How to negotiate your salary is a very important part of your job search. If you are not paid what you feel is fair, your job satisfaction will be affected from day one. Some applications will be ask for the salary you expect. Other job listings will ask for a cover letter stating salary. Many print ads today do not include salary statements. Regardless of the ad or application requirements, you owe it to yourself to know what the job is worth,, and what you feel you should be paid with regard to your own qualifications and experience. Are you above average or a beginner?

If you accept a job that pays less than wanted for that job, not only will you burn inside from feeling underpaid, eventually you will feel overqualified and unappreciated, and nobody needs that! There are other things to research before you accept a job, and remember that monetary compensation is not the only pay; you can get perks and benefits also. (more…)

In an increasingly connected society, personal image management has moved beyond suits, ties or dresses and into the realm of complete identity control. With every online action recorded for future review by spouses, legal adversaries and potential employers, maintaining a comprehensively professional persona has never been more important

Identity management starts with careful control of what information is released and through what channels. This control method, known by communication professionals as selective self presentation, is the easiest way to maintain your desired image in both the physical and virtual worlds. By carefully selecting which pictures, blog entries and forum posts are publicly released on the Internet, even someone who spends vast amounts of time online can successfully manage his online image and present a front of professional, intelligent refinement. (more…)

One might think, during a job interview, which ever candidate displays knowledge of the company…. would be the one that stands out. Maybe a few years ago, but now you’re more likely to differentiate yourself in an interview, by not prior researching a company. Don’t get too excited. This is not the kind of differentiation that hooks the job. Researchers say that about 68% of job candidates are more informed, than they were five years ago. However, there are still ways that you can set yourself apart from other candidates- in a good way. Here is how:

In Depth Research
It is not enough to just do a quick visit of the companies website, and get key points. You need to devote some time, so that you can dig beneath the catch phrases. Look at the different types of services offered and expansion plans. Find out what the primary objectives are, read media announcements, search products, and discover who the firms executives are. This will allow you to get a grasp on what the companies overall focus is, and then enable you to sustain a relevant dialogue during the interview.

Annual Reports
Public companies will have an annual report. This will reveal the companies financial stability, and any fiscal situations of concern. Any expansion or downsizing information will be included, too. This is useful information in that, if a company is loosing money, you may want to inquire if the companies budget is being affected, and what implications that may hold for the company and team members. (more…)