Two Different Blog Styles I Love Both Of Them

Two Different Blog Styles â€" I Love Both Of Them Im preparing my monthly You Get It award post (Ive found an excellent winner you should see it this week) and wanted to share a couple of blogs that Ive come across that are, in my opinion, excellent. Hopefully some of the ideas here can help you as you think about your own personal branding through simple blog technology. First, Steve Wilson has a blog titled WayPoint (you can find it at http://stevewilson.wordpress.com). Ill tell you right now, Ive never been impressed by blogs that chart out a job search (Im talking about the ones that say what you are doing daily, how many interviews you are doing, what the results are and speculation about companies or positions). Steve doesnt really do this Steve is the first in-transition blogger that Ive found that blogs about career things on a higher level. Here are some of his excellent posts (when I read these I can tell they are coming from a thoughtful, wise thinker): Practice Interviews Career success The Myth of Who You Know If Im a hiring manager and I come across his blog Im going to get a much better feel for what he thinks about, how he communicates, etc. I think this is great stuff and shouldnt be intimidating for you to think about doing yourself (although Id suggest that you choose topics that you want to exemplify, with regard to your personal brand). Second, Jane Greer is an e-mail friend that I met a couple of months ago, a professional editor who was not very comfortable with the idea of starting/maintaining a blog. Well, she started a blog called Terrierista. Each of her posts has a quality that is hard to find in the blogsphere but dont let that scare you from blogging. Here are some of the things that Jane does that I love: Her titles are clever Her writing is pristine I would not expect anything less from her but its awesome to see an editor show her stuff Her preparation in each post is thoughtful she chooses links and fonts with care to allow me to read easier and take me to great sites/blogs Her theme is really cool she loves terriers (thats why part of her title is terrierista) actually, her very first post (that awkward first post!) was probably the coolest first post that Ive ever read (update 3/24/07 I just found it and linked back to it). You must know that I like dogs but dont want a dog at my house (I have kids to clean up after, I dont need something else to clean up after). Her style brings in characteristics of terriers but doesnt feel like a doggy blog. She has excellent pictures to complement her posts. Ill stop here I just wanted to share two different blogging styles that I think are really cool in my quest to get you to quantify your personal brand with a blog Two Different Blog Styles â€" I Love Both Of Them Im preparing my monthly You Get It award post (Ive found an excellent winner you should see it this week) and wanted to share a couple of blogs that Ive come across that are, in my opinion, excellent. Hopefully some of the ideas here can help you as you think about your own personal branding through simple blog technology. First, Steve Wilson has a blog titled WayPoint (you can find it at http://stevewilson.wordpress.com). Ill tell you right now, Ive never been impressed by blogs that chart out a job search (Im talking about the ones that say what you are doing daily, how many interviews you are doing, what the results are and speculation about companies or positions). Steve doesnt really do this Steve is the first in-transition blogger that Ive found that blogs about career things on a higher level. Here are some of his excellent posts (when I read these I can tell they are coming from a thoughtful, wise thinker): Practice Interviews Career success The Myth of Who You Know If Im a hiring manager and I come across his blog Im going to get a much better feel for what he thinks about, how he communicates, etc. I think this is great stuff and shouldnt be intimidating for you to think about doing yourself (although Id suggest that you choose topics that you want to exemplify, with regard to your personal brand). Second, Jane Greer is an e-mail friend that I met a couple of months ago, a professional editor who was not very comfortable with the idea of starting/maintaining a blog. Well, she started a blog called Terrierista. Each of her posts has a quality that is hard to find in the blogsphere but dont let that scare you from blogging. Here are some of the things that Jane does that I love: Her titles are clever Her writing is pristine I would not expect anything less from her but its awesome to see an editor show her stuff Her preparation in each post is thoughtful she chooses links and fonts with care to allow me to read easier and take me to great sites/blogs Her theme is really cool she loves terriers (thats why part of her title is terrierista) actually, her very first post (that awkward first post!) was probably the coolest first post that Ive ever read (update 3/24/07 I just found it and linked back to it). You must know that I like dogs but dont want a dog at my house (I have kids to clean up after, I dont need something else to clean up after). Her style brings in characteristics of terriers but doesnt feel like a doggy blog. She has excellent pictures to complement her posts. Ill stop here I just wanted to share two different blogging styles that I think are really cool in my quest to get you to quantify your personal brand with a blog Two Different Blog Styles â€" I Love Both Of Them Im preparing my monthly You Get It award post (Ive found an excellent winner you should see it this week) and wanted to share a couple of blogs that Ive come across that are, in my opinion, excellent. Hopefully some of the ideas here can help you as you think about your own personal branding through simple blog technology. First, Steve Wilson has a blog titled WayPoint (you can find it at http://stevewilson.wordpress.com). Ill tell you right now, Ive never been impressed by blogs that chart out a job search (Im talking about the ones that say what you are doing daily, how many interviews you are doing, what the results are and speculation about companies or positions). Steve doesnt really do this Steve is the first in-transition blogger that Ive found that blogs about career things on a higher level. Here are some of his excellent posts (when I read these I can tell they are coming from a thoughtful, wise thinker): Practice Interviews Career success The Myth of Who You Know If Im a hiring manager and I come across his blog Im going to get a much better feel for what he thinks about, how he communicates, etc. I think this is great stuff and shouldnt be intimidating for you to think about doing yourself (although Id suggest that you choose topics that you want to exemplify, with regard to your personal brand). Second, Jane Greer is an e-mail friend that I met a couple of months ago, a professional editor who was not very comfortable with the idea of starting/maintaining a blog. Well, she started a blog called Terrierista. Each of her posts has a quality that is hard to find in the blogsphere but dont let that scare you from blogging. Here are some of the things that Jane does that I love: Her titles are clever Her writing is pristine I would not expect anything less from her but its awesome to see an editor show her stuff Her preparation in each post is thoughtful she chooses links and fonts with care to allow me to read easier and take me to great sites/blogs Her theme is really cool she loves terriers (thats why part of her title is terrierista) actually, her very first post (that awkward first post!) was probably the coolest first post that Ive ever read (update 3/24/07 I just found it and linked back to it). You must know that I like dogs but dont want a dog at my house (I have kids to clean up after, I dont need something else to clean up after). Her style brings in characteristics of terriers but doesnt feel like a doggy blog. She has excellent pictures to complement her posts. Ill stop here I just wanted to share two different blogging styles that I think are really cool in my quest to get you to quantify your personal brand with a blog

Discover How Federal Resume Writing Can Help You Land Your Dream Job

Discover How Federal Resume Writing Can Help You Land Your Dream JobFederal resume writing, often referred to as Federal CV, is a process that will help in creating a resume for the government and has many practical purposes. This program can be extremely useful if you are looking to get a new job or are just looking to have a well-written resume for any occasion.First of all, it provides the capability of creating a resume that is able to portray specific characteristics and qualities of the company and/or individual and also provides a way to convey a sense of confidence, control, and reliability. This is accomplished by using various components such as dates, references, areas of expertise, educational attainment, and work experience.This Federal resume writing service is designed to give an idea of the general capabilities of the candidate and also to produce a well-written resume. The Federal CV uses a number of components to provide a format that can best portray the overall im pression a potential employee has of the company and employer.There are a number of different federal government agencies that need to have a resume created, and they are very particular about certain things, such as size, length, format, and all other factors related to resumes. A well-written resume can help you land a job if you have worked for that company for any period of time.Another benefit of Federal resume writing is that it has become a popular career. You can find many professional resume writers, and it is a good idea to spend some time researching different agencies, and figure out which one can best fulfill your needs.When you are completing a resume, there are certain things you should take into consideration. These include:These are some of the most common elements that a resume should have. Some of these are applicable to most types of jobs, but others are more specific to positions, and you should make sure you have these.Resume writing, or Federal resume writing, should be taken seriously. If you are really intent on finding a new job, you need to be doing everything possible to let employers know about yourself.

Why Your LinkedIn Presence Matters and How to Enhance Your Profile -

Why Your LinkedIn Presence Matters and How to Enhance Your Profile - On its face, LinkedIn seems quite straightforward. You type in the details of your work experience, post them online and share the page with potential employers. As it turns out, though, the social media site has so much more to offer than a digitized version of your CV. LinkedIn plays host to approximately 500 million professional pages like yours. With so many users come ample opportunities to widen your network, find new opportunities and further your career, all from the comfort of your computer. Heres why you should log onto LinkedIn â€" and how to make your LinkedIn presence as effective as possible. Why Is LinkedIn Important? There are plenty of reasons to get on LinkedIn. Here are six: 1. Find a Job LinkedIn isnt just for promoting yourself. Plenty of companies use the sites job boards to advertise their openings. With an updated profile, you can easily click and apply for the right positions. The websites job search is easy to use, too. Simply type in the city where you want to work and what you dream of doing. You can set an alert for yourself so that when something fitting opens up, youll be the first to know. On that note, the site also has a button to press signaling to recruiters that youre looking for new work. Tick the Im Interested button if youre ready to move on from your current position. You might be wondering how you can alight such a signal while in your current role. Well, LinkedIn has thought ahead on that subject â€" only recruiters will see that youre open to new work, so you can discreetly find out whats out there. Plus, LinkedIn does more than let you look for a new employer it lets potential employers find you. In fact, 89% of recruiters reported using LinkedIn to secure a new hire. 2. Boost Your Standing on Google What pops up when you search for yourself on Google? You should know the answer, as this is what potential employers will do when they receive your application. LinkedIn is a powerful social network, and Google knows this. When you create a LinkedIn page, it will rise to the top of search results for your name. You can use this to your advantage by cultivating a sharp LinkedIn presence to impress recruiters. 3. Uncover Information About a Company Ahead of Time Sure, an employer can find information about you via LinkedIn â€" but you can do the same with a few searches of your own. Most companies will have a LinkedIn landing page, which will provide you with more information about the business, its perks and its staff. Peruse the profiles of highlighted employees to get an idea of whos working there and why. Such information can give you a clearer idea of what company cultures like. For a modern-day professional, this insight is probably vital to your job search. Most of todays workers want to know theyll fit in with the vibe at their new company. 4. Network Like a Pro Not everyone likes to network in the traditional sense. LinkedIn makes it easy to meet other professionals and build meaningful connections without small talk or cold calling. Seek people whose career paths mirror what you hope to achieve. Then, send an invitation to connect â€" but dont stop there. You might want to offer a favor or service to your new contact to show your value right away. That will open the door to future conversations and a stronger relationship, which might help you down the line. Dont just post your resume or look for jobs â€" rely on LinkedIn to forge new connections, too. With millions registered with the site, youre sure to find at least a few people whose experience could help your career in some way. On top of that, LinkedIn allows you to stay connected to people who youve already met and with whom youve worked previously. Without the site, you might forget your former co-workers name or lose their contact info. LinkedIn stands as a modern Rolodex â€" use its messaging system to reach out to others and maintain relationships down the line. 5. Keep in Touch With the Industry You dont just have to connect with people on LinkedIn â€" you can also follow industry leaders and companies. All the sites users can post updates on their trials and tribulations, which youll see once you log in. The timeline mirrors many other social media sites, but its different because it provides valuable information to professionals like you. From the feed of updates, you will find plenty of industry news to keep yourself in the loop. In our ever-changing society, its imperative to remain current, and LinkedIn can help you do it. 6. Cultivate Your Brand What makes you different from the rest of the applicants for a job in your field? Your LinkedIn can easily help you define who you are and what you have to offer. You could, of course, do the same with a personal website. However, maintaining such a page can be equal parts tedious and expensive. On LinkedIn, though, you have a user-friendly platform that allows you to tell employers exactly who you are â€" and its free. Much of your brand cultivation will come from the information you choose to share on your page. We have plenty of suggestions to come thatll teach you to do just that. How Can I Improve My Profile and Presence? Now that you know why LinkedIns important, youre ready to make a profile. Brush up on these tips to ensure you create the best possible online representation of yourself: 1. Personalize Your Profile Link Once you create a LinkedIn, the website will give you a generic URL. This sequence will work just fine in directing users to your page. However, you can give your profile a bit of finesse by personalizing the URL so its your name or the name of your business. Either way, potential employers or customers will see that you took the time to change such a small detail, thus denoting that youre focused on making improvements. Its a small step, but its one of many that can instantly elevate your LinkedIn profile. 2. Update Often Dont wait until its time to find a new job to update your LinkedIn page. Over time, youre likely to forget all that youve accomplished in your current role. Instead, be sure to regularly log into LinkedIn and refresh your page with new accolades. That way, your resume truly reflects all that you have done and hints at what youll achieve in the future. On that note, be critical about what you have previously chosen to use on your page â€" dont be afraid to delete outdated information. For example, a recent college graduate might include on their CV a job they held in high school. However, if youre a 30-something manager, you can cut the part-time job you had as a teen. 3. Add a Professional Picture One of the biggest mistakes you can make on LinkedIn is foregoing a profile photo. Recruiters want to know that youre a professional. The words on your resume can help paint a picture, but an image can solidify the fact that youre a polished and put-together candidate. Select a shot of yourself that shows you at your most professional. Try to find one where youre dressed smartly â€" bonus points if its a headshot and not a selfie. 4. Ask for Recommendations References available upon request. You probably have this typed somewhere on your resume. Theres no need to include such a statement on LinkedIn, though. Instead, you can reach out to former bosses or employees and ask them to write a recommendation for your profile. Resumes and LinkedIn pages have a set of clear differences already. For instance, you might put more detail onto your LinkedIn profile than you would a one-page paper resume. The references section gives LinkedIn a leg up on a traditional resume, too. These testimonials to your work ethic, creativity, productivity and more can paint a clearer picture of who you are as an employee. They can persuade someone to hire you or work with you. If youre just starting out in your field, dont be shy about asking for LinkedIn recommendations. Having people singing your praises on your page can help enhance your presence and improve your chances when you apply for new jobs. 5. Connect Wisely Dont say yes to every single invitation you receive on LinkedIn. Instead, sift through the messages you receive and do your research. Make sure youre connecting with people who have similar experiences and goals as you do. If you work in a client-facing position, be sure youre not linking up with a customers competitor, either â€" you could lose business with a careless connection. 6. Engage With Others Once youve perfected your LinkedIn page, dont just leave it to collect proverbial dust. Instead, log on regularly and engage with other users. Share articles and content produced by your company so your network knows what youre up to. You can comment on other peoples posts as well, congratulating their hard work or contributing to a conversation. These actions will help you fortify your presence on the site â€" and build connections with new people who engage with your posts. You might even want to share posts made by your connections with credit to their accounts. Once they see youve taken the time to share their work, they might do the same with your posts in the future. Get LinkedIn and Move Up LinkedIn is vital to your career, and the way you boost your presence and profile can directly affect your next professional move. Ready to start climbing that career ladder today? Your online resume â€" and the network looking at it â€" can help you get to the next level. This guest post was authored by Alyssa Abel Alyssa Abel is a college and career writer who offers advice on strategies to success. Read more of her work on her blog,  Syllabusy.

Are Bullies More Successful at Work

Are Bullies More Successful at Work In the recruiting and HR space, its pretty rare to find a post that promotes bullying at work. After all, most of us spend a great deal of time at work and its definitely no fun getting pushed around. But what if bullies are more inclined to experience success at work? Wouldnt that be a kick in the pants? I decided to see if I could find out after reading a headline piece on LinkedIn by Jonah Berger. Berger posted that Miley Cyrus twerking, off-key performance was possibly a good career move, since the singer now boasts the most tweeted live event EVER. If bad behavior begets bad publicity, then might bad behavior also beget increased (financial) rewards at work? I was wondering this very thing when I came across a story about the team at PandoDaily over on ValleyWag, namely head reporter Sarah Lacy, who I had the opportunity to meet at one point (side note: she seemed very nice). However, this story (which used real emails and comments from Sarah herself) painted her as strident and aggressive at best, and a downright threatening bully at worst. As comments on the story started to pour in, it was apparent that this was not an isolated incident. But by all accounts, Sarah Lacy is quite successful. As are other people like Donald Trump, Naomi Campbell, Steve Jobs, Omarosa, and Lance Armstrong. Does the very fact that these people are unapologetic, aggressive and uncompromising make them super successful? A study from the University of Buffalo (claiming to be the first that correlates bullying with job performance) seems to prove that bullying tendencies are only part of the equation: when bullying and political skill were combined, there was a strong correlation with higher performance, backing up their hypothesis that “politically skilled bullies are able to use their bullying behavior to build broad coalitions of supporters and pools of resources that will facilitate their own job performance. The truth is that while more than half of US employees have experienced bullying in the workplace, it only seems like that if youre one rung under the active aggressor, simply put, it only feels like bullying if you are a colleague of the bully (or somewhere lower on the org chart). That is because: unlike the stereotypical social misfit who ends up the school bully, workplace bullies are often charming and socially skilled. Jena McGregor And no one wants to confront them either.  According to the  Workplace Bullying Institute, 50 percent of workers don’t report bullying they see or experience. Why? Because its difficult to run up against someone behaving badly and potentially get on their bad side and become bullying targets themselves. Unlike what many of us were taught, these people rarely get what they deserve, often getting promoted or rising much higher in the ranks than their less assertive peers. In an Harvard Business Review article, one story talks about one employee who went out of his comfort zone to report a bully at his job, only to have the employee promoted over him. He had a heart attack three days later. Its a tale as old as time for workers who have spent their time in the trenches watching bullies get promoted: It’s an especially insidious cycle: The results of workplace intimidation, harassment, and other forms of bullying are often enough jobs well done, which lead not to rebuke but rather to strong reviews, pay raises, and even promotions. “Bullies often leverage the fear and intimidation of their behavior to achieve their personal goals and improve their job performance,” the authors of the  JMP  study, which was led by Darren C. Treadway of SUNY-Buffalo and Brooke A. Shaughnessy of the Technical University of Munich in  Germany. How do you deal with bullies at work? Let us know in the comments below! RELATED: How to Manage Conflict at Work

How to Include Certifications in Resume

How to Include Certifications in ResumeThere are a lot of things you can include in your resume, but the fact that you have a degree doesn't necessarily mean that you should include certificates on your resume. It is important to remember that a degree is not necessarily a qualification. So if you are looking for a job, you should consider other things to include in your resume that might be more important.First, you should think about the reason you are applying for the job and whether you have additional certifications that could help your chances of getting the job. If you know that you need certification to do the job well, it may be better to put this information on your resume. You don't want to be compromising your skills with certifications when your resume will get you the job anyway. If you know you would benefit from certifications, then go ahead and add them to your resume.This may seem like an outdated concept in today's world, but many employers want the added flexibili ty of working with individuals who are more flexible than they used to. When you come to an interview, you might realize that you are struggling with something, and you want to show the interviewer that you are open to learning new things. You might want to explain the reason why you need the certifications so that they can understand that you are not just an employee because you are a college graduate.You may also be trying to convince a potential employer that you have a degree for your job. You can show that you have the ability to teach other people about the subject matter on your resume by including the certification. Be sure to emphasize your degree by saying something like, 'I am the recipient of my undergraduate degree in Computer Science'I earned my Master's degree in Information Technology.' Make sure that you tell the potential employer why you have earned this degree and not just say, 'I'm getting a Master's degree.'Many people struggle with knowing what to put on their resume. If you want to add certifications to your resume, you have to be aware of what you can say and what you can't say. There are certain things that you shouldn't put on your resume and there are other things that you can and should put on your resume. So you should take some time to think about whether you really need to include certifications on your resume.If you think that you will need to use a certification to prove to an employer that you are knowledgeable about the area in which you will be working, then you should include the certification at the end of your job history. You can include a certification on the last page of your resume or you can place it after the area that you will be listed as working in. If you're lucky, you might get a call back from an employer who will want to see the certificate you will be wearing.If you are applying for a job where the proof of education is going to be used, you should write out your proof before you submit your resume. You sho uld include a letter from your school explaining the proof that you will be required to provide to the employer. It is always a good idea to include this type of documentation when you are submitting your resume.These are just a few tips for how to include certifications in resume. If you have other ideas, you should discuss them with your potential employer and find out what he or she thinks you should include in your resume.

How to Write a Data Science Resume That Gets You Interviews

How to Write a Data Science Resume That Gets You InterviewsFor any job search, data science resumes are essential but not sufficient to land the interview. A hiring manager's expectations of data science careers can vary wildly, from those who find it exciting to those who see it as a job to satisfy a numerically driven need in the workplace. While it may be easier to answer some of the most common questions with a brief explanation of data science, a bit more information about how to write a resume that effectively communicates data science knowledge is necessary.There are several different types of data science career, each requiring different approaches to resume writing. If you're working with a hiring manager to explore data science as a possibility, a few steps can help you build the confidence needed to effectively communicate your data science skills to your target audience. Here are some suggestions on how to approach your potential employer:Know your target audience. Knowin g who you are writing for is very important. If you have a specific group of people in mind (researchers, statisticians, company analysts, etc. ), then your content should come directly from that group. If you're looking for a job as a data scientist, you might take some time to learn about the needs of a specific organization and tailor your resume to fit their particular needs.Meet the audience in person. You may want to visit the organization where you hope to get your next job in person to meet some of your future employers. The hiring manager will be able to tell you about what they look for in a data scientist, and they will be able to tell you who they are seeking. To apply for the job, all you need to do is show them some sample of your work, and you should get the job!Show how you can use the data you've been given. To hire someone with a passion for data, the company needs to know that you can think up ways to use the data to solve real-world problems. This means showing y ou've done your homework. Talk about how much you understand the field, and how willing you are to put your time into learning more. It is very likely that this is the biggest determinant of whether or not you get hired as a data scientist.Describe the challenges you'll face when you are in charge of solving these problems. Don't just describe how you'd do something; describe what it would mean for the company to 'go data-driven.' Show that you are an idea generator who is willing to work alongside the organization to solve business problems.College graduates and recent PhD graduates in the field of statistics often wonder what kind of resumes to write for data science jobs. Experience and education in the science data field are helpful, but in order to get a foot in the door, you must also demonstrate that you can connect with people in the business. If you can't convey data science knowledge through your resume, it will not get you the job.There are many options available to candi dates interested in getting into data science careers. These resume examples demonstrate how to write a better resume that will get you in front of your target audience. Because hiring managers expect a great deal out of data scientists, this is all the more reason to spend some time thinking about your resume to make sure it is comprehensive and focused.

Salary Negotiation How Much Are You Worth

Salary Negotiation How Much Are You Worth I recently sat down with Jennifer Loftus, National Director for Astron Solutions. Jennifer develops, designs, and implements base pay compensation systems and she is an active member of SHRMs Total Rewards Special Expertise panel. I asked her some of the questions job seekers often have about compensation and her responses should be required reading for anyone looking to better manage the salary negotiation conversation with prospective employers.What resources or strategies do you recommend to help job seekers benchmark their value in the workplace?Benchmarking a position’s value isn’t easy!   There’s lots of information out there.   The hard part is knowing what to focus on and what to ignore.Job seekers should look to compensation data provided by their industry association to determine their personal value.   The Bureau of Labor Statistics is another potential source of information regarding compensation and benefits.   Many times, individuals rely on free sources of salary data they find on the Internet.   Internet-based sources often lack credibility.   They may present data without thoroughly analyzing for quality control issues.   Also, individuals â€" rather than employers â€" often report data to these sites, which can result in inflated salary figures.When establishing your own job value, don’t lock yourself into a specific pay rate, such as $75,000 a year.   Rather, consider a pay range, such as $65,000 to $85,000, to give yourself the greatest opportunities.   Additionally, always keep a total rewards perspective.   Total rewards means that you as an employee receive more than your paycheck from your employer.   There are 5 elements of total rewards â€" cash compensation, benefits, work/life balance, career advancement and development, and performance management and recognition.   Consider your personal value in terms of all 5 of these elements, and their importance to you, before turning down a job offer where you think the salary is too l ow.Additionally, always keep in mind that most organizations have a unique compensation philosophy.   For instance, some organizations want to be the top payer in Miami, FL.   Others want to be a middle of the road payer for engineering firms in Manhattan.   Another may be a low payer in Denver with robust benefits.   If you receive an offer that seems low, consider your personal compensation philosophy against the organization’s.   Salaries can vary widely between locations and industries.   Also consider the total rewards approach to see if your philosophy and the organization’s end up with the same total package at the end.Are salaries trending downward?It may appear that salaries are trending downward, due to layoffs.   Particularly in organizations laying off longer service employees or providing early retirement, average salaries for specific jobs may be lower.   However, we typically don’t see salaries permanently dropping in terms of real dollars over time.   Organizat ions very rarely lower their starting pay rates or salary ranges.What industries are experiencing growth and are more likely to offer competitive salaries?When you look for growth, think of industries that have to exist.   Healthcare and educational institutions are two that stand out.   Unfortunately, people will continue to need healthcare services.   Education is a key to success.   Both industries have weathered the recent economic storms better than others and continue to offer strong total rewards programs.   As for the competitive nature of the salaries they offer, non-profit organizations dominate both industries.   As such, their salaries overall may be lower than those found in for-profit industries such as banking, consulting, and high technology.   Although the pay rates in these industries may be lower, however, those rates have also been more stable than those of other industries.Are there certain geographies in the country where job seekers are more likely to negotiat e a better offer?Job seekers are more likely to negotiate better offers in areas of the country with less recessionary impact.   For example, upstate New York took less of a direct hit than Wall Street in Manhattan when the economy shifted dramatically.   Additionally, locations that have typically had challenges in attracting and retaining talent â€" think climate extremes or areas that are harder to get to â€" also afford more negotiation opportunity.What is the average cost of a benefits package per employee? Is it reasonable to try to negotiate fewer benefits in exchange for additional compensation?In total, benefits typically run about 40% of base pay.   This figure includes both voluntary benefits, such as health insurance, vacation time, and retirement plan contributions, as well as mandatory benefits, such as social security, unemployment coverage, and worker’s compensation programs.   Voluntary benefits are typically 20% of base pay, mandatory benefits another 20%.   As a n example, a person earning $50,000 would on average receive voluntary benefits worth $10,000 and mandatory benefits coverage worth another $10,000, for a total compensation package of $70,000.Job seekers could try to negotiate lesser benefits in exchange for additional compensation.   Typically, however, employers provide benefits packages on a group basis.   This group approach often doesn’t afford negotiating flexibility to employers.   Customized benefits packages is a trend I expect to see more of moving forward.   Currently, however, individuals may have more success negotiating in the opposite direction â€" less compensation for more benefits.What is the average merit increase for 2009? What other types of financial incentives can job seekers negotiate outside of base compensation?Great timing on this question!   WorldatWork just released the results of the 2009 â€" 2010 Salary Budget Survey, which reports summary data from 2,743 organizations across the US and Canada.   A ccording to WorldatWork, the average merit increase budget for 2010 is 2.8%.   If you remove all the zero increase budgets, or organizations that aren’t providing a merit increase in 2010, the average budget goes up slightly to 3.2%.   Those zeros are important â€" up to 43% of organizations are freezing pay for some or all of their employees in 2010.Given the dramatic changes in the economy, I expect that organizations will begin to phase out merit pay.   Variable compensation will become an even more important part of employees’ total compensation.   Job seekers today can demonstrate their commitment to their potential employers’ success, and their own personal return on investment (ROI), by focusing negotiations away from base pay increases and towards bonus and incentive opportunities.   Job seekers can also turn to negotiating for additional benefits to build their total compensation package.Is a signing bonus ever offered to a job seeker who is not leaving one employer t o go to another? If so, describe a situation where a company would offer a candidate without a job to fall back on a sign on bonus?Oh, yes!  Signing bonuses are not only for people who are changing jobs.   Many times healthcare organizations will offer signing bonuses to new graduate nurses and new graduates in other allied health fields where there is a shortage of talent.   With many employers competing for a handful of graduates, the competition among employers can be stiff.   I have also seen these types of signing bonuses used in the IT field.   The lack of talent and specialized knowledge in the market drives competitive employers to use signing bonuses and other lucrative attraction and retention techniques.I see more job postings that state relocation is not available. Is this truly the case and what circumstances would warrant relocation assistance?I too have heard that the number of relocations are down for a variety of reasons.   First, relocation can be costly.   With m ore local job seekers available due to the economy, the argument for relocation becomes less compelling.   If an organization can hire someone local with the same skill set as someone from far away, the organization would rather pay $0 to bring the new hire on board than the thousands of dollars associated with relocations.   Additionally, the organization bares a risk when relocating an employee.   If the individual doesn’t work out, or changes jobs relatively soon, the organization has incurred a large expense with minimal ROI.When would relocation make sense?   Relocation is a viable option if the candidate has unique job skills that are in demand by the organization or has a book of business or a powerful network they’re bringing to the organization.   Additionally, if a position has been vacant for quite some time, it may be less expensive to relocate someone than to have vacancy cost dollars impacting the organization’s bottom line.For more advice on compensation trends, job search, and career management check out Aston Solutions blog Welcome the the World of HR or follow them on Twitter.

What If You Overqualify For The Job You Want

What If You Overqualify For The Job You Want Sometimes, you find yourself in the unenviable category of overqualified candidates when applying for a job. If you are interested in a position that you overqualify for, take a proactive stance and answer some common interviewers questions before they are asked. Answer why are you applying for a job you overqualify for? in your cover letter. Maybe you want to have a less demanding position because you have decided family time is more important than working 70 hours a week. Along with that, make sure you state that you highly appreciate being able to have a job that allows you to use your skills and work fewer hours. Another scenario is the person who has found they really enjoy the challenges of the lower level job and has decided they do not want to move up. Answer wont you move on to another opening as soon as one shows up? with a resume that has highlighted the skills and experience you bring to the job, how those skills meet the job requirements, and some questions of your own during the interview that show your interest will be ongoing. Answer how will you react to a younger supervisor and new technology?   by relating instances in your career where you worked successfully with all ages, and the technology trends you have kept up with or are currently learning how to use. Answer what if we cant pay you what you were making before?   by being prepared to discuss salary and a firm grasp of what you will accept, even if it is less. You may very well be working for less than you made before, but if the job is one you enjoy, that is worth more than dollars. The cover letter and resume for an overqualified job seeker need to be fine-tuned to answer some of the questions satisfactorily and get you the interview where you can discuss the rest. If you are not sure how to do this, perhaps our coaching services  would be a good investment. A Certified Career Coach can work with you one-on-one to strategize your job search effectively, and transform being overqualified into an asset that gets you that interview.