Recently, I’ve been searching for a regular full time position. I’ve been in my career for almost two decades. During that time, I’ve worked for great companies and some not so great. I started a business, and then later closed that business. Throughout it all, I’ve had some awesome experiences and really developed my skills. Every consulting assignment that I have had, I’ve been asked to stay beyond the initial engagement. Suffice it to say, there have been some dynamic experiences in my career and I feel well qualified to do what I do. And just for good measure, lack of confidence is not something I typically struggle with. So why as women, do we question ourselves about the compensation we expect? Why do we cower when it’s time to talk money?
People that know me well know that I do not fear talking about money in a social setting. To the point that I have even coached others on their money situation and methodologies for handling different circumstances. I know down to the dollar how much I need to earn to maintain my current standard of living. I also do research on what my skills and experience are worth. So imagine my amazement when preparing for a phone interview, I began to question my salary requirements.
Am I asking for too much?
Since it’s not a Fortune 100 company, should I reduce my requirement?
Ultimately, I shook it off and stayed with my established range. But the question lingered, as women, why do we do this? Do men have this same struggle? Do men question themselves on why they ask for what they ask for? I’m reminded of the anecdote in Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In about how she was convinced by her husband to negotiate her salary at Facebook. That said to me that no matter whether you are offered $20,000 or $20,000,000, as women, we are inclined to shy away from standing up for ourselves financially. So until WE decide that WE are worth it, women's pay will always lag behind.
What do you think?
Showing posts with label job search. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job search. Show all posts
Friday, November 8, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
What Had Happened Was...
Our current economy has opened the door for many more people to experience the sting of layoff, displacement, downsizing, etc. No matter what term you use, at the end of the day, it means I won't be going back to the job I had. But how do you move beyond something so emotional?
Lets break it down, it's not just that your job has been snatched from you. It's all of the ancillaries. Jason's soccer, Katie's ballet, weekly manicures, vacations, even the occasional at home shrimp dinner. Though it feels like it, this is not the end.
First, surround yourself with positive messages. Those may come from books, posts, tweets, friends, family, anywhere. This also means that those people that want to cosign on your misery must go. Who am I talking about? Anyone that wants to remind you that it's hard to find a job nowadays, or that they know someone that's been out of work for three years. Just because it happens, doesn't mean you have to dine on the message for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late night snack.
Next, carry no guilt, nor a badge. Do not feel guilty because you were laid off. In most cases, the company existed before they knew your name, but more importantly, you existed before you knew their name. It is not necessary to carry your job loss as a sandwich board. It should not be your opening remark when speaking to someone. Talk about what you ARE doing, such as volunteering, planning activities for the kids, reading a book, etc. I've often heard people refer to this state as being in transition. I believe that is a very healthy way to approach it. It implies you are going somewhere.
Finally, get out of your own way. Often we stay focused on a specific job title, work schedule, industry or even location. Figure out what flexibility you have and incorporate that into work job search. You may be at a point in your life where you can relocate to another city or state. If that's the case, do your research about the area, if it is unfamiliar to you, and start looking. Maybe you need to stay put. That does not prevent you from checking out other industries and even positions that may be different from what you were doing that draw on your existing skills and allow you to develop new ones.
So, don't shy away from the situation, get out there and see what's over the horizon. I'll bet it's beautiful.
Lets break it down, it's not just that your job has been snatched from you. It's all of the ancillaries. Jason's soccer, Katie's ballet, weekly manicures, vacations, even the occasional at home shrimp dinner. Though it feels like it, this is not the end.
First, surround yourself with positive messages. Those may come from books, posts, tweets, friends, family, anywhere. This also means that those people that want to cosign on your misery must go. Who am I talking about? Anyone that wants to remind you that it's hard to find a job nowadays, or that they know someone that's been out of work for three years. Just because it happens, doesn't mean you have to dine on the message for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late night snack.
Next, carry no guilt, nor a badge. Do not feel guilty because you were laid off. In most cases, the company existed before they knew your name, but more importantly, you existed before you knew their name. It is not necessary to carry your job loss as a sandwich board. It should not be your opening remark when speaking to someone. Talk about what you ARE doing, such as volunteering, planning activities for the kids, reading a book, etc. I've often heard people refer to this state as being in transition. I believe that is a very healthy way to approach it. It implies you are going somewhere.
Finally, get out of your own way. Often we stay focused on a specific job title, work schedule, industry or even location. Figure out what flexibility you have and incorporate that into work job search. You may be at a point in your life where you can relocate to another city or state. If that's the case, do your research about the area, if it is unfamiliar to you, and start looking. Maybe you need to stay put. That does not prevent you from checking out other industries and even positions that may be different from what you were doing that draw on your existing skills and allow you to develop new ones.
So, don't shy away from the situation, get out there and see what's over the horizon. I'll bet it's beautiful.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
It's the truth! I swear!
In the wake of former Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson's troubles, many are asking "What's the cost of a lie that didn't have to be"? For most of us, a lie about education on our resume or application does not yield a payment valued at over $6 million. Yes, we might get back the dollar we put in the vending machine this morning for the strawberry Pop-Tarts. Then again, why would we? We are now known to the public as liars, people who lack integrity, and more importantly people who lied for no good reason.
In my HR experience, I've had the occasion to come across an employee that stretched the truth about their education. The worst part, is that like in Mr. Thompson's case, the lie made no sense and was completely unnecessary. Go figure!
It appears that people believe that claiming a degree that more closely fits the organization's product or focus makes them a better candidate. Basically, they are saying, I don't trust that you will consider someone with limited education, so in order to make sure you choose me, I'll polish it up a bit, worrying about the truthfulness of the statement when I get caught. So now we know...even CEOs get fired for lying.
When I first heard the story, I wondered how Yahoo! would resolve this. No doubt the company has fired employees for falsifying their education. No doubt they had intended for Mr. Thompson to stay with them longer than 5 months. For Yahoo!, there was no easy way out. Even though he's resigned in the midst of this scandal, the image to the brand and the executive selection practices leave people wondering, if the practices are so loose that they inadvertently encourage people to lie, what other lies does the company support? Is my information really private? Or are you just saying that so I'll feel secure?
The next time you are tempted to say something that is untrue (and can be easily verified, by the way) on your resume, remember, you don't get a $6 million payout. You'll be lucky to get a box to pack up your fake degree.
Until next time.
In my HR experience, I've had the occasion to come across an employee that stretched the truth about their education. The worst part, is that like in Mr. Thompson's case, the lie made no sense and was completely unnecessary. Go figure!
It appears that people believe that claiming a degree that more closely fits the organization's product or focus makes them a better candidate. Basically, they are saying, I don't trust that you will consider someone with limited education, so in order to make sure you choose me, I'll polish it up a bit, worrying about the truthfulness of the statement when I get caught. So now we know...even CEOs get fired for lying.
When I first heard the story, I wondered how Yahoo! would resolve this. No doubt the company has fired employees for falsifying their education. No doubt they had intended for Mr. Thompson to stay with them longer than 5 months. For Yahoo!, there was no easy way out. Even though he's resigned in the midst of this scandal, the image to the brand and the executive selection practices leave people wondering, if the practices are so loose that they inadvertently encourage people to lie, what other lies does the company support? Is my information really private? Or are you just saying that so I'll feel secure?
The next time you are tempted to say something that is untrue (and can be easily verified, by the way) on your resume, remember, you don't get a $6 million payout. You'll be lucky to get a box to pack up your fake degree.
Until next time.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Before you turn your nose up at that temp job...
Sometimes people think of temporary jobs as having limited value. Well, before you politely decline to discuss the contract job that the recruiter has called you twice about, consider this. A temporary or contract position is just as much an interview and screening for you as it is for the employer. Things often look better during the recruitment phase of the process. This gives you a chance to see if you will be able to deal with the micromanaging boss or the constantly complaining coworker or even if the selections in the cafeteria support your vegan lifestyle.
More than that however, as companies look to better manage their human capital, you may find short-term opportunities showing up more frequently. Carefully consider the project or task that is to be accomplished and how it may increase your industry visibility or give you local credibility. An assignment like this should do it's part to grow your knowledge and stretch your abilities as well as put money in your pocket.
Another consideration is reputation of the organization. An organization that is well-respected in the community on your resume is almost like a Las Vegas billboard, it makes you look. And that's exactly what you want hiring leaders to do.
So, even though it is not permanent (by the way, no jobs are ever "permanent"), consider all the benefits before you say no.
Until next time...
More than that however, as companies look to better manage their human capital, you may find short-term opportunities showing up more frequently. Carefully consider the project or task that is to be accomplished and how it may increase your industry visibility or give you local credibility. An assignment like this should do it's part to grow your knowledge and stretch your abilities as well as put money in your pocket.
Another consideration is reputation of the organization. An organization that is well-respected in the community on your resume is almost like a Las Vegas billboard, it makes you look. And that's exactly what you want hiring leaders to do.
So, even though it is not permanent (by the way, no jobs are ever "permanent"), consider all the benefits before you say no.
Until next time...
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Career Management v. Job Management. Which are you doing?
This morning during my 5am walk, I had a discussion with a neighbor about career management. It really got me thinking about my own career and the question came to me, "Have I been managing my career or my jobs"? I think I can honestly say, I've been doing both, but at different times. Early in my career, I was managing my career, unbeknownst to me. I was constantly seeking new challenges, which led me to an average tenure of about 18 months. Then something changed. I'm not sure whether I got older, more stuck in my ways or just longed for greater job stability. When that happened, I stopped managing my career and started managing jobs. For me, that was a mistake.
When you manage your career, your focus remains on the work you do, the results you produce and leveraging those to meet the next challenge. At some companies, this may mean asking for permission to post when you haven't met the required time in job. It may also mean being open to short-term, temporary assignments. Depending on your lifestyle at the time, this might include relocating. It could also mean changing companies.
Conversely, when managing your jobs, your focus is on the next position more so than the work. The downside to that is you become dependent on a company to produce the "right job" and the company's timing may not directly align with yours.
So, as you go throughout your day, ask yourself, "Am I managing my career or my jobs"? I'll bet it might even help you prioritize your tasks, but I'll save that for another post.
Until next time...
When you manage your career, your focus remains on the work you do, the results you produce and leveraging those to meet the next challenge. At some companies, this may mean asking for permission to post when you haven't met the required time in job. It may also mean being open to short-term, temporary assignments. Depending on your lifestyle at the time, this might include relocating. It could also mean changing companies.
Conversely, when managing your jobs, your focus is on the next position more so than the work. The downside to that is you become dependent on a company to produce the "right job" and the company's timing may not directly align with yours.
So, as you go throughout your day, ask yourself, "Am I managing my career or my jobs"? I'll bet it might even help you prioritize your tasks, but I'll save that for another post.
Until next time...
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