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Four Ways to Prepare for the Dreaded Salary Expectation Question in an Interview

Published

9 years ago

on

BY KEISHA JOHNSON

“I bargained with Life for a penny,                                                                                                                            And Life would pay no more                                                                                                                          However I begged at evening                                                                                                                              When I counted my scanty store;
For Life is just an employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have paid.”

― Jessie B. Rittenhouse

Last week we shared tips from various hiring managers, business leaders and a psychologist for effective ways to integrate into the Canadian job market. Following on that, let’s look at another needling concern for just any professional, whether newcomer or Canadian. The topic of salary expectations and how to navigate this question in a job interview.

Not many people are comfortable responding to this question in an interview, whether for fear of underselling themselves, seeming greedy or confrontational or disqualifying themselves from the opportunity.

There are two dominant schools of thought concerning whether you should broach the topic, when and how.

One suggests, it is only practical for a candidate to ask the going salary or salary range of a position upfront so as to determine its fit for their financial needs and therefore whether the job is worth pursuing. In some cases too, this question may be included in a pre-interview form that you are expected to complete and is therefore unavoidable up front. In such cases, experts suggest the question is there to help interviewers sort applicants. So know the going rate.

The second approach suggests you allow the interviewer to put this information on the table if and when they so choose, and that you should delay a direct response for as long as possible, until both you and the interviewer are agreed that you and the organization are a good fit for each other.

In either case, if you are asked to indicate your salary expectation you want to navigate this topic with confidence and tact.

Some foundational keys to help manage this discussion, whichever phase of the interview process it arises, lie in preparation and research that allows you to: Know the market range, know what you can live with, know your worth and establish your value to the organization.

Know the market range: Research your field of work. Look at current job listings, the salary ranges, competencies required and scope of responsibilities among similar sized organizations in your geographic locations of interest. This information can be sourced from most job sites such as Indeed, Monsterjobs as well as other online resources such as payscale.com, glassceiling.com or salary.com. Many industry associations also collect salary data from their members that they share with the public. Do a comparison from the various sources to get a fair range. When you know the going rate and range you can confidently reference this info in the interview and demonstrate that you are abreast and knowledgeable of current trends in your field.

Know what you can live with: Before you pursue any job interests, be clear about your own financial obligations and goals. Be realistic about what you can live with. There may be perks and benefits that fulfill some of your goals. Balance those and the salary against the funds you actually need to meet your responsibilities and live. This will help you to avoid underselling yourself or committing to a lowball figure just to secure a job that in the end cannot meet your needs.

Know your worth in the labor market: “The best way of knowing your worth is to keep a toe dipped in the market. By monitoring new jobs in your industry you’ll know whether you’re paid fairly and get an idea of the areas you might need to work on to secure a higher salary,” Mary Ellen Slayter, a Monster careers expert suggested in a Forbes article by Jacquelyn Smith on How to Handle Uncomfortable Salary Discussions at Work. When you are confident in your worth you can articulate this within the perspective of the value you bring to an organization. To most interviewers, this inspires confidence in you as someone who is fair and has potential to grow with an organization.

Establish your value to the organization: The rationale for the delay tactic to answering the question on salary expectations is to gather sufficient information about the opportunity and allow you time to win over the interviewer or convince them that you are the best candidate for the job. Once you demonstrate that you bring the value, potential and solution they are looking for, you increase your leverage for negotiating a compensation package. According to professional staffing company Robert Half, increasingly, “competitive compensation is the best defense against loosing top talent”. A company that recognizes this and your value to them will pay you what you are worth without you having to haggle too much, if any at all, over dollars and cents.

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Professional Development

As a community we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street?

Published

3 years ago

on

February 9, 2022

By

Photo Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

BY DAVID ANDERSON

Do you know what the problem is? We can never stand up as one and unite for change. I am getting really sick and tired of this crab in a bucket mentality. As a community, we have not done enough. We have not built enough. Instead of correcting history, we have chosen the path of repeating it. I mean it is true we cannot hide from who we are but grow and learn from who we were. We cannot be afraid to let our brothers and sisters continue to separate.

As a community, we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street? How come it has never been remade since the tragic Tulsa race massacre that took place May 31st and June 1st 1921? City officials, to attack Black business owners, and residents gave the people weapons. They destroyed homes in Tulsa Oklahoma. What was once a flourishing community in Tulsa Oklahoma was reduced to nothing but campfire stories. This left a negative impact on the Black community.

Have you ever heard the phrase crabs in a bucket? This is a metaphor for people who either live in the same environment or are after specific goals. What we all get confused about is that there is enough for everyone.

I used to hate the saying “Let’s get this bag,” because it puts one trophy at the top of the pedestal. Humans are so competitive that they would rather sabotage their future as long as they beat you or finish first. This is how you burn bridges that you will have to cross again in life.

Working towards one goal usually is beneficial to each individual or as a collective (team). Every sports team makes it clear what their goals are in the pre-season. This allows coaches and players to develop a relationship that is based on trust and personal development. Each time they step out on the field or court they have their teammates’ best interest at hand. This will create chemistry, which only strengthens relationships and performance. We have to be able to depend on and trust one another. We need to learn from our mistakes and be proactive in correcting them.

As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to build strong relationships and communities. This might not be easy, but it is beneficial for you, family, business and community. As a leader you must have the ability to rally people in your community towards a cause. You have the ability to start a community organization. You possess the skills to make a change in your life, for your family and community. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. We need to learn more about our history, or it will repeat itself. We need to learn from other great cities, villages, and kingdoms.

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Professional Development

How to Boost Your Marketing Agency’s Growth in 2022

Published

3 years ago

on

November 24, 2021

By

Want to boost your marketing agency’s growth over the course of the next calendar year? If so, you’ve found the right article. Below, you will find insightful information regarding the current scalability of the advertising sector, as well as comprehensive advice on what you can do to play an active role in this ongoing development.

Here are three things you can do to boost your marketing agency’s growth in 2022:

Home in your niche market
You aren’t going to grow your marketing agency until you showcase your skill, credibility, and reliability. In order to cultivate this type of reputation for yourself, you need to offer a specific service incredibly well. Distracting yourself with unnecessary service ranges will detract from your ability to build this authority, which is why you are advised to home in on a niche market segment. This will entail you providing a narrow yet effecting promotional service until you are capable of taking your agency to the next level.

There are plenty of niche marketing markets for you to tap into, eight of which include:

  1. Digital marketing
  2. Outbound or inbound marketing
  3. Content marketing
  4. Social media marketing
  5. Voice marketing
  6. Email marketing
  7. Influencer marketing
  8. Word-of-mouth marketing

Embrace white label SEO
If you choose to go down the digital marketing route in your expansion endeavor, you should seriously consider embracing white label SEO. This will allow you to expand your web-based advertising initiative without draining your time, effort, money, or resources.

To ensure that you receive a substantial ROI from white label SEO, it’s recommended that you partner up with a reputable reseller such as Click Intelligence Canada. This industry authority will help you to generate a new source of revenue, they will offer SEO solutions tailored around your specific expertise, and they will provide a cost-effective platform for your agency’s growth. Ultimately, this level of assistance will allow you to focus on what truly matters — your company’s ongoing scalability.

Simplify your project management
The way in which you manage your projects will have a profound effect on your marketing agency’s success going forward. In this instance, it’s important that you avoid overcomplicating things at all costs. This will only make life ten times harder for yourself, s it will eat away at both your time and effort. Ultimately, this will decrease the likelihood of you meeting your crucial advertising campaign deadlines.

When attempting to simplify your project management process, your first port of call should be to prioritize your daily tasks by level of importance. This will help you to screen out unimportant tasks and subsequently aid you in your attempt to focus on critical marketing matters.

Are you determined to take your marketing agency to the next level in 2022? If so, be sure to heed the growth and development advice laid out above. Home in on a niche market, embrace white label SEO, and simplify your project management — do all of that, and you’ll be scaling the lofty heights of your niche industry sooner rather than later.

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Professional Development

Ergonomic Home Office- Choosing The Best Furniture Pieces

Published

4 years ago

on

June 3, 2020

By

BY ELLA BRAUN

The COVID crisis has brought a sudden transition for the world, particularly in the form of the work from the home switch. The biggest challenge, however, is that most of us are not equipped with a proper working area at home. Like everyone else, you would also want to have a dedicated office space that makes you feel productive. When it comes to creating such a home office, comfort is important. After all, you cannot expect to do your best in the workspace if you are not comfortable enough. If you are planning to create an ergonomic home office, choosing the right furniture pieces matters the most. Here are some tips to pick the best ones.

Assess the available space
Even before you start preparing a wishlist of furniture pieces, assess the available area. Not everyone has a spare room for creating a dedicated office, so space struggles are more real than you think. Measure the area and consider the essential pieces you would want to fit in. You may have to differentiate between needs and wants and skip some things if there isn’t enough room.

Consider the work hours
From the ergonomic perspective, it is important to consider the number of hours you would be working every day. For example, you can give precedence to style if you plan to use the home office for only a few hours in a day. However, comfort is absolutely essential if you have long working hours. You may even consider having a standing work desk apart from the sitting arrangement to prevent the ill-effects of prolonged sitting.

Have a budget to start with
Right now, you may be pressed for cash but a proper workspace is something that you can’t do without. Having a budget before you start shopping is a good idea. You may even look for deals like an IKEA flyer or coupon online to fit the best-branded furniture in your budget. Quality is vital when it comes to ergonomics because good brands go the extra mile to create designs that are easy on the body.

Choose pieces that fit you
If comfort is your top priority while picking furniture for your work area, you need to go the extra mile to find pieces that actually fit your body. Consider proportioned height for your chair and table if you are too tall or too short. Exploring and trying before buying is a great idea. Of course, your office furniture should look great but ease is something that you cannot ignore.

Don’t forget your personal style
Even as you look for pieces that are comfortable, don’t forget your personal style. Also, make sure that it blends with your home decor, particularly when you are creating a workspace in your living room or bedroom. Consider the aesthetic elements such as colour and design. At the same time, invest in durability and quality as well.

Although creating a home office can be easy, you need to be extra sure about ergonomics. After all, an easy space makes you feel more productive and keeps you healthy as well.

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