I want to piggy-back on my recent column in the Lexington Herald Leader on today’s blog because I think this is such an important topic. A person without meaning in their life is a person without hope and that is a very sad and dangerous situation. In my column I talked about finding more meaning in your work, and although work is not the only way to have more meaning in your life, it certainly can add or detract from it.

There are several free assessments you can use to assess the meaning you derive from work and life at www.authentichappiness.com. At this website you will find the Work-Life Questionnaire, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and the Satisfaction in Life Questionnaire.  These assessments were developed by Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the area of positive psychology. He is most well-known for his concept of learned optimism and I became familiar with Dr. Seligman during graduate school since much of my research revolved around optimism. Check back later this week for more information on finding meaning in the workplace.

The most important principle about salary negotiation is not to enter into that process until you have fully conveyed your value to your potential employer. If you are going to have any leverage in negotiating, you have to be the clear choice in candidates – the one they definitely don’t want to get away! Until then, it is best to deflect the salary question by stating that you know the typical salary range for this position and that you are confident you will be able to come to an agreement once you’ve been made an offer.

 Once you are ready to discuss the salary question, here are some things to remember.

1.     Research – look at the typical salary range by using a salary calculator at salary.com or salaryexpert.com, research the difference in cost of living if you are looking at a potential move.

2.     Don’t give a specific number – you should always frame your salary in terms of a range of at least $7000. The higher the level of salary you are looking at the broader the range should be so if you are looking at a six figure income the salary range could be more like 15-20K.  

3.     You need to factor in your budget needs as well and begin your range at no less than you would be able to support yourself and family. So if the typical salary range for your position is 25-35K but you know your family cannot survive on less that 28K start the bottom of your range there.

4.     Control the urge to jump for joy and shout from the rooftops – even if they state a salary within or above the range you had in mind. If you accept the offer they make right away, it gives them the perception they offered too high, and therefore their estimation of your value goes down. Pause and then ask “Is that the best you can do?”

These are just few brief pointers on how to prepare for the salary question. You may want to seek the advice of a career coach for more tips to negotiate a bigger salary.

           

 Job seekers sometimes ask the question “How will it look that I’ve been unemployed?” and “What should I do while I’m looking for a job?” These are good questions since having a significant employment gap can be a red flag on your resume. There are a number of good reasons that volunteering may actually help you in your job search. Here are a few of the greatest reasons to volunteer:

Stay active during employment gaps. “So, what have you been doing since you worked at X?” How are you going to answer that potential interview question besides “looking for a job” or “watching TV”? If you are staying active and involved during your job search it shows initiative and a good work ethic. It also gives you something to put on your resume to lessen the gap.

Keeps your confidence up. Searching for a job can be a draining exercise, especially if you are unemployed. Keeping your energy and enthusiasm up is key for staying persistent in your job search and volunteering can help you maintain confidence in your ability to add value to an organization.

Utilize and build skills. Volunteering may be an opportunity for you to keep up your skills or develop new skills in an area if you want to transition to a new career field or industry. Perhaps you want to break into a public relations job but have no experience. You could volunteer to write a newsletter for a non-profit organization.

Build networking contacts. Getting involved in your community is a great way to build contacts. When you share the same values, passions, and interests with others you develop relationships. Also think about the type of organizations that might give you the best exposure in your field.

Gives you a sense of purpose and meaning. Let’s face it, giving back to your community just feels great. Non-profit organizations often have limited budgets and so volunteers are greatly needed. Therefore, they tend to really appreciate your contribution of time, energy and skills. Also, when you volunteer for something you really believe in it gives you a sense of purpose and increases your quality of life.

Mixed feelings of excitement, anticipation, worry and fear are normal for any a job seeker.  It can be especially stressful during times of economic instability and financial hardship. However, there are some things you can do to keep your motivation going and manage your stressful feelings. Here are just a few brief tips.

Have a game plan. Develop a system that works for you and stick with it. Set times for the activities you need to do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Get organized and keep records of the jobs you’ve applied for, the contacts you’ve made and when to follow up.

Do your Homework. Being prepared will help ease some of your anxieties. Do background research on the industries, companies and contacts that are of interest to you in your job search. Read my article in the Lexington Herald Leader to learn more about where to find information on the job market.

Build Confidence through Self-Awareness. Keep a confidence boosting file handy for review of your greatest strengths, accomplishments, skills, areas of knowledge and so forth. This can include recommendation letters, notes of appreciation from clients, co-workers or bosses. You may even consider taking a personality or strengths assessment that will give you more language to express your best self and make a good impression. This will help boost your confidence and help you prepare to articulate your value to an organization come interview time.

Practice Communication. Prepare your “30-second elevator speech” as well as practice answering interview questions. Some people are shy about practicing because it may seem awkward, uncomfortable or they are afraid of becoming too rehearsed and robotic. However, practice will make your words flow more naturally and you will sound more confident.

Stress management techniques you can use right now. The first is to get moving. Exercise is one of the best stress reducers and I strongly recommend it to people when they are going to an interview to clear their mind and relieve stress beforehand.  Meditation or breathing exercises, such as progressive muscle relaxation can help relieve immediate stress before an interview as well.

Finding a job when you are out of work or unhappy with your current work can cause stress. You can learn to manage your stress but also seek out support from family, your church, community and other resources. A Career coach or counselor can also help you with your preparation process or recommend some other strategies to reduce your anxieties and give you the tools you need to be successful.

Self-promotion is a sticky subject. You don't want to come off as a self-centered braggart, but speeking up and promoting your skills, strengths and ideas is necessary to get ahead (or get a job). I recently wrote a column for the Lexington Herald Leader focusing on self-promotion with autheniticity and integrity. Here is a supplemental list of resources useful in mastering the art of self-promotion. Enjoy.

Books
Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead by Nancy Ancowitz
Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It by Peggy Klaus

Articles
http://www.phoenixfocus.com/2011-05/how-to-self-promote-without-being-obnoxious
http://www.fordham.edu/images/student_services/career/grad_ed_handouts/art%20of%20self-promotion.pdf
http://humanresources.about.com/cs/careerdevelopment/a/aapromotion.htm
http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/careers-job-hunting/1608-1.html

Websites
http://www.klausact.com/brag/questionnaire.htm
http://selfpromotionforintroverts.com/