Making It Big Monday

5 Ways to Get the Job You Want -- in Any Economy

With all the bleak economic news and reports of massive layoffs, it's easy to lose sight of an exciting fact of work: There have never been more opportunities and possibilities for talented people than exist today. The rate of new business formation in the United States has passed more than 1 million new companies per year. Employers everywhere are looking for bright, resourceful and committed people to help their businesses grow. The best way to help the best companies find you is to become a self-directed job searcher.

Regardless of your employment experience, your target industry or the economic climate, you can get a job -- a great job -- if you are willing to work hard and know how to work smart. Here are some of the very best ideas, strategies and methods for putting your career back on the fast track.

1. Take control of your career
The average person starting work today will have 11 full-time jobs and as many as five different careers over the course of his or her lifetime. To weather the storms of lifelong career change, you must be proactive, not reactive.
Begin by seeing yourself as self-employed. See yourself as the president of a company with one employee: you. See yourself as having one product to sell in a competitive marketplace: your personal services. You are completely responsible for research and development. No matter who signs your paycheck, you are always on your own payroll. This attitude is the starting point for getting the job you want for the rest of your career.

2. Take stock of yourself
Before you go out and look for a job, do some self-reflection. Make a list of all the things you can do for which someone would be willing to pay. What have you done especially well at your previous jobs? What sort of activities in your work and your personal life do you most enjoy? The good news is that you will always do the very best at something that makes you the happiest. To help yourself follow the right career track, describe your ideal job. The greater clarity you have about exactly what it is you want to do and how much you want to earn, the easier it is for someone to hire you.

3. Understand the job market
All labor, including your own, is subject to the economic law of supply and demand. The only way to ensure you get a rewarding job is by doing something important for which there is a demand in the marketplace and in which you are difficult to replace. A change in technology, consumer preferences or the economy can make a particular talent or specialty obsolete almost overnight. You must continually upgrade your knowledge and skills and adjust your efforts so that they conform to the needs of the current job market. In a free society such as ours, everybody works on commission.

4. Don't mistake unemployment for a vacation Look at your job search as a full-time job, taking 40 to 50 hours a week. Get up and get dressed each weekday morning as if you were going to work, eat a light, high-energy breakfast and then get going. Looking good and staying productive not only improves your attitude, but also impresses other people, both those inside your own house and those on the outside. Remember, you should never see yourself as unemployed. You are a fully employed person in a temporary state of transition.

5. Sow seeds everywhere Most of the jobs available are not advertised. They are hidden and waiting for you to discover them. Along with regularly surfing Internet job sites, be sure to list your qualifications and interests on every site that might attract employers seeking someone like you. Visit community job fairs and talk to exhibitors. Keep an eye out for news of new product releases and then seek out key people in the company. A business expansion represents job opportunities. Gather information about a prominent individual in an organization you would like to work for. Ask that person, by phone, by e-mail or in a letter, to grant you a 10-minute informational interview. Almost invariably, your interest, knowledge and gratitude will pay off in a job offer.

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Tip Tuesday

101 Job Tips To Land Your Dream Job (Part 3 of 5)

Are you looking for a better job? A better Career? Recently laid off? No matter what the reason for your job search there are plenty of traditional—and not so traditional ways to find a new job. Here is part three (five part series) of 101 of the hottest job tips in town. There will be 20 new tips released every Tuesday for the next couple of weeks. Take time each Tuesday and read the twenty tips given. No matter how common they sound, a little tweaking always goes a long way.

41. Be old fashioned: Social media, twitter and related technologies are great—but sometimes simply submitting your application and following up by phone is the best approach. Do your homework and find the job online, then mail in a hard copy resume—you will stand out as someone who took the time to do it right.

42. Apply for jobs that may not exist: Even if you don’t see a want ad or job posting, consider sending your resume to any company that hires workers in your field. You may get lucky and find an opening that simply is not being advertised.

43. Apply at unconventional places: You may think your local hospital doesn’t have any jobs for you if you aren’t a doctor, nurse, or health-care worker. You would be wrong! A large organization, like a hospital, has a full staff of marketing, PR, IT and administrative positions. The same is true for other large employers that may seem like they are not a good match for your skills.

44. Apply for jobs that are beneath your current level: If you are out of work, or desperate to make a change, consider applying for a job that is a small step down from your current position, as long as there is some improvement to your current situation. A new position that is closer to home or has fewer hours or better benefits can make it worth taking a small cut in pay or title.

45. Apply for jobs that are above your current level: Don’t feel limited by the most recent job you have had! If you see a job that would be a bit of a promotion for you, apply for it—you may be more ready than you think!

46. Apply for jobs that are listed as part-time: A part time job can sometimes extend into a full-time position over time. If you secure a part time job, you will also be on hand to apply for any in–house job openings that come up as well.

47. Create an “elevator speech” about yourself: An elevator speech is a quick one or two sentence spiel about who you are and what you do. If you have one prepared in advance, you won’t stumble around the next time someone asks what you do for a living.

48. Use your social contacts to find work: If you are on one of the large social media sites, make sure you let everyone know you are looking for a job.

49. Share your contacts with other job seekers: If you know others who are seeking work, share your resources. You will both expand your horizons if you share.

50. Target organizations you would like to work for: Do some research online. Visit their sites and look for employment information—you may find jobs listed that don’t appear in search engine listings.

51. Think locally: While many large employers utilize the internet to find employees, many small businesses do not. Use your local paper to keep an eye out for jobs with businesses in your hometown.

52. Join your local business association: Join the Chamber of Commerce or any other local business group you can. The contacts you make may be able to point you in the right direction for your next job—and you may hear of openings before they are even advertised in the paper.

53. Don’t overlook the government: The government is a huge employer, encompassing federal, state, local and civilian jobs with the military.

54. Use your local resources: Even if you aren’t a college student, you may be able to use the college library to research jobs or even work on your resume. No college access? Use your local town library instead.

55. Go back to college: Check in with your Alma Mater to see if they offer any type of alumni job placement services—a number of them do.

56. Belong to a church or house of worship? Let your fellow friends know that you are looking. They may know of a job opening, or be able to give you a personal referral.

57. Take some classes: Brush up on your skills, especially if you have been in the same job for a long time. Taking a semester of night classes in the latest computer technologies, or getting a new certification may give you an edge over the competition.

58. Subscribe to your alumni newsletter: Many colleges offer an alumni newsletter or magazine and they often have job listings with local companies looking for specific degrees or skills. If you don’t receive the publication, you won’t get these leads.

59. Join a professional trade organization: If your field has a trade group, make sure you become a member. Check the trade group’s website and newsletter for targeted job leads.

60. Become known as an expert in your field: Contribute to trade journals, speak at conferences and post to relevant websites and blogs. The more people who know you and your work, the more chances you have to make a new contact when you are seeking a job.

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Make it Big Monday

How to find a job you’ll love

Is your new years resolution to find a new job? Congratulations, you’re not alone! According to statistics, around 15% of the population switch jobs annually. At any given time, over half of the workforce are more or less actively looking for new work.
This means that many, many people are facing an interesting question: How do I pick my next job? Which factors should matter? Which should I forget about?
Many make the decision based mostly on salary, titles and responsibilities. That’s a mistake.
Instead ask yourself this: Will your next job inspire you, energize you and allow you to do great work? Will you be working with nice, talented people and managers? Will your job help people out and make the world a better place?
In short, make sure that your next job is one that will make you happy at work. Here are the steps you should take to make sure that your next job will be just that amazingly great!

1: Decide to switch sooner rather than later
No one has ever told me “I quit Company X in June, that was a mistake. I should’ve stuck around longer.” The vast majority of people who quit, only wish they’d done it sooner.
It’s highly tempting to hang around in the old workplace waiting for things to get better. Don’t! If it’s time to go – make that decision and start actively looking for something else. The longer you stay in a bad job, the more it eats away the energy and self-confidence you need to find a new one.

2: Give yourself time to find your new job
The very first job you look at may be just the right one… or it may be the 20th.
Give yourself time to actively look for something better and don’t let economic pressure, peer pressure or uncertainty force your hand.

3: Focus on what you like at work, not on what you hate
Many people switch jobs to get away from a bad situation. However, when you’re picking a new job, it’s not enough to look at all the things you want to avoid. Partly because there are an infinite number of things to avoid. But mostly because even if you avoid every single bad thing, that can only guarantee that you won’t be unhappy. To be happy at work, you also need good things, not just the absence of bad.
The best way to find out what you want at work, is to look at what has previously made you love your job. Here’s how you do it:

1. Think back to some specific situations, where you’ve been happy at work.
2. Ask yourself what made these situations possible.
3. Find out what will give you more of these great experiences in the future.

4: Ignore salary
Most people think that having a higher income would make them happier. They’re wrong! That is the conclusion of a study by Two Princeton professors, economist Alan B. Krueger and psychologist and Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman. They say this:

The belief that high income is associated with good mood is widespread but mostly illusory. People with above-average income are relatively satisfied with their lives but are barely happier than others in moment-to-moment experience, tend to be more tense, and do not spend more time in particularly enjoyable activities.

I don’t mean to ignore the economic necessities we all face but they should not determine what work we take. What is a 25% raise worth, if it means being stressed, frustrated and unhappy 40/60/80 hours a week?

5: Ignore other irrelevant details
Some people choose their new job because of:

• The title. “They want to make me First Assistant Manager.”
• Perks. “They’re giving me a new car and use of the executive bathroom.”
• Status. “I get 8 direct reports. Today I only have 5.”
• Peer pressure. “If I take this job my husband/wife/friends/dad will be really impressed.”

None of these factors will make you happy! Forget about them.

6: Ask for what you want
It’s a lot easier to get what you want if you actually ask for it. In your job interviews, let them know that being happy at work matters to you, and tell them what it takes to get you to love work.
It’s true that asking for these things may mean not getting the job, and that’s precisely the point! If that job won’t make you happy, you don’t want it!

7: Make that job great
It’s up to you to find a good job, and then it’s up to you to make it a great job!
You can sit passively on your butt and wait for your co-workers and your manager to make you happy – but that means nothing will ever happen. It’s your responsibility to:

1. Know what makes you happy at work
2. Tell others about it
3. Do something about it

8: Make yourself free to leave
A bad job is bad. A bad job that you can’t get out of is excruciating. In fact, knowing that you’re free to leave can make it easier to make a job great.
Also, reducing your expenses can be a great way to give yourself more leeway at work.

The upshot
Forget about salary, perks, titles and status. Choose your next job based on one, single consideration: Will it make you happy? Will it make you go “Yes, it’s Monday, I get to work!”
Do this and you’re sure to enjoy your job more, enjoy life more AND be more successful at work.

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Making It Big Monday

10 Tips for Managing Conflict in the Workplace

Workplace conflict is an unavoidable consequence of professional life. Some people are magnets for conflict, while others manage to avoid at-work tangles with co-workers for years. But eventually, everyone has run-ins with someone on the job.

Conflict is anything but rare. Some sources indicate that human resource managers spend 25 to 60 percent of their time working through employee conflicts [source: Zupek]. And a University of North Carolina study showed that more than half of workers said anxiety about a past or present conflict with a co-worker cost them time while they were on the clock. More than a quarter of workers said they were less productive because they spent time trying to avoid a confrontation with a co-worker.

What's more, violent confrontations are increasing. A Society of Human Resource Management study found that more than half of workers said a violent act had occurred at their workplace [source: Zupek].

Of course, work-related conflict should never manifest itself in those kinds of extremes. Understanding how to deal with tense work situations will help you avoid rare violent outbursts. You'll also better understand how to navigate office politics and become more successful.

There are multiple styles of conflict resolution. The different styles aren't necessarily better or worse, but they are very different. Experts have pinpointed five primary conflict resolution styles -- avoid, accommodate, collaborate, compromise, and confront [source: Gatlin, Wysocki and Kepner].

Supervisors generally default to one or two primary conflict resolution styles. They can afford to leverage their position to use their chosen style of resolution. Lower-level employees may need to use more styles of resolution in order maintain productive relationships and a comfortable work environment.

How well you understand conflict resolution can have as much or more impact as your professional job skills in determining the trajectory of your career path. Berate or belittle your opponents and you'll encounter enemies at every corner -- earn the respect of co-workers and you'll find limitless opportunities.

In this article, we'll address 10 ways, listed in no particular order, to help you deal with conflict when it arises at work.

1: Expect Conflict

A conflict-free workplace would be a beautiful place indeed. However, it's just not possible to avoid conflict entirely. You have to learn to expect that conflict will become a part of your work life at some point.
The real imperative is learning to deal with conflict in a productive way. Don't let disagreements gather momentum and turn into major crises. Instead, address them as soon as possible. Resolve them instead of letting them fester.
Of course, for many people, avoidance or passive-aggressiveness is a more course of action. But fearing or avoiding conflict tends to make edgy situations much worse.
As you work to manage the problem, make sure that the conflict is totally resolved for both sides. If you feel triumphant but your co-worker is deflated and upset or convinced that the outcome was unfair, there's a good possibility that the problem will flare up again. Learn better communication skills, though, and you'll be a better overall employee and a happier person, too.

2: Find a Mediator

Some workplace clashes turn into intractable battles worthy of a war movie. If you find yourself locked into a fight with one person, it may be time for the two of you to bring in a mediator.
You can introduce the conflict to a mediator formally or informally. An informal meeting with an objective person who both parties respect can help you talk through problems without the formalities (and potential subsequent consequences) of a formal mediation.
If an informal meeting doesn't put the issue to rest, you may need to contact a supervisor for help in resolving the conflict. If you choose a formal mediation, be sure to be on your best professional behavior. Don't attack your opponent. Present the conflict in objective terms and not as an emotional reaction to someone who happens to have an opposing viewpoint.
In a formal mediation, expect enlightenment. A third-party observer may be quick to point out failings in your argument that you just could not accept from a co-worker you dislike. And that's the beauty of mediation -- it helps bring the conflict to an objective, level playing field that's fairer for everyone.

3: Be Open to Compromise

Holding desperately to a dogmatic grudge isn't likely to yield many benefits in a workplace conflict. And presenting a conflict as a black-or-white, right-or-wrong situation heightens tension and ensures that your co-workers will become exasperated with you in a hurry.
Stubbornness also signals to the other person that you have no intention of listening to his or her side of the story. Don't approach a meeting with this kind of take-no-prisoners mentality.
Instead, show that you are willing to give up ground on certain aspects of a disagreement. Your willingness to compromise demonstrates that you aren't letting negative emotions dictate your behavior or hamper professional objectivity.
If you have a hard time respecting your co-worker's viewpoint, remember that your position is unlikely to be the best overall solution to the situation, regardless of what you might think. Your infallibility on a contentious issue is even unlikelier to objective observers. In short, a win-win compromise is the best solution for everyone involved.

4: Repeat Your Opponent's Words Aloud

When you're actively engaged in a conflict, what you want is for the other person to really understand your position on the subject at hand. It's easy to forget that the other side wants the same thing -- for you to listen and really hear what they he or she has to say.
Of course, if you dislike another person's personality, it's very easy to develop an us-versus-them mentality. With that kind of approach, conflict becomes a routine problem, and it makes it unlikely that you'll really listen to any valid grievances or ideas that person might have.
So, when the other person is trying to explain his or her perspective on a subject, force yourself to pay attention, and reaffirm that effort by paraphrasing what the person says. Carefully and thoughtfully rephrase their ideas aloud so that they know you hear what they say.
Not only will the other person appreciate your attention, but by repeating their words you may very well gain a better understanding of his or her position. Ultimately, your conversation will be more useful, and in the end, the two of you may develop mutual respect that pays huge dividends in future interaction.

5: Don't Personalize or Internalize Disagreements

Don't take it personally. No, really -- don't take it personally. Try not to take someone's conflicting opinion as a negative assessment of you as a person or as a co-worker. It's natural for co-workers to have different feelings about projects. If someone has a different perspective, it isn't necessarily an indictment of your abilities as a human being or even as a worker.
Be open to constructive criticism, and keep in mind that turning a conflict into a learning situation may greatly benefit your career. However, if the other party is clearly making personal attacks on you, it's best to walk away from the situation.
You could, of course, respond with a personal attack of your own. Doing so is not only unprofessional but could escalate the situation to uncomfortable heights with long-term negative consequences. If the attacks on you continue, document them and consider reporting the situation to a manager or the human resources department.

6: Use Business-like Language

Conflicts at work can easily intensify emotions in both parties. For many people, it's very easy to slip up and use attacking words that make the other person feel threatened. For example, an agitated co-worker might say something like, "You always miss important deadlines," or "Is this project too hard for you?"
Obviously, these statements are unlikely to foster a helpful conversational space. Attributing one part of a person's personality or work history to their entire performance is bad professional form and probably says more about you then it does about them.
What's more, overly general, judgmental language immediately puts other people in a defensive mode. And sarcasm just worsens confrontation and breeds resentment that can last far longer than the anger of the immediate conflict.
Instead, stick with objective, professional language. If you feel more agitated during the conversation and feel emotion-laden words welling up, you may need to leave the meeting and return to the topic later.

7: Avoid Gossip

Professional relationships are incredibly important to productivity. Workers who communicate in a personal fashion develop more trust and chemistry with their peers. But it's a risky venture when you cross the line from friendly conversation into gossip and rumor mills.
Gossip and rumors often poison entire offices. When fueled by rampant gossip, one half-truth or perceived slight can breed mistrust and hard feelings between co-workers and supervisors.
Keep in mind that, by its nature, gossip is often misleading or totally false. Participating in gossipy circles, then, just perpetuates problematic interaction that can hamper a whole group's effectiveness.
The good news is that you don't have to contribute to the problem. When other employees try to share gossip with you, politely change the subject or remove yourself from the conversation. Doing so doesn't mean you have to totally avoid informal topics with a wide range of people at work -- it just means refusing to participate in damaging or disparaging conversations that have no positive purpose.

8: Choose Your Battles

In an environment where people work together on important projects, conflicts are bound to happen. Once there's tension between you and a co-worker, there's a temptation to become overly defensive with every type of interaction you have with that specific person.
Don't raise your hackles every time you pass this person in the hallway. Pick the issues that you simply can't compromise on and let other things slide. Being generous in compromises with your co-worker will make it easier to win on the issues you really do care about.
Absolutely avoid anticipating conflict. If you do, you may be feeding into a self-fulfilling prophecy in which tensions escalate higher and higher for no good reason. Try to approach interaction with this co-worker with a sense of objectivity, rather than building a sense of hostility or defensiveness beforehand.
Realize that trying to get the best of this person every time you interact is probably not a good strategy. Doing so is time consuming, emotionally draining and completely counterproductive.

9: Let Everyone Speak

Some people use aggressive, non-stop verbal attacks to silence their opponents during a workplace conflict. Supervisors might be able to get away with that style of communication, but it won't score any points for your reputation as a tactful professional.
Merely silencing a co-worker or refusing to even consider the situation from his or her perspective rarely leads to a lasting resolution. So don't turn a basic conflict into a one-sided monologue. Take the time to listen and try to learn something from the situation.
Let the other person clarify his or her perspective and opinion on the issue. It may be helpful to apply a time limit to the discussion. Doing so helps each person speak about the issues that really matter and reduces tangential (and emotion-fueled) conversational clutter that has little bearing on the conflict.

10: Count to 10...or 100

Frustrating work confrontations can easily erupt into an exchange of angry shouts. Perhaps the worst mistake you can make during a confrontational situation is to lose your temper and say things that you'll regret later. At best, you'll appear emotionally frail or weak in times of adversity -- at worst, you could lose your job.
When an emotion-laden conflict emerges, take some time to look past any immediate feelings or reactions and identify the real issue that's causing problems. If necessary, disengage from the immediate situation, take a break and a deep breath, and analyze the situation before responding.
Setting aside emotions and being objective will help you resolve the bulk of small workplace confrontations without anger or lingering resentment on either side. You'll also project a deliberate, thoughtful manner that your co-workers will respect far more than a raging tirade.

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Tip Tuesday

8 Tips To Negotiating A Higher Starting Salary

You landed the job interview, you impressed them with your credentials, skill set and enthusiasm, and now you've been called back for a second interview. You know they want to hire you.

The problem is, you'd like more money than they're prepared to offer. How do you persuade the decision-makers to offer you a higher starting salary without taking yourself out of the running for the job?

It's all in the preparation, attitude and presentation. Here are eight tips to negotiate a higher starting salary.

Use your marketing skills

1- Do your research
Learn as much as you can about the pay scale of the company that wants to hire you. Find out the industry average, as well. You may aspire to a career in scheduling at a major airline, but if the company's practice is to hire from within, you might need to accept an entry-level position. Union constraints may limit any flexibility on salary levels, no matter how many university degrees you have.
As part of your research, you need to have a clear idea of what your minimum salary expectations are. Do the math in advance and decide what your deal-breaker point is. There's no point wasting your time -- and the company's -- interviewing for a low-paying job in a company or industry that may not be able to offer the wages you need.

2- Don't tip your hand
Leave the salary expectation question blank on application forms, and don't mention a specific salary level in your cover letters. You want to get past the paper screening into the "to be considered" file without anyone thinking your anticipated salary is too high. You also don't want to lock yourself into accepting an offer of $55,000 per year if the decision-makers had budgeted up to $70,000 to fill the vacancy.

3- Understand your value
Consider whether you are in a position of power. If you're in high demand elsewhere, you have leverage. Draw attention to it, but be careful not to emphasize it too much. Avoid acting overly confident or cocky. It's OK to mention that you have interviews at other companies, but don't try to force a favorable decision.

4- Let the company bring up the salary negotiation issue
Avoid being the first to propose a salary figure. Tell them you're interested in a mutually rewarding career with the company and you're sure you can agree on an acceptable compensation package. If you're backed into a corner, introduce your salary range, but make it clear that it is "up for discussion." Don't ramble on. Say what you have to and then be quiet and listen.

5- Emphasize the benefits of your skills
When you talk about your last job, describe your accomplishments. Quantify your successes in terms of cost savings, increased productivity and overall contribution to the company. This will help the interviewers recognize the benefits of having you join their team, and will help boost the salary offer. If you earned performance bonuses or incentive awards, mention those so that you'll be viewed as an achiever, well worth top dollar.

6- Don't blink
Listen to how the offer is presented. When the interviewer or prospective new boss states a salary figure, nod your head to signify you're considering it, but keep quiet. If they're low-balling you, the figure could make a quick jump in those few moments of consideration.

7- Be reasonable
From your research, you know the offer is low. What do you counter at? If you choose 10%, you may have to accept a saw-off at 5%. Don't be confrontational. It's a calculated risk to walk away from a job offer. They might call you back with a revised starting salary or they might just close your file and hire someone else if they feel you've been greedy, arrogant or overly demanding.

8- Be flexible
If you want this job, consider agreeing to start at the salary level they're offering, so long as they offer additional bonuses for specific accomplishments. Be prepared to define them. Money is important, but consider the complete compensation package. Negotiate other perks and benefits and get them in writing. Ask about the frequency of potential salary increases. As with any negotiation, your goal is to create a win-win situation.

Believe in yourself

Sometimes the only way you can get a higher starting salary is by being actively sought for your position. Other times, you may have to demonstrate that you have the exact skills the company needs and, if you play your cards right, you may land the job you want at a salary level beyond your dreams.

In all cases, being well prepared, using a little psychology, and practicing your marketing and negotiation skills will help you maximize the salary offer.

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