Q TIPS:
Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Job-hunting tips from the September 16, 2002 issue of
QuintZine.
Did you know that Monster.com has a special area for
the kind of work that freelancers and consultants do?
Monster's Contract and Temporary Community is a relatively
new section of Monster that's dedicated to providing resources
and advice specifically for independent workers.
Check it out .
Surely but slowly, employee compensation is
likely to pull out of its tailspin in 2003, reports
Business Week. Fewer companies -- about 6 percent
-- are planning to freeze pay next year,
compared to the 17 percent that froze at least some
salaries this year, according to a recent survey of
1,600 companies by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
Moreover, Mercer expects base salaries to rise
3.9 percent next year on average, compared to
2002's 3.8 percent -- which was the puniest annual
increase in a decade. With the consumer price index
now running at about 1.5 percent, pay could rise an
historically healthy 2.3 percent after adjusting for
inflation. Still, the anticipated increase will be
smaller than in the 1990s, when paychecks typically
grew by more than 4 percent annually, compensation
experts say. With unemployment hovering near 6 percent,
many workers are relieved simply to be working, placing
less pressure on companies to open their wallets. People
who get shrunken paychecks are still better off than those going
without any paychecks at all, employers reason.
Read the
full story.
How can job candidates convince the hiring manager
they're an ideal match for the position? Working on a
temporary basis is a good start, suggests a recent survey.
Nearly half (46 percent) of workers polled said performance
on a temporary or trial assignment provides the best
insight into whether someone is qualified for a job, followed
by the interview (30 percent) and the reference check (12
percent). The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading
staffing service specializing in highly skilled administrative
professionals. Survey respondents were asked, "Which one of the
following provides the most insight into whether or not
someone is qualified for a job?" Their responses:
Performance on a temporary or trial basis before
a full-time offer is made: 46 percent
The interview: 30 percent
The reference check: 12 percent
The resume: 8 percent
The cover letter: 2 percent
Something else: 1 percent
Don't know/no answer: 1 percent
Liz Hughes, executive director of OfficeTeam, offers the following suggestions for candidates
using temporary work to open doors to full-time jobs:
Shift your focus: While on a temporary assignment,
think of yourself as a full-time employee. Take ownership
of projects and adopt a service mindset.
Make them an offer: During the job interview,
suggest to the hiring manager that you'd be willing
to work on a temporary basis as a means of demonstrating
your qualifications. When working with temporary services,
let them know you're looking for assignments that could
lead to full-time jobs.
It's in the attitude: Employers aren't just
evaluating your technical ability. They also want
to see how well you work with others, react to constructive
criticism and handle setbacks. Be positive and upbeat with
everyone you meet.
Don't burn bridges: If your assignment doesn't
lead to full-time work, thank the manager and keep
in touch. This person could serve as a reference for
you or provide job leads in the future.
Did you know that Monster.com has a special area for
the kind of work that freelancers and consultants do?
Monster's Contract and Temporary Community is a relatively
new section of Monster that's dedicated to providing resources
and advice specifically for independent workers.
