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Articles
Several Super Salary Sites
Salary is one of those topics which can determine whether or not a job seeker will accept a job offer or decline it. It’s also a topic that is hard to get a handle on, especially when first entering the job market or making a move from one industry/position to a different one. However, there are a number of online resources you can use to help get an idea of the potential salary for any given position. Salary.com. This resource, while not always easy to use, will let you look at the bell curve of salary for different positions in your...
read moreSalary Expectation & Negotiation: A Perspective
Money, get away. Get a good job with more pay and you’re okay. – Pink Floyd “Money” (1973) In today’s society, almost everyone needs some money. Most feel like they either want or need more, and our jobs are usually the biggest source of income. For many years if you stayed at a job you could expect annual pay increases by working hard, being reliable, etc. and promotions were held up as a carrot. When thinking about how much you get paid (hourly or salary) it is important to consider the value of the benefits that come with the job....
read moreWhy the In-between isn’t Always So Bad
We have all been there. You’ve just finished up one section of your life, and are waiting to embark on the next. You’ve tidied up all the loose ends from your last endeavor, you’ve begun planning for your next opportunity, maybe you’ve even done a little physical cleaning around your house/apartment to make way for the future. However, it seems the future is still some way off, so now you are faced with the waiting game. You are in the In-between. We’ve all been there, some of us more often than others. It’s not a very fun place to be,...
read moreFive Ways to Propel Your Career Forwards
Moving forward, regardless of situation, is hard. Moving forward from a failure can be difficult because of a fear of future failure. You’re probably also stressed at the thought of conflicts ahead. However, moving forward from a success can be difficult as well. You’ve finally succeeded, and realistically you want time to relax and recuperate. More than likely, you’re coming down from a stress high after working to achieve your goal for who knows how long. However, the key to moving forward from either situation is the same; use the...
read moreHow to Move Onward and Upward in Your Career
As professionals, we are all interested – for various reasons – in improving our work situation. These improvements can take a variety of forms: more responsibility, more money, an office with a door, an office with a window, flexibility to work from home, etc. I have some ideas on what you can do to improve your chances at achieving some or all of these changes. Be kind and respectful to EVERYONE. Most, maybe all, work cultures have a hierarchy. Sometimes it’s really clear who has power and who does not. Other times it may be more “flat” but...
read morePost-Interview: The Follow-Up
If you’re like me, then after you’ve had an interview, you smile and shake the hand of the hiring manager before heading out to your car feeling alternately triumphant and nervous. And then you wait. And wait. And wait. Sometimes, you’ll hear right away. Only a day or two will go by before you’ll receive an email, proclaiming the news either way. But more often than not, a week or three or even four will go by without hearing anything. Occasionally, you won’t have any reply at all, and be left to draw your own conclusions. This seems to be...
read moreFive Interview Do Nots
Interviewing is a moment in the job search that never fails to be nerve-wracking. You sit in a new place, perhaps wearing an uncomfortable outfit, and do your best to be impressive while also sounding humble. Most of us will sit through many interviews during our career, possibly on either end of the process, but if you’re preparing for an imminent interview, here are some tips on what NOT to do when you walk into the office. Don’t forget to do your homework. Remember showing up to class and having only done a small portion of the reading?...
read moreCreating Positive Organizational Culture
Organizational culture is something that grows organically over time. It is the result of employee action, company decisions, managerial approach, and a whole lot of other factors. Many of our clients at Career Solutions Group, in fact, begin their job search process with the goal of working for a company with positive culture after experiencing a toxic culture in their career. If you want to create a positive company culture, one that welcomes new voices and creates great services, products, etc., then there are a number of things you can do...
read moreWhat is Company Culture?
In the library of my elementary school, there was a table that had large picture books on it. Many editions of Where’s Waldo were scattered there, along with a number of alphabet books. But the one book that was consistently bickered over and forcefully wrenched from the hands of one student by another, was a book of optical illusions. A vase became someone’s face, a young woman turned into an older woman, and no one was quite sure how many sides that triangle had. Every person saw the images in a slightly different way, and many arguments...
read moreUnderstanding Organizational Culture & (Maybe) Changing It
Organizational Culture: “The values and behaviors that contribute to the unique social and psychological environment of an organization.” – Businessdictionary.com Anthropology being my primary background, I was trained to see culture and equipped with tools that help me understand what I see. Sometimes it works, but much of the time I feel as baffled, misled, and confused about the world as anyone else. We all encounter “organizational culture” in our professional lives. There are outstanding popular culture sources where we can see...
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