When considering a career change, whether it be to work for a new company or take a new job in your current company you should evaluate how relocation may affect the salary level. In particular, you should investigate regions where potential job growth is positive and avoid regions where there is little growth or a downturn in hiring. To lure talent to fill slots for which it is tough to find qualified workers, out-of-town companies will place want ads in local newspapers, or register with employment agencies and executive search firms. These companies may also use the Internet to recruit high-level specialists. Also, temporary-employment agencies may be used to fill low-end jobs. They may count on word-of-mouth, offering incentives to their employees who help recruit qualified workers.
In reviewing the job market we must consider statistics that reveal geographic changes during this decade. It should come as no surprise that it shows job growth has been distributed unevenly across the country. Many jobs have been created in the metropolitan areas of the Sun Belt, whereas the Northeast is predominantly a down-sized market.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the ranking of metropolitan areas by the number of jobs gained or lost and the growth rate over the period. Another major factor to consider when contemplating relocation is cost of living. An analysis may be made for annual costs by com-paring your current location to the region under consideration. Compare taxes (school, local, and state), housing costs (rental or purchase prices), food, clothing, transportation, insurance, utilities, entertainment, and club memberships. In examining executive-level salary statistics for primary metropolitan areas, salaries may be compared on a percentage basis.
PRINCIPLES FOR NEGOTIATING RAISES
- If a CEO is worth millions, certainly a company can well afford to reward a middle manager adequate raises.
- Know your adversary.
- Job relevancy is important, but personal achievement is better.
- Job evaluations and appraisals may measure managerial performance, but without adequate raises they are meaningless.
- Plan your moves; then move your plans.
- You probably won't get everything you ask for, but you can surely try!
- To be considered successful, a salary negotiation should leave both parties feeling as though they have won something; you, a satisfactory raise; your supervisor, a contented, productive manager.
- Stop: look at and listen to yourself, and visualize how others see you.
- There's a right way and a wrong way. Once you find the right way, stick with it!
- You got that big raise-now go for a promotion and more raises.
- Be ready to open the door when opportunity knocks.
- Health care-Demand for workers in hospitals is decreasing, but with the emphasis on managed health care, in-home care and outpatient clinics will grow. Investigate careers in therapy, pathology, medical record management, and veterinary medicine.
- Law-Demand for attorneys will increase but competition will make employment as a lawyer rough. However, there may be more opportunities for legal support services (e.g., paralegals).
- Engineering-This field can still be considered cyclical with its tips and downs decade by decade. However, environmental engineering may be considered the top engineering specialty.
- Accounting-Its outlook is considered good.
- Education-Because of two-income families, child care positions are on the rise. In the near future, opportunities in this field include special education teachers, language teachers, and high school teachers.
- Communications-This field is still in its infancy. The information superhighway and multimedia technology provide opportunities.
- Marketing-Growth potentials in marketing include advertising and public relations.
- Science-Labor shortages exist for physical and medical scientists, computer specialists, and geologists look to math-oriented positions such as actuary, statistician, biologist, physicist, and astronomer.
Your dress code should follow the next level in your organization.
Regardless of how you dress, make sure your clothes are neat and clean. If suits are the norm, start with a solid navy or dark gray suit. You may vary your look by the shirt styles or neckwear you choose. Solid suits are more appropriate than pinstripes. Wear a long sleeve shirt with your suit. Dress shirts themselves should be cotton and polyester blends. A 100 percent cotton shirt may feel better but may look like a mess of wrinkles by the time you arrive at work.
Stick with white shirts. A conservative tie is proper. Socks should be dark and should not sag around the ankles. Shoes should always look shined and heels should not be worn out. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum.
Special Advice for Women at Interview
Women have an easier time than men in putting a wardrobe together, since their range of acceptable business attire is broader. Women are not always forced to wear business suits, but they must dress conservatively. Shades of gray or blue, or earth tones are appropriate; avoid reds, bright yellow, and so on. As advised for men, look at the next level up for guidance.
Women may be criticized for wearing heavy perfume, too much makeup, or too much jewelry. Therefore, women should be conservative in these three areas.
In Winning by Negotiation, Dr. Tessa Warschaw emphasizes that you must "pay attention to how you move" and watch your "signals and styles." "Signals are like magnets," she says, "putting out positive and negative energy that either attracts or repels other people." Intimidation signals force others to listen, or control when these others may speak: "... raise your eyebrows or throw hard glances to express disapproval, turn your body away if you don't like what is being said, rise, read a memo on your desk or start to make a phone call when you want to end the meeting." A desire for solitude is shown by silence: "involuntary signals include facial and body twitches, jiggling legs and knees, nervous hands." Signs of approval include nodding one's head, flashing friendly glances, and the like. "But if your intent is to create a dialogue," Dr. Warschaw emphasizes, "your expressions will convey concern and care and genuine interest, and you'll give the other person the time needed to respond."
