Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
This issue marks the sixth anniversary of Dr. Hansen writing this CareerDoctor column...
including the last three years in print in the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Brandon writes:
I am preparing to graduate in May from a top 20 MBA university. My current
employer has supported me and paid $50,000 of the total tuition for this program.
After I graduate, I feel these new credentials will make me worth more and I
would like to ask them for a raise. Is it likely they will give me a raise even
though they covered my tuition expenses or not? If yes, are there any negotiation
tactics that will help receive the raise I feel I deserve.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I don’t want to sound too harsh here, but your employer paid a chunk of your
tuition for your MBA, thus you’ve basically gotten this amazing benefit already…
sort of like a very large bonus. But I also understand your feelings because
obtaining an MBA gives you the credentials to earn a much higher salary, and
I am sure as you watch some of the job offers your classmates’ get, you are
envious of them.
Just about all employers who cover tuition will also recognize the degree
with some sort of raise, but in most of the situations I have seen, that pay
increase is much smaller than the jump you would get if you switched employers
-- partly because these employers feel like they have already given you such
a great benefit, and partly because you’re still the same employee (now just
with a new credential).
So, assuming your employer made you agree to stay with the company for a
certain period of time in return for the tuition, you are not in much position to
bargain. That does not mean, however, that you cannot request a meeting
with your supervisor to discuss it.
As with all raise discussions, your focus should be on the salary research
you have done showing the average salaries for job-seekers in your industry
and profession (and location) with a newly minted MBA. Logic and research
always make more convincing arguments than asking for a raise for personal
reasons (such as deserving it because all your classmates are getting such
great offers).
I’m hopeful your employer will be one of the handful that gives you more than
a token raise, but be prepared for that to happen.
Anonymous writes:
I began this question and it was becoming a 2 page e-mail. So very short and
sweet, and to the point. How can you tell if you are slowly being sabotaged out
of a position? One quick fact my phone skills were given as one of the
reasons, which is just crazy. If anything I have been told by my peers and
bosses that that is one of my strengths, needless to say I was shocked.
There are many other things that almost seem out of Watergate, that I won't
go into. I just want to know if there could have been a way I could have seen
this coming? Thank you.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Unfortunately, bad bosses are everywhere, and perhaps yours has gone
over the deep end. I still remember one of my bosses from years ago who
would stand sentry in the main office hallway starting at 4:30 in an attempt
to “catch” anyone trying to leave early. What a good use of his salary.
One study found that almost 80 percent of the employees surveyed identified
their boss as a lousy manager. And almost 70 percent in that 2001 study
conducted by Delta Road stated that their immediate superior had "no clue"
what to do to become a good manager. Author Harvey Hornstein, Ph.D.,
estimates that 90 percent of the U.S. work force has been subjected to
abusive behavior at some time. He bases his conclusions on a survey of
nearly 1,000 workers over eight years.
My best advice to you would be to document everything: document all your
past positive reviews and comments -- and all the odd behaviors. I would
also look back and reflect if you can pinpoint a situation where the boss
changed from supportive to awful.
If you have a mentor within the company, I would also solicit his or her help
and opinion. At some point, possibly toward the point of leaving, I would
also contact the human resources department, not to help your situation
but perhaps to protect others.
For better or worse, the best advice is probably to update your resume,
contact folks in your network, and begin the job-search -- because your days
are probably numbered at your current employer.
Sharon writes:
I am 30 years old, and I am not working in my chosen profession of journalism. I
am currently working as a paralegal, but I still have hopes of becoming a reporter,
but I know that is unlikely as more time passes. I married young, and never
established the career that I wanted. I am now divorced with two young sons,
and I would like to make a fresh start.
I received my degree in journalism in 1993, and I am wondering if it is of any use to
me now. I am afraid that I will never be fulfilled if I don't have the career that I want.
Do you have any suggestions?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I cannot stress enough this point to job-seekers -- that you must follow
your passion… and I agree that you may never feel happy if you don’t at
least attempt a career in journalism. Doing something you love changes
your entire outlook about work, and I encourage everyone reading this
column to consider if they are truly passionate about their work -- and
brainstorm changes if you are not.
As I tell some of my baby-boomer clients, it is never too late to change
careers. The rules of journalism have not changed much since your
degree, but it’s the lack of experience and not working in the field that
is going to be your biggest hurdle.
You have a couple of options here.
First, get your feet wet by becoming a freelancer. Brainstorm some story ideas
and pitch them to appropriate media outlets and start building your portfolio.
If you live in a community with a weekly newspaper, contact them… they
often need freelancers, but don’t limit yourself to local media.
Second, consider taking a refresher course in journalism at a local college
or university… to sharpen those writing skills that may have dulled over the years.
Third, contact one or more of your former journalism professors and seek
out their advice for establishing your journalism career.
Reena writes:
I had got my PhD degree in Microbiology a year ago. Since I am an
international scholar, I had to wait for my immigration papers to get
processed for my 'permanent resident status' (that I got through marriage
to an American citizen) for a year. I was not legally allowed to work (earn
any money) for a year. Now that I have got my 'permanent resident
status' I have started sending out job applications, and I keep getting
asked 'what work I did for a year since I got my PhD'. I did do some
volunteer work off and on during my year off and I also did a lot of traveling.
Do I need to explain my year off in the applications that I send out?
How do I explain it? I am just afraid that potential employers will not
understand this explanation since none of them had to go through
this themselves (some of them are really rude when they demand
an explanation).
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
While yours is a very specific question, I include it in the column because
there are some lessons here that all job-seekers should learn.
Employers want to hire productive employees, and so any unexplained
gaps on a resume or vita send out a large caution flag to hiring managers.
As a job-seeker, your goal is to show that you were productive during any
and all gaps -- pursing further education or credentials, volunteering or
freelancing, in some way staying active in your career field.
In your situation, newly minted PhDs are supposed to be at one of their
most productive peaks, so appearing to take a year off of research would
be very worrisome to prospective employers who want to hire a research
workhorse. And those that don’t go to work right after the degree often
to some post-doctoral work.
I would avoid the whole immigration issue -- mainly because employers
never want to hear complications… they simply want workers who will
show and work.
So, I think you do need to show that you were somehow working during
that year… perhaps through the volunteering, perhaps through some
pending research or publications.
