| CAREERS NOW 05-11-08 |
| Some Willing To Take Less Pay with New Jobs |
DEAR JOYCE: I thought I had a firm job offer last week. Before I accepted,
I attempted to negotiate a slight bump in pay and a small gas allowance. The offer was rescinded and I'm moving
on. My question: Has the tight economy already driven down salary rates? - M.C.
Hourly wages are known to be flat but a clear picture of what's happening to salaries as professionals change jobs
is still in the shadows.
A May 2008 Jobfox survey reports that many job seekers - including in-demand technology specialists - are accepting
new positions at lower salaries than they did just a month ago. In fact, some median yearly salary ranges being
asked for by job seekers declined $10,000 compared to April.
Jobfox (jobfox.com), a new breed career-connection site on the Internet,
noted that career functions showing up in the shrinking salary column include software design and development,
product management, networking and system administration, finance and government contracts administration.
On the cheerier side, the new Jobfox report also notes that many new job openings are being filled by professionals
who are still getting a personal salary increase to go along with greater responsibilities. Compensation experts
have long observed that when moving to a bigger job, it's reasonable to expect a bump of 15 percent to 20 percent.
So whether you can still command top dollar for what you do apparently depends upon whether you're offering top-line
skills in an in-demand career field or industry and know how to market yourself on the high end. Read all about
it in "Tough Times Don't Mean Tough Luck on Salary," a recent Wall Street Journal article by Sarah E.
Needleman.
By contrast, when you don't stand out among competitors, your commodity status may force you to lower your expectations,
at least until the current downturn reverses.
DEAR JOYCE: In applying for an international job, should I include my blog address in my contact information
on my cover letter and resume? - T.H.
If your blog casts you in a favorable light as a job candidate, don't let them leave home without it. Moreover,
if you're aiming for a job overseas, include a Skype address, advises James M. Lemke, director of international
development for Opportunity International, a nonprofit organization operating around the globe. Skype allows free
calling, a feature that encourages a distant employer to contact you. One more tip for international searches from
Lemke: Spell out the name of your state, add USA and end with your zip code; example: Carlsbad, California USA
92011.
DEAR JOYCE: Have you ever heard of taking flowers to a company receptionist to enlist her help in setting
up a job interview with a specific manager? If so, what was the outcome? - C.W.R.
Yes, I've heard about the flowers approach. Several times. It didn't work any of those times.
Stories about creative hellos to hiring professionals are chuckle fodder in employment circles; I can only think
of one gimmick door-buster that worked well enough to spark an invitation to interview: the giant aspirin. The
recipient was Martin Burns, recruiting manager at Zoom Information Inc. (zoominfo.com).
Burns recently wrote about the pitch in his delightful blog (www.recruiter.wordpress.com):
"One day I got a box. It wasn't ticking, swathed in duct tape, from my wife, or snarling. So I figured it
was safe. When I opened it, there was a giant aspirin (about a half foot across and an inch deep) made out of some
kind of ceramic."
Burns said the aspirin's cover letter was from a young man applying for a job in sales:
"You're probably wondering why you received a giant aspirin in the mail. Over the past few months I've been
debating whether or not to take the next step in my career path. During that time I've been able to read quite
a few of your blog posts. This giant aspirin, in particular, is for the next poorly put together cover letter and
resume that comes across your desk. I hope mine isn't one of them."
Did Aspirin-Boy get the job? No, but Burns noted that the young man did get two interviews and landed in the keepers
file for a future job opening.
Just one more example of a lack of absolutes in job search.
Email Joyce
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