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.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis. 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.
Ash writes:
I graduated from college in May and started working with a great company in
August. The problem is that I am making practically no money and can not
afford my bills. I am very cautious when it comes to budget and spending
but I am seriously struggling. I have only been at my job for 6 months, is it
too soon to ask for a raise?
Today I was "recruited" by another company that told me I could make
$80K my first year, which is almost triple of what I'm making now.
Is there a good way for me to present this topic to my boss? As a new
employee and a new member of the "real world," how can I best
address this?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
It’s so easy -- at any age and any stage in your career -- to look at other offers,
hear of hirer-paying opportunities, and wonder whether you should consider
jumping ship. And when the money is so much more than you are currently
earning, that makes it ever so much more tempting. Just remember the old
cliché that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.
What appears to be an amazing chance to make a lot of money may not
be what it seems.
So, should you look at other opportunities? Sure, why not? I think it’s almost
an obligation of any worker to know your market value. While knowing your value
might make you a little depressed -- like when you find out you are making
well below the industry average for your profession -- it still should be empowering
and give you ammunition when you are asking for a raise.
Of course, there are risks associated with looking, interviewing. If your current
employer finds out, you might be labeled as someone not loyal to the company,
and gradually forced out.
And I know for new grads, who are experiencing real money for the first time --
yet also facing real bills for the first time -- salary is a big deal. So, what do you
do? If you have a good rapport with your boss, I say there is no harm in asking
about a six-month salary review (though typically you negotiate that at the time
of the job offer). If it’s a no, then you move to your next decision. If it’s a yes,
gather as much data as possible to showcase not only your impact with the
company, but also industry salary figures for your level and location -- but go
into it knowing that companies rarely give huge salary increases in the form of a
raise… so, you may get a bump, but it is not going to be a massive one.
Finally, remember that money is not everything. I personally think the job,
corporate culture, and your co-workers are much more important than salary.
Q:
Anonymous writes:
I was let go a week ago. I made the mistake of confiding in a co-worker
that I was not happy and that I'd been interviewing elsewhere. She went
directly to the owner, who promptly fired me. How do I approach the
subject if I'm asked about it in interviews?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
This letter should be a wake-up call to all workers that the “friends” you
have at work may not really be your friends. That said, I find both the
co-worker’s and owner’s actions reprehensible and unprofessional.
Once you’re kind of over the shock of what happened to you, I think you
need to focus on why you were job-hunting in the first place… that you
were not happy there anymore.
How should you handle it in job interviews? You should focus, not on
anything negative, but on how you had outgrown your position -- and
with no real growth opportunities in such a small firm -- you realized it
was time to look elsewhere to grow your career. Make sure in your
answer that you demonstrate how you have mastered your previous
job (using specific examples of your accomplishments), and that you
are ready for more challenging assignments.
I also suggest you spend some time brushing up on other questions you
may face in your job interviews. Use the Quintessential Careers
Guide to Job
Interviewing Resources.
Q:
Marion writes:
I am presently job-hunting. I have been to three interviews so far.
However, I suspect that at least one of my references (the most recent)
is not speaking favorably of me because I did not hear anything further
from the interviewers. I always send a follow-up response and seem
to be getting ignored. I am very skilled and have always received good
to excellent work reviews in my 20 years of working.
I have been offered two other job interviews, which I didn't decline, but
set them for a later date. I am curious and suspicious as to what my
two references are saying about me.
I have decided to enlist a reference checking service to find out and
make my next decision from there. Is this a good approach? Do you
have any suggestions?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
It’s always a possibility that a previous employer is saying unflattering things
about you, but typically, if you provide references, the employer starts there,
not with your former bosses. So, you might want to review who you use as
references and make sure they are all on the same page in what they say about you.
That said, I also wonder if your age plays a role in these situations. I don’t
know the type of job you are applying for, or in what industry, but any time we
start talking about job-seekers in their 40s and older, we must consider the
fact that age discrimination can be rearing its ugly head.
The other possibility is that you may be coming across in interviews as someone
who -- with your 20+ years of experience -- knows everything there needs to know
and is not receptive to new ideas or processes. For a small percentage of older
workers, I have found this perception commonplace -- even if the job-seeker does
not think that way.
Finally, of course, you can hire one of the many reference-checking companies.
Some of them do a very good job. On the other hand, what’s wrong with picking
up the phone and calling your references and former bosses and chatting with
them about your job-search – and asking for their assistance in helping you land
your next job?
Anonymous writes:
I have sort of a chicken vs. the egg kind of situation. I love my job, but I hate
where I live. I really want to move in the next year. I want to give my bosses
more than the standard two weeks' notice, but I worry if I tell them too soon they
will find someone to replace me before I find a new job. I also want to be able to
use my current supervisors as references and we are on very good terms.
Should I tell them I want to move "sometime later this year" and ask how
much notice they would like and ask for references in my job search, or should I
keep quiet until I have a job offer in writing and tell them I'm leaving and have
the new employers not contact my current one for references? Help!
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
The safest solution to your current situation is to job-hunt confidentially.
I’ve found that even the most understanding and wonderful bosses can
sometimes turn mean and nasty once they realize you are no longer loyal
to them or the organization.
You could, of course, test the waters -- if you truly believe you have a
great relationship. When I was a manager, one of my goals was to give
the resources to the people who worked for me so that they could move
ahead in their careers -- whether with the company or outside it. I never
saw one of my employees as a traitor for wanting to advance their
careers -- so if you have bosses like me, then they might actually
help you in your search.
Thus, you could casually raise the point about being sick of living where
you do and that you may need a change of scenery… and gauge their
reactions. If they bristle at your comment, then stop right there and keep
your search confidential. However, if they seem understanding to your
concerns, you might try adding that you may need to search for a new
job in a new city -- even though it would break your heart to leave your
current bosses and current company. And, again, watch and interpret
their reactions before you reveal any more information.
