Career Confidant: Job Insight from Dave

References: Learn to Keep In Touch

There's never enough that I can say about references. They're one of those things not always essential to landing a dream job but you can never tell just when they'll come in handy. Whether they're pre-written or by telephone, here are some points to keep in mind when you embark on reference seeking quest:

Always keep the lines of communication open with your employers. This really only applies if the worked you've worked with has a fantastic rapport with you. Some good signs might be if the employer mentioned that he/she'd write a reference for you before leaving, you left on a good note, or they had to get rid of you due to company wide layoffs. To a degree, this implies a bit of networking on your part - be sure to send a friendly email or card to former employers to keep in touch. Email works best as people tend to move around.

When you need a reference, ask for it. Don't just give your interviewer an email address without preparing the former employer. A courtesy note informing the employer of your intention with an attachment of your latest resume prepares him/her to speak intelligently on your behalf. Instead of being caught off guard by your interviewer, they'll have had time to remember you, reflect on their experience with you as an employee and have some useful notes at hand.

Never forget that the referral is doing YOU a favor. In that courtesy preparation note be sure to ask convenient times for them to be contacted and the best method to do so. Maybe writing the reference ahead of time would be easier so, tell them about the position and why you want it - this is popular among academic advisors and professors. For them, ask  formally and politely (usually by letter) for a general reference that you can use later for obtaining a job. Make this process as easy as possible and don't forget a genuine "thank you" for their time.

Grads Face a Tough Job Market

While I'm proud to announce that the President of The Midtown Group, Helen Stefan, was featured in a Washington Post article over the weekend, it's less than thrilling that the article discusses how college grads are having a tough time finding jobs.

  The article mentions that even those coming out with graduate degrees are having a tough time finding jobs - the number of interviews and offers has decreased significantly over the past year. And what's worst, the age group that covers most undergrads and grads is being affected the most by the recession.

The solution seems to be staying in school until the recession passes, meanwhile making the most of internships, networking through family and friends, working temporary positions, and generally building a great resume. I feel the need to emphasize that planning a college career that compliments future goals is a crucial step for personal finance management and professional success.

While the slowing economy is discouraging especially when one considers taking on potentially more school loans the extra income tacked on due to the increased value of a graduate program quickly offsets the loans. Take a look at this article, To Go Back To School During a Recession if you're still concerned about the costs.

Tips for Negotiating a Fair Compensation Package

·      In the course of the educational system, most people who start looking for jobs find that they don't know how to get what they need out of a job. Negotiating the perfect Compensation Package requires some planning and with the right strategy can improve your outlook on your work - working while secretly resenting your salary is no way to work at all.

         Know what you are worth. Using internet resources, do research on the salary and compensation ranges for comparable jobs in the area. Glean information during interviews and from your network of sources that indicates the relative value of the position in the company.

      Set a clear goal. Studies on negotiation consistently show that people who set clear and aggressive goals achieve more favorable settlements than those who aim low or do not set goals at all. If you want a salary of eighty grand and a total package worth 100 grand, shoot for it by throwing out an anchor worth more than 100 grand.

    · Set a walk-away price. You know your own financial goals, responsibilities and liabilities. If you cannot take anything under seventy grand and still make sense of accepting the position, do not pretend that you can. Your walk-away price depends not only on your financial needs, but also on the attractiveness of your alternatives to accepting the offered position. If you are currently making sixty grand and there are no other offers finding you, settling at sixty-eight grand might not be a bad idea. If, on the other hand, you have been offered a position for seventy-five grand and a generous benefit package, sixty-eight grand seems less reasonable.

·    Identify all your interests. Before you walk into the negotiation, prioritize your various interests and identify places where you are willing to trade one thing of value for something else. Is the salary more important than stock options? Is a gym membership more important than a review and likely promotion in six months? 

Remember: Negotiating is not about winning, it is a dance towards a certain goal. Each person makes moves with reference to the moves of the other person. Don’t take make it personal, approach it strategically like any business decisions.

Especially Inspiring Commencement Speeches

In recognition of this tumultuous graduation season, I've picked out some of my favorite commencement speeches. The list doesn't quite represent all of my favorites but are more speeches related jobs, careers, and the searching process that applies to just about every aspect of life. So, in no particular order...

1. Steve Jobs at Stanford in 2005 : Aside from incorporating The Midtown Group's tagline, "Love what you do." Jobs encourages everyone to do what will make them the happiest and to not settle until that perfect position comes along. The speech moves very fluidly and easily as Jobs links this message with his dynamic life experiences.

2. Conan O'Brien at Harvard in 2000: Apparently Conan faced numerous failures before having his own show - so, this speech is about failing and  just how likely complete failure  can be even with a Harvard degree.  This speech is light-hearted and somewhat cynical and you're likely to laugh a bit just reading it.

3. "Kurt Vonnegut"( but really Mary Schimch) Speech - I know that this isn't a real commencement speech! However, the very basic advice in this essay is terribly practical.

I'll be sure to add more in the next few days.