statemets in an article, I went to one of the most trusted and results-laden search sites and input the following terms:
"oral communication", "corporate branding"
