Job Search Tips

Archive for the ‘Job Search Tips’ Category

Helpful Hints for Job Seekers

Monday, September 19th, 2011

If you’re in a job search right now, you may feel like your resume is getting stuck in the pipeline, and that you’re not getting the attention you deserve. Here are some key points to help you get noticed in this crowded market.

Create a Profile Resume. Otherwise known as a Networking Resume, this is an overview of who you are and what you do. It lists your accomplishments, awards and accolades, and education, and gives a generalized summary of your previous work experience. When you meet contacts at networking events or online, this is what you should be giving them.

When interviewing or prospecting, don’t formally submit a resume until you’ve asked for the job description. When you know the specifics of the position you’re applying for, you can tailor your resume to match.

 Use LinkedIn to research the company or companies you want to work for. You can use the Advanced Search feature for this. See if you have any second– or third-degree links to the people who make hiring decisions, and use those connections to get your resume into the right hands.

When you schedule your interview, get the details. With whom will you be interviewing? What is his or her title or role in the current project? How much time will be scheduled for your meeting? These are very basic questions, but many people forget to ask them.  When writing a cover letter, don’t address it To whom it may concern. Yes, this is standard business letter-writing procedure but if you can get the name of the hiring manager who’ll be interviewing you, you’ll be able to personalize your letter in a way that gets you noticed. If you can’t track down the hiring manager, submit your cover letter to the head of the HR department. You can also use LinkedIn to search contacts who might be able to walk your resume to the hiring manager.

Don’t put yourself in a company’s database until you’re certain you’ve made a contact there. When you’re already in the database, you don’t get as much face or phone time. Once you’ve scheduled an interview, you’ll have plenty of time to enter your information.

Think of these strategies as good detective work. Get curious about the companies and people you’re considering an association with. Remember, when it comes to your pipeline, quality is always better than quantity. The better-prepared you are, and the more awareness you cultivate, the more likely you are to land the job you really want.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps marketing, advertising, and creative entrepreneurs navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information email me.

Getting Your To-Dos in Order

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Every Sunday, I write out a to-do list for the coming week. I plan out my activities on each day, and make notes as to tasks I want to complete within each 24-hour period. I have list of people to follow up with and a list for house stuff. I also have a note book of items to brainstorm about. I get pretty nit-picky about my lists — but if I don’t write it down, it doesn’t get done and I only focus on one list at a time.

When you make generalized lists, with big bullet items like “Networking,” “Cold Calls,” and “Business Plan”, you can become frustrated when you are not able to cross these things off your lists. To help you be more productive, break down your projects and tasks into specific bite-sized pieces, they will be a little less overwhelming and you’ll find you’ll get more done. Also, big-ticket items require big chunks of time, which aren’t always possible to set aside in the midst of a busy week and tend to get put on the back burner.

Instead of making generalized lists on which items linger for weeks or months at a time, try chunking it down. Instead of listing, “Return e-mails”, list the people you need to contact by name, and check them off one by one. That way, you can visually track your progress, and transfer only those names that remain to the next week’s list. Instead of writing, “Work on Business Plan”, break the task into pieces like “Target Market Overview” that will only take you 30 to 90 minutes to complete.

You can also cross-reference your lists to help you multitask. For example, my lists last week included items like “Yard Work,” “Gym,” and “Playtime with Kaylee.” We combined all three in one fun afternoon, which included a game of tag and Pick-Up-Sticks in the backyard.

There’s a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from crossing items off a list. If you find yourself spinning your wheels, set smaller and more manageable goals, and attack them one by one. Success isn’t measure in giant leaps, but in innumerable baby steps, like cobblestones on a road. The best to-do lists are the ones that help you look back over your week and see how far you’ve come.

Here is a link to free copy of the “To do” list I use and also give to my clients to use.

Are you completely paperless? Try Life Balance software for free for 30 days.

The Robins Are Doing the Deal

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Spring in New England is a wonderful, busy time. When I look at my yard, all of nature seems to be networking, planting seeds and making new contacts. Everything is focused on renewal and reconnection.

“Spring Fever” isn’t just for lovers: there’s a real surge of energy in the air at this time of year, and that makes April the perfect month to jump-start your business. Everyone’s coming out of their winter hibernation, anxious to be part of the world again, and that makes this a prime time for networking.

Here are some steps to take to help you take advantage of Spring’s buoyant energy:

Confirm your goals for this year. Write them down, and post them somewhere where you’ll look at them often.
Choose a goal, and write down all the skills that you have to support it. These are the things that you do on a daily basis which will make your goal possible — things like providing great customer service, creating strategic visions, delivering projects on time, or organizing people or information.
Get some backup. Ask friends, colleagues, and existing clients for testimonials and other concrete support. Sometimes, just knowing that other people think you’re great at what you do is enough to pull you out of a muddy winter rut!
Network! Start talking about your goals, and reach out to people who can help you achieve them. Make a list of twenty-five people who you know have information, resources, or advice that will help you. Try to connect with at least five of them each week.
Play “Six Degrees of Separation.” You’re closer than you might think to the people who can help you achieve your goals. Start by making five columns on a sheet of paper.

o Column 1: The person you’d ultimately like to contact (i.e., VP of Marketing at Company X).
o Column 2: How you can be a great resource for the person in Column 1.
o Column 3: People you know who may be able to help you reach the person in Column 1. Get creative here. Utilize your whole social pool.
o Column 4: the date by which you will contact the person in Column 1.
o Column 5: The actual date of contact (and subsequent celebration!).

If you automatically get anxious at the thought of networking, remember that it takes practice — and that even Einstein consulted his colleagues when he was formulating the theory of relativity! And if you need a more earthy comparison, think about those robins bustling around outside your window, or the squirrels chattering in your trees. They work together to make like better. A “networking buddy” can be a great partner in accountability; share your goals and plans to keep one another on track.

For fun, here is the link to the Wikipedia Six Degrees of Separation game. It certainly helps us understand how close we are to anyone we would like to contact. Just promise yourself not to waste too much time playing with Kevin Bacon when you could be playing for your own success. Here is the link, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon.

What’s Coming Down Your Career Pipeline?

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

I always ask my clients what’s in your pipeline. Keeping your pipeline full and flowing is essential, whether you’re a business owner, a job seeker, or looking to advance in your field.

Basically, your “pipeline” is the channel through which new opportunities, contacts, and information flow to you. Ideally, it is full of new contacts from whom you’re awaiting replies, opportunities you’re following up on, and leads you’re following up on. It’s said that only 20% of positions are filled through advertising, while the remaining 80% are filled through referrals and networking. The percentages are slightly different for business owners generating new clients, but they still lean in favor of referrals and networking versus traditional advertising.

In other words, if there’s nothing in your pipeline, you’re far less likely to find the next job you’re looking for.

If you’re stagnated in your job search, or looking to drum up new business, here are some tips for getting your pipeline flowing:

Network, network, network! If you’re currently unemployed, you want be attending at least two in-person networking functions per week. If your budget and schedule allow, three or four events are even better. If you’re a business owner, you want to be attending at least two industry or networking events per month.

Send e-mails, and follow up. For job seekers, ten to twelve e-mails per week to new contacts is a moderate goal to shoot for. For business owners, it depends on your product or service, and your sales cycle — at least five per week, go for quality verses quantity.

Get on the phone. Ask questions, conduct informational interviews. Ask for referrals. Just do it.

Set up appointments and interviews: if you’re not currently employed, try to set up at least three face-to-face meetings per week.
Utilize social networking sites. You’d be amazed at how much you can find out about a company and people on LinkedIn. Use the advanced search functions to narrow your results.

Volunteer on projects which forward your skills. Volunteering is a low-pressure way to network, and it looks great on your resume.

Choose quality over quantity. Spend the time to create solid connections, and track down real leads. Blanketing your network with vague requests — like, “I’m looking for a job in marketing. Anyone have any suggestions?” — isn’t likely to get you where you need to be.

Keep a log. How many calls did you make this week? How many connected, and how many went to voicemail? How many introductions did you ask for? How many e-mails did you send, and how many did you follow up on? How many face-to-face appointments did you book? Set concrete goals for yourself based on the numbers you find to be manageable and effective for you. Make if fun! Life is too short and you only live once.

Remember, whether you’re a job seeker, a business owner, or employed, it’s important to keep your pipeline flowing steadily, even when you’re not looking. Think of it as preventative maintenance: when you decide it’s time to make a move, you’ll have all the resources you need at hand.

The Missing Piece

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

When you find your ideal company culture, it can feel like you’re the “Missing Piece,” the element that’s needed to make the greater whole operate seamlessly. Conversely, your ideal company culture can fill in the pieces which are currently missing in your career.

In the last two articles, we’ve explored “A Week in My Life,” where you created a description of your ideal week; and “Cultural Consciousness,” where you identified your ideal company culture. Now, it’s time to discover where you fit into that culture, and use that information to seek out your ideal job/role.

Here are some questions to ask yourself in order to get a clearer picture of your ideal role. It can be helpful to have your description of your ideal company close to hand as a reference. Remember, all these questions should be answered within the framework of your ideal week and ideal company culture.

What is your job title and description?
What is your salary range? (Go for the gold, here. After all, this is your ideal world!)
What are you creating in your role? What types of problems are you solving on a day-to-day basis? What type of information are you working with? (If you have trouble answering this, look back over your career, and identify the projects/solutions/incentives that you’re most proud of, or which were most fulfilling to you. What role would provide you with those types of situations regularly?)
How many people do you answer to? How many people work directly for you (or as part of your team)?
How do you interact with your bosses, coworkers, or team members on a daily basis? Do you work mostly alone, or as part of a group?
Does your ideal job require frequent travel? To where, and for what?
What is your ideal work schedule? Flexible hours, weekends, nights?
In what ways does your ideal job align with your personal values, goals, and commitments?
How do you feel that you can make a difference on a larger scale in your ideal role? What contributions will you be able to make in this role which will allow you to feel more fulfilled and productive?

As with the last two exercises, you might choose to make two lists: one for your ideal job, and the other for your not-so-ideal job. Become clear about what you want, and what you cannot or will not accept. When you have a strong vision about what’s right for you, you’re more likely to find it.

Sign up for my FREE BRIDGE E-COURSE. DQ’s BRIDGE Process, proven to help you find your ideal job faster, is being featured in the soon to be released book “101 Ways to Enhance Your Career”

Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps marketing, advertising, and creative entrepreneurs navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information email me.

Cultural Consciousness

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

“Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from achieving one’s values.” — Ayn Rand

Two weeks ago, we created “A Week in My Life” — a tangible description of your ideal week. Now, it’s time to delve deeper into your work experience during your ideal week: specifically, your experience in your ideal company culture.

Work culture is often discounted as a secondary factor in choosing a new job or career. But the social dynamics of a company can make even a mundane job great — or make even the most interesting job unbearable. In order to truly enjoy your job, you need to enjoy the culture.

If you’re like many people I’ve spoken with over the years, you find yourself falling into the same type of culture over and over again, in job after job, without really knowing why. No matter where you go, you end up working for the same micromanaging, manipulative, or absentee boss; or, conversely, you end up managing the same resentful, uncooperative, or scattered people. You want to make a move, but you’re afraid that the only difference between the new job and the old will be the color of your office walls.

The truth is, we attract certain types of people into our lives and careers based on our conscious and unconscious thoughts and processes. But if you take the time to become clear about what you really want, rather than simply falling into whatever comes your way, you’re more likely to avoid the trap of “same, same.”
Take 30 minutes or so this week to envision and flesh out your ideal company culture. Here are some points to consider:

In what industry does your ideal company operate? What types of product or service does it provide?
Where is your ideal company located?
What does the building/campus look like?
What is the layout of the office/production space? Do you have your own office? Work in an open space?
How big is your ideal company? Do you like having many diverse co-workers, or do you prefer to work with a smaller, select group of individuals?
What is your ideal boss like? In what ways does he or she support you? Consider a specific situation (perhaps one from your own recent experience): how would your ideal boss behave? Is your boss a mentor? Does he or she offer consistent guidance and support, or allow you to operate more autonomously?
If you’re considering a management or executive position, what are your employees like? What qualities do your team members possess which make them easy to work with? How do they support you in your role, and how do they allow you to support them in theirs?
What is the pace of your ideal business or office? Do you thrive under pressure, or do you like to take your time? How would your ideal company culture support your natural working pace?
What social, environmental, and financial goals are important to your ideal company culture? What causes does your company support?

As with the first “Week in My Life” exercise, it’s just as important to know what you don’t want. You might choose to make a list based on the above criteria of what is unacceptable to you in your ideal company culture. For example, you might write, “I don’t want a boss who dates his secretary,” or, “I don’t want a boss who says she’ll give me a raise/a better position/flexible hours, then never follows through,” or, “I don’t want to manage unmotivated employees,” or even, “I don’t want to feel lost in a sea of desks.”
Once you’ve identified your ideal company culture, it’s a whole lot easier to see how you can fit comfortably into it. Next week, we’ll look at your role in your ideal company — in other words, we’ll narrow down your ideal job description! It may sound like a lot of work, however, the amount of time you spend doing these exercises upfront will save you years of wasted energy and frustration which directly impacts your overall well being. You only have one life. Make it a great one!

DQ’s BRIDGE strategy and job search coaching services are designed to help you identify and zero in on your target company, salary range, location, and other vital factors. Like using a Rapla lure to catch a bass, you’ll know exactly what you’re fishing for before you’re ready to cast. When you’re prepared and focused, you’re more likely to capture the opportunities that are out there waiting for you.
Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps marketing, advertising, and creative entrepreneurs navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information click here or email me.

On the Hunt

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

The other day, I had a conversation with a former client from the recruiting world. We were discussing the most effective way to target prospective employers in this brave new job world. I debated that my BRIDGE strategy — to Become clear, Research, and Identify potential employers (your targets) Develop your contacts, Get a Game Plan, Execute and Evaluate the Game Plan — is more effective, while he debated that his strategy, which was to go through every single one of his contacts on LinkedIn and see what came up, was the one which produced results.

I was intrigued. I wondered if there are more people than my former client who think this way. In my mind, his strategy was that of a farmer: he planted many seeds in many areas of his professional network, and waited to see what grew for him. I, on the other hand, am a hunter, and I encourage my clients to utilize a “hunting” strategy when they begin the job search process.

Usually, a farmer plants more than one type of crop. He nurtures his seeds patiently, pulling weeds where necessary. Sometimes, what pops up surprises him, and sometimes it fails to grow at all.
A hunter, on the other hand, goes out into the wilderness knowing exactly what she is looking for. She stakes out her ground, carefully positioning herself in the right place to hit her target, and waits. When the moment comes, she’s there, ready to jump on the opportunity. Of course, sometimes the quarry gets away, but more often than not, the hunter comes home with what she went looking for.

So, are you a hunter or a farmer?
Don’t get me wrong, there’s validity to the farming approach in a job search. You’re nurturing relationships, growing connections. You might also be cultivating several options at one time, so that if Plan A doesn’t work out, you can fall back on Plan B, C, or D. But this approach is also time-consuming, and if you’re living on a severance package (or unemployment), time may not be on your side. That’s when it’s time to go on the hunt.

My BRIDGE strategy and job search coaching services are designed to help you identify and zero in on your target company, salary range, location, and other vital factors. Like following a track in the woods, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for before you’re ready to aim. When you’re prepared and focused, you’re more likely to capture the opportunities that are out there waiting for you.

They say that for every $10,000 in salary you’re asking for, you should add one month to your job search. But my BRIDGE for Job Search “hunting” strategy is proven to cut job search time by 50% or more.
Now that summer’s over, the hunting season is in full swing. Don’t miss out on your prize job.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps creative professionals and business owners navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information click here or email me.

Is Your Resume SEO Compliant?

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Those of you who’ve taken my BRIDGE tele-class or followed my BRIDGE strategy for Job Search, you already know that when you’re clear about the role you’re after, it takes less time and effort to land your ideal position.

I’ve heard it said many times that when you’re applying for jobs on-line and you send your resume, it may as well have been sucked into a black hole. With the increasing intelligence of search engines, company web site databases, and online applications, it’s easier than ever to get lost if you’re not on top of the latest web strategies. First on the list: make sure your resume is SEO-Compliant (Search Engine Optimization).

The “B” in my BRIDGE for Job Search Strategies method stands for “Become Clear.” As a Coach, part of my job is to help my clients with this first, deceivingly complex step. What do you want your career to look like? What do you want your life to look like when you’re in this career? Where and for whom do you want to work?

When a client has trouble with this step or if “B” is too heavy for you to handle right now, we move to “R” — Research. We Research together to “I” — Identify — your skill set, likes, interests, motivators, values, unique attributes, target titles, target companies, and target key words. While we’re doing this, we’re also “D” — Developing— your resume, your career positioning, new contacts and “G” Getting a game plan, while “E” — Executing and Evaluating — on these strategies to help you reach your ideal position faster. This takes us back to “B” — Become Clear — at which point, you’re ready to progress to the next level.

As you Research and Identify, you’re not only creating a list of your skills and values; you’re creating a list of key words and phrases. These can be very helpful when creating an SEO-Compliant resume, since they are likely also the words and phrases which will be searched by hiring managers. You can then use these key words when researching on LinkedIn and other online resources to Research and Identify your ideal target employer.

“We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.” — Abigail Adams

Here’s how you can use SEO and key words to optimize your resume using LinkedIn.

Let’s say you are targeting a position on the client side as a Director of Marketing in the computer software industry. Go to LinkedIn.com, and in the upper right-hand part of the screen, click “Advanced” which is just to the right of the Search box for “People“. This will take you to the screen below:

LinkedIn Director of Marketing Key Word Search

In the Keyword box, type the title you are targeting (for this example, Director of Marketing). Note: You are typing Director of Marketing in the Keyword field not the Title field. Next, for Location, select “Located in or near” and then enter your Zip Code. Next check off under Industries, Computer Software, and click Search at the bottom.

Drill down on some of the profiles that come up in the search, and take note of the titles, the companies and the key words used to describe the position held in each profile – keeping in mind that some Profiles contain much more information than others. Use these key words and phrases to refine your target search, and then look at the LinkedIn Profiles of your potential competitors — then look at your resume. Is it compliant relative to the types of positions you’re targeting?

As you’re reading job descriptions do you notice some of the same key words? Are those key words present on your resume? It’s as simple as that! Use these words and phrases and get your resume SEO-Compliant! What most people don’t realize is the biggest value you get from LinkedIn and other job boards is the information you can obtain with simple Research.

As the saying goes, people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan. Brian Tracy, in a recent interview said…”You can’t hit a target you can’t see… and more people spend more time planning a picnic than they spend planning their careers.”

Start planning your career today by taking advantage of my no-obligation complimentary coaching consult.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps creative professionals and business owners navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information click here or email me.
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Need help with your resume? Enter your name by September 7, 2010 by e-mailing me at DQ@CoachDQ.com win a free resume strategy coaching session! (Valued at $350)

8 Resources To Help You Build Your Network

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

I talk a lot about using social media to expand your network, look for a new job, or promote and grow your business. But how do you know which sites to use?

Which sites you choose depends entirely on what you want to achieve. Helping you figure out what you want to achieve is part of what working with a coach is all about. If you’re looking for a new job, Twitter has some great job boards, and you can get real-time updates of new listings, learn more about the companies you are target and if it’s networking you’re after, LinkedIn—and, to a lesser degree, Facebook—allow you to connect with other professionals.

There are other, less well-known social networking sites that have a lot to offer job seekers, entrepreneurs, and networkers. Here’s a partial list of business-related social networking sites you might find helpful:

• AdvisorGarage—An online directory of advisers willing to assist budding entrepreneurs.

• ConnectBeam—Social networking specially designed for corporate users.

• Doostang — An invite-only career community for professionals.

• Fast Pitch—A growing business networking community in the corporate world. It provides users with a one-stop shop network to market their business.

• Mediabistro.com—A site for professionals in content or creative industries.

• Ryze.com—A site for establishing new connections and growing networks. Connections for jobs, building career and making sales.

• Blitztime—Speed networking platform where you can network in your PJ’s. Check out their free demo to learn more.

• XING—A directory of business contacts powering relationships between business professionals.

Everything is easier when you have the right tools and you know how to maximize them. Integrating social media into your job search or business networking strategy is a great way to open new doors, stay on top of the trends and grow your network. “Opportunity rarely knocks at your door. Knock rather on opportunity’s door if you ardently wish to enter.” — B.C. Forbes

Check out some of the sites above, see who’s online, and shop around until you find the site (or sites) that are best for you. You never know who you’ll meet (or Tweet)! Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/coachdq

Are you overwhelmed with all the resources available and you just don” onclick=“javascript:_gaq.push([’_trackEvent’,‘outbound-article’,‘twitter.com/coachdq

Are you overwhelmed with all the resources available and you just don’]);“t know where to start? Contact me for a complimentary coaching consult.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps creative professionals and business owners navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. If you are ready to B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap between you and a life you love then visit http://www.careerlifebalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today.

Do you have a website or resource you want to share? We welcome your comments, suggestions and feedback below.
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Are You Lowering Your Standards?

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

In these uncertain economic times, the perception is that there’s no room to negotiate. “I’m lucky even to have landed a job,” or “I’m afraid to ask for more, the company is on tight budget and I don’t want to piss them of,” or “I’m already at the top of the range for the position”.….these are only some of the things I hear people say when negotiating an offer and bottom line they hesitate to ask.

There is a major misconception. Very rarely will an employer flat-out refuse to work with you. You don’t have to take a ridiculous pay cut just to be employed. Even now, with cutbacks and budget-crunching rampant, employers are still willing to negotiate with candidates whom are qualified and are the right culture fit for the company.

I have two clients who just completed my private VIP three month BRIDGE Program to help you cut your job search by half and both clients landed their ideal jobs, — but the initial salary wasn’t what either of them had hoped for. When they realized that they didn’t need to lower their standards just to have a job. We worked together to help them negotiate a better offer. Coincidentally, both were able to negotiate $5,000 more per year, plus some additional perks.

We looked at things that were little cost to the company, no cost to the company, salary, and bonus structures, then role played possible scenarios, strategized for rebuttals, and helped them prepared them for the next step.

When you assert your value, employers recognize it. And even if there really isn’t room in the budget for a bigger salary, it doesn’t hurt to ask. After all, you aren’t privy (yet) to the inner workings of the company: you only know what you’re worth.

“Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.” — Joe Paterno, Contemporary American College Football Coach

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps creative professionals and business owners navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. If you are ready to B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap between you and a life you love then visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today.

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