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Do You Need a Performance Review?
Tweet Share on Facebook April 5, 2012 Comment (1)While some employers have policies about giving regular performance reviews, others—especially smaller companies and startups—may not have anything set in stone. As an employee, having your supervisor review your performance provides several benefits:
- It keeps you motivated knowing which areas of your job you do well
- It identifies areas where you can improve
- It gives you the opportunity to ask for a raise or promotion
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How Volunteering Can Help You Get a Job
Tweet Share on Facebook April 4, 2012 Comment (7)If you're searching for a job, here's one strategy you may have overlooked: Volunteering.
Volunteering for a nonprofit organization in your community isn't just a way of doing good. It's also a way to keep your skills up-to-date, expand your network, and possibly even get a paying job. And there are all sorts of nonprofits from which to choose, whether you're drawn to community service groups, political organizations, or religious institutions.
Here's how volunteerism can help you in your job search:
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7 Tried-and-True Steps for Negotiating a Job Offer
Tweet Share on Facebook April 4, 2012 Comment (3)Are you prepared to negotiate a job offer? New LinkedIn research shows 42 percent of professionals in the United States are uncomfortable negotiating; approximately 25 percent admit to never having negotiated in the workplace. The study also shows that many of LinkedIn's U.S. members (39 percent) report feeling anxious about negotiation, more so than participants from other countries do.
What's wrong with neglecting to negotiate? Employees who begin jobs with less-than-optimum salaries may never catch up to the compensation and benefits they could have earned if they'd played their cards better when starting. Since pay raises and bonuses build from the base salary, it's crucial to be prepared to ask for the best compensation package possible from the start. Don't be intimidated. Selena Rezvani, author of the book PUSHBACK: How Smart Women Ask—And Stand Up—For What They Want, reminds job seekers: "Too often, people approach negotiation inflating the other side's power and minimizing their own. Instead, set your sights high and be ready to stand behind your request. You can shoot for being firm but respectful, rather than downright deferential."
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5 Ways to Probe a Company's Culture
Tweet Share on Facebook April 3, 2012 Comment (4)A lofty compensation package, spiffy title, and corner office are all great characteristics to look for in a job—but if you're looking for a happy job, a great cultural fit is equally important.
Unlike salary or benefits, a company's culture is much harder to quantify. It's felt in daily operations, and is the standard that guides everything from dress codes to company values.
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When Does Social Recruiting Become Social Sleuthing?
Tweet Share on Facebook April 3, 2012 Comment (2)We know that employers are sometimes checking your Facebook or Twitter to verify if you're hire-worthy. But what should you do if you're asked for your login information during a job interview? It's become a reality, as employers realize that they can learn a lot about job candidates through their social media profiles. And since many people set their profiles to private, where only those they approve can view intimate details, some employers may want access to your account.
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The 5 Feeblest Excuses for Failing to Job Search
Tweet Share on Facebook April 2, 2012 Comment (4)Are you the person who scrambles for new work when your current job goes belly up? Or maybe you're sick of your boss, workload, or lack of advancement opportunity? You might whip up a resume, slap some content onto Facebook and LinkedIn, write a panic-driven networking note to long-ignored colleagues and friends, and impatiently check off the onerous tasks you've been ignoring.
When it comes to focusing on your job search, there are millions of feeble reasons for not conducting it successfully.
Here are five terrible excuses job seekers give for not being prepared for their next big move, as well as ways to combat them:
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How to Derail Your Job Search
Tweet Share on Facebook April 2, 2012 Comment (8)If you're searching for a job, you face a hard enough market these days without making things even worse by sabotaging your own efforts.
Here are eight ways that you might derail your job search without realizing it:
1. Not bothering to apply because you're sure you won't get the job. Sure, if it's a wild reach, put your time into other opportunities. But if you can make a reasonable case for yourself, then you shouldn't write off an opening just because you assume that others will be better qualified than you. For some jobs, hiring managers may be willing to take a risk on a less-experienced candidate who brings other strengths. You'll never find out if you don't try.
