Pay transparency is getting a lot of press recently, with New York introducing legislation requiring businesses to list salary ranges. The shift toward pay transparency is growing globally, with other cities expected to follow suit. But salary ranges are just one piece of information, and many …
Finding the Right Job or Opportunity
Teaching Kids About Careers
This week I spoke to 20 elementary school children (Kindergarten through 3rd grade), about careers. The beauty of working with kids is you have to be clear, direct, and not use jargon. In that spirit, I’d like to share three keys to career exploration we can all adopt using the eyes of …
The Who, What, How, and Why of Value
Clearly and concisely communicating how you add value is a cornerstone of success. No matter the situation - looking for a new job, growing your business, or volunteering for an organization – the ability to denominate your value is important. But this is one of the weakest skills I’ve observed in …
Expected Value of Your Job
When do you know it is time to change jobs? This is one of the most asked questions I get from clients. I share the concept of “Expected Value” to help them evaluate their current job against other opportunities. The expected value of your job is the sum of its present value, future value, plus …
Expected Value Worksheet
Instructions: Use the worksheet below to calculate the expected value of your current job versus alternatives. The expected value of a job is the sum of its present value, future value, plus or minus intangibles. Value Component Current Role Opportunity #1 Opportunity …
Best Books to Manage Your Career
I want everyone to reach their full potential. Whether you are about to graduate from high school or college, just got your first manager role, were recently promoted to the executive level, or planning to retire, there are resources that will help you succeed in your current situation and prepare …
Activate Your Network!
There are four types of networking that help accelerate our career development. Do you know what they are? And if so, are you spending enough time on each? In previous blogs I identified the importance of exploring the possibilities and communicating our value as two of three keys to finding …
Want a Great Job? Communicate Your Value!
Want to find a great job? Be a great storyteller. The ability to communicate the value you offer an organization is a critical skill. Interviewing well, receiving plum job assignments, and getting promoted are a result of good preparation that allows you to distill a lifetime of experiences into …
How to Explore the Possibilities
In a previous blog I identified the importance of exploring the possibilities as one of three keys to finding the right job (communicating your value and activating your network are the other two). Readers have asked me to share more about what “exploring” means, and how to do it well. I will …
Is This Job Right for You?
Taking a job without assessing its fit is like marrying someone because they like you. It’s okay to go out on a blind date but getting married is a commitment. Before you walk down the aisle with an organization evaluate your fit with the company on three levels – strategic, political and …
Transitioning To A New Industry
One of the toughest challenges for job seekers is transitioning from one industry to another (e.g., from retail to banking), or from one role type to another (e.g., from marketing to information technology). Job seekers attempting to make the transition express frustration, anger, hurt, and …
The Opportunity Principle
There are always job opportunities, the trick is to match your approach with the employer’s motivation. We need to be great salespeople when looking for a job. What image comes to mind when you hear the word salesperson? Is it the pushy, untrustworthy person trying to pressure you into buying a …