Salary Negotiations and Employed
When you make it to salary negotiations, you are no longer simply another job seeker, you are the applicant or one of the applicants that the company is seriously considering hiring. Be happy that you made it this far, but do not get so confident until you start believing that it’s a done deal.
During salary negotiations, take care to consider the employee contribution to benefits and if possible get any and all information regarding benefit deductions at the beginning of the negations. Sometimes what starts out being a great salary will become a good salary or even a less than adequate salary once employee benefit contributions are deducted.
If you are hired and receive an employee handbook note if the salary deductions for benefits as well as information on the benefits are outlined in the handbook. If not ask for this information before the probationary period ends. In short, if your paycheck is scheduled to shrink by a significant amount after you become an official employee receiving benefits you want to know and be prepared. You also want to know what services will be covered by these benefits.
Take the cost of working into account as well as your household expenses. Many young or inexperienced workers tend to think of their salary in terms of their personal expenses and or car payments. They completely forget about the cost of working. The cost of working may include gas and or the cost of transportation (fares, tolls, vehicle maintenance and repairs) appropriate work clothing, dry cleaning, lunch money, regular trips to the hair stylist or barber shop, and budget for mileage or cab fares if the job involves traveling to different locations within your city, community or metropolitian region.
Many reentering the workforce after a long stretch on unemployment may find that their past salary has little or no impact on the salary that they can currently command. Many positions that once offered salaries of $70,000, $80,000 or more are now paying $25,000, $30,000 or $40,000. However, every now and again an applicant will come across companies advertising similar positions for $60,000 or $70,000. In short, salaries are currently all over the place. After I conducted a quick and unofficial review of salaries in this area, I saw low-to-mid level management positions paying anywhere $9.00 per hour to $31.00 an hour. Few would argue, this is a big difference and the reasons behind this large gap can vary.
In most cases, it is up to the applicant to learn the pay range for the position that they are applying for in their region or city. As a job seeker you should know your minimum salary requirements. If you low ball yourself during salary negotiations in order to get the job, your pain will be your problem. While in some rare cases it does happen, do not expect your employer to feel sympathetic towards your financial plight. Nevertheless, if it is apparent that your household expenses and the cost of working totals more than most employers in your area are willing to pay, you may have no choice but to consider doing without a few things or taking on a second job in order to make-ends meet.
During salary negotiations find out if employees are required to sign a non-compete agreement or if the company has a no moonlighting clause. Sometimes companies will not tell applicants about these documents until after the applicant has signed and accepted the job offer. Experts advise applicants to check with an attorney prior to signing a non-compete agreement or no moonlighting clause. According to these experts once these types of agreements have been signed, it can be very difficult or even impossible renegotiate.
If you have any questions or doubts regarding the position’s classification. Ask if the position is salaried or hourly. When you sign the offer of employment, make sure that the correct classification is on the document. Also ask if there are any specific policies associated with your classification. For example, in some companies salaried workers are expected to be available by phone at all times. Hourly, workers may be required to leave at the end of the regular work day, unless management requests them to stay late.
If the job involves travel find out if the company pays major expenses such as airfare and hotel prior to the trip of if you will be responsible for the cost of travel upfront and reimbursed later for these expenses. This is especially important if you have been unemployed for a while and as a result your credit cards may be maxed-out. Also you may have been working or earning an income throughout the recession, but the credit card company may have unexpectedly lowered your credit limit. In either case, you should consider this when applying for a job that involves travel.
Remember, if your caution light came on comes on at some point, either before the interview, during the interview or while you are working with the company, do not purposely turn it off. Do not fool yourself into believing that you will be able to indefinitely act, talk or charm your way past issues such as a lack of experience or a dislike of your job responsibilities. On the other hand, do not bury your head so far into your work until you are not paying attention to what is going on around you. Keep your ear to the ground. Be mindful of any signs or movement that could indicate that the company may be in trouble or that your employment situation may soon change. Note, this does not mean that you should start rumors or help to spread any rumors that may already be circulating.
It is up to employees and potential employees to be vigilant and to look out for their interest. Do not brag or discuss this openly, but don't feel ashamed either. Things are tough all over and if you don’t bother to keep your future in mind, who will.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Heeding your Internal Warning System Part 2
Doing your Homework
Everyone knows that a job seeker needs to learn about the available position, how well they may be able to do the job and being a perfect fit for the position. However, they also need to have a clear impression of the company that they are contemplating signing-up with and whether or not the relationship has the potential to last as for long as they need it. These days, signing-up with a company where the relationships quickly sours or ends unexpectedly for any reason can be devastating to future career goals. Do not expect this to change until the employment situation improves and employers become more willing to learn about an applicant’s specific circumstances, prior to eliminating him or her as a potential candidate. Until we reach that point your resume is your best and in many cases your only advocate during your job search. Therefore, keeping it as pristine as possible should be a career objective.
Think of your resume as your credibility report. It not only speaks to your area of experience, it sends clues to employers on how well you preformed at your last job, it indicates your ability to be loyal and stick with a company as well as your former employers’ willingness and need to keep you employed with the company. A history of job hopping or what may appear to be job hopping can side-line a job seeker. Even if the job seeker has simply been a victim of unfortunate circumstances. An article from the Wall Street Journal, dated October 6, 2009 and titled, Coping With a Job Loss—Again further explains this situation and provides suggestions on how a job seeker can go about resurrecting their image.
As something of a perpetual job seeker, meaning that when I am not looking for work, I am reading about employees, companies and tips for finding jobs. I see where job seekers are advised to read about a company’s products or services as well as the company’s social networking sites before a job interview. However, few mention that job seekers should search out and review a copy of the company’s annual report and read it in preparation for an interview or before applying with a company. A company’s annual report provides information on the company’s financial status as well as some history on the company. There may also be information on changes that were made during the previous year to keep the company competitive, how well the company’s various innovations and initiatives are fairing, their proposed product or service innovations, equipment purchases, new markets, and so forth. The annual report provides information on the company’s objectives. It allows the reader to see how the company is preparing for the future as well as how well it has performed in the past.
Job seekers may also find themselves looking into employment opportunities with smaller companies, or privately owned companies many of which do not produce an annual report. In a situation where no annual report is available getting to the type of information that you may need in order to make an informed decision may be a bit more complex. It is good to learn about any family members or business partners that may be involved in the management of the company. Ask about the average length of time employees stay with the company. Find out how long the company has been in business and under the same management. If a company recently changed management then a job seeker should note that if hired, things may be a bit bumpy at first as the new management team, existing staff and new employees all settle in and adapt to new or somewhat different policies, roles and routines. If you are applying for a position with a nonprofit, there are several websites and organizations that collect data on nonprofits.
Other situations that may be tricky to navigate is one where the company is expanding from a home based business moving into an office and hiring staff as well as companies that have been in business for a few months or less than five years. These would be considered new companies and are known as start-ups. In most cases there will be minimal information available on start-ups. During the interview a job seekers will have to listen and evaluate what they are being told about the company by the interviewer. Sometimes working with a start-up works out very well for employees who join the company early on, other times things may not work out as expected. It is up to the individual job seeker to determine what is best for them and their lifestyle.
To help avoid becoming a serial job seeker be honest and truthful with yourself. Keep your eyes and ears open. Learn about the position as well as the company. Do your research on the company. When it comes to research, remember that the company website and social networks are good sources for information. However, additional research sources can include google searches, news articles, press releases, Better Business Bureau, annual reports as well as family, friends and individuals working in the same industry.
Everyone knows that a job seeker needs to learn about the available position, how well they may be able to do the job and being a perfect fit for the position. However, they also need to have a clear impression of the company that they are contemplating signing-up with and whether or not the relationship has the potential to last as for long as they need it. These days, signing-up with a company where the relationships quickly sours or ends unexpectedly for any reason can be devastating to future career goals. Do not expect this to change until the employment situation improves and employers become more willing to learn about an applicant’s specific circumstances, prior to eliminating him or her as a potential candidate. Until we reach that point your resume is your best and in many cases your only advocate during your job search. Therefore, keeping it as pristine as possible should be a career objective.
Think of your resume as your credibility report. It not only speaks to your area of experience, it sends clues to employers on how well you preformed at your last job, it indicates your ability to be loyal and stick with a company as well as your former employers’ willingness and need to keep you employed with the company. A history of job hopping or what may appear to be job hopping can side-line a job seeker. Even if the job seeker has simply been a victim of unfortunate circumstances. An article from the Wall Street Journal, dated October 6, 2009 and titled, Coping With a Job Loss—Again further explains this situation and provides suggestions on how a job seeker can go about resurrecting their image.
As something of a perpetual job seeker, meaning that when I am not looking for work, I am reading about employees, companies and tips for finding jobs. I see where job seekers are advised to read about a company’s products or services as well as the company’s social networking sites before a job interview. However, few mention that job seekers should search out and review a copy of the company’s annual report and read it in preparation for an interview or before applying with a company. A company’s annual report provides information on the company’s financial status as well as some history on the company. There may also be information on changes that were made during the previous year to keep the company competitive, how well the company’s various innovations and initiatives are fairing, their proposed product or service innovations, equipment purchases, new markets, and so forth. The annual report provides information on the company’s objectives. It allows the reader to see how the company is preparing for the future as well as how well it has performed in the past.
Job seekers may also find themselves looking into employment opportunities with smaller companies, or privately owned companies many of which do not produce an annual report. In a situation where no annual report is available getting to the type of information that you may need in order to make an informed decision may be a bit more complex. It is good to learn about any family members or business partners that may be involved in the management of the company. Ask about the average length of time employees stay with the company. Find out how long the company has been in business and under the same management. If a company recently changed management then a job seeker should note that if hired, things may be a bit bumpy at first as the new management team, existing staff and new employees all settle in and adapt to new or somewhat different policies, roles and routines. If you are applying for a position with a nonprofit, there are several websites and organizations that collect data on nonprofits.
Other situations that may be tricky to navigate is one where the company is expanding from a home based business moving into an office and hiring staff as well as companies that have been in business for a few months or less than five years. These would be considered new companies and are known as start-ups. In most cases there will be minimal information available on start-ups. During the interview a job seekers will have to listen and evaluate what they are being told about the company by the interviewer. Sometimes working with a start-up works out very well for employees who join the company early on, other times things may not work out as expected. It is up to the individual job seeker to determine what is best for them and their lifestyle.
To help avoid becoming a serial job seeker be honest and truthful with yourself. Keep your eyes and ears open. Learn about the position as well as the company. Do your research on the company. When it comes to research, remember that the company website and social networks are good sources for information. However, additional research sources can include google searches, news articles, press releases, Better Business Bureau, annual reports as well as family, friends and individuals working in the same industry.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Heeding your Internal Warning System Part 1
A new year offers lots of promise and possibility for everyone searching for work. According to reports more job opportunities will be available in 2011, than last year. However, compared to the number of unemployed and those looking to leave jobs that they have held for the past few years, jobs are still expected to remain scarce. So why would a job seeker facing this situation ever second guess themselves when it comes to finding a job. It could be because your internal warning system might be trying to tell you that something is not quite right.
Most people have an internal warning system. A personal alert that tries to warn us of potential dangers. The internal warning system is known by several names such as gut feeling, suspicion, intuition, sixth sense, misgivings, and instincts to name a few. No matter the name, there are some instances when we heed the alert; however, at other times our desire to have a specific thing will lead us to ignore our inner caution light, even if it is flashing wildly. The more we believe, feel or know that we need a specific thing, the easier it is to ignore the alarm. When in truth the more we want or need something the more meticulous we should be when it comes to making sure that we are actually getting what we need. This is especially important when it comes to a job.
If a job seeker fails to heed early warning signs they may find themselves in a situation where they are perpetually discontent or facing a second or third round of unemployment. The desire to get back into the workforce may lead them to forge a fit and ignore the signs that are signaling that the job may not be quite right for them.
Truth be told, these days many job seekers don’t give much consideration to the potential negative consequences of accepting a job that is not quite right. They simply convince themselves that they can make the situations work until something better comes along. After all who can afford to think of the future, when it seems like the world is crumbling around you. However, making a job work can involve factors that may be completely out of the employee's hands. For example, it may be difficult or impossible to make it work if the company closes, relocates, eliminates your department or the work is so stressful until it causes physical illness. Even things that the employee does have some control over may prove to be a bit challenging. Knowing the job does not equate to liking the work and seeing someone else do the work is not the same as being skilled and up to the tasks.
Therefore, despite the current economic conditions or maybe even as a result of these conditions, it may be worth considering how your current job search may impact future employment opportunities. This is because few things can stall a future job search faster than a long gap in your resume followed by five or six months of employment and then another long gap. And this could be the end result of accepting a job that is not quite right. As difficult as it may be, eager job seekers need to be somewhat deliberate about their job search. They should think with their heads as well as their wallets.
When a job seeker finally lands that coveted interview, no matter how difficult it may seem at the time, they must remember that the company is not just interviewing the job seeker, the job seeker is interviewing the company as well. As a job seeker it is important to get a feel for the job, the person or individuals who may be their boss or supervisor and the company. Just as a company reviews resumes before inviting job seekers in to their office. Job seekers need to remember to use this time to evaluate the position, and the company to make sure that they feel comfortable and confident about the possible employment opportunity. In an employer’s market this may sound downright risky; however, to do otherwise would be doing a disservice to yourself and the employer.
Most people have an internal warning system. A personal alert that tries to warn us of potential dangers. The internal warning system is known by several names such as gut feeling, suspicion, intuition, sixth sense, misgivings, and instincts to name a few. No matter the name, there are some instances when we heed the alert; however, at other times our desire to have a specific thing will lead us to ignore our inner caution light, even if it is flashing wildly. The more we believe, feel or know that we need a specific thing, the easier it is to ignore the alarm. When in truth the more we want or need something the more meticulous we should be when it comes to making sure that we are actually getting what we need. This is especially important when it comes to a job.
If a job seeker fails to heed early warning signs they may find themselves in a situation where they are perpetually discontent or facing a second or third round of unemployment. The desire to get back into the workforce may lead them to forge a fit and ignore the signs that are signaling that the job may not be quite right for them.
Truth be told, these days many job seekers don’t give much consideration to the potential negative consequences of accepting a job that is not quite right. They simply convince themselves that they can make the situations work until something better comes along. After all who can afford to think of the future, when it seems like the world is crumbling around you. However, making a job work can involve factors that may be completely out of the employee's hands. For example, it may be difficult or impossible to make it work if the company closes, relocates, eliminates your department or the work is so stressful until it causes physical illness. Even things that the employee does have some control over may prove to be a bit challenging. Knowing the job does not equate to liking the work and seeing someone else do the work is not the same as being skilled and up to the tasks.
Therefore, despite the current economic conditions or maybe even as a result of these conditions, it may be worth considering how your current job search may impact future employment opportunities. This is because few things can stall a future job search faster than a long gap in your resume followed by five or six months of employment and then another long gap. And this could be the end result of accepting a job that is not quite right. As difficult as it may be, eager job seekers need to be somewhat deliberate about their job search. They should think with their heads as well as their wallets.
When a job seeker finally lands that coveted interview, no matter how difficult it may seem at the time, they must remember that the company is not just interviewing the job seeker, the job seeker is interviewing the company as well. As a job seeker it is important to get a feel for the job, the person or individuals who may be their boss or supervisor and the company. Just as a company reviews resumes before inviting job seekers in to their office. Job seekers need to remember to use this time to evaluate the position, and the company to make sure that they feel comfortable and confident about the possible employment opportunity. In an employer’s market this may sound downright risky; however, to do otherwise would be doing a disservice to yourself and the employer.
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