Show Me the Money!!

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With today’s economic climate, you may feel intimidated asking for a comfortable salary when it’s clear some are accepting jobs well below their pay scale.

However, if you ask the right questions and present your qualifications effectively during your interview, you could land a decent-paying job.

According to Jonnelle Marte of the Wall Street Journal, the first step is to find out the salary range for the position you’re considering. She recommends two web sites (Payscale.com and Salary.com) as well as consulting people you know in the industry.

During the interview, show how you meet the job criteria after finding out exactly what skills the potential employer is looking for. Demonstrate how you deserve to get paid the higher end of the salary range.

While getting the most money possible is important, you shouldn’t allow salary alone to dictate whether or not you accept the role. Try negotiating for other perks (i.e., the ability to work from home or an extra week’s vacation).

If the amount is still shy of what you were hoping for, ask if your salary can be re-evaluated in six months or a year. Emphasize your learning abilities and desire to improve your on-the-job skills so that a review becomes part of the hiring agreement.

Detailed interview strategies covering salary and more can be found at StartNowCareers.com
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Playing the Body Language Game

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Whether you realize it or not, everyone uses body language in our daily encounters with people. When interviewing for a job, body language becomes the nonverbal cues that we give to the interviewer while communicating. They can, essentially, make or break the interview.

Your resume and cover letter told of your accomplishments, but your body will reveal even more. Following is a short list to help you recognize and avoid the negatives while accentuating the positives:

Nervousness — Whistling, pinching skin, fidgeting, jiggling pocket change, running tongue along front of teeth, clearing throat, hands touching the face or covering part of the face, pulling at skin or ear, running fingers through hair, wringing hands, biting on pens or other objects, twiddling thumbs, biting fingernails

Openness and warmth — Open-lipped smiling, open hands with palms visible, unbuttoning coat upon being seated.

Untrustworthy/Defensive — Frowning, squinting eyes, tight-lipped grin, arms crossed in front of chest, pulling away, chin down, touching nose or face, darting eyes, looking down when speaking, clenched hands, gestures with fist, pointing with fingers, rubbing back of neck, clasping hands behind head while leaning back in the chair.

Confidence — Leaning forward in chair, chin up, putting fingertips of one hand against fingertips of the other hand in “praying,” or “steepling” position, hands joined behind back when standing.

As you can see, there are far more negatives than positives—possibly more than we are consciously aware. This list is given not so that you can artificially adopt the positive body language techniques, but more. If you have a habit of doing any of the above negatives, remove that action from your pattern of behavior before it sends the wrong signal. Concentrate on removing it now so you will not have to think about it during the interview.

And keep in mind the person on the other side of the desk. As you talk with an interviewer, be aware of (although not preoccupied with) their body language and nonverbal cues. Do not try to read more than is actually being communicated, but try to develop a sense of the interviewer’s reception of you.

The most obvious example is the smile connection—when your smile brings about a smile from the interviewer. Do your best to stay connected with your interviewer—both verbally and nonverbally.
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How Sharp Are Your Job-Hunting Skills?

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If posting a resume on a search engine was all that was needed to land a job, we sure wouldn’t have much of an unemployment problem, would we?

Let’s face it, search engines (Monster, CareerBuilder, etc.) are filled with “available positions” no matter when you check them. So why is it that so many available workers are not landing all those “available” jobs? The fact is, looking for a job can be downright grueling, according to Kiplinger.com.

Do you know how to boost your odds of getting the position you want for the pay you want? Here are ten questions to test your knowledge of job searching, interviewing and salary negotiating.

How Sharp Are Your Job-Hunting Skills?

Question 1:
Searching the Internet is the most effective way to look for a job – True or False.

False. Although the Internet will probably make up one component of your search, the most effective way to find a job is through networking. You could answer dozens of ads, but knowing the right people can make all the difference in landing an offer. Plus, only about 15% to 20% of all job openings are ever publicly advertised in any medium, according to Quintcareers.com. Most come through the grape vine.

Question 2:
You can negotiate an entry-level salary – Yes or No.

Absolutely; It doesn't hurt to ask is correct. Most employers leave wiggle room in their offers to new employees, even those that are fresh out of school. You won't find out unless you ask. But even if there isn't any room for an increase in salary, there are other pieces to the benefits puzzle. Consider negotiating your vacation time, work hours, signing bonuses, starting date or relocation benefits.

Question 3:
Your résumé should always fit onto one page – True or False.

False. There's no mandatory length limit for résumés. Use the space efficiently, but give enough specific information to attract hiring managers. Generally, you should keep yours to one page if you have less than ten years of experience. Feel free to go over a page if you have more experience or work in a field where you need to add more detail, such as your research projects and publications.

Question 4:
What are acceptable ways to reach out and network? A. Use your college alumni association; B. Join a professional organization; C. Join online discussion groups; D. All of the above; E. None of the above.

All of the above is correct. All of these are good ways to meet people in your field. You can also set up an informational interview with experts in your industry, get an internship when you're first starting out, and keep in touch with college acquaintances.

Question 5:
When applying via e-mail, type a brief cover letter into the body of your e-mail, attach your résumé as a Word document and click "send." A) That’s all I need to do; b) Wait! I’m forgetting something!

Wait, you're forgetting something is correct. Don’t hit “send” so fast. You need to send two versions of your résumé via e-mail. Many employers won't open résumé attachments either out of laziness or fear of contracting a computer virus. Your chance of getting noticed: zilch. Go ahead and attach the document, but copy and paste a text-only version of your résumé into the body of your e-mail to cover your bases.

Question 6:
Should you tell your current employer you're job hunting outside the company – Yes or No.

No. Don't tell anyone before you have a new job lined up. The company knows it has to replace you and it could find your replacement before you're ready to go, leaving you prematurely unemployed. Or your boss may see you as disloyal and make your life difficult until you leave.

Question 7:
How long does the average job hunt take? One month? Four months? Nine months? 18 months?

The average job hunt takes four months, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. So be patient and don't get discouraged.

Question 8:
Employers can receive hundreds of résumés for a single job. How can you get yours noticed? A. Use fancy formatting; B. List every job you've ever held; C. Use certain key words.

Use certain key words is correct. Many employers dump résumés into a database and search for key words to narrow the field. The magic words are often job titles, skills or areas of expertise related to the position. The best way to figure out key words is to look at ads for your target job and see the kind of language employers are using.

Question 9:
What should you NOT do in a job interview? A. Smile; B. Dress conservatively; C. Ask the interviewer yes-or-no questions; D. Bring plenty of hard-copy résumés; E. Talk respectfully about past employers.

Ask the interviewer yes-or-no questions is correct. Asking the interviewer "yes" or "no" questions that stifle conversation gives the impression that you don't care about the company or the position. Stick to open-ended questions, such as "Would you walk me through a typical day on the job?" or "What is the company's plan for the next five years, and how does your department fit in?"

Question 10:
When looking for your first job out of college, you can write off job-hunting expenses on your tax return – True or False.

False. Sorry, first-job seekers cannot write off these costs. However, they can claim the write-off when they look for their next job, as long as it's in the same field.

For the most complete job search resource, please log onto our web site: StartNowCareers.com

Even the Overqualified Have Options to Get Jobs

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This recession and the accompanying job situation have hit experienced workers hard. Millions of job-seekers are now looking to positions they are overqualified for – and are genuinely anxious to fill those roles. Yet it’s sometimes difficult to even apply to them for fear of rejection.

So what do you do? First, you may want to consider rewording your résumé. Rather than highlighting that degree you worked so hard for (ouch!), choose wording that accentuates related experience or related education. After all, a degree doesn’t prove accomplishments and results, but accomplishments and results are what hiring managers are looking for.

Second, you must help the hiring manager understand what overqualified doesn't mean. You've got to let them know you really want to work for their organization, that you're dedicated, and that you've got something you can offer them.It's all about adding value. The job applicant who convinces a potential employer they can make a positive effect on the bottom line often wins. Campaign for your dedication, your work ethic, and the things you can learn in that new role even if you are overqualified for it.

According to Phil Chipouras of The Boomer Group, "You've got to position yourself as the solution to the company's problems. So research, networking, understanding what that company's problems are and positioning yourself accordingly, are all extremely important.”

Unless you're a Type A personality who always needs to climb the corporate ladder, then don't be dishonest with yourself or them. But in fact, a new career at a lower rung on the ladder might mean less stress. Maybe right now title and money is not all that it used to be. Maybe right now having a decent income and a balanced life is more important than it was before. During the interview you can make that point.

From the hiring manager’s point of view, they want to make sure you’ll stay on the job once you’re hired, so it’s important to indicate that you’re serious and that you’re a stable, solid investment.
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What is the Start Now! Career Guide?

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Good question!

If you’re one of many who have found yourself looking for a job, you’ll agree…you are faced with perhaps one of the most difficult times of your life.

You’re looking to get from point A (being unemployed) to point B (landing a good job) in the shortest amount of time. You turn to the Internet because that’s where we go for virtually instant information. What the job seeker often finds, however, is frustration.

In part, it’s because finding the best places to post a resume isn’t going to help if the resume itself isn’t on target. If the resume isn’t right, then it isn’t being read. If it isn’t read, it isn’t being considered.

So let me address how StartNowCareers.com can assist today’s job seeker:

1. It Provides Value. In its most basic form, Start Now! Career Guide helps you set the foundation in perfecting your own resume. The guide relieves the burden of weeding through repetitive information which is found on the Internet today. Our web site links to a product - not to a page of links to more web sites (which, in turn, often links to yet more web sites).

“Professional” resume writers are out there by the dozens and charge hefty fees to produce something for people they don’t even know. But the fact is, no one knows the you as well as you do. The Start Now! Career Guide helps you dig deep to rediscover talents and experiences (career and personal) which you may have overlooked.

2. We’re Not Reinventing the Wheel. Rather than a job search engine or resume service, Start Now! Career Guide is just that…a comprehensive guide which covers a wealth of information, from how to deal with the emotional side of unemployment, to networking, to resume construction, to letter writing, to interview strategies, and so much more.

3. We Don't Remix. Since there is so much information out on the Internet, we can’t claim that our guide is spectacularly unique. What we can claim, however, is that the Start Now! Career Guide provides essential information all job seekers need. Plus, since you’ll have the reference information always at your fingertips, it saves valuable time you’d be using going from one web site to another.

We’re really hoping you’ll evaluate StartNowCareers.com. Our goal is to deliver a product of value which provides vital information and essential tools to assist you in your job search.
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What Lies Ahead for Today’s College Grads?

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Depending on the spin some media have put in their news reports, college graduates may feel the job outlook is pretty grim. But many experts say it’s not all gloom and doom…if the candidate is well prepared.

Though some industries will have a notable decline in hiring during 2009, other fields such as health care, government, distribution and utilities are anticipating growth. In addition, over the next decade more and more Baby Boomers will retire, creating opportunities many grads could be able to grab.

In today’s market, the graduate should be more flexible than other job seekers in a couple of areas:

First is salary expectations. It’s a tight market right now, so you may have to settle for less than you feel you deserve. But remember that it is your first job. Opportunities for advancement or better positions will open up to you along the way.

Second is location. A better paying, more rewarding position may not be in your home town. You may want to consider the many opportunities across the country.

The job search may take a little longer, so be patient. With the right tools in place, the candidate should be successful, but it may mean part-time or temporary work in the interim.

Network effectively. You can post your resume on-line and hope for the best, but networking is a must. Let everyone you know what your goals are and ask them to spread the word. Follow-up with them to be sure they’ve kept you in mind.

When creating a resume, make sure you highlight the skills which coincide with those requested by the employer. With the volume of resumes sent to a company, generic or broadly written resumes are obvious and tossed aside quickly.

When you do get the call, make sure to do your due diligence before your interview to show you’ve learned all you can about the company you’ve applied to.

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Before Your Interview - Things You Must Do

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Thank goodness! Your hard work is paying off...you've landed an interview.

Before you choose what you'll wear, take the necessary time now for due dilligence. This is an opportunity to really score big points by finding out everything you can about the company you're interviewing with.

The information you secure will help you:

A) Ask relevant questions that make the dialogue between you and the interviewer more interesting and significant;

B) Take a more active approach in the interview. The discussion can be more in-depth rather than superficial.

C) Sell yourself as a problem solver and a “doer,” someone who knows how to identify problems and come up with the solutions.

The Internet contains a wealth of information on businesses - large and small. My favorite source of obtaining information on publicly traded companies is through Finance.Yahoo.com. In the search box, just enter the company name (or ticker symbol, if you have it). This will give you a broad look at the company as well as the key executives in charge. You’ll see other helpful things to click on, such as the company financials, charts, and company news.

Another way to seek corporate information is to go into Google News. Put the name of the company in the search box and recent business activity involving the company will come up.
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Posting Your Resume? Wait!!

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You’ve heard it said, “You only have one chance to make a first impression.” For the job seeker, that impression is your resume.

At the end of a job fair held in Greensboro, NC on February 25, 2009, an HR Director was interviewed on one of the local news stations. “The biggest problem applicants have,” he said, “is their resume.”

He went on to indicate how vitally important it is to make sure your resume is:

- worded properly,
- kept concise,
- typed in proper font size and style, and most important,
- matches your objective to the position you’re applying for.

This may mean a few resumes that are tailor made for the specific role you’re going for.

Start Now! Career Guide helps you create the strongest, most effective document that will shoot your resume to the top of the pile.

We’ll help you discover experiences and qualifications you may have overlooked… talents that will have hiring managers take notice. And we’ll show you how to make it look picture perfect.

The guide also contains every letter imaginable that’s needed for an effective search, from networking letters to the thank-you and acceptance letters.

Plus, there’s a full section devoted to sharpening your interviewing strategies and skills.

Visit our website: http://www.startnowcareers.com/

View the samples on the site, and if you don't feel this guide provides what you need in your search, e-mail us at our web link or here on our blog and tell us why. Our goal is to help you get the job you’re seeking!

Start Now!

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