Tag Archives: vacation

4 ways to prepare for an interview to get ten percent more

Posted on November 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, In practice, there is. (Chuck Reid)

Every manager wants to find someone with:

  • Less experience
  • More raw ability
  • More talent
  • Bigger potential profits
  • Lower pay

Everyone is looking for the same magical person.  They get twice as much done, and you only pay them a little more. You can pay them 10 percent more than their peers and still be paying them less than they really and truly are worth. That means more profit and a bigger bonus for management.

Where is it determined to pay them 10 percent more? In the interview.

If you interview well, you will get paid more. It is just a fact of life. There are several places to get better interview skills:

  • Teach a class
  • Lead a group
  • Take an interview preparation class
  • Join Toastmasters.

Teach a class

Many schools and most churches are looking for teachers. It may be a one time one hour visit or a weekly commitment. Often they have a Teacher Preparation class or manual. Volunteer. Even if you do poorly the first time, you can get that teacher preparation book or course and learn to succeed. Teaching a class gives you experience speaking to groups and imparting your expertise. The smoothness you develop will help a lot in interviews.

Lead a group

The Elks Club, Rotary Club, youth sports, Boy and Girl Scouts, 4H, PTA, and every other organized group of people needs leaders. You can lead a small committee or the whole club. The experience you gain dealing with groups will make a big difference in your interview skills and how much you earn.

Take an interview preparation class

They may cost a hefty chunk of change, but they can make a big difference in how much you are paid and how much you earn. Sometimes they will have video recorded practice interviews, group evaluations and individual coaching.

Join Toastmasters

www.toastmasters.org is the best place to go to learn to deal well with groups. They develop your ability to give prepared and unprepared speeches. There are multiple clubs near you. Visit several of them and find a place you fit.

Something to do today

The first thing to do is check out Toastmasters. Then volunteer to lead a group or class somewhere. Develop your interview skills.

 

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Posted in Interviews, Negotiating

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Ten percent more in your next job – part two

Posted on November 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

Henry accepted 30% more salary for a job than he was initially offered.  Acme Corp. ended up paying 30% more. (Yes, the story is true, the names are changed.) Five factors affected it.  I mentioned four of them yesterday.

The five factors are:

  • The company’s finances
  • The other people available for the job
  • The resume
  • The interview
  • Patience

Here’s how it happened.

Acme is doing well financially.  Unfortunately finding highly skilled people for the job is difficult.  Mediocre people earn Acme half the profit that a highly skilled person earns them.  The resume proved that Henry was one of the top people in the country.  The interview confirmed it.  The initial offer was flat out rejected by Henry.  Acme looked around for weeks and couldn’t find anyone of that caliber.  In the meantime Acme was being hurt by waiting to fill the position.  Acme and Henry got together again and came to an agreement.

A very important step was proving how much Henry was worth.  First we used the resume, then the interview. The resume gave absolute, iron clad, irrefutable proof that Henry was one of the best in the country.  We gave verifiable production numbers as well as comparisons to everyone else in his old company.

In the interview the figures were repeated.  Henry also interviews extremely well.

Last of all, Henry rejected a low offer.  He waited without being offended.  After a few weeks it became obvious the company made a mistake.  Henry got his offer at a number he deserved.

You need to make a list of things you have accomplished that prove how much you can be worth to your next company.  If you absolutely prove you will be worth twice what anyone else is, you too will get a lot more money.

Tomorrow is about how to radically increase your interview effectiveness.  I’ll give you three things you can do to prepare for interviews.  Things that could get you 10% more money.

Something to do today

Can you prove how much you are worth to your company?  How many customers did you bring in or save?  How much profit did you generate?  How much money did you save the company?

Make a list.

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Later:              Get 10% more at your next job, interviews

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Posted in Accomplishments, Negotiating

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Negotiating salary, vacation, perks, and benefits at a new job – really negotiating

Posted on October 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can’t trade for your heart’s desire is your heart.  (Lois McMaster Bujold)

Really negotiating

Negotiating is the art of getting what you want, while giving up what you want less.

A good recruiter can help you negotiate.  He can find out all the details before the offer is given to you and get important problems fixed. He can give away the things you care less about.  He can negotiate for you before the final offer is put on the table.  A good recruiter can put pressure on a company that you will never see.  If you have a recruiter be blunt and honest with him.  Don’t lie and say I need $80,000 when you are hoping for $60,000.  Tell the recruiter the truth.  Then accept or reject an offer based on its merits, not on your greed for more.

If you don’t have a recruiter, you have to do exactly the same thing, only directly with someone at the company.

   Find out all the details

   Talk about details before a final offer is on the table

   Give away the things you care about less for the things you want the most

   Pressure.  Let them know your priorities and what will make you walk away

   Be blunt and honest

   Tell them what you really want

   Accept or reject an offer on its merits, not based on your greed

Every one of those points is about communication.  Negotiating a salary is about communicating.  Go at it with the desire to understand and inform and you will come out ahead.  If you go in with a desire to rape and pillage, you will lose.

Something to do today

Get the book, How To Win Friends And Influence People.  It may be the best practical book on communicating that was ever written.

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Next:   All I want is more money, vacation and benefits

Later:              A crippled ace

An ace who learned

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Posted in Negotiating, Raises

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When to negotiate salary at a new job

Posted on October 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

The new college graduate walked into his job interview and sat down.  He put both feet up on the desktop, leaned back, and looked at the interviewer through steepled fingers.  After a five second silence he said, “Well, I’m just what you need.  Before we go any further I want you to know that I need at least a six figure income and a new BMW. I also expect 6 weeks of vacation.”

The silence stretched for 10 seconds, then 20.  After 30 seconds of silence the interviewer said, “I can only offer you $328,000.  What color of BMW do you want?”

The candidate’s eyes unfocused as his feet came down to the floor and he leaned forward.  He croaked, “You’re kidding!”

The interviewer frowned and waited 10 seconds, then he grinned and said, “Of course I’m kidding, but you started it.”

Timing is critical.  Don’t negotiate salary, vacation or perks until they love you and are sure they want to hire you.  You have no leverage for negotiations until you are the final candidate.

The problem is that THEY want to talk about it too early.  So what do you say?  We’ll talk about that tomorrow.

Something to do today

Write down the salary, benefits and perks you want.  Also write down exactly what you have today.

Then do something more important: Write down why you want to leave.  If the list is exactly the same, salary, benefits, and perks, you are in trouble.  There is another problem.

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Tomorrow:     Negotiating a salary at a new job – first interview

Later:              Negotiating a salary at a new job – really negotiating

All I want is more money, vacation and benefits

A crippled ace

An ace who learned

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Posted in Interviews, Raises

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