Here's are five ways to negotiate your salary from Joe Turner (a former Recruiter) that he wrote back in 2009, and it still makes perfect sense today. I'm sure many of you will find this useful if you are unsure on how to go about negotiating a fair salary or if you just need a few pointers on the actual execution.



1. Know what you’re worth in your geography.
Well before you interview, do your salary research. Gather outside information on the current market value of your position. Credible Internet resources for this information include Salary.com, Payscale.com, Jobstar.org and Indeed.com. Their tools should give you a good market rate for the salary of peers in your position in your local area.

2. Monetize what you do.
If you want compensation, show how you’ll compensate the company by achieving its goals. Be prepared to sell return on investment : How will you make or save the company money? It's that simple. Be ready to cite specific situations where you have contributed to the bottom line, and plan to explain how your examples relate to the position you’re being offered. Since you should already have discussed ROI in your interview, it should be easy to recall those examples during salary negotiations. Money talks, and it works to your advantage to have several entries on your side of the ledger before you negotiate.

3. Postpone it.
Traditionally, compensation is the last element discussed in the interview. Considering today's economy, however, some interviewers may jump the gun and try to probe you for a figure early in the game. If this happens, you'll want to postpone that conversation. Chapman recommends practicing a specific phrase that you can use to delay salary negotiation should this situation arise.
Whatever you say, though, it shouldn't sound canned, too cutesy or overly rehearsed. When asked the salary question early, here is an example Chapman suggests you might try. Feel free to adapt it to your personal tastes:

"I'd love to talk to you about it, but can I ask you this ? The salary I'm asking for might not exactly match your figure, but I'm flexible. I wouldn't be screened out of an interview just for salary, would I?"

This is one way to put it back on them by asking a question that will be hard for them to reject out of hand.
Another technique Chapman suggests using is re-framing the priorities. For example, when asked about salary early in the interview, respond this way:

"That's really Number Three on my priority list. My Number One priority is to make sure that we can work together. Number Two is to make sure my ROI covers my salary at least three to four times over. And Number Three is the actual salary number.
While I'm happy to talk about salary, could we concentrate on Number One first?"

4. Use the magic four- letter word
When you're finally ready to address the salary, you can either let the company initiate it or you can be the one who goes first. Chapman suggests that you let the other party go first if you're concerned about security. Otherwise, go first and lead with a high number because it's always easier to negotiate down than up.

Once you hear that figure, Chapman also suggests responding with a four-letter word. That magic word is, "Hmmm."

Then you compare the figure they gave you with your previously researched figure. Respond with your researched response. Remember, you've already justified your value by this point. And you already know the comparable range companies are currently paying others to perform this function.

5. Don't forget the perks.
If they can't find the dollars to pay you up front, don't forget what Chapman calls "risk-factor dollars." This is the time to negotiate those non-cash items, like time off, flex hours, work from home and any other areas you'd like to put on the table. Review all the perks and benefits that you can. Your goal is to negotiate the best possible compensation package. Remember, they already want you. Now you're just negotiating your price. Don't be afraid to put the most important elements forward for discussion.
Your negotiating power will never be this high again. Once you've signed on the dotted line, your moment has passed, so use this opportunity to your best advantage.

Summary
The key point to remember is that as candidates, we have the same amount of power in salary negotiations whether we're employed or unemployed. While it's true we feel we have less leverage in today's market, too many candidates concede their power by accepting the first offer given. Take some extra time before your interview to employ these five tips and you'll more likely have a larger payoff in the end.

Please do not make these mistakes that most job seekers make!

1. BEING UNPREPARED
Being unprepared for interviews, career fairs and poorly presented resumes.

Instead: Plan ahead and make sure you are on top of everything from the clothes you will wear to pinpointing the location and having reliable transportation.

2. SHARING TOO MUCH
Sharing too much or getting too comfortable in an interview.

Instead: It is great to get friendly with interviewers to create that connection. BUT exposing yourself will ruin everything. It's great to let your interviewer know who you are but you must always remember to remain professional at all times. Sharing information about the crazy party you went to the night before and your hangover that you now have should definitely be left for your friends.

3. MISREPRESENTATION
Misrepresenting yourself on your résumé or in the interview.

Instead: Make yourself look good but make sure you are not lying. If you do not measure up to what you put down on ink at the interview, you will automatically be dismissed from possibly getting the job and it is very unprofessional and don't think that you will get another chance with that company.

If there is a specific company that you would like to work for, you must find out who the key contacts within that company are. The next step is to reach out to those key contacts.

This is exactly where networking will come into play. Remember we all can link ourselves together through mutual relationships so it's possible.

Social media networking is also another helpful factor in being introduced, meeting and developing a relationship with key contacts.

REMEMBER: Be patient, be persistent without being a “pest,” do your homework, open the lines
of communication with the company, and always build and maintain your network.

To lighten up things, I'd like to share a part of a quote that I think is very inspiring and motivational, and hopefully you will find that it is as well.

It's safe to say that nowadays it really is about who you know. This is exactly why if you are looking to get a new job, change careers or if you're even planning on a switch---you should network. For anyone that is serious about themselves, you should network ALWAYS even if you aren't looking for a new job. It is a great way to stay in the loop and add to your list of helpful connections.

With that being said, if you are shy it may seem hard to put yourself out there and network with strangers but with a few of my easy tips, you should be well on your way!

1. Seek Your Circle
When you first start out, network with the people you already know. This means start off by networking with your friends and family. The first thing anyone should do when starting to network is to get in touch with the people they already know. This way you can build your confidence before setting out to meet strangers. On top of that, people that you already know are more likely to point you in the right direction. They are usually the ones that go out of their way to see if they can help you out.

2. Remember these 5 Rules
Here goes the 5 rules from Dale Carnegie's book on networking titled, "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

For those of you looking for a career change or are looking to finish or go back to school, listen up because these fields will be in high demand next year!


Healthcare
Health care is a great need for people today, and according to analysts of the labor market, the opportunity to work in this area will continue to grow in coming years. Opportunities range from being a doctor or physical therapist assistant to a nurse or nursing assistant. The average salary for all professions and between $60,000 and $70,000 USD per year. To become a medical assistant, you need a college degree and a two-year training program, designed specifically for physician assistants. To become a physical therapist requires a master’s degree in physical therapy program and must obtain a license to pass an examination. If you wish to become a nurse, you must be prepared for three-year nursing diploma or four-year Bachelor of Nursing (Bachelor of Science in Nursing).

Information Technology
IT jobs such as software developers, software testers, technical writers, etc., certainly qualify for a career at a good wage level for 2012. Despite the recession, there has been a steady increase in demand for personal computers. On average, an IT professional with several years of experience can expect to make approximately $90,000 per year. To become a computer engineer, you need a degree in computer science. To become a systems analyst for the network, you need a degree in computer science or a degree in liberal arts. In some cases, a two-year associate degree is all you need to enter this profession.

Business and Finance
There are many opportunities for employment growth in this sector. The recession has spurred the demand for accountants and auditors – those who manage a company’s accounts and annual tax returns. Financial analysts and financial advisers who support the board of a company in making good decisions so that profits can be made are also in strong demand. Experienced financial consultants can expect to make about $100,000 per year. Other work such as director of sales, director of human resources, market research professionals are also experiencing growth.

Education
Teaching jobs, either at school or university is one of the best careers in 2012. Recession or no recession, there is always a demand for teachers. To qualify as a teacher, you will need four-year bachelor’s degree in education at primary or secondary. After obtaining the Degree a year is required for a teacher training certificate. With a Master’s Degree you must obtain a license to teach from the Department of Education. If you are going to become a professor, you must have completed a PhD. Salaries are competitive, while the stress is reduced with the teacher receiving a number of holidays throughout the year.

Media/Communication
With the huge increase in Internet traffic, there will be a great demand for people like content editors, bloggers and those who maintain web sites. Advertising professionals, designers of video games, actors, editors, graphic designers and other jobs in the media are among the growth job opportunities.

No matter what you do, I always suggest to people that you get into something that you love. When you do something you love, you excel in it. There's no point in getting into a field that you hate and let your life pass you by to ultimately quit one day. Get started now! Get into a field with growth that you can see yourself doing for years to come. Use your creativity to create opportunities for yourself so that you are happy financially and spiritually.

Good luck!

It shouldn't be any surprise to know that the importance of a resume is huge when job-hunting. You can say what you want but hiring managers want to see proof. Depending on the type of job you are searching for, you will need a resume, CV (curriculum vitae) and a cover letter even when filling out an online application.

These documents are VERY important and I can't stress this enough. Even so, HMs will only spend a few seconds looking at it before they decide whether they are interested or if they will toss it in the trash. This is why you need to create powerful resumes and cover letters---and I do mean that in the plural sense. If you need help with creating a powerful resume and or CL, please feel free to let me know by clicking here to get help.

Once you have your docs to back you up, it's time to start applying for jobs! Online job banks such as CareerBuilder and Monster are helpful and job boards such as Indeed are as well. Networking is another great way to land a job and can prove to have long-term results as well. Building your network is important not just for now but for your future as well.

The last step you need to take is just as important as the first: Follow up! Send thank you letters after you were invited to come in for an interview. These should be sent within 24 hours of your meeting. Also, if you were interviewed and haven't heard back from the employer, take initiative and inquire about the status of your candidacy and ask if you can provide any additional information that can help them with their decision.