“Knowledge is power.” ~ Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
You've started your new job, and it’s a given that you’ll learn the technical and business aspects involved. But a little understood strategy in placing yourself firmly at the first rung of the corporate ladder is also to build your knowledge base of the corporate infrastructure.
Le tout nous gardons un homme attente,
il réfléchit sur nos lacunes.
~ French Proverb
The English translation to the quote above is, “All the while we keep a man waiting, he reflects on our shortcomings.” There is truth in this! If you're late for work, a meeting, an assignment, event, or any occasion you run the risk of engendering negative thoughts about you in the minds of those who are punctual or who you've kept waiting. To some, being tardy equates to being undependable, untrustworthy, unsuitable and even unlikeable.
Hard work spotlights the character of people:
some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses,
and some don’t turn up at all.
~ Sam Ewing, American Writer and Humorist (1920-2001)
You did it! You’ve been hired and you’re starting your new job. Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of your job search and now you’re beginning another journey – one in which you must remain sharp and professional to achieve job and career success.
Your Brand Name Is Only As Good As Your Reputation
~ Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group Ltd
Companies devote precious time and resources to marketing their brands to clients, prospects, consumers, shareholders, investors, underwriters and other important audiences. They target colleges and universities and other audiences for talent acquisition. Yet employers consistently overlook another very formidable audience: job applicants and candidates. How employers treat this audience during the recruitment process is crucial to their success not only in attracting talent but in enhancing their reputations across all audiences in the present as well as in the future.
Negotiation Practice Makes Perfect
When you are not practicing,
remember, someone somewhere is practicing,
and when you meet him he will win.”
~ Ed Macauley, Hall of Fame Basketball Player
Employers have had a lot of practice in the craft of salary negotiation. So when you approach job-offer negotiations, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, keep in mind the time-honored phrase, “practice makes perfect.” Just as you practiced your interview answers, questions, strategies and techniques, practicing your negotiation scenarios will help you to perfect your performance and showcase your presence and poise at the negotiation table. In turn, your negotiation style will provide your potential employer with a preview of your business savvy.
Negotiating Non-Salary Items
“Don’t bargain yourself down before you get to the table.”
~ Carol Frohlinger
My last two blog entries focused on salary negotiation (Step Up To The Salary Negotiation and Women and Salary Negotiation). This week's entry concentrates on non-salary items that typically are included in an Offer Package (AKA Benefits Package). It's important to review all items carefully to determine if they are adequate for your needs and competitive with other similar companies.
Women and Salary Negotiation
The Feminine Negotiation Mystique
There’s a lot of buzz lately about the need for women to enter into salary negotiations when they receive job offers. This is due in part to Sheryl Sandberg’s modern bestselling manifesto, Lean In: Women, Work, And the Will To Lead, in which she describes nearly accepting Mark Zuckerberg’s first offer to join Facebook without negotiating salary and other terms. Ironically, it was at the urging of her husband and brother-in-law that she went on to “negotiate hard,” and the result was she received an “improved” offer, which she accepted.
Step Up to the Salary Negotiation
Don’t Leave Money on the Table
“Don’t leave money on the table,” is the advice of negotiators, and applies whether you're investing, navigating a business deal, applying for financial aid, making an offer on a house, wrangling over the sticker price on a new or used car, haggling with a market vendor, bartering over your allowance or negotiating your starting salary, benefits, perks and other fine points of your newly-minted job offer.
The Post-Interview Follow Up
“If you hesitate,
some bolder hand will stretch out before you and get the prize.
~ P.T. Barnum
Your interview is over. It’s time to walk the fine line of finesse and assertiveness. You should continue to express interest in the position, while avoiding the appearance of being a pest. Always be positive and appreciative, never arrogant or negative.
Therefore, before you leave the interview and send your written thank you(s), ask for the expected timeframe to make the hiring decision. This information will help you to plan your follow-up strategy.
The Luncheon Interview
“The world was my oyster but I used the wrong fork.”
~Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde's quotation is a metaphor for the choices he made. Its meaning for you is although you've made it this far, all can be forfeited if you fail the final test that many employers require: a demonstration of your table manners. Many positions require attendance at meetings and events that involve dining; exhibiting top-notch table manners proves that you can be trusted to represent the company well. In a close race, the smallest details can reveal the victor.
Jeanne Nelson 