Author: Anifa Williams

Like millions of Americans, are you presently or do you foresee yourself being in the job market?  Perhaps you are at the end of a long interview and filtering process.  Regardless of your status, current global financial conditions are worsening and it is imperative that you are able to negotiate salary terms in today’s job market. The line between what you want and what you need has become finer in the past twelve months.  Salaries have decreased even in once highly paid areas like New York City. Job seekers find themselves taking drastic measures like moving their families to other states in order to secure a new position.  To save money, companies offer less benefits, fewer perks and lower compensation.

There are hundreds if not thousands of articles detailing the desperate situations of many Americans faced with unemployment.  Too many individuals are having a hard time because the market is extremely competitive or they simply do not understand the survival requirements for the new rat race.  A growing concern amongst the employed and unemployed is stability.  Many are unable to pay their bills, are facing foreclosure and even bankruptcy.  Small luxuries are no longer affordable and families now take “staycations” instead of vacations.

For the common American, the key to survival in this tough and frustrating job market involves understanding the market.  It is important to know the current hiring trends, what companies are looking for, being able to sell yourself, your skills, experience and education.  It is also important to be open-minded and able to create opportunities for yourself.  If you will soon be laid off, consider requesting an extension.  Is there an open position in another department in your company?  Be creative in your marketing techniques.  How many people have you seen advertising themselves in person, online or on billboards?  Learn to network personally and professionally.  Enlist the assistance of a recruiting firm you trust.

Once you reach the prized final interview stage here are three powerful salary negotiation tips to keep in mind:

• If you have more than one offer mention the highest offer to the other companies
• When a salary is offered ask if the company has any flexibility with the figure
• Give a salary range not a specific figure so you do shoot too high or too low in your expectations

Salary negation doesn’t have to be a tug of war.  When done professionally and intelligently the process can be rewarding and leave you with a sense of accomplishment.  Attitude and communication are also factors an employer takes into consideration when negotiating a salary.  If you are too aggressive, pushy or overbearing your chances are slim of securing the right salary and possibly the position.  Imagine how you feel about individuals that behave that way with you.  Do you enjoy talking with them, or even being around them?  Most people don’t and neither will a hiring manager. There is a time to be assertive and then there is a time to be humble.  Aggression rarely accomplishes much long term.

Are you looking for more information on the job market or your career search?  If you found these three powerful salary negotiation tips helpful and want additional guidance in your job search find resources that will offer comprehensive information.  Remember to stay positive and good luck!

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anifa Williams is an aspiring author with several years resume writing experience. She is an advocate of utilizing natural remedies for optimal health and healing. Her website offers book marketing strategies, health and nutrition facts and a job and career guide. For more information visit the site at http://anifawilliams.blogspot.com/.  If you wish to reprint any part of this article, you need written permission. All articles are protected by copyright laws.

Author: Lee Dobbins

Your resume is the first introduction that hiring managers get and you need to do everything you can to get it to make it through the first cut. Even the perfect candidate for a job might not get a chance to interview if his resume isn’t done properly. Since you only get one chance to make a first impression, avoiding these 10 resume mistakes can help keep you in the running.

1. Having a resume that is too long – You need to be brief while still stating your applicable skills. Keep your resume to one page. If you have a lengthy employment history you might get away with 2 pages, but only briefly list the older skills. If you can’t highlight your talents on one page, you’re giving the message that you are unorganized and tend to go on and on.

2. Using fancy paper – This is not necessary and although it might not hurt you too much it certainly won’t help if your own skills aren’t up to snuff.

3. Using a fancy font – Same as above. Don’t try to set yourself apart with a different font on your resume. Set yourself apart by being uniquely qualified.

4. Filling the resume with extraneous information – No one really cares that you were a singing waiter if you’re applying for an software engineering job.

5. Including outdated information – The jobs you had at the beginning of our career 20 years ago are probably irrelevant to this job. At any event these skills would be rather outdated so simply list that you worked there for completeness but don’t expound on it.

6. Typos and misspellings – You would think this is an obvious one, but you’d be amazed at the number of resumes received with big blaring mistakes.

7. Lying on your resume – “Enhanced” credentials are basically lies. You wouldn’t believe how many people list diplomas or certifications that they do not have! These things can be easily checked on and if they find out you are lying you will never get an opportunity with that company again!

8. Attachments – There is no need to send any attachments with your resume. If you are granted an interview, at that time you could bring in whatever it is you’re so hot to get into the selecting official’s hands. The person accepting the resumes will likely just throw it in the round file anyway.

9. Saying too much – Your resume is the place to state where you worked when and a BRIEF list of your responsibilities. The interview is the place to expound on those responsibilities and talk more about your skills. A brief description or a couple of bullet items is enough for the resume.

10. Leaving out the cover letter – Every resume should be accompanied by a cover letter. Be brief and to the point state why you think you are a good fit for the job and, of course, make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors.

Use these tips to get your resume into the hands of hiring managers then once you get in for an interview you can win them over with your great skills and positive attitude.

About the Author:
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.backyard-garden-and-patio.com where you can find out more about gardening and landscaping as well as how to do container plantings, installing a garden pond and decorating your garden.

Author: Tony Jacowski

The thought of changing careers will cross everyone’s mind at some point in time. Yet, not many think that they, confidently, can take that step. While there are many reasons that can be attributed to this noticeable phenomenon, we, for the moment, will confine ourselves to the major reason – lack of confidence.

Lack Of Confidence – A Major Drawback To Successful Career Change

It is not unusual to desire a change in career. However, proper & detailed planning and preparation is essential for a successful change in career. Many times, procrastinating over the matter not just develops the redundancy factor but also creates a sort of fear and hindrance.

10 Steps To A Successful Career Change

Here are the ten steps to changing your career successfully:

1. Preparing To Change: Gather information about your target organizations, job profile, etc. Get additional training and certifications as needed. Get your resume done professionally; highlighting areas to which you can contribute to and your past accomplishments.

2. Expect The Unexpected: Interviewers throw out surprises, sometimes unintentionally, which can catch you off-guard. It pays to know the questions that they might ask. Anticipate even the craziest questions.

3. Consult Those Who Are Already In Your Chosen Field: This gives you a wealth of information on the daily routine, responsibilities and challenges.

4. Changing A Line Of Career Isn’t Unusual: The need for cross-discipline skills is no surprise these days. Get across the point that you don’t lack all the skills required by the new job even you haven’t worked in a similar one. Interpersonal skills, organizational, personal skills are commonly required wherever you go.

5. Brush Up Old Skills And Add New Ones: Comparing your skill set with that required by the target job will tell you the areas you need to concentrate on.

6. Use The Internet: Use Internet job boards to post your resume, which should be carefully crafted specially for this purpose. By crafting, I mean using keywords that are industry-specific jargon.

7. Internet Helps Research A New Industry: Visit websites of organizations, forums or associations in that field which gives invaluable insight before short listing them. Researching job listings by company will definitely help you get an idea of what skills are most in demand.

8. Family Support: Draw confidence and support from your family. When you are down, use them as a sounding board. They may be able to help you come up with new ideas, and they will definitely boost your confidence.

9. Interview, Interview: Even if you are not perfectly suited for a particular position, you should still interview as much as you can. This way, you will know your strengths and weaknesses. It will also help if you do some informational interviewing. This is simply targeting people already working in your field and speaking with them about their jobs.

10. Network. Networking has been the time-tested method for a successful career change. Network with ex-employees and current employees of your target industry. Over 60% of all interviews come as a result of networking.

About the Author:
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution’s Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Author: John Edmond

You may have gone through every step of preparing to land a good job with confidence, by gaining experience, honing your education, and writing a good, solid resume. Once those efforts start to pay off and you get a call for an interview with a potential employer, you may find yourself struck with a bad case of nervousness. This problem is common and, fortunately, it’s one that’s all in your head – there’s nothing about a job interview you should be nervous about, if you’re confident and secure.

Practicing interviews goes a long way to giving yourself self-confidence. With the help of friends or family, you can prepare yourself to answer questions without hesitation and try a few different answers to choose the one that sounds best. Rehearsal is important for making sure you look confident to potential employers.

You can also use a mirror to see how your face and eyes display a look of either nerves or confidence, and work on eliminating small details that will give an impression of self-doubt. Once you enter the interview and finally meet your potential employer, use a firm handshake and a smile, keep yourself from looking down at the floor, and definitely try not to shift too much from nerves.

Honesty is the best policy during a job interview. If you’re caught lying, you’ve guaranteed that you’ll be out of the race for the job. Still, if you have any blemishes on your work, education, or personal history, consider how you’ll answer related questions about those issues. Glossing over past mistakes leaves the wrong impression, though the way you word your answers can soften the blow of any errors you’ve made at previous employments.

On the other hand, it helps to know your rights as a job applicant. There are some questions that you legally don’t have to answer and can’t be looked down on for refusal to answer. There are also questions that your interviewer can’t legally ask. Although belligerence won’t help your case, it’s always a good thing to know your rights.

Whatever answers you give your potential employer, say them with confidence, even if it’s explaining why you had a massive gap in your work history or confessing that you don’t currently have any career goals beyond the job you’re applying for.

There’s plenty of information to be found on preparing your appearance for the interview. Most of it is simple common sense. A business suit or a tasteful blouse and pants, with a clean, neat appearance complete with personal hygiene is all you really need to know about how to look for an interview. As with your responses, an appearance of professionalism will go a long way towards getting you the job you want.

A smart thing to do in your interview, just as you feel it’s starting to wind down, is to ask your employer a few questions about the position you’re applying for or the company itself. Asking questions shows you’ve done your homework and have a serious interest in the place you’ll be working. Questions also show your potential employer that you have dedication and the forethought to be careful about decisions, which can go a long way in their impression of you.

About the Author:
John Edmond runs and writes regularly for Living And Camping Outdoors where you can find more articles on hiking safely and outdoor survival. Also go to Well Spoken Audio for a range of entertaining audiobooks on walking and hiking and much more.