Negotiate Your Way to a Higher Salary

When you are trying to negotiate your salary, patience really helps! One of the keys to effectively negotiating a higher salary lies in the knack to disconnect yourself from one of the most decisive factors in taking a job: your compensation. You really don’t want to include your salary range by making it sound like you simply added up your bills and tossed in some extra for a vacation cruise! In most cases, conversation about your pay must never be initiated by you. It should ideally start only after an employer has put an official job offer on the table.

So read on to know how with a proper mindset and a little finesse, you can “sweeten the pot” in a job offer by 10% or more.

Don’t be reluctant to ask for a higher salary

The horror of getting rejected or the fear of coming across as too pushy are reasons enough to stop people from asking for more. If you are someone who hesitates in asking for more money for reasons ranging from fear of sounding greedy to a lack of confidence in your worth, then its time you faced your nemesis. Fear is a killer of all good things in life and the sooner you face it the better off you are both mentally and financially.

Toughen yourself

If you don’t ask for it, you seldom get it! Employers are not mind readers nor do they unexpectedly feel like multiplying your salary for no rhyme or reason. Remember, while a “no” can be a probable answer, so can be a “yes” or a “we’ll see what we can do”. In both cases you still manage to open the employment relationship with an optimistic message of courage and pluck. Remember, if you don’t ask for it somebody else would. So be the gutsy one instead!

Build you case and show your worth

Reflect on things that make you exclusive and valuable. It is all about creating your professional worth and confirming to yourself the reason to ask more. Measure your skills and knowledge with your contemporaries and put down factors that make you “a cut above” the others. Highlight your strengths, provide concrete facts and give in depth proof of your worth to your employer.

Be pragmatic and rational

It is foolish to wait for the stars when you’ve already been given the moon. Aiming for a higher salary is a good objective but asking for a sky-high compensation, much above the top end of your position’s market worth is quite risky. Only if you have an exceptionally good reason to do so, be careful to pitch it just right! Some companies can only afford so much before your “uniqueness” gets way out of their league.

Be prepared for a “No” and end it on a good note

It is good to know in advance how you’ll react to a “No”. Aim to be affable and remind yourself that this is business and not personal. A simple “okay thanks” is a good enough way to respond. Don’t turn a “No” into a backlash and invite a withdrawal for any job offer in the times to come.
Also remember that your salary is a big piece of the pie, but not the only one. There are some great ‘benefits’ and “perks” that can make a lower salary the most appealing. So learn this delicate art and keep the door open for new offers in the future.

Certifications can Boost Your Career

You might have seen a CMP, SAP, or PMP behind someone’s name and not really had a clue what it meant -or wondered if it meant anything at all? Opposite to what you think, these letters are not just adornments but they are power packed letters- ‘Certification’. In today’s heated business climate, getting a certification not only adds value to your resume but also sets you apart from the pack. It clearly emphasizes your dedication towards your profession! That’s because every employer desires a person who has precise knowledge, skills, and ability in the exact area of the discipline for which they need an employee for.

So read on to know why getting ‘certified’ should be your next career move!

Beef up your resume

You are possibly the most coveted employee in your organization and your skills are in great demand even without a certification! But in a highly competitive job market, gaining extra credential never hurts and can surely give you the much required push while choosing your next employer. It also adds to your qualification and supplements your career credentials.

Qualify for Employers with High standards

If working with a blue chip organization is on your wish list, then a certification might just help set your application apart! It’s a competitive job market out there. So if you want employers to see your resume, then adding a few certifications might be just enough to give you a leg up on the competition and help you clinch the best of the deal.

Double your chances to earn more

Professionals with certifications are assured as skilled and reliable, are easier to train, and require to be replaced less than often. So for employers, they are worth hiring and are worth giving higher salaries to retain. A certification clearly identifies you as someone who has demonstrated mastery of a certain skill and it often acts as the “deal clincher” while deciding on whom to interview and whom to hire.

Broaden your scope of practice

The positive impacts of certification stay with you throughout your career. In today’s fast-changing world, employees are expected to match pace with the new emerging technologies. Certifications polish your skills and knowledge and give your employer a clear idea of your eagerness to advance your own professional development, which they identify as a valuable attribute of a successful employee. Certification prepares you for greater on-the-job responsibilities and gives you an edge over the others during promotions or other career opportunities.

Meet the market needs

A plethora of websites, online portal, online magazines, print publications and e-newsletters are great resources for certifications. Read and analysis to find out what “shortages” or gaps are there in the job market. Getting an idea of this can help you decide on a certification that will be the most appreciated, highly demanded and most sought-after by most employers. Adopting new technologies early on will not only push you to the fore in terms of skill and knowledge but will also give you an added advantage in the job competition.

Answering “What Are Your Weaknesses”

Trying to answer the “Weakness” question is like trying to walk along a tight rope: a solid answer takes you ahead unhurt, while a misstep sends everything crashing down. Questions like these are the clinchers. By not admitting to any weakness you come across as phony and fake. And on the other hand admitting to them puts you at risk of losing the offer!

So, do you really reveal your biggest weakness to those who matter? Do they want to hire you still? What if you say you have no weakness? Then do you run the risk of not sounding genuine?

Read on to know solutions that can help you tame this dreaded monster:

Being prepared is the key

Anticipating questions that can come up your way can save you from ending up in a tight spot. So, it’s best recommended to review your job description for your potential employee and connect one of you areas of weakness to them. A smarter tactic is describing something that was once a weakness and elaborating on how you managed to overcome it. For example, if you always had difficulty with numbers, then you could say,” I have always dreaded Math but I took up a crash course in Excel to get a better grip on it.” This way you are not only helping the employer identify the red flags but also projecting your honesty and self awareness.

Project it right

It mind sound cliché, but every cloud has a silver lining. Choosing a short coming that can be best explained in the most positive light is the best thing to do. Putting an optimistic spin on your negative attribute and using words that are seen as professional strengths should be the call for the day. For example, if you are not a very meticulous person and skip details, you could say, “I have always been a ‘big picture’ thinker and have to confess that I occasionally give the smaller details a miss. By willing to offer both sides of the coin while talking about your shortcomings, you are in a way demonstrating how you are working to deal with the issue.

Pick the Best one

Not all weaknesses put you in the same jeopardy of not being hired. While you don’t want to talk about something that can irrevocably damage your chances of getting a job, you can always talk about a weakness that you are trying to overcome, but which is not a part of the core skill set needed for the job. Or best talk about a previous weakness and how you successfully managed to overcome it!

Just remember one thing; your interviewer isn’t expecting you to be 100% perfect. In spite of whatever strategy you are using, your main objective is of talking about a real weakness that does not harm your possibility for the position but also doesn’t come across as impractical or staged. If you are unsure of the negative weakness that you are most likely to discuss, then evaluate the criteria for the position you are applying for. Put yourself in the place of the employer to consider what you would like to hear and what you would think as ‘negative’. Take out time to practice difficult answers, sound confident and show the yearning to improve on whatever weakness you possess.

How to Better Manage Your Time

Your boss in all probability has your time pretty well under control at your job and if you work for yourself, you’re most likely a slave to deadlines set by customers and clients! As a professional, you’re forever busy. But where does it all end? When you get more successful, do you think your agenda will magically get less hectic and fill up with lesser obligations? Think again. Instead, you’ll have more to be done in lesser time. And unless you have a structure in place, it might prove difficult.

Everybody is different, and the same strategies don’t work for every person. But if you know how to juggle your time well it can certainly help you take charge of your life and feel more in control.

Organize and Prioritize

You can save a lot of headaches if you have an organized system in place. The first step towards improving your time management is getting started with a simple to-do list and prioritizing your work. Inevitably, you are required to execute numerous tasks simultaneously as multi-tasking is the need of the hour today. A lot of times your colleagues and subordinates approach you with eleventh hour requests. In such cases, it is very important to know what needs to be done first. However, don’t make the common mistake of taking too much on your plate. Learn the art of saying no when required.

Tame your Technology

Do you find your whole day being devoured up by calls and emails? You might think that you’re being proficient by responding to every new communication coming your way, but the reverse can be true. Divert your calls to voice mail and switch off your email notifications while working. Check your messages one time in the morning, probably sometime after lunch, and once more before you call it a day. You’ll realize that you are able to reply to the significant ones as they come up, and still have time to get some real work done!

Take a break

A lot of people prefer working through their lunch breaks to squeeze in some more time at work. But a lot of experts feel that 45 minutes away from work can actually help you to be more efficient in the afternoon. A break is a perfect time to unwind and think of things other than work. Take a lazy stroll outdoors or, better still, do some free style exercises. You’ll come back to work feeling rejuvenated and with renewed focus. Scheduling your day with a lunchtime break will also help you to break up your work into more manageable chunks.

Don’t switch gears

Trying to juggle too many activities can be a huge time-waster. If you filing pieces of paper then making calls then sending emails then again filing more papers, your brain in a way is switching gears at every step. So try completing one type of to-do before moving on to the next task. You’ll find that you progress faster and get things done in a shorter amount of time when you’re in a groove!
These might seem like simple tasks but when combined they add up to a great improvement in efficiency and time management in your workplace.

If You're Looking for a New Job...Keep it Quiet!

They say it’s always better to start searching for a job while you already have one. But looking for a job while you’re already working can be rather tricky, particularly in the age of social media where privacy is scant! In a market where jobs still haven’t rebounded, you don’t really want to do something to risk your existing job—let alone jeopardize your chances of getting a new one.

So what happens when you already have a job and something better piques your interest or you just feel you’ve outgrown your existing job? Also in times when employers are poaching top performing workers from other organizations, you don’t really want your present employer to know that you’re looking for a new job!

So just read a few tips on how to look for a new job while keeping your current one secure:

Carefully choose people to confide in:

Keeping your intent to yourself can be the best thing that you can do to start with. Word gets around, and if a co-worker or your boss gets the wind of this then they may start looking for your substitute, even before you’ve actually scheduled for an interview. So for all reasons and intents, avoid slacking off, behave normal and stop ranting about how much you would prefer being somewhere else.

Network with Caution:

Your social media profile can be a brilliant tool for searching a job, but not essentially in the way you might think. Revamping your online profile suddenly and uploading your resume can draw unwanted attention. Rather, you should quietly explore your network of connections for job opportunities. And in case you have several connections, you can look for people who have the same skills as yours and see what companies they work for. This can give you some really good clues for your future job search.

Do it in your own time:

Steer clear of taking calls or scheduling interviews during your working hours. Try doing them on weekends or after office hours. If it is unavoidable, then take a day off, but do it with discretion. Taking too many days off without any valid reason can set the alarm bells ringing. It’s always good to talk to your potential employer about scheduling your interview after office hours. Not only will they appreciate but also value your commitment towards your existing work.

Be selective about your references:

It’s quite possible that your references are a part of your close-knit network, so let them know that you are searching off the record. And of course – if you wish to keep your job search confidential from your existing managers, make sure that you don’t list them as a reference. Instead, give the names of previous managers or trusted colleagues from your present company who are aware of the scenario and can talk about your performance.

Don’t burn the bridges, leave on a positive note:

Till the time you at your existing job, keep working hard and doing the best that you can. Do not check out psychologically before you actually make an exit. Make sure you follow the appropriate protocol for resignation and not abscond without tying up any loose ends. You never know when you might require the recommendation of your current manager someday!

On the flipside, in case your manager gets to know that you are looking out, it’s always better to come clean and talk about it. Denying can make the situation awkward in the workplace. Best case scenario- it could be the opening point for some discussions for keeping you on board!

These Days Most Employers will Run a Background Check on You. What will they find?

While searching for a job, you often get tied up in the mundane task of submitting resumes, acing networking events and perfecting your interview skills. But one thing that generally slips your mind is another hurdle that you might have to cross: background check! Your heart starts to pound and questions fly through your mind: What exactly will the employers look for? And who all are they going to talk to?

In today’s security conscious world, ‘Background Checks’ have become the norm of the day.

Because of this increasing spotlight on employment background checks, job seekers are discovering ways to verify their own individual information before their future employers verify its precision. One way to validate the information found during employment screening is through a “self” background check. By doing so, candidates are not only proactively telling employers that they have a clean background but also increasing their chances of getting shortlisted.

Anatomy of a Background Check:

Companies have certainly become more cautious while hiring and are doing background checks of candidates more than ever before! This is to ascertain whether they are hiring the right person or not as research suggests that 60% job seekers are “fudging facts” on their résumés. For many employers, a background check is a dependable way of cross checking claims made by candidates during hiring.

In a tight job market, the appeal to overplay educational qualifications or enhance job histories is growing. And as a potential employee, wouldn’t you feel more secure in knowing that your colleagues have been screened to ensure they are eligible for the jobs they hold?

What do they look for?

Previous Employer Verification:

This is what makes most candidates nervous! Nearly everybody has had some sort of disagreement with their bosses. The apprehension centers on what those employers will say and how good or bad it would be. Generally, previous employers only confirm dates of employment, compensation and designation. References, both good and bad are normally not provided.

Your Education details:

Background Verifications also verify dates, degrees, majors and certifications that you have earned. This has become common as a result of the overpowering amplifications made by job seekers. Here is a tip: Candidates without formal degrees should not waste money on phony degrees or certifications. Be candid about your education. If you think you need something additional, sign up for a certified school. Your efforts to enhance or complete your learning will definitely be seen positively.

The Smarter thing to do:

Your future employer is most likely to run a background check on you. Depending on how in-depth their screening will be, they will learn about your educational records, past employment history and professional certificates. So why not be the smarter one and tell employers in advance about your pre- verified background? Well, now you can get your employment & education credentials pre-verified with the latest background check tool from Naukri.com. It will not only authenticate your experience and education but will also make you stand apart from the crowd.

The background screening industry is still in its nascent stage. However, the good news is that this trend is here to stay. So why not take matters in your own hands by proactively conducting a “self” background check on yourself and add credibility to your profile!

How Not to Stress at Work

Feeling so stressed that you just cannot think straight? Trust us, you’re not alone! Pretty often, in the race against time when we try to focus our attention on getting things done, we most likely experience resentment and anger when our intent or path gets blocked by others.

With faster lifestyles, 24/7 schedules and global workforces, the impact of stress at workplaces have become brutal on professionals working anywhere in the world. Things don’t always go as planned. Mistakes happen and emergencies arise! Therefore, we are left with no choice but to adapt to situations regardless, and in doing so, we often find ourselves surrounded in utterly spontaneous and at times stressful situations. Some say they function at their best when things get taxing. In fact, they find it quite exciting. But for many others, stress can have some very serious side effects.

So here are few quick ways to help you clear your mental clutter and stress less!

Don’t React, rather Act

We normally experience stress when we feel that a situation is out of our control. It triggers the stress hormones and if chronic, wears down self-confidence, focus and happiness. So, it’s very important that you identify the things you can control and things you cannot! Typically, you’re in control of your own responses and actions, but not of macro forces or somebody else’s attitude. Just be perfect for your own 50% and let go of the rest.

Streamline your work

Think of ways to manage and streamline your responsibilities. Planning, prioritizing and organizing are useful stress managers. Other strategies include defining roles, clarifying expectations, overseeing project schedules and finishing tasks ahead of deadlines. Sharpen your focus as well: Find ways to allocate time to the most significant tasks and learn the art of prioritizing in both your personal and professional lives.

Do away with Interruptions

Almost each one of us is bombarded with disruptions during the day. Emails, pop ins, calls, messages and urgent, unexpected deadlines conspire to distract you more than ever. While you may not be able to control the interrupters, you sure can control your responses. Accept the interruptions, cut them off or analyze their importance and make plans. Several interruptions are habitual and can be foreseen. You need to have preset criteria for responses you aspire to make. You can also train others around you by answering emails during certain windows, setting up hours in office for talking in person or closing the door when you require concentration.

Include stress breaks

Most people agree that they handle stress by temporarily disconnecting themselves, either psychologically or physically, from the source of their stress. One way is to get up from your work station and simply walk around or just get out for some fresh air after every few hours or so. Indulge in some shoulder shrugs or deep breathing, or just close your eyes for few minutes. Bonding with your colleagues is one of the most successful antidotes to stress in the office. Chatting over the water cooler, going together for lunch and sharing problems could be the best form of therapy.

Don’t ignore your health

Are you frequently too drained to deal with problems, queries, and others’ requirements? Do you yell often, slam doors, and lose your temper? Stress can be draining and devastating. If you are not exercising enough or getting fresh air into your lungs, then your body will eventually suffer and will make matters worse. So start today. Go for brisk walking until you feel puffed. Slow down your pace, then sit and watch the world go by for another 10 minutes while you recover. You will feel healthier already.

Remember, the best cures for stress are free! There are no pills or potions for stress. Simply changing your attitude, accepting things you cannot change, managing your well time and agreeing with people some of the times can do the trick for you.