Six Essential Salary Negotiation Tips

Salary is the most awkard issue in the hiring process. Discussing the compensation often causes anxiety on both employee and employer. Here are six ways to make the process of salary negotiating efficient.

1) Research: Before the interview process begins, contact the professional organization that represents your field of career. As soon as they provide you with your salary information, you can now examine your monthly cash requirements. Remember that once your taxes are added to your paycheck, approximately 30% of your gross monthly salary is deducted.

2) Determine your skills: You should understand that different segments of the economy require a variety of skills depending on the industry setting. Once you have established what your skills are and what they are worth to the current employment market, you would know the limitations of your negotiation.

Salary range information is available at American Almanac of Jobs and Salaries, National Association of College and Employers, Career Center, and professionals in your related field.

In stating your salary range, avoid basing your desired salary on your current salary. Always tell the truth when it comes to your past salary. It is acceptable to extend a range to approximately $6,000 to show that you are within the company's price range but interested in more compensation.

3) Weigh the company's compensation package: To determine your fair market value for a specific job, you should consider the economic, geographic, and industry factors of the job offer. Weigh the benefits of compensation and promotions, insurance, allowed time off and retirement settlements of the offer to ensure a fair proposed salary.

4) Sell yourself: If you know what you could offer the company requires a larger income, never say it directly. Once you sell yourself discreetly, the interviewer would understand that the proposed salary is not appropriate for your background.

5) Have a positive attitude: In negotiating, never compete. Negotiation is basically a process which could benefit both parties. Understand your needs and those of the company.

6) The final offer: Be aware when the negotiation is done. Pushing further when a deal has been set could give a negative first impression on your part.

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Philanthropy as a Strategy for Getting Ahead

by Debra B. Davenport, for Yahoo! HotJobs


We've all heard that it's better to give than to receive and that we get by giving -- but did you know these adages are especially true when it comes to your career?

For those who feel especially fulfilled by giving back and reaching out to those less fortunate, your worthy efforts can also make a meaningful contribution to your professional development. Following are ideas that might spur your to action.

Volunteer

Volunteering provides an excellent opportunity to "try on" a new job or career to see if it fits. If you're pondering a career change, take a volunteer role in the types of positions you're investigating. Considering a new career in public relations? Volunteer to write a press release for a nonprofit's PR department.

Looking into teaching careers? Volunteer in a community outreach and educational program and help deliver seminars to those in need. Most charitable organizations offer an abundance of possibilities for people looking to build new skills, develop contacts and investigate new career paths.

Be Strategic

Strategic philanthropy can put you in the power seat. Of course you want to support those organizations that have special meaning to you. But you don't have to limit the scope of your involvement. For example, don't be shy about offering to serve on boards of directors. Often, charitable organizations are hard-pressed to find dedicated people to help lead their efforts.

Contact the current chairperson and inquire if a board position will be coming available. If so, express your interest in serving and perhaps suggest a lunch meeting to start building that relationship. Alternatively, volunteer to spearhead a committee or major project. Everyone involved will naturally be contacting you. This is a great strategy for putting yourself out there and helping people get to know you and your talents.

What Are You Good At?

Sharing your natural abilities can take your career to the next level. Do you have great people and sales skills? Raise money! You can gain considerable media coverage and cachet in the professional arena by generating noteworthy donations. Make note of your community's "heavy hitters." Some of the most notable people in your area may have achieved their status through fundraising for their favorite charities.

Keep in mind, too, that as a fundraising representative for your favorite cause, you now have a legitimate reason to contact key people whom you may not have felt comfortable approaching before. Successful fundraising is also often acknowledged through a variety of awards programs. Imagine how gratifying it would feel to be honored with an award for your selfless efforts!

Generosity Opens Doors

One more tip: Although it's not widely talked about, many high-powered philanthropic positions are "pay to play." You either need to make a significant donation, or you need to raise substantial funds in order to have the opportunity to network in the more exclusive circles. Be discreet when inquiring about an organization's upper echelon and remember that, first and foremost, you're there to serve.

The caveat: It goes without saying that true altruism comes from the heart and a genuine spirit of giving -- anything less is merely self-serving.

Debra Davenport is president of DavenportFolio, a licensed firm with offices in Phoenix and Los Angeles that provides high-level career counseling and Certified Professional Mentoring to professionals and entrepreneurs. She is the creator of the Certified Professional Mentor(R) designation, and you can contact her at debra@davenportfolio.com.

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Career Advice - The Job Interview Is Your Time At Bat

After months of searching for a new position you have finally been invited to come in for a face-to-face interview. What are you going to do to maximize your chances of getting an offer that will advance you toward your career goals.

First, decide whether or not the job would advance you toward your career success? Sometimes people interview just to see what's in the job market. If you are not serious don't waste everyone's time. Besides, it could backfire if your present employer hears you are interviewing.

Remember that a job interview is a two-way process. It ought to be a time when two parties seek to gain a better understanding of each other and why it would make sense to get together.

Go into an interview with two objectives in mind. One is to gain a full understanding of the prospective employer and the position - both positives and negatives. The second goal is to get an offer.

Be prepared. This sounds too obvious to mention. But a surprisingly large number of people go waltzing into an interview unprepared, depending on luck and charm to carry the day.

Know as much as you can about the company, the position and the person who will be interviewing you.

Have a game plan. Determine the key points you want to make. Structure your presentation in terms of the needs and interests of the employer. Stress your achievements in a concise and orderly way. Many people flunk out because they are unable or unwilling to speak positively about their achievements. An interview is about career success; it's not a time for false modesty.

No matter where the interviewer takes the discussion, return over and over to your major sales points.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Many times applicants fail to ask pertinent questions for fear of appearing to be too "pushy" or negative. To the contrary, your willingness to ask questions shows preparation, interest and a healthy state of self confidence. Such questions might include: May I read a job description? Why is the position open? Where would I fit in the overall organization? What are the opportunities to move forward on my career path?

Ask about salary after you see there is definite interest on both sides. However, don't inquire about vacation time and other perks until an offer has been received.

Be prepared to answer tough questions, even if they come out of left field. What are your weak points and strong ones? Why do you want to change jobs? What do you think of your present employer, boss, co-workers? Have you ever been fired? Why? What is your present salary? What do you expect to be paid if you are offered the position?

Never show impatience or irritation. If the interview is going off track and you are losing interest, it is far better to bring the discussion to a graceful end, than to let these feelings show and leave a bad taste.

The importance of personal appearance cannot be overstressed. Know the environment and dress accordingly. Lean toward the conservative in dress. Sit up straight, even if the interviewer is slumped over like a wet noodle. Don't fidget. Make and keep eye contact. Have a shine on your shoes.

Recognize the interview may begin in the reception area while you are waiting to be ushered in. Look and act like you mean business and expect to get what you want. Don't kid around. Get a feel for the environment.

Make your best case. Avoid overselling. Show positive interest, but don't appear to be overly anxious. Provide all the information requested, plus the points that you think are important. However, avoid giving answers that are too long and complicated.

Be very sensitive to the timing and pace of the interview. If you sense you have overstayed your time or that the interviewer has lost interest or reached a negative decision, take the initiative to bring the visit to a close. When you leave, express your appreciation for the opportunity to visit and then leave in an orderly fashion. Never, never hang on for one more run at selling yourself.

Always follow up the interview with a "thank you" note whether or not there is mutual interest. Never burn a bridge behind you.

These steps won't guarantee an offer, but they surely will improve the odds for career success.

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Mistakes to Avoid at a Job Interview If You Really Want That Job!

When you are going on a job interview, you will want to avoid mistakes that may end up costing you the job. Job interviews are very coveted at this point of time because the economy is so bad. Jobs are very difficult to get as are job interviews, so when you get one, you want to be sure to avoid any mistakes that you can make that might blow the job for you. Avoid the following mistakes when you go to a job interview:

Being negative about past job experiences

This is probably one of the biggest mistakes a prospective employee can make. Never be negative about past job experiences. No matter what the circumstances of your last job, try to turn it into a positive. Look for what you learned in that job and do not make any negative comments about your past jobs or past bosses.

Being unprepared for questions

The purpose of the job interview is for the employer to find out what you know about the job and to ask you questions. If you are unprepared for questions and stumble around when you are asked questions, you may end up blundering the job interview. Be prepared to answer questions that will pertain to the type of job that you will perform.

Forgetting your manners

Stand up when you meet your prospective boss and offer your hand in a handshake. Look the other person in the eye when you greet them and tell them your name. When you leave, stand up and shake hands again and tell them that it was a pleasure meeting them. Forgetting your manners will end up costing you the job interview. Be polite, shake hands and look someone in the eye when they are talking to you. Do not slouch in your seat and sit up straight.

Dressing inappropriately

If you are a man, you should wear a suit to a job interview. If you are a woman, a suit dress or a skirt and blouse is fine, although a suit is better. You should dress up with heels and stockings if you are a woman and dress shoes with dark socks for a man. Never wear too much makeup if you are a woman and easy on the perfume or cologne, too. You want to look professional, not like you are going to a nightclub.

Pretending to understand what you do not know

If the prospective employer asks you a question that you do not know, admit it. Everyone may fudge a little on their resume and even in the interview, but if you are totally lost in the question and do not know the answer, you are better off to admit that you do not know the answer than try to fudge your way through an obvious lying answer. The question may be a trap, too.

Avoid these common blunders when you are going on a job interview so that you can ace the interview and get the job.

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When Taking a Pay Cut Is a Good Move

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Taking a new job with higher pay shows that everything is going right with your career. But that doesn't mean taking a job that pays less than your last one is always the wrong move.

Common Scenarios

Experts cite several situations when you should consider taking a job at lower pay:

* Returning to the workforce. If you haven't worked for a time, you may not be able to return at the salary you were making when you left. Companies don't have to lure you away from a high-paying job, and they may be put off by your lack of recent experience. The pay cut may not be permanent, though.

Susan W. Miller, a career counselor and owner of California Career Services in Los Angeles, worked with one client who had been a director before he became ill and had to stop working for a couple of years. After he recovered, he looked for a new job.

"He was not going to be able to earn at the same level he was at," she said. Instead, he started as a manager at lower pay. "Now he has a history of success, so it's likely that after another couple of years, he will in fact be back to where he was."

* Changing careers. If you decide to move to a new industry or a new type of work, you will likely find that your years of experience in your current field don't count for much when it comes to pay. And if you're leaving an industry that typically pays well to go to one that doesn't -- for example, moving from a for-profit company to a nonprofit -- the shock can be even greater.

For example, newly minted attorneys can earn $160,000 per year, Miller said. "I can assure you that a first-year in almost any other career is not going to earn $160,000 per year."

* Gaining flexibility. Sometimes even the most successful workers reach a point where they would prefer a less intense job with less travel, even if it means less money.

"Candidates have stepped back dramatically in pay to get off the road," said Kathryn Ullrich, an executive recruiter in Silicon Valley. Others are simply looking for more flexible hours, such as the ability to leave work to attend a child's soccer game.

Other Considerations

And if you're not in one of these situations, but are simply offered a job comparable to the one you have, at lower pay? Tread carefully: It could be a sign that you're being asked to move from a top-tier employer to a second-rate one, or that your potential employer is not willing to invest in its employees.

Still, it might be a good move, depending on the circumstances. Will it save you an hour of commuting each day? Are you unhappy with your current job? Is your new employer willing to grant you a salary review in six months?

If so, consider taking it. In the long run, you'll do better at a job you enjoy -- and this will make you more attractive to other employers.

"Even though you're going to be making less money, you're going to be shining brighter, and others will notice that," said Cynthia Kivland, a career coach in Prairie Grove, Illinois.

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Job-Hunting While Pregnant

It's happening all over: A woman is laid off while she's pregnant and finds herself job-hunting as her due date approaches. Another woman's organization tanks, and she finds herself out of work just as she realizes that that she's expecting. A third finds her consulting business too slow to sustain her financially, so she starts a job search during her second trimester.

The important thing to know about pursuing a job search during pregnancy is that it can be done. While your pregnancy is a factor in your job search -- and more of a factor if your due date is coming up quickly or if, for instance, you're expecting more than one baby -- being pregnant is no reason to put off a job search. You will need to incorporate your post-baby plans into your interview conversation, so that you're ready to answer questions about your return to work, your ability to manage your job with a newborn, and so on. But the fact that you're expecting shouldn't be the primary, or even a major, focus of your discussions during interviews.

If you're not "out" with your pregnancy -- if you haven't reached the point where you're generally letting people know about your condition -- it's not necessary or appropriate to say anything about it during an interview or when you're considering a job offer. Would you tell a relative stranger something you haven't told your best friends yet? Some women worry that if they keep quiet about their pregnancy, later they'll get sideways looks from the boss, who will never trust them again. Don't put that pressure on yourself. When the day comes to share your good news, after a month or two of productive employment at your new company, you'll say, "Sally, I wanted to let you know that Jack and I are expecting! The baby is due in February, and I feel great." That's the whole message; you don't need to get into who knew what when, and no one will be likely to be so tacky as to inquire. If anyone does ask, "Didn't you know this when you were interviewing here?" you can smile and say, "We're just official as of this week, and we're so excited."

If your pregnancy is well established, you should be prepared to discuss the logistics of your maternity leave and return to work during the job interview. Most of us in the business world are well trained (sometimes by unhappy experience) not to ask a woman if she's pregnant, so don't be self-conscious about your growing tummy. You should bring up the topic, well into the interview (don't even bother if you're completely uninterested in the job). You say to the interviewer, "Henry, may I ask you a few specific questions? Great. First, I'm curious about the relationship between the business development group and the sales organization here at XYZ Association. Oh, really? Terrific. Thanks. Secondly, I'm expecting a baby in September. I have some ideas about maternity leave and how I will manage things while away from the office, and I'd love to touch on that today. Excellent. The third is ...." This way, you get the information out and let the organization know that you're not planning to fake your way through this big life change, that you have a plan, and that you'll be extremely responsible when it comes to managing your job through the new-baby time.

Is there a danger that you'll be passed over as a candidate simply because of your condition? Frankly, yes. If the organization has two excellent candidates, and you are one, and the other one is not expecting, you could lose out. But if you are the right person for the job and seem well prepared for both the new job and your other life changes, many employers will take the correct long view -- what's three months of maternity leave out of a long and successful relationship?

In your confidence-inspiring remarks about your plans, you don't need to go into exhaustive detail. Your prospective employer doesn't need to know who will be watching the baby or whether or not you'll be nursing, for instance. But it might be helpful to throw in facts that will show you're not going to fall apart upon baby's arrival. For example, if this is your second child, you could mention that your past maternity leave went smoothly. One caution: Be sure to guard against the natural impulse to oversell your flexibility. Don't say, "I'll only take two weeks maternity leave!" It's more important to focus on your skills, your experience, and your enthusiasm for the job and the organization than to feel you have to apologize for or explain away your wonderful expectant state.

It doesn't hurt to look for family-friendly organizations when you're a pregnant job seeker. Ask your friends (or use a friendly, free, women-focused e-mail discussion group such as http://www.worldwit.org) who these employers are in your city. Ask the moms in your Lamaze class or ask your doctor which employers are known for family flexibility.

Do invest in a professional interviewing wardrobe. Remember what they say: Pregnancy makes you radiant. Let yourself shine with confidence and delight in your wonderful situation and remember that you're a terrific job candidate. The squirmer in your belly doesn't take anything away from that; if anything, he or she adds to it.

Liz Ryan 

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Are You an Ex-career Woman Living In a New Country?

Were you once a successful, professional woman who had a significant status level and received adequate remuneration for your work?

Have you re-located to a new country where the educational degree you worked so hard to achieve is neither recognized nor considered valid?

As a result, have you now settled for a job for which you are overqualified and living paycheck to paycheck?

If you once had a successful professional career and answered yes to the above, you probaby understand how frustrating it is, to be unable to practice your profession in a new country.

The decision to immigrate to another country is a courageous act which involves leaving everything that you know and everything that makes up who you are. It usually means starting over, making changes and finding a new job or career.

As a skilled professional woman, you already have a unique combination of marketable skills and experiences, optimism about your future prospects in the new country, education, commitment and motivation to work in your field of expertise, language ability and a desire to learn new things expertise...so, it's really puzzling and shocking when you suddenly find yourself unemployed or unable to find a job in your field.

It is therefore important that you wake up from your slumber and do something about making your life a success.

To start making something of your life in a new country, you need to:

1. Stop being in denial.

Accept change and be ready to change! Your past successful life is always going to be a part of you and no one can take that away from you. However, the rules of the game in the new country may mean that you may no longer be the successful, lawyer, doctor, CEO or professional you once were.

As painful as it may be to accept...don't spend your days talking about who you were in the past and dwelling in the glory of your past success. Don't live in denial any longer than you must. Accept the fact that your circumstances have changed and start looking for constructive ways to make the best of your life in the new country.

2. Take a stand for your life.

When people move to a new country, they usually want to live in a place where they have some contacts, relatives or friends. However, some of these people you know, may have resigned themselves to living unfulfilled lives and may try to prevent you (by their comments or actions) from expecting more for yourself.

If you want to make a success of your life, you must take a risk, go against the negative majority, choose to be different and take a stand for a positive future. The decision to get out from among people, who will hold you back from doing something with your life, is worth it!

3. Don't lose your sense of self-worth.

Your professional occupation is a large part of your identity and an integral part of your life. However if you have settled for less and are now overqualified for your job, you may feel that the work you are doing is not a valuable contribution to society. As a result, you may start questioning yourself and feeling worthless.

You are not worthless! Find meaning and purpose in what you want to do and begin to pursue it with vigor. After counting the cost, make the decision to do what you have to do to make your life a success. Stop settling for less than you deserve, start standing up for yourself and for your dignity.

4. Stop being invisible.

If you were used to being recognized by members of your community who were aware of your professional merits, you may be feeling very "anonymous" in the new country.

If you were previously a highly active, social and professional woman, don't chose jobs that will relegate you to the back office and hide you behind a pile of meaningless paperwork. Look for a job that projects your social qualities and allows you to interact more visibly.

Find a career that allows you to fully utilize your skills. This could mean starting your own business, finding a new career, going back to school or finding means and ways to become actively involved with people in your profession in the new country or abroad.

5. Be informed about the work culture of the new country.

This may seem pretty basic but it should not be taken for granted. If you want to get ahead you must stop running around like a headless chicken and begin to familiarize yourself with the lifestyle, culture and work ethics of the new country. For instance, do you understand the work place terminology? What kind of transferable/employable skills do you need? Do employers require curriculum vitae or resumes? What is the academic equivalent of the professional qualification you hold?

Sometimes the hardship you are facing is not brought about by you as a person but by your lack of research on the basics. Make the adjustment easier for yourself by tailoring your life to fit into the new place and not vice versa.

6. Increase your social networks.

There is always a close connection between one's occupation and social status. When you are unable to transfer the occupation that you once held to the new country you now live in, you also lose social status. It is therefore important to have a network of people that you can trust and depend on.

You can have personal networks like friendship groups and social organizations and also join and actively participate in professional associations, community networks and support groups that are involved with issues that interest you. These networks also play a useful role in combating the feeling of being alone in a new place and can also be good idea or lead generators for a new job.

7. Don't be complacent...do something!

Don't wallow in self-pity. Hold on to your dreams and your goals. Work steadily and take risks to achieve them. Persevere and be resilient. Do what you have to do, to ensure that you make a success of your new life.

Be strong! Although there are many barriers to be overcome in a new country, let not your spirit be tarnished. Look within yourself for the strength to move forward with your life. With a positive attitude, you will find that there are a lot of things that can bring you ultimate success.

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