How to negotiate a larger salary from a lowball offer

How to negotiate a larger salary from a lowball offerHow to negotiate a larger salary from a lowball offerDont take a lowball salary offer personally.Many executives refer to receiving a low salary offer as being lowballed. They often feel offended at the low offer they may even abandon a salary negotiation or walk away from the job offer altogether.Related from Ladders4 tips on salary negotiation from the $20-million-plus star of Greys Anatomy, Ellen PompeoWhat to do if you know your coworker is making mora money than you for the same jobThese are the best jobs in AmericaBut a low salary offer is not an insult its just a lowball salary offer and its probably just the starting place from which you can begin a salary negotiation and work toward a bigger salary.In baseball, a lowball is a worthless pitch. The pitcher hopes it will fool the batter into swinging. The batter doesnt take it personally. High ball, curve ball, fast ball, strike Its just a pitch. Even if the catcher called it because he knows its the batters weak point, the slugger still doesnt take it personally.One client of mine, Jim, was a vice president of operations with two company turnarounds on his resume. He figured his upcoming offer would be $175,000 base salary with a 30 percent bonus plus benefits and perks. The human-resources department made an initial salary offer of $135,000. He called me, angrily. They know my last salary was $160K. Are they trying to get me cheap? Dont they understand what I can do for them? I cant afford to turn this job down. Ive been job hunting for eight months and they know it. But this is a real lowball offer. What should Jim do next?Lets look at an attitude adjustment first, then evaluate the origins of the offer and finally, determine what actions to take.AttitudeFree enterprise cuts both ways. You cant have the freedom to negotiate a great package without the company having the freedom to seek its best bargain. To be competitive, companies must negotiate the best they can, and that includes labor costs. Theyre expected to negotiate the best the market will bear, so dont take it personally if they start low with you. They want you for the lowest price possible. Understand that its a game.Dont let your self-esteem get in the way. Step up to the negotiating plate and play ball Do what the baseball player does dont get upset, just check your swing and let the umpire call, Low Ball oneOriginsLets look at why the employer might start low. After all, if youre a candidate they want, they surely dont want you to walk away. Then why dont they skip the lowball and throw a strike at the knees? Here are five reasons why they dont always throw a strike on the first pitchBlooper. Sometimes they make mistakes, sometimes even by a big margin. It can be a miscommunication between the hiring decision maker and the HR manager, a new position they priced like an old one, a calculation basing this new salary on your previous earnings, or any number of mista kes.Mismatch. Another kind of mistake is a miscommunication between you and them. The big job you think youre negotiating for just isnt really all that big. In this case the lowball is a good thing. Its a warning that you need to expand their idea of the size of the job to match the size of your contribution.Scrooge/Trump. They could be playing hardball negotiating as Ebenezer Scrooge and Donald Trump come to mind. Is the lowball you received a Scrooge-like starting point? No problem, you can still negotiate your full value.Parity. Sometimes a company says they just cant pay you more than your colleague. I coached an auditor from a Big Four accounting firm to negotiate for compensation as a second-year exec because he would be handling that level of responsibility. The companys stonewall reply was that anyone in their first year is paid the same. Ultimately, the company did not grant a second-year ranking, but we were able to negotiate an early review.Performance. A lowball salary m ight be able to be balanced with a high incentive package. Since youre being asked to take more risk if the base is not high, then you should negotiate more reward when you hit the incentives. Secure that reward with a carefully written compensation plan.ActionsThe strategy for hitting a lowball is calmly to figure out where the pitch is coming from. By acting neutral, youll set the stage for getting intelligence to inform your negotiations. Typically, your response to a lowball offer will be a highball counteroffer, but not right away First find out what the employer is thinking.Ask for clarification about the job responsibilities first make sure youre both talking about the same deliverables.Ask for their rationale behind the number. Knowing how they arrived at the low number will help you identify which of the reasons above fit their opening gambit.Once you know the reason, you can make a counteroffer. We assume that you have done your homework and have the following three number s readyIdeal. The biggest package for which you can make a case.No-go. The number where youll break off negotiations and suggest you come back later.Satisfactory. The range between your Ideal and No-go thresholds.Start with your ideal, and back it up with what the return on investment will be for the employer. If you fear the number is so large it will frighten the employer, present it as a target, not a demand, to soften the impact.What if you cant afford to say no? Do a lock down before you share your counteroffer.Something like Well, the offer is low, and Im confident we can reach a package that were both satisfied with, but it will take a little bit of creative thinking and discussion. The offer as it stands is a firm one, right? I wouldnt jeopardize the position by seeing if some things about it are negotiable, would I? Then finish your negotiations.Finally, take that job and hit it out of the park

Best Questions to Ask Your Interviewer to Get Hired

Best Questions to Ask Your bewerberbewerbungsinterviewer to Get HiredBest Questions to Ask Your Interviewer to Get HiredAt the end of an interview, you might be asked if you have any questions. While there is a possibility you might come up with a few questions during the interview, it is always a good idea to have some questions already prepared. Learn more about why interviewers ask if you have any questions and the best questions to ask your interviewer.The best questions to ask your interviewerThe following best questions to ask your interviewer during your interview are open-ended but focused on a specific topic.What is the next step in the hiring process?What does a typical day look like in this sttte?What types of training programs are available to employees?What do you like best about working for this company?What is the typical career path for someone in this position?Why is this position available?Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?What are the biggest opportunities facing the company right now?What are the biggest challenges facing the company right now?What is the next step in the hiring process?Asking about the next step in the hiring process shows that you are eager to move forward and excited about the prospect of working for this company. It can also give you a good idea of the hiring timeline so you know when to follow up.Learn MoreComplete Guide to Common Interview Questions and AnswersWhat does a typical day look like in this position?Knowing about the typical day gives you an opportunity to learn about the daily responsibilities of the position so you can decide if you are truly interested. By learning more about the daily tasks you would be expected to complete, you can figure out what additional skills are needed for the job.What types of training programs are available to employees?Since you will be starting a new position, it is important to know what types of training programs are available. You can also ask about professional development programs to make sure you have opportunities for growth with the company.What do you like best about working for this company?Asking your interviewer about their personal experience with the company gives you an opportunity to learn more about the companys culture from someone who is actually there.What is the typical career path for someone in this position?By asking about the typical career path for someone in the position you are interviewing for, you can find out if the company usually promotes from within and if the position lines up with your own career goals. It also shows your interest in growing with the company.Why is this position available?Asking why the position you are interviewing for is available can give you some good insight. Knowing whether the position has a high turnover or whether it is open because of internal advancement can tell you more about the company.Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?Knowing where the company is headed in the next five years helps you find out if the position fits into your overall career goals and lets you make sure you can grow with the company.What are the biggest opportunities facing the company right now?Asking about the biggest opportunities the company faces can give you an idea about the path the company will be taking over the next few months and how you fit into that path. What are the biggest challenges facing the company right now?You might also want to ask about the biggest challenges the company is facing. This question can help you learn more about issues and trends in the industry and possibly identify areas where your skills can help.Learn MoreHow to Answer the Whats Your Greatest Weakness? Interview QuestionInterview tips to help you prepareThe following helpful tips can also assist you during the interview process.See alsoHow to Answer Why Do You Want to Work Here Interview QuestionResearch the company.Researching the company before y ou enter the interview will help you understand its culture and values. Use what you learned during your research to create some solid questions that show you have prepared for the interview.Practice answering common interview questions.While every interview is different, many interviewers will ask the same common interview questions. Take some time practicing your response so you feel more confident during the interview.Learn MoreHow to Answer What Does Customer Service Mean to You Interview QuestionBring a notebook.Since you will need to have about 10 questions prepared to ask, consider writing them down in a notebook that you can bring to interview. Having a notebook will also give you a chance to take notes that you can use when crafting your follow-up email.Even if you feel confident about your interview, your interviewer will expect you to ask some questions. Be prepared with open-ended questions that will help you determine if the job is right for you.

Two Salary Secrets for Flexible Job Applicants - FlexJobs

Two Salary Secrets for Flexible Job Applicants - FlexJobsTwo Salary Secrets for Flexible Job Applicants 20WorkOptions.com. Online since 1997,WorkOptions has helped thousands of professionals get quick approval of a flexible work arrangement at their current job.You already understand the time and flexibility appeal of a part-time or telecommuting job. But pay is important, too, right?Heres what you need to know to get both flexibility and a ritterlich or even fabulous salary.Salary Secret 1 Negotiate salary based on the job requirements, not the flexibility factor.Job flexibility is not a substitute for a fair wage, even though you put high value on it.Once you have a firm job offer, negotiate your starting salary recognizing that, while flexibility is a desirable part of the job, its not a replacement for a fair wage.Otherwise, if youre not careful, you could fall into the trap that trades money for flex and time freedom.The trap sounds like thisThe pay is lower than average, but I get to work from home two days out of the week.Im not sure what the going rate is for the fleck, but the hours are great.When I worked full-time at a similar job, the hourly pay was 12% higher. But Im okay with less because its a part-time position. Working three days a week is a gift.Sound familiar? You have plenty of company. In a recent survey, close to half of employees said they would be willing to give up some salary for more flexibility at work.But dont do it.No matter your schedule or where you get the work done, the value you bring to your job should be rewarded in wages which reflect the fair market value for the position.Let me explain.If you have a used car to sell, the Kelley Blue Book is the familiar third-party resource that both buyer and seller use to determine the cars fair market value. The dollar range is based on the cars year, make, model, condition and even geographic location. Its not an arbitrary figure theres market demand to support it.Likewise, the job position youre applying for (or currently in) also has a market value, a salary range based on demand, job requirements, training, experience and geographic area.Your particular background and achievements influence where your market value stands within that range. Which brings us to the second salary secret.Salary Secret 2 Know and use the job positions market value range when negotiating your salary.Determining it is one of your critical job interview research tasks. Youll use it when engaging in salary negotiations. The market value serves as a starting point or an anchor for negotiating your total pay package.That pay package may include some attractive employee benefits. Knowing your market value range allows you to be flexible in negotiating to a final salary figure giving due consideration to employee benefits without dropping below the bottom of the range. In other words, you can compromise to a degree without conceding too much.If you dont know your market value, you have virtually no basis from which to negotiate because the anchor point is missing.Why is this so important, especially for women?Women are not socialized to negotiate and are quicker than men to accept the first figure offered without negotiating it to reflect market value.When a starting salary offer is made within the market value range, women have been shown to concede a final figure too early even when their experience would warrant the higher end of the range. This costs them thousands of dollars and impacts their earning power for decadesHiring managers of both genders know this about women and its not unusual for them to extend offers below or at the low end of the market value range. OuchThe remedy? Researchers have found that women can improve their negotiation results substantially when they use third-party market information to set their goals. Thats why its important to know your market value numbers before negotiating Then use the information during your salary negotiation .How to Estimate the Market Value Range of a JobTo get the figures you need, I recommend you use the followingThe Salary Wizard found at Salary.com and other helpful tools found at PayScale, Glassdoor and Job Search IntelligenceMarket value information that might be provided by your professional association. Inquire of the local, regional and national offices for any salary data they haveThe collection of salary surveys provided at the Job Star websiteGot some numbers? Does it match post-recession realities where you live and work? Why not go a few steps further to validate it with current local data? For example, maybe you or a colleague have recently researched or applied for other jobs in your area and learned the salary range being offered.Call the human resources departments of nearby employers which have a similar job position to the one youre applying for. They might not be forthcoming with salary figures, but if you persist and ask for a range, you could surface valuable inf ormation. The salary figures you find generally reflect a full-time position as an employee, with benefits.So if, for example, youre applying for a part-time position of 24 hours a week, first figure the pro-rated 60% amount, or the corresponding hourly rate of the full-time salary, and negotiate from that anchor point.(Note A different set of negotiation guidelines apply if youre a freelancer, contractor, or part-time employee with no or few benefits.)Flexibility is Not a Perk Its a Business StrategyWe are past the days of flexible work arrangements being considered an accommodation or perk for parents. They appeal to all types of people, and savvy employers recognize workplace flexibility as a smart business strategy driving employee recruitment, retention, engagement, productivity and even health improvements.Remember that when negotiating your salary at a flexible job. Focus on the market value of the job position and the merits you bring to it. With that combination, you can ha ve flexibility and a fair wage.

You Can Consciously Choose Your Corporate Culture

You Can Consciously Choose Your Corporate CultureYou Can Consciously Choose Your Corporate CultureDid you have the luxury of consciously choosing your companys corporate culture from the start? Or, are you like most small and mid-sized business leaders who did notlage consciously decide what kind of a corporate culture should be developed and maintained in your company. If so, then the culture that you have, just developed on its own. Its a given that in any work environment a corporate culture will develop. The coming together of people in a workplace guarantees the development of a workplace culture. The question is whether the corporate culture that develops serves the best interests of your customers, the satisfaction of your employees, and your organizations future progress and continued success. Sometimes, you luck out and it does. And, sometimes you need to consciously decide how to make your culture better support the attainment of your business goals. Consciously determining the corporate culture that will best serve your interests and goals is a priority in organizations. So is communicating that culture daily by your actions and the behaviors that you reward and recognize. Assessing that culture periodically, to see how youre doing, is the third critical component in consciously shaping your corporate culture. Getting in Touch with Your Current Corporate Culture The first step in understanding what your current corporate culture looks and feels like to employees and your other stakeholders is to assess the state of your current culture. You can do this in a variety of ways that are laid out in how to understand your current culture. Additionally, keep an open ear and listen to what employees are saying, talking about in their stories, or complaining about gives you a lot of information. So will a periodic employee satisfaction survey. Checking in with new employees to learn about their experience of joining your company is useful, too. Then, depe nding on what you discover, you can make plans to change the culture if its not emphasizing whats important for your business. One Component of the Culture Changed When you think about changing your organizations culture, you dont always have to think on a massive scale or about total organizational change. A few persistent people can make powerful changes with commitment and persistence to any aspect of your corporate culture. Youll be able to relate to this example for sure. In one company, managers and other attendees had developed the habit of arriving late at meetings. This dishonored the time of the meeting participants who came on time and extended the time of every meeting, usually causing the next meeting scheduled in the conference room to start late, too. This habit of running late interfered with the start of the attendees next meetings, too. Grousing about the culture of lateness went on for years until a couple of brave managers decided to change the rules. Hencefo rth, they said, all meetings would start on time, end on time and anyone who was late was responsible for their own catch up outside of the meeting. And, any decision made by meeting participants, even without the input of the late arrivers, would hold. Oh, and by the way, every meeting would have an agenda, distributed 24 hours before the meeting, or these key managers would not attend. Change was painful. Meeting participants resisted change. Employees showed up late, failed to distribute agendas and no meeting ever had the people needed for a decision in attendance at the beginning. But, rather than caving to popular pressure, a committed group of employees honored the rules and moved forward. Within months, just prior to every scheduled meeting, youd see a scurrying in the halls as people rushed to show up for their meeting on time. They also developed the habit of ending the meetings 5-10 minutes early so people with back-to-back meetings could attend their next meeting on time . Additional rules in the company about meetings changed, too. Meetings did not have to last an hour. Agendas were written to allow people who only needed to attend part of a meeting to leave when their input was complete. People were prepared - although that was the next battle - employees began canceling meetings on the spot when participants came unprepared for the discussion Because they had related material and meeting minutes in advance, they were expected to come prepared. 7 Tips on How to Bring about Cultural Change In the example, a few committed people persisted and they changed the companys culture. From this story, a number of tips about how to consciously choose your corporate culture emerge. These include An employee needs to decide that the organization needs a different approach.The employee should find an ally or two to support the change he or she wants to make.The employee needs to gather input and lay out the ground rules about the way coworkers want the envi ronment to work - from a late culture to an on-time culture, in this case.Communicate the new expectation to all and stick with it through all of the testing and change resistance that is thrown in their path by less committed coworkers. Make the stated consequences occur.When the change has been thoroughly integrated, look at what else about the workplace or that particular activity in the workplace can continuously improve. In this case, they improved team meetings in other ways.Stick with the change. This is one element of a workplace culture that costs employers billions of dollars every year in lost productivity, rework, and hard feelings. You can apply these steps to other elements of your culture, or starting with your senior team, you can consider consciously choosing the entire corporate culture for an existing organization. Since few organizations consciously shape their corporate culture from their founding, most are changing the culture that has transpired. With this in mind, see more about how to consciously change your corporate culture. You can teach employees about how to create the culture that you need to accomplish your business goals.

A Secret Weapon for Office Skills Resume

A Secret Weapon for Office Skills Resume The Dirty Truth on Office Skills Resume The best method to earn a graph resume is using the Calc, thats the accompanying spreadsheet software in OpenOffice. Before you visit the interview, you must prepare yourself well. Just be certain to double-check whether adding social media to your particular resume is ideal for the job When the individual reviewing your cover letter sees that youre a oben liegend writer and distributions-mix energy in your letter, then theyll consider the real words you wrote. As an example, perhaps you have used Microsoft Word for years, but you need never done a Mail Merge. Most jobs require that you have a fundamental comprehension of computer programs like Excel and Microsoft Office, and skills in internet navigation, social networking sites and email systems. Employing a Resume Quesionnaire is a very good approach to assemble and organize your own personal information for your resume. An important portion of Office Skills training is to learn to create a resume that you are able to use in your job search. Key skills are work-related skills that you want to do a job. To begin with, create a master list of all of the MS Office skills you believe you have. Administrative skills are wanted for a number of jobs, which range from office assistants to secretaries to office managers. You dont need to compose a wholly different cover letter for each job that you apply for. Usually its possible to reuse portions of a letter youve written previously. With all these applicants for an employer to select from, it is not enough that your resume matches the work description it ought to grab their attention. When you submit an application for work, you will probably have to compose a letter explaining why the employer should hire you. Employees should be able to work together and use brainstorming techniques to have the ability to address problems and complete projects. An employee will have to use problem-solving skills to help figure out the best method to complete tasks and what can be done in order to correct any issues that might appear. To be successful in the office environment, he must be able to communicate well. To apply for some jobs you are going to have to complete forms. Applying for jobs is a great deal of work. Some jobs require that you provide references when you apply. Other jobs will ask you to prepare a resume and compose a cover letter about why youre a superior fit for the job. Whispered Office Skills Resume Secrets For those who have work experience and practical experience utilizing computer computer software applications like word processing and spreadsheets, you are going to have the best prospects of locating a job. Dependent on the recommendation of our expert sources, here are a couple of broad sorts of skills your resume could include, together with unique approaches to express them. Bear in mind, the majority of the special skill s that you place on your resume ought to be job-related skills taken from the work description and your best transferable skills. Any extra computer skills, like the ability to design or edit web pages, would be thought of as a huge plus. Perhaps your skill set is wholly different. Hard skills arent skills that are tricky to learn. Youll want a very wide skill set to be successful. Job-specific skills vary dependent on the position. Adhering to that ought to be your work skills, usually related to the position youre applying for. You may think creatively wherever you are or what position you hold its simple to apply creative problem solving even in the event the influence of your part-time position could possibly be small The competitive climate of the work market has gotten to a fever pitch recently. For that reason, its much better to highlight your abilities and the simple fact that youve acquired multiple talents, as opposed to drawing attention to how youve jumped from p lace to position.

Free Resume Writing Tools Onlineconover: the Ultimate Convenience!

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