by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Apr 18, 2011 | Job Search, job search tools
Salary negotiation is the one part of the hiring process that people on both sides of the table look forward to it about as much as a root canal.
The key to successful negotiations, I think, is to take emotions out of the process as much as possible. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you, as a job-seeker, make an effective, objective argument during the process.
Do:
- Research salaries and benefits for similar positions, and use this to frame the discussion
- Visit the institution’s HR site to understand what benefits are offered and the costs of these benefits. Even though many job seekers don’t consider the costs of their benefits, the employer has no choice but to pay for your benefits. They don’t come from thin air, and today, costs of healthcare have especially impacted the bottom line.
- Consider the level of experience you have and be open to hearing what range they can reasonably offer. One way to do this is to ask how they came up with the offer, and how they factored in your previous experience.
- Give examples of your experience, and how you will apply it in the job to earn the salary.
Don’t
- Talk about your financial needs, debts, or your “ego” needs for a certain salary level (These are your problems, not theirs.)
- Compare your potential salary to that of other people you know at other institutions (they are not hiring these people) in other regions (cost of living varies) or other industries (student affairs salaries do not compare with corporate salaries.)
- Get angry, act as if you have been insulted, cry, or threaten to walk away (they won’t care if you act that way, anyway.)
Another piece of advice: always ask for time to think the offer through, and a get a solid deadline for getting back to the employer. Even if you want a job, you’ll probably feel better knowing you did your best to be fairly compensated, and you won’t second-guess your decision and feel you “sold yourself short.”
by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Sep 28, 2010 | Coaching
Are you planning to job search this year? Placement may seem a long way off, but the truth is that the most prepared candidates start early, get a lot of feedback, expand their networks continually, and devote themselves to the search as a job, in and of itself.
Since last spring, I have offered a few small group experiences, including a job seekers group, and a self-paced “hybrid” program that featured both online activities and 1-on-1 coaching, including personalized resume and cover letter assistance, mock interviews, and personal coaching throughout the process.
Both my free and paid offerings seemed to help job seekers, but the “hybrid” program seems to have been the most helpful to the clients who participated. Four persons enrolled in my “8 Weeks to August” coaching program, which was aimed toward seekers who found themselves “stuck” after the conference season ended, and summer began.
Of the participants in the last program:
- One dropped out without doing any of the activities.
- One got a job, and
- The other two have been consistently getting interviews, and will hopefully be employed soon. I believe wholeheartedly that they will, because they have made great strides and interviews keep coming in.
Since my goal was to have both of these people employed by the end of this week, I e-mailed them Monday to see if they wanted their money back, because I believe in guarantees. I couldn’t guarantee these clients a job. But I did guarantee them satisfaction with their progress, and I am only as good as my word.
Since I’ve had an opportunity to evaluate the different programs, I am going to revise some of the content and format, and offer a new program that will last from now until May. I’m calling it the “Placement Partner” Coaching Program. At the end of May or beginning of June, I will again offer a program more geared toward the needs of job seekers who find themselves “stuck” without a job after the Spring 2011 recruitment period ends.
Right now, I am gathering information on persons who might be interested in this type of program, so I can tailor a couple of levels of participation, and create programs at different price points. My goal is to have programs that will meet the needs of job seekers at different levels, and to offer a value that far exceeds the cost of entry.
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I look forward to helping student affairs job seekers this year. Sign up below and forward to others who might be interested.Thanks!
by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Sep 23, 2010 | Podcast
Hey everyone, it’s late September, and Friday morning, I am back for a new season of my BlogTalkRadio podcast after a hiatus since early August. I didn’t really plan on being away that long, but August and September have been full of busy. Since most readers of this blog work in higher ed, or aspire to, you know what the first month or so of the academic year can do to you, and how quickly your best laid plans, and best intentions, can get swept away along with your usually productive routine.
I’ll let you know what I’ve been up to lately, and I would love to hear from you about how Fall is starting off in your neck of the woods. Do you have some great stories to tell? Some gripes to vent about? Some advice you critically need? Call in, and maybe I can help you with your Fall kick-start. I bet some listeners can also offer you some great advice. So call in to 1 (347) 989-0055 or via the Skype click-to-talk logo once the show is on the air.
We’ll talk about how August and September can consume you, getting back in the saddle, and the transition issues that higher ed professionals, college students, and their families go through during fall. This show will be a stream-of-conscience free-for-all, hopefully with callers. It’s just been too long. I had to get back on the horse. So tune in for insights, rants, weak attempts at comedy and maybe a few special offers. I’ll be winging it!
Listen to internet radio with Sean Cook on Blog Talk Radio
