Career Success - How to Get Promoted

Even in a tight job market where unemployment rates are high and the economy is in a recession (as it currently is), there are ways to stay ahead of others and to make yourself stand out.

By differentiating yourself (if you view yourself as a commodity or product/service to sell to your boss) amongst other people in your organisation and in the workforce, when eventually the economy recovers and your firm makes a healthy recovery, your superiors will have you in mind during the next round of promotions.

By constantly thinking this way, you not only have better chances at career success but it will also help transform your life in other areas as well.

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So what do you need to do to stand out in the mind of your superiors? Here are habits of successful people that you can adopt for your career success:

*Always think of better ways to do your job.

Think of streamlining procedures and tasks. You can delegate certain tasks to people who are better suited and thus quicker at completing those tasks.

If certain tasks are time consuming and yet are merely performed for the sake of routine, think about cutting some out (if they are non essential).

Focus more time and energy on clients who are producing greater returns for your department or firm.

Continue to be educated e.g. through your company's training modules, if this will mean you can become an expert on a specific topic.

Offer help to your boss and colleagues (if you can spare the time) so that when you encounter problems people are willing to help you sooner and your boss will remember you when it is time for a promotion or pay rise.

*Remember to negotiate.

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In a study of master's degree graduates, Carnegie Mellon economics professor Linda Babcock found that those who negotiated their first salary boosted their pay by 7.4% compared with those who didn't negotiate.

It is so important to negotiate your first (and subsequent) salary since your next pay rise or next job's salary will be based on your first salary. If the bar is set too low, even pay rises will seem insignificant when compared to the salary of your industry peers. So start off on a high and never sell yourself short.

Negotiating is such an important skill for career success as it should be a part of your daily work process. E.g. when your boss comes and asks you to do somthing that is urgent such as compiling a report for a client, negotiate and explain that you are doing something important now but in order to do your boss's task, ask if your current task could be done the next day (instead of you staying back late to finish both tasks).

Negotiating means that your superiors understand your situation and that they won't be constantly bombarding you with "urgent" tasks (especially if they could have asked you to do it earlier). This also applies to your colleagues and friends phoning you at work.

Be polite and sincere but firm as to your own boundaries.

*If you have been with your firm and boss for a while and yet have not been promoted or given a pay rise (if you have satisfactorily fulfilled your duties and maybe not right now but when the economy recovers and your boss is making profits), indicate to your superiors that you have added $x to your departmental or company's bottom line and explain why you think now you have the experience and ability to handle a higher position.

If your superiors do not act and give you a pay rise or promotion, consider whether your own expectations are realistic (objectively determine whether you do have the experience and skills to move on to a higher position or better paying position), and if they are, consider moving onto another job.

However, before you quit your job, do preparatory work such as keeping in touch with your ex-colleagues and networking with industry peers and associations. Also meet up with a few HR agencies and seek their advice as to where you stand within the business hierarchy in terms of experience and skills and let them know that you are looking for a job and ask them to let you know when new oppotunities come up.

Make sure you have a job to go to when you do bring up the topic of pay rise or promotion with your boss, so that you do not quit empty handed.

*Finally, even though in the current economic downturn, there is always the fear that if you do not put in hours of overtime, your boss may sack you. However, there is nothing pretty about an overworked, sleep deprived employee, since your productivity will not be at an optimal level.

So please remember to have as much sleep as is practicable and look after yourself.

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Reference

msn.com

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Tips for Successful Resumes

Tip 1 - Use Titles or Headings That Match The Jobs You Want

With employers receiving hundreds of resumes you must make sure that your resume hooks an employer's attention within a 5-second glance.

A great way to do this is to use job titles and skill headings that relate to and match the jobs you want. For example, compare the headings Clint used in his before resume to the headings used in his after resume.

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Headings in Clint's resume before and after the resume:

Accounting / Recordkeeping became Management of A/R and A/P Accounts
Administrative became Computerized Accounting Applications
Computer Skills became Departmental Administration / Recordkeeping

Which set of headings are the strongest for an Accounts Payable / Receivable Manager position?

Even though Clint's title was Accounting Assistant, he actually managed over 1,000 A/R and A/P accounts. Using skill headings that market the true nature of Clint's job duties will generate him more interviews and higher salary offers.

Tip 2 - Use Design That Grabs Attention

Employers make snap judgments when glancing at your resume. If they see unrelated job titles or skills the likelihood is very high that they will make an immediate assumption that you are not qualified for the job you want.

Adding to this problem is the fact that employers don't have the time to read through each of your job descriptions to determine if you have the skills they need.

You Must Do That For Them! The design of your resume must highlight the most important information about your work experience, skills and education. At first glance this information forms the image that employers have of your skills and abilities.

Tip 3 - Create Content That Sells

Resume design should get attention but it's really the content of your resume, the descriptions you include of your skills and abilities, that determine how many interviews you generate--as well as the level of salary offers you receive.

Compare the before and after statements from Clint's resume:

Maintained records for accounts receivable and accounts payable accounts became
Managed over 1,000 accounts receivable and payable accounts working directly with the Chief Financial Officer.

Which of these examples presents Clint as being more qualified, having higher skills and worth a higher salary?

As this example illustrates, our image of Clint is changed and elevated when we read the after example.

Tip 4 - Quantify and Use Power Words
As Clint's after statement demonstrates, using numbers to describe your achievements and responsibilities can greatly expand and elevate your image.

Using numbers and quantifying creates vivid images in our mind when we read them, whereas general statements like the before examples are easy to skip over or forget.

Giving numbers give a strong impression of accountability, capability and makes your experience proven and specific. Typically the more specific you can be in describing your duties the better.

Another strategy that is extremely important in controlling the image that employers develop about you--is to use Power Words or verbs that match the level of position you want.

For example, Clint wants to use the experience he's gained to move into a management position. To strengthen his image he should use as many "management oriented" words as possible. This will show his interviewers that he knows about "management talk" and he is familiar with management concepts.

Which example below do you think is the strongest?

Typical Verbs:
Gave work assignments to staff of entry level accounting clerks.

Power Words:
Directed workflow, supervised and trained accounting staff performing posting to general ledger, accounts receivable and payable accounts.


Tip 5 - Analyze Ads and Job Descriptions to Identify Key Words

Learning how to analyze the key words that employers provide in help wanted ads and job descriptions is a key element in creating powerful resumes.

For example, read the ad Clint found for an Accounts Receivable Manager below and see how many key words, phrases, or skill descriptions that it includes.

Accounts Receivable Manager

Seeking experienced A/R Manager to oversee accounts, manage billing and collections, train accounting and clerical staff, develop status reports for management and prepare monthly balance sheets. B.A. Degree or A.A. Degree with minimum of 2 years experience required.

Even though this ad is small it contains 12-13 key words or phrases that should be addressed in Clint's resume. This will make his potential employer aware of the fact that Clint has read the ad and understands what is expected of the position and that he has the ability and experience to fulfill these duties.

Clint can also key words from an ad like this to create headings for his resume such as:

Key Word Skill Headings

Management of A/R Accounts
Billing and Collections
Supervision of Accounting and Administrative Staff
Balance Sheet and Management Status Reports





Reference

Regina Pontow "Resume Writing"


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