Curled up With a Good Salary Negotiations Book

With the snow coming down in buckets I am curled up on the couch watching the Chicago Bears take on the Minnesota Vikings and reading the newest edition of Jack Chapman’s, Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a Minute book. It is loaded with tips, information, facts, and stories of salary negotiations played out the right and wrong way.

The book takes you through the premise, facts and samples for the best way to approach salary negotiations. It is an informative book to review while as you pursue your next job. The number one tip or Rule as Mr. Chapman refers to it, is to wait to discuss your salary requirements until after an offer has been made or at least until the interview is done and you have had time to dazzle the employer with your value and potential.

The longer you wait the more leverage you’ll gain and the better rapport you can build. The four additional rules that follow play into the waiting game. The rules remind job seekers to let the interviewer start the negotiations, and to use silence to gain leverage and give yourself time to review your own range before the negotiations continue.

Researching the industry, company, location and other relevant factors is essential in determining the fair market value of the job. Establishing your bottom line and determining which benefits are “must haves” and which can be used as bargaining chips ahead of the interview, are the final rules and can be used to increase your starting salary.

If you are concerned about your negotiation techniques, and most of us are, I highly recommend the 6th edition of this enlightening book. It is packed with tips for various interview situations, recommendations for handling the different parts of a salary negotiation, finalizing the offer, and even negotiating raises and promotions. If you want to improve your starting salary or next raise check out this book.

Resume Development: Wow Employers With an Attention-Grabbing First Page

At a recent career industry conference many recruiters, hiring managers and resume writers spoke on a variety of topics. Whether critiquing, developing, or reviewing resumes, most agreed the first page must have all the bells, whistles and relevant information. It is crucial to capture the attention of the reader with the first page in order to be considered as a candidate and be asked back for an interview.

Make sure your qualifications summary or profile is full of the most relevant information being sought for the position. It should include key words used in the job description and strong evidence of your success and potential. A title for the position which you are seeking needs to be at the top followed by your contact information. A description that provides length of experience, highlights of expertise and/or specific industry-related proficiencies should follow the contact information.

Education should be after this if you have recently graduated from college. If you have completed a graduate program, reference to your Masters Degree can be included in this area too. After all this information then you can start with the Professional Experience area.

I’ve had clients tell me they have left crucial information off on purpose so they would have something to “wow” employers with at the interview. The “wow” needs to be easy to read and at the beginning of the resume! This is the introduction area and first impressions matter here more than anywhere. So put your best foot forward and lead with your best points.

Shine On!