So why does everyone want to know how much money you make? Have you ever heard, "what's the least amount you will consider?". LEAST?! Shouldn't they just pay market value? I hear your frustration.
Let me share the Headhunter's perspective.
Personally, I always want to know how much candidates made broken down by salary, bonus, etc. I also want to know when bonuses are paid out and what they expect to receive. What this tells me is the perceived value of the candidate/role within that organization.
Feel like you were underpaid in your last job? Than get certified, take classes, increase your skills. It is not the next employers’ responsibility to help you make huge leaps in your salary. The assumption is that there are skill gaps. Any gaps should be worked through at your current employer.
Feel like you were overpaid or just paid well? It's nice to be rewarded and recognized for our contributions. Don't be shy. It's about how that organization perceived and valued you and your role. There is a lot to be proud but don’t let it get in your way. Recognizing that sometimes high compensation can put you out of the range; be flexible and know your threshold. Understanding that you would be open to hearing about opportunities that paid less is definitely worth sharing.
Companies are living organisms and are constantly evolving. Depending on the industry, philosophy and developmental stage . . . let’s face it – some companies pay better than others. Some have better benefits. Some give us the feeling of making an important contribution to the world. There are lots of variables.
Guess what? I too want to know your minimum. If the job is right, would you take it for $$$$? I need to know when not share an opportunity. It's a delicate line. I don't want to insult someone yet I don't want them to miss out on an opportunity. That's why I ask. It’s not like shopping. The headhunter chooses what opportunities to share with you.
I know that most information will tell you to avoid giving money information. I disagree with that and here's why. Expect that you are talking to a reputable company that appreciates what you bring to the table. If not, are you really interested in working for them? When you are asked the question directly and avoid answering it, it creates an awkwardness that you both feel. Relationships are built on trust. If you're holding back, there is no trust. What people take away from meetings is not the remembrance of what was said but how that person made them feel. You decide if you want awkward or trust. I always chose trust.
As a headhunter, keep in mind that I want to get the most for you that I can. Let's be real . . . it needs to be within market rate based on your skills. And we need to have a relationship built on trust.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Relationships Matter - LinkedIn
LinkedIn has over 39 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members. I’m guessing that neither Facebook nor Twitter can boast those stats. So if you are looking to increase your professional contacts, invest some time filling in your profile and learning your way around LinkedIn.
First, decide how you will use LinkedIn. I use it to instantly find out more about people whether they are prospects, clients, candidates or people I just come in contact with. I’m curious, it’s just my nature. I will not connect with just anyone. My rule is that I need to have met them or been introduced in some way. Others will be “open” networkers whose goal is to collect as many names as possible. You need to decide what’s best for you. If you want to connect with everyone, include your email address after your name and in your contact information so it is visible to all. When people do this, the assumption is that you are an open networker.
10 Quick Steps for getting the most out of LinkedIn
1. Fill in all or most of your previous jobs – this allows you to easily connect with anyone that worked/works for those companies.
2. Write a great summary. When doing keyword searches this is where many words will be picked from. Be sure and include all words that you want to be identified with.
3. When you are in “Edit My Profile”, set your public profile so you are easily found. Mine is www.linkedin.com/in/karenfrey.
4. References – There is an easy tool to ask for references within LinkedIn. References add credibility especially if someone is looking for your expertise and knows the reference.
5. Be an Expert – There are questions and answers about every subject you can think of. LinkedIn users post and answer questions. The user that posts the question determines the best answer. That person is deemed an Expert. Answer multiple questions and become an expert in specific categories.
6. Introductions – Whenever you are sending an invitation to connect, I highly recommend that you include a personal note. If the person refuses your invitation and notes that they don’t know you, you may be blocked from sending some invites. Usually a short reminder of how you know the person will do the job.
7. Boolean logic – Boolean logic has to do with logical operations for conducing searches. Looking for the top HR person with an organization? Use advanced search - in the title type: VP OR Vice President OR Chief AND Human Resources. It’s important the OR and AND are capitalized. Try different combinations, titles, etc. You’ll probably come up with several names, one of which is the person you’re looking for. This is a great sorting tool.
8. Join Groups – This allows you to reach more people and for more people to reach you. There is a limit as to how many groups you can join. I think it’s 50. My suggested is to stick to groups that pertain to what you are trying to accomplish. You can adjust the frequency of the updates that you receive.
9. Create a group – You can be the one who decides who joins and who doesn’t. Just follow the directions on LinkedIn.
10. Signature link for emails – By adding a line on your email signature, you’ll be amazed at the number of people that follow the click to your LinkedIn profile. It just another way to brand and reinforce what you do.
So there are your 10 quick steps for getting started on LinkedIn. Good luck and happy networking.
First, decide how you will use LinkedIn. I use it to instantly find out more about people whether they are prospects, clients, candidates or people I just come in contact with. I’m curious, it’s just my nature. I will not connect with just anyone. My rule is that I need to have met them or been introduced in some way. Others will be “open” networkers whose goal is to collect as many names as possible. You need to decide what’s best for you. If you want to connect with everyone, include your email address after your name and in your contact information so it is visible to all. When people do this, the assumption is that you are an open networker.
10 Quick Steps for getting the most out of LinkedIn
1. Fill in all or most of your previous jobs – this allows you to easily connect with anyone that worked/works for those companies.
2. Write a great summary. When doing keyword searches this is where many words will be picked from. Be sure and include all words that you want to be identified with.
3. When you are in “Edit My Profile”, set your public profile so you are easily found. Mine is www.linkedin.com/in/karenfrey.
4. References – There is an easy tool to ask for references within LinkedIn. References add credibility especially if someone is looking for your expertise and knows the reference.
5. Be an Expert – There are questions and answers about every subject you can think of. LinkedIn users post and answer questions. The user that posts the question determines the best answer. That person is deemed an Expert. Answer multiple questions and become an expert in specific categories.
6. Introductions – Whenever you are sending an invitation to connect, I highly recommend that you include a personal note. If the person refuses your invitation and notes that they don’t know you, you may be blocked from sending some invites. Usually a short reminder of how you know the person will do the job.
7. Boolean logic – Boolean logic has to do with logical operations for conducing searches. Looking for the top HR person with an organization? Use advanced search - in the title type: VP OR Vice President OR Chief AND Human Resources. It’s important the OR and AND are capitalized. Try different combinations, titles, etc. You’ll probably come up with several names, one of which is the person you’re looking for. This is a great sorting tool.
8. Join Groups – This allows you to reach more people and for more people to reach you. There is a limit as to how many groups you can join. I think it’s 50. My suggested is to stick to groups that pertain to what you are trying to accomplish. You can adjust the frequency of the updates that you receive.
9. Create a group – You can be the one who decides who joins and who doesn’t. Just follow the directions on LinkedIn.
10. Signature link for emails – By adding a line on your email signature, you’ll be amazed at the number of people that follow the click to your LinkedIn profile. It just another way to brand and reinforce what you do.
So there are your 10 quick steps for getting started on LinkedIn. Good luck and happy networking.
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