How to Interview While Wearing a Face Mask

Since April 2020, when the CDC recommended that everyone wear a face mask in public, masks have become the world’s most ubiquitous accessory – and for good reason. The latest research shows that wearing a mask protects both the wearer and the people around them, reducing transmission of the virus.  

So, if you go on an in-person job interview during the pandemic, you will likely be asked to wear a mask. In fact, everyone involved should wear one, from the receptionist to the hiring manager. It’s the best way to keep everyone safe.

That said, it’s perfectly understandable if you’re a little nervous about interviewing while wearing a mask. It’s hard enough to communicate your qualifications without covering the bottom half of your face. But if you manage this the right way, you may be able to turn a challenge to your advantage. Interview well, and you’ll show the hiring manager that you’re someone who can shine through adversity.

Choose the Right Mask

Many people have gotten creative with their masks, making or buying custom versions with slogans, sports logos, even prints of their own face. But while those eye-catching masks are fun at the grocery store, they’re not a good idea for job interviews.

Why not? Well, in short, they distract from what’s actually important: you. Loud patterns, shiny embellishments, or goofy slogans will pull focus from your message.

Your best bet is to keep it simple. Choose a plain color or a simple pattern and make sure it doesn’t clash with your outfit. You don’t need to go all out and match it to your pocket square, but you want it to work together. Remember that the goal is for the interviewer to forget about your mask and focus on your conversation.

Bring a Spare

Remember the good old days, when an interview wardrobe malfunction meant spilling coffee on your shirt before the meeting? Now, you also have to worry about keeping your mask intact and presentable as well.

To ensure that things go smoothly, pack at least one extra mask that you’d feel confident wearing during the interview. The world is an imperfect place. Elastics snap, lipstick wanders, birds drop a present right before you enter the building. Have a backup, and you’ll be prepared for anything.

Carve Out Time to Build Calm

Even in pre-pandemic times, it was normal to have some job interview jitters. Now, you have the added stress of observing safety precautions, plus navigating an interview with half your face covered. If you’re feeling nervous, it’s totally understandable.

The best way to handle this new and unusual situation is to prioritize stress relief. If you haven’t already incorporated stress management practices like meditation, mindfulness, and breathing techniques, now is a good time to start. If you’re already doing so, be sure to leave extra time before your job interview to build a sense of calm.

Take an hour or two to de-stress before heading out. Go for a walk, meditate, do some yoga – anything that will help you regulate and relax. Remember that you’re not just interviewing – you’re interviewing while coping with a pandemic. Give yourself a break … by taking a break.

Remember Tyra Banks and Smize

Did you know that people can hear when you’re smiling, even over the phone? The same goes for when you’re wearing a mask. Plus, the top of your face will be visible, which means that the interviewer will be able to see your smile in your eyes. Your posture may also indicate that you’re feeling positive and upbeat. So, don’t use the mask as an excuse to wear a neutral expression. Smile, and the hiring manager will feel your enthusiasm.  

Use the Right Body Language

In addition to smiling, be sure to use positive body language. Avoid slouching, leaning back in your chair, or fiddling with your pen or paperwork. Keep your posture open and approachable, with uncrossed arms and a slight forward learn to indicate interest. Make eye contact, but don’t stare.

Above all else, avoid looking at your phone. There’s no quicker way to indicate that your mind is on other things.  

Be Respectful of The Interviewer’s Space

The pandemic has complicated interviewing, along with just about every other activity in our lives. But it also provides an opportunity to show respect and consideration – valuable attributes in a potential hire.

When you meet with the interview, adhere to social distancing guidelines by staying six feet away. Do not shake hands or touch the interviewer in any way. (If they offer an elbow bump, and you feel comfortable, go for it. But let them lead.)

Do Practice Interviews (and Dress the Part)

Mock interviews are always useful. They can help you practice answering – and asking – interview questions, as well as giving you a chance to try out your elevator pitch. However, practice interviews are more valuable than ever right now, because so much has changed from the normal routine of job seeking.

Ask a friend or family member to do a trial run, wearing masks and observing social distancing. Have them critique your performance, offering any tips for improvement. You might also consider making a video of the mock interview, so that you can see for yourself whether your body language communicates your message.

•  
• 

from Career Tool Belt https://ift.tt/3ghqAQq

Read More

What Not to Do in a Job Interview

Job interviews can be awkward. They give you just a couple of hours at most to serve up the perfect snapshot of your qualifications and personality. The pressure’s on. If you slip up, you may lose the opportunity or agree to something you don’t truly want.

Navigating a job interview is an art form that comes more naturally to some than to others. When you’re interviewing for a job, there are a lot of things you should do and tools you should employ to ensure interview success. There are also some things that you shouldn’t do if you want a second interview or job offer. You also don’t want to give a false impression – even if it’s a good one – because it will come back to bite you later.

Don’t Do These 12 Things During a Job Interview

Employers are evaluating more than just your resume during the interview process. Here is what not to do when you’re in the hot seat.

1. Don’t arrive too late or too early.

Arriving on time is the most basic prerequisite for a job interview. This goes double for online interviews, where there’s truly no excuse to be late. Prepare your travel carefully and leave a cushion for unexpected delays. If you are late one time due to an emergency, be very communicative with your contacts and try not to do it again.

However, don’t arrive too early for your interview and force yourself to sit nervously in full view in a waiting area. Plan to arrive no more than ten minutes earlier than your interview appointment time. You can grab a cup of coffee nearby if you get to your destination earlier than expected.

2. Don’t dress too casually.

Err on the side of overdressing to demonstrate that you are serious about the opportunity. Research the company’s website and social media pages to learn about their culture, and always dress one step up for an interview. Click here for tips on how to dress during online interviews, which come with their own set of rules. 

Important: If you’re interviewing in-person be sure to wear a mask.

3. Don’t appear disorganized.

You want to appear organized and focused. Don’t come to a job interview with a thousand bags or papers in tow. Keep it to one, neat, professional bag with a pen and a few copies of your resume, references, and other application requirements. Bring a tiny notebook and take copious notes throughout the interview. Keep your paperwork neat in folders or binders, and make sure that everything is easy to find so that you don’t have to rummage around.

 If you’re doing an online interview, neaten up your background. Don’t let the boss see all of those candy wrappers littered around your workspace.

4. Don’t come unprepared.

By the time you walk into a job interview, you have hopefully researched the company and the potential position. While most hirers won’t expect you to know everything about a new job, you should peruse the company’s website and social media outlets, and have plenty to say about your position. If you come into the job interview without preparing, one can only imagine your performance on the actual job.

5. Don’t be rude to anyone you meet.

Everyone in the office is part of your hiring process. You never know if you’re riding the elevator with the CEO – and frankly it shouldn’t matter if she’s the CEO or the receptionist. Treat everyone you encounter with the utmost respect. Rudeness toward your fellow colleagues is an instant dealbreaker for many companies.

6. Don’t look at your cell phone.

You want to be as engaged and present as possible, so don’t glance at your cell phone during an interview. Most of us are semi-addicted to those incoming messages and alerts, so knock out the temptation by silencing your cell.

If you have kids, an elderly person, or another potential emergency in your life, you can set your phone only to ring when certain numbers call you. Your interviewer should understand if you absolutely must take an emergency call. Otherwise, put it away.

7. Don’t use negative body language or negative expressions.

If possible, do not lean back, slouch, or display disinterest through your posture. Lean slightly forward to engage your interviewer(s) and show an interest in what they are saying.

If you find that you haven’t smiled in awhile, try it. Interviewers want to know that you’re enthusiastic about the position. Other negative expressions that suggest anger, nervousness, dejectedness, or anxiety should be left at home. Remain calm and professional at all times so that your emotions don’t distract from your qualifications. You can always scream into your pillow later on. 

Of course, if a disability or mental illness precludes you from doing any of these things, an interviewer by law must not hold it against you.

8. Don’t interrupt or talk too much.

Listening is an underrated interviewing skill, and routinely interrupting a hiring manager is a huge no-no. Make sure you know what your interviewer is driving at before you launch into an answer. You don’t want to do all of the talking. Here are tips for listening and responding during an interview. Getting into a cadence of listening and speaking is particularly important in virtual interviews, where interruptions can bring the conversation to a halt. 

9. Don’t lie.

There are many reasons why you shouldn’t lie during a job interview. You might get caught inflating your qualifications, for example, which will almost certainly cost you the job. 

Furthermore, there’s no reason to lie when you can instead emphasize your willingness to learn or refuse to answer potentially discriminatory questions. For example, communications coach and career brand strategist Lucy Samuels said that if an interviewer asks how much money you made at your previous job, you can deflect by saying, “I would much rather focus on the current position.” Or you can focus on your research and say, “I’ve researched this role, and this is the salary that’s appropriate.” 

In fact, many states have made illegal the interview question “What did you make at your previous job?” and it is against federal law for job interviewers to ask applicants about their pregnancy status, age, and potential disabilities, among other subjects. 

10. Don’t eat in a distracting way.

As a rule of thumb, try to avoid eating or chewing gum during a job interview. Eating is an informal experience, and you want to avoid unnecessary distractions or mess. Eat beforehand so that you’re not hungry. Stick to one cup of coffee, water, or tea, then proceed to sip and ignore it throughout the interview.

If you are in a situation where you absolutely must eat, such as true lunch interview, you still want to make the food as straightforward and unmemorable as possible. Order a small portion of something that can be gracefully consumed, like a salad, for example, instead of pizza or oily pasta. Don’t let eating get in the way of your conversation. Here’s more information on how to handle an interview at a restaurant.

Also, avoid ordering alcoholic beverages at all costs. It doesn’t matter if anyone else is drinking; you want to stay 100 percent lucid and professional.

11. Don’t play favorites.

Do not unintentionally play favorites during group interview situations. There is a natural tendency for most of us to feel a stronger chemistry with one or more of our interviewers than the others. You might look at the comfortable person more often or address your answers or questions to her more frequently. Make a deliberate effort to focus equally on each of your interviewers since it is likely that each of them will carry weight in the decision-making process. If you have to sit in a group interview, here’s how to handle that situation with finesse.

12. Don’t accept or reject an offer right then and there.

Your judgment is usually clouded during a job interview. Often your adrenaline is high and you want to please the boss. Alternatively, perhaps you had an encounter with someone in the office that rubbed you the wrong way, so you’re feeling down on the job overall. Either way, an interview is no time to accept or reject a job offer. Don’t give them an answer right away. You need to be away from the interview environment and alone with your feelings.

If you’re still interested in a job offer later on, you can start the negotiation process. You may even want to negotiate for things beyond salary, like your start date or the company’s remote-work policy. These things take time to consider and should never be hashed out in an interview.

•  
• 

from Career Tool Belt https://ift.tt/3hdfY6p

Read More

Firm Culture is a Key Factor for Job Seekers and Talent Recruiters

What do prospective employees look for in a new firm? When do firms and their recruiters miss the boat? And how can firms attract and retain top talent in the midst of business disruption like a pandemic?

What Matters Most to Job Seekers

Hinge Research Institute recently completed a study among professional services firms to explore perceptions about what matters most to job seekers. We gathered perspective from job seekers at various career stages and also from talent evaluators, to learn about whether – and how – expectations of each group align. Over 1,000 professionals responded to our survey for the 2020 Employer Branding Study, from firms across the spectrum of professional service businesses.

As you might expect, a competitive salary and benefits package ranks high for job seekers at every career level. 57% of all respondents rated compensation as their top selection factor. It might come as a surprise, however, to learn that perceptions about company culture and value – and whether the candidate sees a good fit – rank equally high.

Amidst the uncertainty of today’s economy, the story line is clear – a strong company culture represents a bedrock for both candidates and managers in search of top talent. In fact, for 75% of talent recruiters, gaining confidence about a good cultural fit was more important than a candidate’s work history and experience.  

Priorities Vary by Career Stage

How do other priorities vary among job seekers at different levels in their careers?

Entry-level job seekers look for messages about a company’s commitment to their growth and advancement. They tend to shy away from the risk and cost of a major relocation, and their first avenue to explore job opportunities is via the firm’s web site. Smart companies that rely on a steady flow of new grads will have a section dedicated to this demographic on their “Careers” tab, and will actively market into area colleges and universities.

What mid-career candidates value most (after compensation) is responsibility, an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution, and a degree of assurance they won’t be spread too thin. These candidates often funnel through a recruiter or staffing firm and look for signals about desirable work/life balance, and assignments to develop leadership and collaborate with top management.

Senior-level candidates are attracted to organizations that present a clear vision for the future. These people value strong leadership and high-caliber colleagues, and expect to operate independently – nearly one in three respondents in this group prioritize working remotely.

The Impact of Disruptions

Employees become restless for a variety of reasons. As the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, more than half of all active job seekers noted their current company’s weak response to the pandemic; on the other hand, respondents not actively seeking a new job were four times more likely to have a favorable view of their company’s pandemic actions.

Predictably, merger activity can also spell trouble for retention. When companies lack a formal integration plan, fail to identify who’s in charge of the integration – and communicate about the whole process poorly – they run a high risk of dissatisfied employees who are ripe to pursue other opportunities.

What can we broadly conclude from these findings? For an employee who might be looking around, a prospective employer’s brand – and what it says about the firm’s culture – is worthy of your attention. You want to know what’s in the water before you wade in … and similarly, the hiring manager will be looking for assurance that you understand their context and are likely to adapt successfully and fit in.

Even Passive Job Seekers Are Flight Risks

The employer brand is particularly important to the passive job seeker – someone who’s really not looking for a new position, but could be spurred into action for the right opportunity, at the right organization. Statistics indicate that at any given time, there might be twice as many passive job seekers as there are active ones, and they are often attractive candidates.

This group actually ranks culture as more important than salary, so the most compelling employer brands will express what’s great about the firm culture, and capture a sense of the type of people who will thrive working there. It’s worth noting that a compelling employer brand also supports retention of current employees.

In today’s rapidly shifting economy, there’s an extra element of risk to any job change. No matter what your career stage, taking time to learn the signals about a prospective employer’s brand and culture can help you avoid the risk of making the wrong move.

Guest Author Lee Frederiksen is an award-winning marketer, Visible Expert®, and business strategist who helped pioneer the field of research-driven marketing. As the Managing Partner of Hinge, a marketing firm for the professional services industry, he draws on his Ph.D. in behavioral psychology and his CEO experience to help clients achieve high growth and profitability.

•  
• 

from Career Tool Belt https://ift.tt/3kJBrpE

Read More

Considering Coding Bootcamp? 9 Things You Should Know

Coding bootcamps can take your career to the next level – if you choose wisely.

Learning to code is an undeniably great way to broaden your career prospects. Almost every company needs coders in some capacity. Professional coders might work as developers in tech companies, or they can serve multiple companies on a freelance basis. Best of all, coding gigs pay well.

In most career paths, there are no shortcuts. However, many tech education startups argue that coding is different. The demand for coders is very high, coders can work from anywhere, and in theory, anyone can learn the skill through immersion. Hence: coding bootcamps.

In the past few years, coding bootcamps have popped up all over the world. Their promise: to take non-tech types and transform them into tomorrow’s developers and engineers, often in as little as a few months or weeks.

 There are a lot of encouraging, albeit Cinderella-esque stories out there, such as the 2015 New York Times profile of the $20,000-a-year waiter who transformed himself into a $100,000-a-year data scientist after a three-month course.

 But this is not the norm. Results vary, and so do bootcamps themselves. While there are clear benefits to a high-quality bootcamp, some have argued that they are not the career panacea they purport to be.

 9 Tips for Deciding if a Coding Bootcamp is Worth Your Investment

If you’re considering a coding bootcamp, it’s important to do your research and manage your expectations. Here are some tips for your coding bootcamp search.

 1. Test the waters first.

Before you even consider a bootcamp, the most important information to acquire is a bit of self-knowledge. What, exactly, are you hoping to get out of the program – a better job, an entirely new career, new opportunities?

 This is all the more important if you’ve never held a technical role before. Many skilled programmers are self-taught; others have degrees in their field. But what they all have in common is passion for their job. If you’re not sure whether you’ll love being a developer, engineer, data scientist, etc., it may be better to start off by taking one class, to get your feet wet, before jumping into a bigger commitment.

 Remember: finding the right career isn’t just about occupational outlook and pay. Fit is the most important part. Does that mean that you can’t make the leap from, say, former English major or retail worker to web developer? Not at all. But it does mean that you should pay careful attention to some practical aspects of bootcamps before making your decision.

If you’ve done your soul-searching and determined that a tech career is right for you, a bootcamp might be the perfect way to break into your chosen field.

2. Check your budget.

While less expensive than most two- and four-year degrees, bootcamp programs will often run thousands of dollars. App Academy, a top-rated bootcamp, charges $3,795 for its 4-week online program. Their higher-level programs can set you back $20,000. The good news: if you earn income coding in the same year as your bootcamp, you may be able to deduct tuition costs on your taxes. Many reputable bootcamps such as Grace Hopper offer scholarships or waived tuition.

 In the end, your bootcamp should not be more expensive than your prospective coding salary, so calculate your rate of return.

 3. Vet your bootcamp.

Unfortunately, anyone can start a coding bootcamp and advertise online. There is no specific accreditation process. While many bootcamps offer a top-notch coding curriculum, others offer empty promises in exchange for your cash.

Students should thoroughly vet every prospective coding boot camp. Seek out reputable, qualified teachers and established programs. For example, you might trust a bootcamp that’s aligned with a respected university and staffed by professors before you’d trust a brand new coding start up staffed by developers with no teaching background. However, the latter might suit your needs just fine if they’re running a tight ship and value their students above all.

Read reviews and Better Business Bureau complaints. Call the company and ask questions about their curriculum and success rates. Talk to the instructors about your goals. Ask if you can audit a class for an hour – why not? A good boot camp will answer your questions in a transparent, timely fashion. If you are having trouble getting clear answers to your questions, that’s an instant red flag.

4. Check your schedule.

Some coding bootcamps last for four weeks. Others for 24 weeks. Typically, the shorter the program, the more intense and rigorous the days. Choose a program that suits your needs.

5.  Study their career services component.

If you’re going to pay top dollar for a career-changing program, you better make sure it provides you with an on-ramp to employment post-graduation. Some bootcamps offer alumni networks, mentoring programs, even job guarantees.

Just be sure to read the fine print. The last feature often comes in the form of partial tuition reimbursement if you don’t get a job in the field. That’s better than being out the full price, of course, but it won’t buy back your time.

 6. Scope out their job placement rates.

A reputable program will be willing to share job placement rates with you, as well as specifics on what kinds of jobs graduates tend to land after participating. That last bit is important, because you’re presumably not shelling out $10,000 or more to get a job that pays the same or less than your current gig.

 Several bootcamps have joined together to create the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting, which verifies graduate outcomes like employment rate, frequent job titles, median annual salary, and pre-bootcamp job title.

Other programs participate in an evaluation model from Entangled Solutions, a consulting firm, or post their own stats.

Again, buyer beware. If the success rates sound too good to be true, they probably are.

7.  You are still not guaranteed a job.

Most coding bootcamps can’t 100 percent guarantee you a job, and while coding is a unique, burgeoning field, some experts recommend going a more traditional route instead: that is, earning a computer science degree and/or networking your way up with low-level jobs first.

While many bootcampers have found success right out of the gate, it may not replace real-world experience. Consider every option before you depend on a bootcamp to transform your life. Perhaps it’s healthier to treat a bootcamp as a challenging educational experience rather than an inevitable life-changer.

 8. Remember, coding bootcamps are not easy.

A coding bootcamp is not for the faint of heart. It may be the hardest thing you’ve ever done in your life. Make sure you’re carving out the time and preparing for a high-stress experience. You don’t want to enroll if you have a ton of additional commitments or if you’re in the middle of a crisis or transition.

 9.  Learning code isn’t a one-and-done deal.

Technology changes, and you will be competing with coders who have advanced degrees and a ton of experience. A great bootcamp can get you to the next level. But if you’re truly serious about coding, you should expect your education to be a lifelong journey.

•  
• 

from Career Tool Belt https://ift.tt/2FdKZZE

Read More

3 Things You Can Do To Be More Creative at Work

Most people view Steve Jobs as a creative genius. And history may well just judge that to be the case. But what if you were to discover that Bill Gates is also a creative genius—and perhaps even more so than Steve Jobs! Now that would be controversial. That would be uncomfortable. That would go against the accepted orthodoxy. 

But not if you look at it with a Creator Mindset.

Deeply embroiled in a lengthy lawsuit over the look and feel of the operating system, Apple and Microsoft were hitting dead end after dead end. And it turns out that Apple at the time was in dire straits. They needed a cash injection. And they needed it now.

So out of the mire emerges one of the tech sector’s most unlikely heroes of Apple. No, it wasn’t Steve Jobs. It was Bill Gates. Gates gave Jobs a loan to keep Apple in business. In the middle of a bitter lawsuit no less! Can you imagine?

Gates figured that keeping Apple in business was good for his business. And that competition made his brand better. Effective leadership relies on sound business acumen. But what if that acumen has forever been changed? What if trusted management principles and best practices are no longer relevant?

Nowhere in any manual of proper and accepted business practices does creativity like this occur. Nowhere does the analytical mind provide this type of thinking. This is the type of thinking that can only emerge from a very special place.

And that place is creativity.

How to Implement Creativity at Work

Now more than ever, looking at your career or business creatively will help you compete in this tumultuous world of COVID-19 and civil strife. Here are three tips to help you implement creativity at work or in your business, immediately:

1. Re-Learn Creativity

If you have ever been up late the night before a big meeting or conference or client call unable to sleep, you understand the big chess game in the sky.  It’s that game you and I and everyone else plays when we try to figure out what we are gonna say, what the other person is gonna say, what we will do, and so on and on.

But what if I were to tell you that this game is unnecessary? It is a game that is played because we are not listening to our creative voice. The one that has been with us since childhood.

As children we are all born creative. We are all born with an innate ability to solve problems creatively before even language skills emerge. Yet somewhere along the way, we lose our way. It turns out that creativity can not only be taught and learned; it can be re-learned.

So, we lie awake in bed at night trying to figure all this out. If we were just in touch with our inner creativity, we would already know what we needed to do. We would have listened to the hints dropped along the way to help us solve problems in a way that analytical thinking cannot.

2. Listen to Hints

This isn’t about how to align your inner chakras, or ring the three tones of Solomon. If you are into those things, then fine. That’s great. But if you’re a business leader, serial entrepreneur, or driven professional and need some concrete ideas on how to be more creative, then you need to start listening. 

Listen to what customers are staying. Listen to what your staff is saying.  And not just the senior staff. Listen to what the market is telling you. And perhaps most important, listen to your gut. In there, you will find amazing creative potential in hints on what you should be doing. Your gut is really hints of your childhood creativity yearning to get out. 

Yet so many of us shut down that voice—the voice of the crazy creative idea—and feel it gives us no value. But it’s that crazy idea bubbling up right now as you read these very words. It can be a new warehousing technique.  A new distribution model you want to apply. A crazy idea to improve sales.  We are so ingrained with a love affair of analytics that we cannot accept and listen to feedback from the creative side of our minds. The time to stop that is now.

3. Write down a crazy idea. Right. This. Second. 

Instead of burying that crazy idea you have right now, go get a piece of paper. Or a notepad or even a Post-It. And a pen. Or pencil.

Ready? Now, write down the crazy idea that you would never share with anyone because you feel it might be “too out there” or “too crazy or different or wild.” Write it down right now, then look at what you have written. Study the shapes of the letters. Did you write it down in haste? Do the letters look thought out and organized? 

What creative ideas are you coming up with by just looking at what you have written down? Is it possible that an idea emerges that is just so far out there—just so radical—that it may work? Like the loan Microsoft gave Apple to keep them afloat? Never underestimate the potential of creativity that we all carry around inside of us trying to get out.

This by no means captures all of what you need to do to be more creative.  But these three ideas should give you a great start in your journey to embrace the Creator Mindset in your business or career.  Remember, creativity is about doing. And these tools will help spark that first seed of creativity on your way to embracing creativity in all you do.

Guest Author Nir Bashan is the founder and CEO of The Creator Mindset LLC, where he teaches business leaders how to harness the power of creativity to improve profitability, increase sales, and make work more meaningful. His clients include AT&T, Microsoft, Ace Hardware, NFL Network, EA Sports, and JetBlue. He received a Clio Award and an Emmy nomination for his creative work on albums, movies, and advertisements, and was one of the youngest professors ever selected to teach graduate courses at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He lives in Orlando, Florida.

Learn more about his new book, The Creator Mindset: 92 Tools to Unlock the Secrets to Innovation, Growth, and Sustainability (McGraw-Hill; August 2020), at https://www.nirbashan.com/the-creator-mindset. Or visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/1260460010.

•  
• 

from Career Tool Belt https://ift.tt/3gRLGpn

Read More

Things to Negotiate at a Job (Besides Money)

Everyone knows that a salary is negotiable. What most employees don’t know is that almost everything is negotiable, within reason. 

If you’re starting a job or have proven yourself to be a valuable employee in a company, you can negotiate for anything from flexible work hours to office vending machines. “Most of the time, there’s no harm in asking,” said Amber Clayton, director of the Society for Human Resource Management HR Knowledge Center. 

Clayton spoke to Career Tool Belt about negotiating for things outside of salary or promotions and raises. Tips when negotiating for non-salary benefits:

Know what’s fixed vs. negotiable.

Typically, standard benefits packages like 401ks, paid leave, and insurance are fixed within the company. You may not be able to change these benefits right away since they apply to all employees.

However, it doesn’t hurt to put your opinion out there during negotiations. Employers have an incentive to hear you out, and may change their practices down the line. The company may be growing, allowing them to offer more benefits in the future. Things like paid leave might be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

“Employers should be looking at their benefits on a regular basis,” said Clayton. “They should be offering benefits that are competitive in the market.” 

If you have egregious performance issues, don’t bother.

New and highly valued employees have negotiating power. If you have documented performance or attendance issues, you should improve your standing in the company before attempting to negotiate, said Clayton.

Come prepared.

Find out what other companies are doing within your industry. Ask around. For example, if you’re hoping to work remotely, find examples of similar companies that have a remote policy. The requests should seem reasonable and beneficial for the company. 

“If an employee has needs, they should do their research,” said Clayton. 

Don’t ask for everything in one sitting.

Choose a few negotiation points that matter to you the most. Don’t ask for everything in one go, said Clayton. If you focus on a few things and hone your presentation, you have a better shot at getting those things. 

13 Things You Can Negotiate – Besides Money

Clayton listed 13 common negotiation requests that have nothing to do with salary, promotions, raises, bonuses, or stock options. But these items all have a profound impact on your work life.

1. Start date.

A job offer comes with a start date. However, the date is typically moveable. You likely can’t ask for an earlier date, but you may be able to delay your start date by a couple of weeks. For example, if you need more time to segue from your old job, or if you just want some time off between jobs, Clayton suggested negotiating your start date.

It is common to ask for flexible or reduced work hours, according to Clayton. With many companies emphasizing work-life balance, more employees are uninterested in clocking in and out on a strict schedule. Be prepared to demonstrate that you can complete your work and be responsive in the time allotted.

2. Remote work option.

During COVID-19, working remotely is a particularly reasonable request. Be prepared for the challenges of workflow apps and video conferencing. 

“A lot of employers are allowing telework already, but with the uncertainty of COVID-19, employees will definitely be requesting it more,” said Clayton.

Find out how to ask your boss if you can work from home.

3. Different job title.

Maybe a job title seems irrelevant, or doesn’t adequately describe your responsibilities.

If you aren’t happy with your job title, an employer may be able to tweak it – especially if you have a valid argument for the change. 

“When negotiating a job title, an employee would want to show how the job title is commensurate with the responsibilities, what they can bring to the position and how it would benefit the company,” said Clayton.

4. Different responsibilities or team assignments. 

Yes, you may be able to change the very nature of your job. For example, you can negotiate for different responsibilities or even rotate your team assignments in the name of career growth, according to Clayton. During negotiations, you must be able to demonstrate that these changes will benefit the company at large.

“The worst that can happen is they say no,” she said.

5. Subsidized equipment.

Companies are generally responsible for their employees’ work equipment, but in remote situations, those lines can blur. For example, a remote employee often doesn’t realize that he or she can negotiate for a subsidized Internet connection or laptop upgrade. Employees can even ask for ergonomic equipment, like standing desks or a yoga ball, according to Clayton.

6. Student loan subsidies.

Some companies offer student loan subsidies or programs that automatically reroute part of your paycheck. If you are facing student loan repayment, you can research programs like BenefitED or the government-sponsored CARES Act and bring them to the negotiation table.

“A lot of companies with young employees right out of school are considering this,” said Clayton. 

7. New or upgraded office amenities.

Office workers can negotiate for new or upgraded amenities, such as vending machines, snacks, or even high-end requests like an in-office gym or health facilities. Employees should be ready to argue that the additions will benefit the wider company, and that they fall within the company budget and mission.

8. Company-sponsored recreational activities.

Companies often sponsor morale-boosting recreational activities, from kickball leagues to gym memberships or team happy hours. If you’re an employee who loves to socialize, you can show your support for these activities during negotiations and beyond, according to Clayton.

9. Leadership, educational and/or company culture development.

Instead of more money, maybe you want more training, or you want to participate in a company mentorship or diversity program. You can negotiate for the right to take a subsidized training course, to attend a leadership conference, or to start a diversity-based Employee Resource Group, if one does not exist, according to Clayton.

10. Parking or transportation perks.

Employees may offer parking or transportation perks, such as free spaces, automatic subway card refills, and other commuter benefits. 

“Parking can be really expensive, especially in urban areas,” said Clayton. “An employee might be able to negotiate for parking spots or subsidies, or for MetroCards.”

If you’re negotiating for parking or transportation perks, you can suggest programs like WageWorks or state-sponsored benefits.

Given the prohibitive cost of childcare in the U.S., many employees are considering or have already implemented subsidized or in-house childcare facilities. During negotiations, employees with children can easily argue that childcare benefits will improve their productivity and retention rate, according to Clayton.

11. Paid time off… sometimes.

“Paid time off can be tricky,” said Clayton. 

Paid time off is usually fixed across the company. However, if you’re in need of extra bereavement time or family leave, an employer may be open to hearing your case, Clayton said. 

Some companies have adopted a unique system for holidays. For example, if you’re Jewish and don’t want to take time off for a Christian holiday, you can take off at another time during the year.

“Some employers already have established rules in place. People might get vacation as a lump sum every year. But an employer can decide to be more generous,” Clayton said.

12. FSA and COBRA

Some benefits are more negotiable than others. For example, if you have a lag time between jobs, you can ask your new employer to cover COBRA health insurance premiums during the hiatus, according to Clayton. 

You could also ask your new employer if they’d consider adopting a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account program. These are common benefits that help employees save money for medical expenditures. 

13. Any benefits packages that float your boat.

There are truly limitless benefits packages in the world. Third-party companies offer everything from discounted theater tickets to company retreats. Researching these benefits is typically relegated to the Human Resources department. However, if you find something that deeply interests you, feel free to bring it up during negotiations. Best case scenario: the employer adopts your idea. Worst case: you’ve started a productive conversation. 

 

14. FSA and COBRA

 

Some benefits are more negotiable than others. For example, if you have a lag time between jobs, you can ask your new employer to cover COBRA health insurance premiums during the hiatus, according to Clayton.  

You might also ask your new employer if they’d consider adopting a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account program. These are common benefits that help employees save money for medical expenditures. 

 

15. Any benefits packages that float your boat.

 

There are truly limitless benefits packages in the world. Third-party companies offer everything from discounted theater tickets to company retreats. Researching these benefits is typically relegated to the Human Resources department. However, if you find something that deeply interests you, feel free to bring it up during negotiations. Best case scenario: the employer adopts your idea. Worst case: you’ve started a productive conversation.

The information contained in this article is not legal advice and is not a substitute for such advice. State and federal laws change frequently, and the information in this article may not reflect your own state’s laws or the most recent changes to the law. 

•  
• 

from Career Tool Belt https://ift.tt/3ftCyWD

Read More

Warning Signs That You Could Lose Your Job

Are you worried about losing your job? It can happen to anyone, sometimes when you least expect it. Even during the best of times, companies make changes and employees get laid off. During challenging economic times, your work status can become even more precarious.

How can you tell if you’re about to lose your job? Sometimes, employers announce furloughs and cutbacks, and it can be very clear that your employment is in jeopardy. In other cases, it’s not so easy to tell if your position may be on the chopping block.

There are warning signs to look out for, and ways you can prepare if you think it could happen to you. Some are major changes that impact many employees. Others are more personal and related to your relationship with your manager and the company.

12 Signs Your Job Is at Risk

Here’s what to look out for if you’re concerned about losing your job.

Earnings Reports Are Dismal

One of the biggest red flags to watch is profits (and losses). If an organization is losing money, they are going to be looking at ways they can turn things around. That could mean cutting individual jobs or groups of employees.

Budgets Are Getting Cut

Even if a company is profitable, certain departments and teams may not be. If you know that your department’s budget is getting cut, be aware that jobs can be part of the budget-trimming process.

The Company Starts Changing Work Processes

Companies are always looking out to save money, and change is inevitable in today’s workplace. Those changes can have an impact on jobs, and a new way of doing something can cost employees who work as part of the old process in their positions. If your employer is discussing implementing new systems, think about how it might impact your role.

The Company Is Cutting Other Jobs

If jobs are being cut on other teams or employees are being furloughed, it may mean that more cost-cutting will happen down the line. Is your position one that could be eliminated? When you hear about job cuts, it’s worth considering your role and how future cuts could impact your position.

The Company Has Merged or Been Acquired

When mergers and acquisitions happen, there are often redundancies and job cuts. For example, companies don’t need two accounting departments or two shipping departments. If your company has merged or been bought by a larger company, be aware that there will most like be changes to the workforce.

You Don’t Get Along With Your Boss

Sometimes losing your job doesn’t have anything to do with money. If you and your manager are butting heads all the time and can’t seem to agree on anything, it’s a sign that this may not be the job for you. Do consider if there’s a way to work things out, but be aware that you may not be able to.

You’re Being Excluded From Meetings

Are there meetings that you aren’t being invited to? If you’re working remotely, does everyone else seem to be unexpectedly out of the loop sometimes? Could they be having Zoom meetings withoutyou? If you have the sense that something is going on that you’re not a part of, you might very well be right.

You’re Not Included in Emails

Email is the same scenario as meetings. Does it seem like your inbox is empty when you expect it to be full? Do you expect to be copied in on certain messages, but it appears that’s not happening? That’s a clue you’re not part of whatever is happening at the moment.

Your Hours Are Cut

If your hours are being cut, it’s a very clear sign that you may no longer be needed. That’s especially the case if it’s just your scheduled hours that are being changed. If everyone else is working the same schedule as always, consider it a warning.

You’re Getting Bad Reviews

Is your performance getting bad reviews? Even if you’re doing everything you’re supposed to be doing at work and then some, and you’re still getting negative reviews, it’s something to be concerned about. Consider talking to your manager about what you need to do to improve.

You Don’t Have Much Work to Do

Are you being assigned less work? Are there projects that you normally would have been a part of that other team members are working on instead? Do you have an empty desk with nothing much to do? If you’re not being assigned work, it can be a sign that you’re not needed. It’s an even bigger sign if someone else is doing work that traditionally would have been yours.

You’re Not Getting Promoted

If you’re getting passed over for promotions, it doesn’t mean your tenure with the company is coming to an end. It does mean that you should evaluate your relationship with your employer and decide if it’s worth staying or if it would be better to think about moving on.

What to Do if You’re Worried About Losing Your Job

One of the best things you can do when you’re concerned that your job is at stake is to prepare to find a new one. Even if it’s a temporarily challenging situation and it resolves itself, it’s always a good idea to be ready to look for a new role.

Don’t advertise the fact that you’re job searching, but do start discreetly to prepare to move on. That way, you’ll be prepared if you need to start looking for a new position in a hurry. Here’s how to get started:

• Update your resume. Be sure your resume is current and includes your latest (and most relevant) work history. Add new skills, certification, education, and professional development.
• Update LinkedIn. Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is as current as your resume, but before you start, change your privacy settings, so your connections (and your boss and co-workers) don’t know that you are making changes. You will be able to make discreet changes without advertising that you’re considering a job search. Click Account, Settings & Privacy, Share job changes, education changes, and work anniversaries from profile, and select “No”.
• Build your network. Start adding strategically to your network. Build up your network so you’re connecting with people who can help your job hunt if you hit the “go” button and are ready to move on.
• Start investigating jobs and companies. Spend some time looking at job listings for positions in your field of interest. In addition to seeing what’s available, you’ll get an idea of how robust the job market is for someone with your credentials. Search on Google and some of the top job sites to get a broad picture of what’s out there.
• Check your finances. Are you financially prepared to handle a layoff? Unemployment will supplement some of your pay, but not all. If you’re short on savings, what can you do (freelance, gigs, etc.) to get by until you get hired?
• Consider applying for jobs. If you’re worried about losing your job, you may want to preemptively start a job search. Even if your job isn’t at risk, the fact that you were concerned is a flag that this may not be the best job for you. Seeing what else is out there will give you an opportunity to move your career forward on your own terms.

If you do lose your job, don’t panic. Here are some things you can do get back on track and get hired.

•  
• 

from Career Tool Belt https://ift.tt/2CNBuQl

Read More