Career Advice for Job Seekers
How to Use LinkedIn to Negotiate Salary
William FriersonFor our entire childhood, homework seemed like a chore or even punishment.
“OK class, take out your homework!”
“Go upstairs and do your homework!”
“You’re not watching any TV until you’ve finished your homework!”
Aw, mom. But there’s a reason your parents and teachers insisted on this extra activity. When taken seriously, the extra work and practice prepares you to excel in a given task, be it algebra or literature.
“Do your homework” is also the first thing any expert will tell you when preparing for a job interview or salary negotiation. Unfortunately, like an antsy teenager hoping to get back to a game of Call of Duty, the average job-seeker just looks over the basics when preparing for a negotiation. Sure, he might check some competitive salaries online, talk to a friend or two, or have some dollar figures in mind, but is he really, truly prepared?
Can You Make the Big Leap?
One of the most difficult things to do in the corporate world is to make a significant jump in title. Companies are happy to hand out smaller increments, such as going from assistant manager to manager, or from manager to senior manager. However, the big jump in title — and also in salary — is making the leap from manager level to director level, or from director level to Vice President. In many companies, bestowing a director title on an employee comes with many add-ons:
-Management of other employees and even entire departments
-Autonomy to make business decisions and control budgets
-Eligibility for bonuses and additional stock options
The problem for many people is convincing someone you are ready to make that jump. If you have been a manager at your current company for some time, it’s very easy for your boss to keep stringing you along with “We just don’t think you’re ready yet, maybe at your next review” for months or even years on end.
If you go looking for a director level position at another company, it’s much easier for them to hire someone else that already has director in their title, as opposed to taking a chance that you’re ready to handle moving up a level. And the money on the line can be significant. According to online data, the median “Manager” position pays $85,000 nationwide, while the median “Director” position is $127,000 — a difference of 50 percent. Continue reading . . .
Article by Jim Hopkinson and courtesy of Salary.com
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