3/20/2006

 

Win, Place and Show in the Rat Race

Went to my required workshop at the job training center this morning. I hadn't registered last wewek due to the fact that the place closes early on Friday?! So, I had to go in early this morning to get registered. The workshop is required before training can begin.

Onoce there, I received two shocks: one, the "workshop" is actually a series of five workshops, one taking place each morning all week (something we hadn't been told in the orientation, as confirmed by several other people there -- good thing my mornings are free this week...) and two, that it wasn't going to be the idiot waste of time I thought it was going to be. The last was a very pleasant surprise, as the workshop instructor -- an extremely knowledgable lady -- has already clued me in to several items I hadn't previously known about*. She's going to take a look at my resume for free. I can't wait to see her recommendations.

The other participants aren't a bunch if dummies, either. Many have degrees. Most of us have been on the business end of a termination or a downsizing. One has a criminal record. I'm pulling for this guy -- he seems to earnestly want to get himself back on track. He asked the most questions of anyone there. Another lady has been at her job nearly 20 years and is seeking a career change. I secretly envy her; I can't claim to be on most of my old jobs for more then twenty months.

Unfortunately, the workshop brought home one sobering fact: It doesn't matter what you know or who you are or your status within a company. You can be fired/downsized/outsourced/sidelined/boned in an instant. Keep your eyes and ears open, and if you love your job, fight for it like you would your spouse. I wish I had, but that's a tale for later.

-------------------------
*For one thing, did you know that on a job application, where it says "salary desired," if you don't know the typical salary for your industry, you can use not only the venerable "open" or "negotiable" responses, but "will take market value"? I didn't. Also, a common trick interviewers use to screen you out of the job is to listen carefully to your answers to their questions. If you use "uh," "er," "well," or otherwise stammer, that's an excuse to screen you out becuase they think you're hiding something or hedging your response. Trouble is, most people do it. I guess that's why they say always rehearse your interviews.

Comments:
Wow... "will take market value"... that's pretty neat. See, even I learned something new! And though I have a "secure job position", I'm always worried it won't be that way... and I have feelers in other places...
 
this is really interesting! "open", "negotiable"... if only I had known this before!!! You are definitely right, no matter what, you can be fired or whatever in a sec. I lost my job after almost 10 years of loyalty and good work and that really put me in a mess!
best luck
 
i wish you the best with your workshop and in your job search. i think it is important that you are publishing this blog. many people stereotype the homeless as lazy and unintelligent. you disprove that generalization--way to go!
 
Ahhhh, I'm back! I've was sick as a dog last week, hence my absence (I'm a little bi-tch when I get sick... And yes, I know I'm setting myself up for a joke here!)

Now, as for this "What to write in the Salary Requirements" field on a Job Application form... NEVER, and I mean NEVER, write in "Negotiable", "Open" or "Will Take Market Value" when asked what your salary requirements are. NEVER!

First, let me tackle the "on the surface" flaw in this approach...

1) Will Take Market Value - Really? OK, what's MV? $40,000? Well, since I have 4 other possible candidates that are only asking for 35K I can filter this guy out. Or, maybe if he's willing to work for MV than maybe he's willing to work for peanuts...

2) Open - Good, because I'm going to low-ball this guy if he's really good so I can get more for less, and if he's not so good then it doesn't really matter how Open he really is.

3) Negotiable - That's great! We were willing to offer up to $35,000 a year, but since he's willing to negotiate even LOWER than that...

Think you can put a positive spin on these three examples? If anybody feels the urge to try, then do so... Just understand that if you reply with anything that you can think of that "proves" that you would come out a winner in this situation it will defy logic, common sense and intelligence. You'll also be the same person that thinks I'm arrogant! Which leads me to the second flaw in this methodology...

99% of those looking for a job think and feel that they NEED the job they are interviewing for while 99% of interviewers think and feel that you are NOT the right person to fill that position. So, as the potential candidate you start off at a disadvantage. The company holds ALL of the cards and you're just lucky to be watching the game from a distance. The interviewer has ALL of the facts, knowledge and experience of the company, position, culture, needs, budget, etc. You know that you need this job! Yeah, you might have researched the company, but that and a dime will get you a cup of coffee. So how does one go about screwing themselves even further? Well, not only do they come across as desperate for a job but now they'll work for LESS than we were willing to pay!
 
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
 
so what do you put? How do you answer the query?
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?