If a company reaches out to you about a position and they attempt to give you a lower salary than you expected. Always ask if there are any other positions that will meet your salary requirements.

I was in a phone interview and was given a salary way below my range. I was speaking to the regional manager about why my desired salary was what it was and I expressed I would be willing to negotiate a higher position to meet my desired salary. He happily let me know he would discuss with his team about a solution to this problem not even an hour later they went ahead and offered me a higher position with 30% more pay.

To clarify I ended up with my desired salary plus 30%. Well it looks like I made it to the front page boyos thanks for the fake internet points I will cherish them forever!

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If you have to pay a company to work for them, it's a scam. Walk away

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When applying for jobs online, save a copy of the job responsibilities and requirements. This information is usually not available after they stop accepting applications and will be useful when preparing for the interviews.

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Bored Retsuko

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Yes! I used to store each and every job offer as a pic/PDF on my computer (NOT just the online link, as it may be invalid later) immediately after sending my CV so that when companies would reply weeks or months later, I wouldn't be panicking, what did I actually apply to??!

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If you're looking for a job, mention it to everybody that you come in contact with. You never know whose sister's neighbor's uncle is hiring.

I was trying to make a career change in my mid-20s and was having problems getting my foot in the door. I visited a loan officer at my credit union in the middle of my job hunt and mentioned it to her.

Her eyes lit up, and she said that the person that she had just had a meeting with worked in HR at the kind of company that I was looking to get into. She said that she could pass on my information if that was okay with me.

She did, and within 24 hours this person contacted me and I had an interview at his company, and I was hired the next week. If I had never mentioned it to this loan officer, I wouldn't have gotten my foot in the door when I did.

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JMil

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(Maybe most relevant for university students): job fairs are a great way to get your face out to many managers quickly. Once I got a job offer in an interesting way: I had already applied to a position at a tech company but did not get a call back for weeks. Then I found the company at a job fair, had a good discussion with a manager, mentioned I had applied for x position and was hoping to hear back. Then, days later I called in for an interview and was offered a job later that week at a good salary.

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If a company offers you a temporary position with the potential for a full-time position at the end of your agreed-upon time of temporary work, then ask them for the details of the full-time position. At that point you can tell whether or not there really is a full-time position available.

So I just spent the last two and a half months working for a company as seasonal labor. Customer service during the busy time of the year. Over the past couple months all 13 people who were hired as seasonal have been told that 3 full-time positions would be given out to those with the best performance.

Now that the the date for our temporary position is two days away they have sent emails to people informing them of whether or not they received a position. the email stated that there was only a limited number of full-time positions and unfortunately you were not the one chosen.. As if they thought we would not talk amongst ourselves we found out that all 13 people were told the same thing.

In other words there were no full-time positions.

One person in our group was the smart one. When they got hired on they asked to see details of pay, benefits and the likely schedule of the potential full-time position. The job recruiter could not provide this at all. She said that they dodged this question multiple times and she knew right then and there that there would be no full-time positions given to anyone. Because the position did not exist.

So from now on when I get hired on a temporary basis with an expectation that it can lead to a full-time position I will be asking for the details of that potential job and you should too.

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Doug

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Also, if you're in the market for a full-time job and have to accept a part-time one for the moment... DO NOT STOP LOOKING FOR A FULL-TIME JOB!

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I've used the Occupational Outlook Handbook for decades to determine what it would take to get a job in a field and how much my work is worth. I am shocked how few people know it exists.

It gives the median income by region for many jobs. How much education you need (college, training, certs). How many jobs in the US there are, as well as projected growth. I've used it to negotiate for raises. It is seriously an amazing tool.

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If you’re in college/trying to build a career, land a part time job where rich people hang out.

A lot of career / portfolio building comes in forms of connections and who you know. In my specific example, I worked a part time job at serving at a country club that was a bit from my university (I also have friends who work in upper class retail / restaurants and it has the same exact effect).

You talk to so many well connected people and in turn make so many connections, and in ways that you wouldn’t even expect. You get business owners, doctors, etc. and if they aren’t doing what you want to do, they almost 100% know someone who does and they will hook you up. I scored a pretty solid med internship because one of my regulars had a friend in the field I wanted to go into. I got my friend a pretty decent house sitting job because another regular was going out of town and needed one.

This stuff is like LinkedIn in real life, and they all come to you. Every time you clock in it’s a networking event and you’re getting paid for it. Plus if you work for tips, they’re usually pretty damn good.

Though there are cons to this- you do have to service rich people and occasionally they can be just unholy and very entitled (most of my regulars are absolute dears). It’s also a lot of fake laughing, but I feel like that’s most customer-facing roles anyways. You do have to put in some time getting to know your regular patrons. It’s also still a job, so you’ll have to work. But it very much is a “you get what you put in” type of thing, without the legwork of actively seeking out the people.

EDIT: I think I should clarify a few things- I am not white, nor am I rich already. I do well at my job and get great marks in college because I want to go to med school. Anyone who knows what it’s like to be in a competitive field knows that it’s important and helps to at the very least know people and get your foot in the door. Does it suck that it’s the way it is? Absolutely. But I’ll be doing everything I can to succeed in a system that wants me to lose.

Further, these people are country club rich, not Kardashian rich. They are/were workers too and usually have built up their wealth just as we all have to. People who were born into wealth are people who aren’t worth talking to anyways about careers, because they don’t work, thus aren’t really meant to be included in this post. Regardless though if they’re rich or not, it’s always good to be kind to everyone.

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Keep a separate master resume with ALL previous work experience. When sending out a resume for application, duplicate the file and remove anything that may be irrelevant to the position. You never know when some past experience might become relevant again, and you don’t want to forget about it.

I guess I can shut down some of the disagreement by saying that every field does things a little bit differently, but this is what’s worked for me as a soon-to-be college grad, with little truly significant work experience, and wanting to go into education. Most American employers/career help centers I’ve met with suggest keeping it to about a page because employers won’t go over every resume with a fine-toothed comb right away. Anything you find interesting but maybe less important could be brought up in an interview as an aside, perhaps.

A few people have mentioned LaTeX. I use LaTeX often in my math coursework, but I’m not comfortable enough with it outside of mathematical usage for a resume. Pages (on Mac) has been sufficient for me.

As far as LinkedIn go, it’s a less-detailed version of the master document I keep, as far as work experience goes, but I go way more in depth into relevant coursework and proficiencies on LinkedIn than I do on paper.

TL;DR- I’ve never had two people or websites give the same advice about resumes. Everyone’s going to want it different. Generally in the US, the physical resume could afford to be shorter because it leaves room for conversation if called for an interview.

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This is a friendly reminder that employees currently have more power to negotiate for improved benefits and pay raises than at any point in the last 20+ years. Take advantage of it!!

Due to the shortage of employees, most employers are desperate for good help. That means you should be seeking pay raises, promotions, and increased benefits.

Unless you are completely satisfied with your job and your income, shop around. Chances are you will find someone desperate for help and willing to pay more than your current employer. If you like your job, shop around anyway, then politely ask your employer to match/beat those offers.

Look after yourself! This employment opportunity will not last forever!

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S Mi

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2 years ago

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And please know not all industries have access to more pay and benefits. I work in non profit - we don't *have* more money for you

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When applying for a job online, copy and paste your answers to their application questions into a word document so you can refer back before attending a later stage interview

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Doug

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Also keep a copy of the original job posting and the specific resume you submitted (you're tailoring your resume per application... right?)

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When writing your résumé, use the STAR method to describe what you did in previous positions: Situation, Task, Action, Result."
"Let's say you tutored some kids while in high school. Maybe your descriptive points look something like this:

• Tutored several Grade 10 students in math

• Explained mathematical concepts and assisted in test preparation

The main question you want to ask yourself after each point is, 'So what?' Okay, you taught some kids math — how are those skills applicable for the position you're applying for?

So using STAR, let's break it down:

Situation: These kids need help learning math.

Task: Teach them math.

Action: Okay, so how are you teaching them math? By explaining mathematical concepts and assisting in test preparation.

Result: The goal is to improve their academic performance and understanding of the subject. When applicable, use numbers. A 25% improvement is more helpful than 'improvement' with no quantifier.

So now we have:

• Improved Grade 10 students' academic performance by up to 25% by explaining mathematical concepts and assisting in test preparation

Tada! Isn't that so much better?

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Your cover letters purpose is to explain how your previous experience makes you ready for the job. "I can do x because I did y." At the same time you explain you understand the job. Then the CV becomes just "proof" of that.

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When interviewing for a job, YES, you always have another offer in the works.

When the interviewer asks "have you had any recent interviews or offers?" the answer is always a polite, measured version of 'yes'.

'Well, I did just have my second round interview with (their direct competitor), but no formal offer at present. I know the holidays slow things down a bit.'

If you say you have no other offers, there is no impetus to hire you, bump you up a pay grade, treat you like a human, etc. Besides which, everyone has competition... except f**king North Korea.

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Cyndielouwhoo

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2 years ago

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That got weird at the end...

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If you’re acting awkward and nervous at a job interview, it’s okay to verbally address your nervousness and indicate that it comes from your strong desire to get the job

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When interviewing for a job, when asked the salary question, turn that back around on the interviewer (nicely)!

This has worked for me on my last three jobs (one of them was a promotion) that I got. When the interviewer asks the question, 'What salary are you looking for?' instead of listing what you’re expecting, ask them instead.

I always start with explaining that I have been researching salaries in my field but wanted to know what they feel is a competitive salary for someone with my experience? (If this your first job interview or you’re going for an entry-level job that you don’t have experience in, you can always change the part about experience to 'this position').

Oftentimes, they will give you the number that they are expecting to pay for that position; and every time I ask a potential employer it has been at least $5K–$10K more then I was going to say.

This also helps you compare what they’re willing to pay vs. whether that salary is worth the job. AND you don’t run the risk of underselling yourself! (If they’re expecting to pay $60K and you say $40K, they’re not going to correct you and also might think that you are not as qualified or have a high opinion of your own self-worth).

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Doug

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Also jump on google and see if you're industry has a published salary guide. These guys have one for IT and other office roles in the USA and Canada. https://www.randstad.ca/salaries/salary-guide/

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LPT: Do not resign your current job until your next job’s background check is completed.

I just watched this scenario unfold: Employee gets a new job - hurrah! Employee resigns from current job sure that their background check is clean. Background check comes back and there is red flags. Red flags causes employer to revoke the job offer. Person has now resigned their current position (no takebackies) and hasn’t truly secured their current position.

Don’t do that. Just wait until your background check is completed before quitting.

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Actually follow the pre-interview instructions. Just had an interview that required me to watch a video that ended with "And remember, the keyword is 'pickle'". The first question they asked me was "whats the keyword?". Not everyone knows it, they said.

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If an entry level job lists "Sales" as one of the responsibilities you can safely ignore anything else listed, that will be your job.

There are a plague of "companies" (fronts) out there that prey on college grads (particularly grads that don't have an immediately applicable non STEM degree) desperate for a job or retail workers that desperately want out of the big box retail store scene. They will list these jobs as being "Event Coordinators" or "Marketing Associates". It's a lie, you can find these people at stores like Costco trying to sell some useless appliance that no one wants or going door to door trying to sell other appliances that no one wants.

And the recruiters that craft these resumes are VERY good at just bending the truth enough that what is on the job description isn't technically a lie, but any reasonable person's interpretation of the description is nothing like the reality of the position. That's why the title is what it is: if they list sales, that is what you will be doing and nothing else.

An easy way to avoid this is to google the name of the company you are applying to. Either nothing will come up or they will be associated with other companies that are accused of doing the same thing.

TLDR: Be careful which companies you invest time into when you are applying and interviewing for a job.

Something that I should have clarified is that I don't have a problem with sales jobs or people that work them. The point is that if the company feels the need to hide what the job is or lie about it on the description, something isn't right.

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Don't get too attached to "dream" schools or "dream" jobs before you really get some first-hand experience. Most of these places/careers are considered "good" because of abstract prestige, not based on having healthy environments that promote growth and personal happiness.

There are a lot of prestigious jobs that are way more stressful than people think from the outside and are also not a good fit for most personality types, yet so many people want them. Also, prestigious institutions rarely are highly ranked based on how well they treat their employees and having a non-toxic work environment - in fact, it's often the opposite.

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During a job interview after they question you about your experience turn it around by asking them why you would want to work for them and what they have to offer for you. shifting an interview like that will show MASSIVE confidence and gets you into a much better position for discussing terms.

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Be careful not to let your guard down in conversations with figures of authority when the conversation is informal, friendly, and non-accusatory.

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LPT: in a job interview when they ask if you want anything to drink, ask for a glass of water and nothing else!

They will most likely ask if you want tea or coffee, which you absolutely don't and here is why: Tea or coffee leads down a rabbit hole of sub questions to what kind of tea or coffee, with or without milk, sugar or sweetener and possibly with people having to run down to the kitchen for your order. It creates an awkward pause at a time when you really just want to get on with the show and will ultimately end up with you getting a piping hot beverage which you have no chance of finishing during a 20 minute interview, where you do most of the talking. So what happens instead is that you burn your hands and mouth and leave most of the cup behind for them to clean up after you leave.

Water is a different story however! you *do* want to get a glass (or bottle) of water as it will generally be much faster for them to handle (it will most likely already be in the room) and it has a few practical uses during a job interview: water will refresh you, immediately clear up a dry mouth and give you a natural excuse to take a sip and win a few extra seconds to think about a difficult question.

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If a prospective employer won't move forward unless you disclose your current pay, include your annual 401k match in that figure. Unlike a discretionary bonus, a 401k match is contractually obligated. It just happens to automatically go in your retirement savings.

Obviously, the employer is trying to see how much they can lowball you by asking your current salary. By giving this answer you're not lying about your total compensation.

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When applying for a job, save the job description. It’ll make adding it to your resume much easier.

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LPT: treat job interviews like you are interviewing them to see if they are worth your time. You will appear as a stronger candidate.

If they aren't worth your time, don't take the job. A lot of garbage companies out there.

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To all young teenagers looking for their first job, do not have your parents speak or apply for you. There's a certain respect seeing a kid get a job for themselves.

We want to know that YOU want the job, not just your parents.

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LPT: Stuck in a low wage retail job and want more? The print/sign industry is where to look.

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Don't know what to do with that English degree and everybody is making fun of your major. Find a job in the legal field. Being able to read, write, and communicate effectively is the cornerstone of the legal profession.

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