Employment Archives - Page 11 of 11 - The Voice of Job Seekers

Do You Understand Prospective Employers?

Familiarity with employers in your industry is essential in today’s job market. It is not good enough to have a friend who works for the company to get you the interview. The same interest in knowing who your blind date is the way to approach employers. You should understand them.

I wrote an article “Do Employers Understand You?” earlier this year, and people are struggling with what employers want. A better perspective comes with reading the initial job description:

Many employer pretenders exist but…

We can explore this dynamic but the burden of proof is the job seeker’s. You, the job seeker must prove worthiness of permanent employment. It doesn’t matter that the employer is tricking you that it has a hot tub, generous benefits, and overtime. No one can guarantee illusions don’t exist. With research, you can discern the movers and shakers from the big-time fakers.

How direct are you answering questions?

How much mumbling should an employer accept when a job candidate unclearly answers “What skills do you bring to our company?” Frankly, little to none. If you are networking using informational interviews, this question dances around your brain frequently. What solutions do you offer?

Do you follow instructions?

If you are infatuated with the employer who asks to send a cover letter with your résumé faxed, and you just mailed a résumé , this will end in unrequited love. Are you sending a curriculum vitae instead of a résumé ? You know employers are testing you, right?

Who are you when its tough?

It is rare when someone overcomes difficulty alone. Employers want to know if you contribute significantly when challenged. It might be tempting to showcase your ego instead of skill as flawed strategy.

Do you ask employers direct questions?

Many job seekers still struggle with asking thoughtful and engaging questions. The reason is the lack of planning of the need-to-know to do the job. The research on target jobs should drive your interest and intrigue.

Can you offer quantitative and qualitative measures of past job performances?

Not every job is measured by $ and %, but the operative word is value. That is what you must sell in hopes for an employer to buy.

These are just a few points that job seekers are challenged with conveying to employers. What are challenges understanding what employers want? Please share in the comments.

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About Mark Anthony Dyson

My name is Mark Anthony Dyson, and I am the Founder of The Voice of Job Seekers. I am a career advice writer, but more importantly, I hack and re-imagine the job search process.. I've worked with hundreds of job seekers one-on-one helping them to construct a narrative and strategy that appeals to hiring managers and recruiters. I present at colleges and organizations, and facilitated many workshops including my volunteer effort through a Job Lab. I write and create useful job search content on this blog and write career and workplace advice for blogs such as Glassdoor, Payscale, Job-Hunt.org, Prezi and more. Media Feature highlights: Forbes, Business Insider, NBC News, Glassdoor, LinkedIn's #GetHired, and NPR Freelance writer and content contributor: Glassdoor, Payscale, job-hunt.org, The Financial Diet, RippleMatch.com and more. Contact me to contribute career, job search, or workplace advice for your site at markanthonydyson@gmail.com.

by Mark Anthony Dyson 2 Comments

4 More Ways of Basic Salary and Employment Negotiation

A friend recently negotiated a $10,000 bump in a salary offer because he used reasoning with a company that came after him. The current company paid $16,000 for his master’s degree, and asked the approaching company to invest part of what he would have to pay back. The company was impressed and agreed to work with him. Note that he only requested a portion and not the whole. Negotiation is an critical discussion in closing the deal. The ideal approach sets the tone for a prosperous career. Remember, reasonable. Read on!

1. Patient salary negotiation earns respect from employers

If you are tactful and respectful in making a request for anything using sound reason, the reciprocated respect is worth more than a salary bump. The word “REASON” is a powerful negotiation tool because it can make or break your efforts. To present a reason as a one-way often fails because the candidate is self-seeking. To offer sound reasoning is a value exchange: “I would like to work from home a day or two a week in exchange for working 6-8 hours overtime at the office.” This may work better with an employer who promotes work/life balance but it is only an offer.

2. You’re experienced. How about flexible?

If you have given a range of an expected salary, I hope is a thought-out, calculated, and measured answer. What about the other issues important to you, such as schedule, benefits, and perhaps holidays? If you have read articles on negotiation, they will say you should create a “must-have” list. Remember, be reasonable in requesting your “must-haves.” Negotiate with the professional relationship in mind.

3. Wait for it…in writing

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If you want clarity wait for the offer in writing before convening the Geneva convention. Depending on the professional level, the offer based on the value communicated. In lower level professions (hourly wage) the wiggle room is very small, which means you will have to consider non-salary negotiations (not true for every case but common).

An article in The Central New York Business Journal suggested,

If the desired salary isn’t available…make sure a position will offer other incentives prove beneficial later in a job candidate’s career.

Top Mistakes Professionals Make When Negotiating Their Salary. (2011). Business Journal (Central New York), 25(20), 10.

4. Salary negotiation is not a list of demands. It’s a business conversation

This approach is easier on both parties. No one is holding anyone hostage. Understand that for each “must-have” or request you make, expect requests. The success of this meeting will be the positive energy and mutual satisfaction (as stated in #6). Anything less than that you lose. Like the song says, “Know when to hold ‘em, and know when to fold ‘em…”

Again, the advice is basic, and by all means, read books on the subject if you desire a thorough knowledge base. Successful knowledge base rooted in expert knowledge of the value you offer and how to ask for what you want. Do you have tips to share? Please share in the comments.

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Basic Salary and Employment Negotiation (Part 1)

Many job seekers ask about negotiating salary, yet never get in leveraging position. It is a passing thought or just too passive to strategize. There are also times when a job seeker doesn’t make enough money is understandable. It is also misunderstood knowing what it is and how it is an important part of accepting a job.

I am not a negotiation expert, but coached others on negotiating. There are some basics that could change the approach to employment. I have learned throughout several situations that negotiations are like an oscillating fan that it can blow everything off the table that isn’t stapled or bound. That happens to job candidates who concern themselves at the last moment and leave money on the table to be blown off.

1. Negotiation starts at the beginning of the last job

Before meeting or knowing the working relationship down the line, the best leverage is the new training and added responsibilities of last job. If you are passing on updated workshops, and training on new company initiatives, you are letting your career pass you by. Not to mention, as the clichés goes, leaving money on the table.

A willingness to learn or a teachable spirit doesn’t make you a well-qualified candidate. Employers ideal candidate can operate the car (so to speak) and teachable enough to learn where to go.

2. Negotiation is a plan throughout time, not an event

Negotiation strategy is effective before the first interview, and after the offer has been accepted. Beginning to plan after the first or second interview is too late. I am not suggesting but discourage any salary discussion during the interview other than to inject and reiterate value. If you cannot clearly assert your qualifications, your value will be a questioned.

Bill Holland, the author of Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy, and a widely regarded career expert states that,

Preparation is helpful, timing is crucial. If you communicate your preconditions to a company before you even land the job, you are violating the rule about delivering worth.

3. Negotiation is competitive AFTER they want you

Some candidates become comfortable after the negotiation begins. It is a big mistake. It is likely you are the first candidate they want but NOT exclusively. How you carry yourself, and enduring measurement against the second candidate on the list. Character flaws like arrogance and lacking discipline can make you undesired.

4. Negotiation is strategic

Most experts will insist that negotiation is a win-win process and I agree 100% that there is no other way. The way you lose is guessing your value (again, not always salary), and employers will not lose because someone will take something less than you. Research and plan but don’t wait for a special sign from God in form of a halo and a glowing ball. There are resources like Glassdoor.com to use for salary and culture research.

5. You don’t receive because you refuse to ask

As the lead hiring manager once upon a time, my director told me the rules of communicating to HR what to salary negotiate, but not one person negotiated salary. Fearing the unknown is a real and debilitating. Preparation and research is the great equalizer if you put in the time and effort.

Part 2 will be posted Wednesday. Do you struggle with any of these points? Please share in the comment section.

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About Mark Anthony Dyson

About Mark Anthony Dyson

About Mark Anthony Dyson