How to Negotiate Benefits

October 26, 2010

Salary is commonly negotiated prior to accepting a new position, however most new hires believe that benefits are non-negotiable. Although some benefits are established and cannot change, consider those which may make your hiring package a sweeter deal.

Some benefits that are considered "negotiable" are:

Vacation and sick leave - Standard policy for vacation time is typically after one year of employment, however it costs the company very little to throw in a few paid days off. If you expect to be working long hours, ask for a week's worth of paid days within your first year.

Signing bonus - During tough economic times, your annual salary may not be at the same level it was 5-10 years ago. So if you don't think asking for a higher salary will be well received, instead ask what the signing bonus is for the position. If you are their top candidate, they may be more open to a one-time bonus rather than an long-term higher salary.

Flex hours - Is it a job that offers the flexibility of telecommuting 1-2 times per week? Would a 4/10 hour week work just as well as a 5/8 hour week? If flexibility is important to you, now is the time to ask.

Trade this for that - Healthcare is a significant expense for most companies. If your spouse has great health coverage and you don't need medical benefits, ask if you can waive health benefits in exchange for additional paid vacation days. This would cost the company far less than paying for your medical benefits.

Also, discuss benefits such as company-paid continuing education classes and membership dues paid for professional organizations. Anything that adds value to your hiring package will lead to greater job satisfaction.

Body Language in Interviewing

September 27, 2010

Non-verbal communication during the interview process is often overlooked. You may spend hours fine-tuning your resume and preparing answers to anticipated questions, but how much time is spent reflecting on your non-verbal skills. What your body is saying when you’re not talking can communicate volumes.

We all have nervous habits that tend to rear their ugly head just when we’re trying to portray a calm and confident demeanor; sweaty palms, tapping your foot or fingers, shaky voice, etc. Whatever yours may be, practice keeping it in check before your interview.

Coming to an interview prepared is the first step in calming the nerves. If you have done your research on the company and practiced many of the most commonly-asked interviews questions, you are already ahead of the game. Confidence comes from knowing how to intelligently answer the questions that will likely come your way.

A smile and a firm handshake make a great first impression. Men, more than women, have a tendency to forget the smile, while women often go light on the handshake. Both are equally important in starting the interview off on the best foot.

Keep nervous movements in check. Do you have a tendency to cross your legs and shake the other foot? Sit up straight in the chair with both legs on the floor, then lean slightly forward towards the interviewee to show your attention and interest. Maintain eye contact with the hiring manager, and if there is more than one person in the room, be sure to address (with your eyes and a turn of the head) all those that are part of the interview process.

When the interview is over, finish with another firm handshake, eye contact, and a friendly smile.

Handling New Job Stress After Landing a Job with Jobs By Fax

May 10, 2010

In the midst of the excitement of starting a new job it's easy to forget that there can also be a lot of stress that accompanies your new career, particularly if you have been job hunting for many months. You anticipate that you'll be so relieved that you're finally working and bringing in an income again, that you don't even think about how tough it can be to be the new kid on the block.

Although you don't need to stress yourself more by worrying about those first few months at a new job, there are a few easy things that you can do now while job hunting that will better prepare you for when the job finally comes through.

• Get some long-delayed home projects completed. Starting a new career knowing that you made good strides on your "honey-do" list will keep your mind focused on what you need to learn at work and not on what you neglected to accomplish while you were at home.
• Spend quality time with family and friends. Starting a new job likely means long hours at the office and possibly additional hours at home while you learn the ropes. Take the time now, while you have extra time, and spend it with those that mean the most to you.
• If money is tight while you are job hunting, which it likely will be, take a few short weekend mini vacations. It's awkward and often inappropriate to ask for vacation time in your first 6-12 months at a new job. Get vacationing out of your system before starting so you don't feel like you've been cheated.
• Although it may not always be possible, once you've accepted a new position, do your best to put off your first day at work for a least 1 week. The temptation is to say you want to start right away, but the transition is easier if you have a few days to let the reality sink in, sleep in for several days, shop for some new work clothes and relax.

After Interview Thank You Notes

April 16, 2010

In a competitive job market, the most simple gestures can mean the difference between getting the job and getting passed over. A thank you note after an interview is a vital step in the interview process that is often neglected.

If your mom didn't teach you how to write thank you notes when you were a kid, following are a few important points to cover in your note.

• Timeliness is key- notes should be mailed no more than 24 hours after the interview. Make a point to write the note as soon as you return home from the appointment while everything is still fresh in your mind.
• Notes can be either handwritten or typed. Some prefer handwritten as it offers a more personal touch, however if your writing isn't neat and easy to read, stick with a typed note.
• Snail mail vs email? Although most written correspondence is now communicated through email, snail mail is still the preferred method of sending a thank you note. It's far too easy to send an email and it can often get deleted without being read. Going to the trouble of actually mailing a note will show the hiring manager how much you want the job.
• If you interviewed with several different people, send an individual note to each. To ensure you spell their name correctly, ask each person for a business card before leaving the interview.
• Begin the note with a thank you, next cover any brief points that highlight why you are the ideal candidate, then end with a sentence emphasizing how excited you are about the position and working for that particular company.
• Proofread several times to ensure your note is error-free.

JobsByFax in the Media

A new job hunting strategy is lining up dozens of interviews for each job seeker rather than employers lining up dozens of job seekers for each opening.

Virginia Beach, VA (PRWEB) December 16, 2009
Savvy job hunters like Eric VonBernewitz are landing quality jobs quickly using the basics of marketing and the power of numbers to line up dozens of interviews with various employers.

The traditional method of job hunting is to search through the classifieds and online job sites where thousands of job hunters compete for a limited number of job openings. Instead of going the traditional route, some job hunters are advertising their job skills directly to decision makers at thousands of targeted companies, even if the companies are not running recruiting ads, and it is working.

Rather than being one of many of applicants for a single position, these job hunters are getting multiple employers coming after them to interview. Job hunters like Eric VonBernewitz are finding the job hunt to be an exciting experience by applying the basics of marketing to their job hunt, and it works. Through the online service Jobs By Fax job hunters are faxing thousands of companies their resume and cover letter requesting interviews for employment.

Eric used JobsByFax twice during his job hunt, once in late October, and a second time early November. Between the 2 faxings, about 6000 companies got his resume, and about 70 called Eric for interviews. Many of the calls were for jobs that did not exactly fit what he was looking for, but he was able to practice his interviewing skills with those companies. Three of the calls were exactly what he was looking for, and 2 made offers after a series of interviews. By December 1st Eric had accepted a position that paid $25,000 more than the job he had previously held.

“It works because the basics of marketing are being applied to the job hunt. In marketing a 1% response rate is good. When this fact is applied to job hunting, it means you’re going to have to get in touch with a large number of potential employers just to get a handful of opportunities. JobsByFax makes this easy, affordable, fast, and even guarantees your success,” states Matthew Saunders, President of JobsByFax.

About JobsByFax Based in Virginia Beach, VA,
JobsByFax is an online resume distribution company that guarantees job hunters will land a job within 30 days of faxing 1,000+ resumes to potential employers. JobsByFax's mission is to quickly, easily, and affordably empower job hunters with the tools needed to market their employment skills directly to the decision makers at companies.