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Get a Signed Contract or Get Screwed!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I met a gentleman recently who moved from Chicago, Illinois to take a 12-month temp to perm contract position with a telecommunications company which recently went through a merger and a name change.
In order to protect the innocent, we will just refer to our friend as Mo.
Mo is married and has two kids and had planned to make monthly trips home in hopes that he would have an opportunity to move his family after a year.
After moving to Alpharetta, Mo was told the company needed to run a background check, which took 5 days and should have been done before he left Chicago.
When he reported to work, the hiring manager who had made the commitment to hire Mo had been reassigned and the new manager decided after one week on the job that he did not want Mo.
Even though this is a right to work state, Mo still should have had some type of contract before he left Chicago. Mo just got screwed!
Has this ever happened to you?
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Tip of the hat to nurses
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Sunday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution there was a special section about the 2008 ajcjobs Nursing Excellence Awards event. For the third year, the AJC has spotlighted 10 nurses out of more than 300 nominated by people whose lives have been touched by excellent nurses. On May 7, three of these 10 nurses will be named the top honorees at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. For more information about the 10 nurses or the event, visit Celebrating Nurses on ajcjobs.com.
Nursing is a career that deserves to be recognized. It’s a tough, sometimes-draining job that many see as a calling more than a profession. Nurses often are the unsung heroes who make a difference in the lives of patients and their families — and whose contributions are remembered long afterward.
With a national shortage of nurses continuing unabated — and projected to be worse in coming years — it can’t hurt to applaud those who have answered the call and to encourage others to follow in their footsteps.
Has a nurse had an impact on your life or the life of a loved one? What did he or she do that seemed special? Are there any other professions that don’t get the credit they deserve? What other careers do you think are full of unsung heroes?
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Spring cleaning for your summer job search
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It won’t be long before college and high school students dust off their grown-up clothes to go off in search of a summer job. Armed with a nice resume and a good black pen to fill out the many job applications you’ll be completing, you’re off to a good start.
Make sure that you also take advantage of any connections that your parents, neighbors, friends, and others close to you may have, as you begin networking to identify potential opportunities.
There’s one other thing that is often over-looked by students. That’s the need to do a little spring cleaning. I’m not talking cleaning your room or washing windows. I’m talking about cleaning up your digital dirt and polishing up your professional image.
We’ve all heard about how the information you have posted on-line can be detrimental to your job search, but students shouldn’t assume that this advice only applies to college grads who are looking for full time jobs. Employers are now commonly doing on-line searches prior to making job offers for both full and part time jobs.
Here are some tips to make sure you present yourself as professionally as possible:
- Make sure you never post any controversial photos of yourself in your on-line profile. Even if you take them off your own site, they still live on in cyberspace.
- Try to steer clear of the camera if your friend is taking photos that could be misunderstood if taken out of context. You don’t want to end up tagged in a photo posted on your friend’s profile page.
- Avoid listing hobbies or interests related to politics, religion, or other controversial topics. Don’t set up RSS feeds in your profile that link to controversial blogs.
- Change your outgoing message on your cell phone voice mail so that it sounds professional. Never use cute sayings, religious blessings or background music.
- Don’t sign up for the answer tones that your cell phone service offers. Employers do not want to hear your favorite song or joke when they call. Use a normal ring.
- Always list a professional email address on your resume and check your email daily when you’re in a job search.
- Be aware of the Facebook groups you join. Employers may not have your same sense of humor or may not be aware of the irony.
- Pay attention to your cell phone’s caller ID and only answer calls from unknown numbers when you’re in an appropriate place to talk without distraction.
- If you list a home phone number, make sure anyone who lives at your home (roommates, younger siblings) understands the importance of taking complete messages when you’re away and designate a central place for your messages.
- It should be obvious, but never, ever answer your phone or send texts during an interview. Turn your phone off before you walk into the interview.
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The quest to be a gruntled worker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The main story in Sunday’s ajcjobs section talked about ways to increase your satisfaction with your career and/or job. The story cited a 2007 poll that showed that fewer than half of the respondents were satisfied with their jobs. The percentages were lower for younger age groups than for older workers, but all of the percentages were quite a bit lower than the 61 percent overall who were satisfied with their jobs 20 years ago.
Are you a disgruntled worker? What aspects of your job or career have fallen short of the expectations you had when you began in the position or field? Why do you think people are less satisfied with their work today than workers were 20 years ago? Is it, as the story suggests, because we have higher expectations for what our jobs and careers should mean in our lives? What do you think leads to job satisfaction, and do you believe that it’s all a matter of mind over matter?
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Keep an eye on your salary
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In times of the current election coverage, the President’s salary is a perfect example of how times can change. You have to ask yourself, is the President’s salary standing the test of time if in 1789 the President of the United States, George Washington, made $25,000 annually and today the current President, George W. Bush makes $400,000 annually? More importantly, is yours? The average salary in the U.S. is $36,764; check on the approximate salary for your position and how you compare. Now obviously the salary for positions are based on a number of things, but it is important to conduct competitive intelligence when it comes to your pay. If you don’t keep an eye on how you stack up you may find yourself grossly underpaid.
Keep your salary competitive
Where do you begin in determining a fair salary for your position? You can determine the approximate value for your position by utilizing information that you can easily find online at the United States Census Bureau or through a company such as Salary.com. (This information is also helpful if you are moving to a new city with a different cost of living.) This information should give you a good start to understanding your value to an employer. If your pay falls within the average range, great job maintaining your value! If you come in lower than the average you have some work to get your salary on track. Of course, it is common for a person who stays with a company for a long time, to receive a 4% annual average pay increase each year. This will lead a to a below-average salary after many years with the same employer. Check and make sure you are making the amount you deserve.
Determine the best salary strategy
If you uncover that you are not making the correct amount for your position, do not make any huge changes. If you have a review coming up, consider discussing your compensation more in depth. If you want to make a change, start looking around for other positions while you are employed. You immediately forfeit your negotiation power when you are not employed. Start researching the type of company you want to work for, the position you would like and the direction of your industry - the future. Do not speak of money as the reason you are leaving your position if you determine you need to make that change. Say things similar to, “There is no place for growth in your current position with your current company and you enjoy the challenge of new tasks.” This will be an appropriate answer in your interview in response to why you are leaving and you leave on a good note with your current company. After all, they have been a huge part of your life, no need to end the relationship on a negative note. Remember, with the current trend of companies buying and absorbing other companies, you do not want to burn bridges and then have your old company buy your new company.
So be aware of the average salary in your field. Remember to conduct continuous research on the salary of similar positions. If you determine you are undervalued, get your resume ready for a potential change. Then if necessary, take the next step and start interviewing. The main goal is: Make what you are worth!!
Latest comments
@ Jim Miller Ever heard of the Rolling Stones???... read the full comment by Nina | Comment on Fraternizing with your co-workers Read Fraternizing with your co-workers
“Can’t get no satisfaction”? Try a course in English.... read the full comment by Jim Miller | Comment on Fraternizing with your co-workers Read Fraternizing with your co-workers
Job satisfaction seems rather elusive these days, primarily because people choose to be dissatisfied. It’s not all mind over matter; however, how you think about your current career satisfaction or dissatisfaction is up to you. So many clients... read the full comment by Peggy Titus-Hall, CPCC, ACC | Comment on The quest to be a gruntled worker Read The quest to be a gruntled worker
We have a 3 week all purpose time off, so I don’t usually call in sick as it takes away from what could be my vacation.... read the full comment by Michelle | Comment on Calling in sick: What's your usual excuse? Read Calling in sick: What's your usual excuse?