Will You Lower Your Salary Expectations
If you do find yourself in the latter category, consider the following factors before deciding to lower your salary requirement -- and by how much.
1. Urgency: "If there's less pressure to find something immediately, then [job seekers] may be able to stick closer to their ideal salary expectation – it just may take longer to find something," says Greg Masiewich of IQ Partners, a Canadian recruiting firm. "If someone needs [a job] immediately, then often lowering salary expectations will help them do that."
2. Competition: "An industry where there is a ton of competition and candidates are plentiful may result in people needing to lower salary expectations," Masiewich says. "If they're in a specialized industry where their skills are still in high demand, then they may not have to ... it comes back to supply and demand."
3. Benefits: Consider what extras -- such as an excellent 401(k) plan, flexible scheduling or a family-friendly corporate culture -- are worth to you. Benefits can make up for a smaller salary.
4. Your bottom line: Although you may be willing to take a pay cut in order to get a new job, it's important to figure out your bottom line -- what you need to make in order to pay your bills and live comfortably -- before accepting a lower salary. If you accept too little money, you may find yourself unable to make ends meet or resenting your low pay, and you'll wind up looking for a new job all over again.
5. Negotiation: "If someone does have to accept a lower level position or take a pay cut, I think they should try and negotiate an offer that contains some sort of pay for performance provision," advises Linda Duffy, president of Leadership Habitude, a career strategy consultancy based in Irvine, Calif. "If they can show the prospective employer their added value and help the employer achieve some specific goals, then they would receive a bonus or bump in base pay on a date certain. Not all companies are willing to make that deal, but it doesn't hurt to ask."
Why do you want to work here?
Question: Why do you want to work here?
Don't say: "I've maxed out three credit cards and need a paycheck ASAP."
Instead: Articulate why you want the job and why you're a good fit for the company.
Why: A chief mistake job seekers make is focusing on selling themselves to the company and failing to prove why the job is right for them. It sounds narcissistic, but it's not. Dattner suggests asking yourself: "Why is the job right for you and why are you right for the job?" The question helps you give the right answer because you prove that you're in this for more than the paycheck.
Question: How would others describe you?
Don't say: "They would say I'm the best you'll meet and you'd be stupid not to hire me."
Instead: Answer honestly.
Why: "With regard to what others say about you, this gives a lens for the interviewer to use to see characteristics and attributes that the individual being interviewed may not be aware of," Flagg says.
Why Should I Hire You? Thought it as an interviewer
In today's job market, where many seasoned workers have found themselves out of a job and plenty of young but inexperienced graduates are entering the work force, do you have the right answer to beat out the competition?
Here are three common scenarios job seekers find themselves in and how they might handle each one:
The employer thinks ... you don't have relevant experience.
So you ... explain how all experience is relevant.
Simpson's tips for workers whose experience is seemingly irrelevant are similar to her advice for seeming unqualified workers: Make your past an asset, not a drawback.
"Give specific examples of how your experience is relevant to the job," Simpson explains. "Customer service experience gained while waiting tables is often negated. Waiters deal with all kinds of people and situations while multitasking, working under pressure of short-term deadlines while keeping customers happy."
Don't expect employers to connect the dots -- they're busy and have a wealth of candidates from which to choose. Do the work for them. In this economy, plenty of laid-off workers are looking for jobs in new industries, which means you're not the only one experiencing this dilemma. Get an edge over other job seekers by turning your varied experience into proof that you're the right candidate.
To be continued……
Top 5 Ways to Wreck Your Job Interview
1. Being rude to the receptionist or assistant
Some candidates don't think it matters if they're dismissive of the hiring manager's assistant when arranging the interview or get upset at the receptionist because he or she mispronounced their name by mistake. After all, this person isn't the one making the hiring decision. But you may be surprised to learn that six out of 10 executives polled by Robert Half said they consider their assistant's opinion important when evaluating potential new hires. So remember to be polite and respectful to everyone you interact with during the hiring process.
2. Acting like you're the only person there
Consider this scenario: After you've checked in for the interview, you make a quick phone call to give your friend a blow-by-blow description of last night's party, speaking so loudly that everyone in the office can't help but hear you. That's the wrong approach. It's better to sit patiently and peruse any company literature in the lobby. Doing so demonstrates common courtesy and can help you learn more about the firm and its needs.
3. Arriving late
Getting to an interview on time or, for that matter, a few minutes early is an easy way to impress a prospective employer. Arriving late is not only unprofessional, it also shows the hiring manager that you have little regard for his or her schedule. It also calls into question your ability to show up to work on time, one of the most basic aspects of any job. Plus, arriving late could cause you to miss the meeting altogether if the interviewer has another appointment.
4. Going into the interview unprepared
Far too many candidates fail to properly prepare for the interview, believing that they can "wing it" and still make a strong impression. The savviest job seekers spend time considering questions the hiring manager will likely ask, so they can answer confidently during the meeting. They also research the employer ahead of time so they can explain how their skills match the open position, and also highlight their true interest in the company and position.
5. Not asking questions
As the interview winds down, the hiring manager will likely ask if you have any questions. Your answer should be yes. But your questions should go beyond "How much does the position pay?" and "How many days of vacation can I expect?" Although compensation and benefits are important components of any job, broach these subjects only if the prospective employer has expressed serious interest in hiring you -- usually not until the second or third interview. More appropriate questions for a first interview include "What will my specific duties be?" "What are your top priorities for this position?" and "What does a typical day in this position look like?"
Dumb Things Job Applicants Do
To avoid scaring off employers, make sure you avoid these five dumb things job applicants do:
1. They disclose too much information
A cover letter shouldn't begin with irrelevant personal information such as: "I'm a 40-year-old mother of three who has experienced many challenges in life." While job seekers may think they are creating a bond with the hiring manager by "letting you get to know me," employers are turned off by "too much information." From an employer's point of view, an applicant who makes inappropriate personal disclosures may be likely to exercise poor judgment in other areas as well.
Information to keep to yourself includes your age, health, family, how you like to spend your weekends or anything else unrelated to the position you are applying for. In addition, make sure you aren't saying too much with an email address such as xxxxx@ hotmail.com.
2. They behave rudely
Of course you wouldn't hire someone who honked and gestured angrily at you in the parking lot, snapped at the receptionist and argued into his cell phone in earshot of customers waiting in the reception area. Nevertheless, job hunters have made these and many other faux pas.
Human beings have bad days, and interviews can be particularly stressful, but an employer who witnesses or hears about even a hint of rudeness is likely to assume it's only a small taste of things to come if the applicant is hired. So be on your best behavior with everyone you encounter.
And don't make the mistake of badmouthing your former employer; an interviewer is likely to assume that's how you'll be talking about them if they hire you.
3. They don't follow instructions
At a recent company lunch, someone handed a hiring manager a résumé for a position that had just been filled. The applicant had made the mistake of mailing it to a customer service address instead of submitting it online as instructed.
Failing to follow instructions may not only cause you to miss the deadline, it may also make you appear to be a potentially difficult employee. After all, if someone can't follow a few simple steps at this stage, how would that person perform on the job?
4. They don't focus on the employer's needs
When a company is looking to fill a position, it's because they have a need. They may want to expand into new markets, cut costs, improve services, increase profits or achieve something else they have identified as important to their success.
5. They say dumb things
Foolish statements can include obvious gaffes such as asking an interviewer who's slightly overweight when her baby is due... but sometimes it's not so obvious.
"Before I saw your job ad, I'd never heard of your company," one applicant for a marketing position told an employer, oblivious to the fact that the interviewer's proudest achievements included overseeing marketing campaigns that had generated millions of dollars worth of publicity for the company, an industry leader.
To avoid appearing ignorant, familiarize yourself with the company by reading their Web site before the interview. To avoid blurting out an inappropriate comment, pause before answering questions and if you think something might be taken "the wrong way," don't say it!
Interview Tips: 3 Job Search Mishaps
Despite your best efforts, there are some mistakes you simply can't recover from, such as submitting a résumé and cover letter addressed to the wrong employer. But other errors do not necessarily spell doom for you.
Following are common mistakes job seekers make and tactics that will give you a fighting chance to recover:
Mishap No. 1: You arrive too early
Though it may not seem like a terrible offense, being very early for an interview can create a poor first impression. If you're camped out in the reception area half an hour before your meeting, the hiring manager may not appreciate the pressure to see you earlier than expected. Wait in your car or outside the building if you arrive more than 15 minutes before an interview and use the time to prepare. Then, head to the restroom to check your appearance one last time. Aim to be in the company's lobby about five minutes early.
Mishap No. 2: You lowball yourself
What happens when a hiring manager requests your salary requirements, and you later find that you asked for too little compensation? Be honest and act quickly. Tell the hiring manager that you've done additional research and feel the figure you quoted falls below market trends. Be sure to reference any supporting documentation, such as salary surveys, that help you make a case for higher starting pay. Employers are often willing to renegotiate salary before an offer is accepted if an error like this is made because they want new employees to feel valued from day one. However, in the future, you should always do your compensation research before you begin the interview process.
Mishap No. 3: You flub an interview question
"Why are manhole covers round?" Even if you're not asked a brainteaser like this, you may stumble when answering a question posed by the hiring manager. In this situation, don't panic. If you find yourself rambling or grasping for words, pause to think more about your answer. The interviewer will understand if you need some time to formulate a response. If you bombed a question earlier in the meeting, only to think of the perfect response later, ask the hiring manager if you can revisit the question. You'll demonstrate your ability to think on your feet and have the opportunity to get your message across.
