Satisfied workers seem to be a dying breed these days. According to a report by the Conference Board mentioned in a recent Career Hub post, more than half of Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs. Why? The study's respondents cited company's policies, bonus plans and promotion policies as three of the main factors contributing to their dissatisfaction. Let's talk about promotion policies for a moment.
Generally speaking, most employees aren't considered for promotions until they have either been with their employer for a set amount of time, or have achieved or exceeded a set of goals set forth by their manager, or both. If you are looking to be promoted on a regular basis, you have to do your part in becoming a "promotable" worker.
A recent blog post by CEO Consultant.com offers some great advice about how your behavior at work can influence your promotion status. Some of their tips include mastering your current job skills, sticking to timelines and being a good listener. Here are a few more to think about:
- Seek out projects that are above your skills level to show your ambition to do more.
- Ask your manager about continuing education or training classes that might help you get to the next level.
- Take your manager's lead. If you want to be considered as someone who is ready to go to the next level, you have to act the part. That means taking behavioral cues from your own manager so that he or she begin looking at you as more than a subordinate.
You'll be amazed how powerful simply sticking to the basics such as getting to work on time, dressing professionally and doing your job well is in making you a "promotable" worker in your employer's eyes.
Once again, more proof that employee referrals are the most effective means to recruit candidates. A post on CareerXroads Annex provides more evidence that employee referrals are more likely to secure job candidates than all job boards combined.
Past Spherion research has reported similar findings. Employee referrals are an effective means for candidates to find a good job, however there are some important guidelines to consider when being referred to positions by friends or family members.
First and foremost, always know if the person referring you is in good standing with the company. Your association with someone who may not be performing at the top of their game could seriously hinder your chances of being hired.
Keep in mind that those who referred you may have already spoken to hiring managers describing your expertise and work ethic. So if you are called for an interview, make sure to confer with them and ask what hiring managers may already know about you so that you can expound on that information in more detail. In the same token, take the opportunity to probe about important company and departmental initiatives so that you can better present your skills, experience and overall ability to help achieve those goals.
One last tip to remember with employee referrals. It is helpful if your reference works within the department where you have experience. That way, hiring managers know that the reference understands the needs of the position, and can trust them to find someone who matches their criteria.
This blog post at Careersolvers provided some helpful information regarding salary negotiation. Being focused on how much you will make in a new job is still something candidates struggle with, despite numerous reminders to treat salary as a less prominent concern during the interview phase.
The Careersolvers post talks about upselling your skills to not only fit a job description, but to exceed the job responsibilities and demonstrate an ability to bring more to the potential employer's table.
Here are a few more suggestions on how to do just that:
- Be positive about what the job can offer. Demonstrate that you understand the responsibilities of the job description and then promote your experience by discussing how you have used your skills to solve an issue or offer a new perspective on how to handle certain responsibilities more efficiently.
- Add on to the job's responsibilities, before getting the job. Oftentimes, we are asked to perform tasks outside of our stated responsibilities. Use this experience to your advantage by describing how you can bring additional skills to the position that may influence how the new position will operate.
- Look into the future. Hiring managers like candidates who are goal-oriented. Sharing with the hiring manager your future goals, while providing information about multiple job skills and experience, demonstrates that you have not only been willing to take on additional responsibilities in the past, but that you are already focused and prepared to take on additional tasks in the future.
Bottom line, if you still are unable to negotiate the salary that you really want, weigh the pros and cons of the company and position. If you see true growth potential and really like the company, it may be worth more than dollar amounts. You can also consider negotiating a salary review within six months of hiring on, so that you have the possibility of getting closer to your desired paycheck.
Two types of interviews require some specialized preparation if you want to ace ‘em – the phone interview and the often dreaded lunch interview. A few career experts in the industry have recently offered up some good advice on phone interview tips. Jeff Bosco’s post discusses 8 useful tips , and you can also check out the blog post Creative Work at Home for more on phone interview etiquette.
But how do you handle being pelted with questions while trying to avoid getting lettuce stuck in your teeth? Lunch interviews can be nerve-racking. On the flip side, if you’re asked to do one, chances are you’re being seriously considered for the position. Now it’s your job to pass (and I don’t mean pass the bread).
Generally speaking, you should follow the rules of traditional interviews, such as be on time, dress appropriately, etc. But add table manners – put your napkin in your lap, don’t put your elbows on the table, and for goodness sake, it’s important to talk about your experience and skills but just don’t do with your mouth full of bruchetta.
Make it easier on yourself and don’t order messy food.
And just because they’re likely to pick up the tab, it doesn’t give you the green light to order filet mignon. If you’re ordering first, choose something of moderate price range. If others are ordering before you, follow their lead.
Speaking of following their lead, this is a good rule of thumb in general. Whether it is ordering alcohol or determining the tone of the interview, take cues from them.
Follow these rules and you just might get your cake and eat it too.
