Handling the Salary History issue

By Career Advisor

Question:

Jason-I came across you on Twitter. How do you recommend a
candidate deal with addressing the salary requirements/history in a cover letter
when it's asked for in the career opportunity posting? You don't want to get
screened out when it's not the primary factor or decision maker. Thank
you much for your assistance.

Answer:

The main thing to remember is to only address your salary requirement or salary history when they are specifically asked for in the job opening. For instance it may be worded like this, "Only applications that list salary history will be considered" or " Only resumes listing salary requirements will be considered". These are just examples, it may be worded differently.

The salary requirement question should be answered by you in your cover letter. Salary history should be answered by you in a separate file from your cover letter and resume.

How to handle Salary Requirements:

• It is best to give a salary range rather then an exact amount. This allows you more negotiation room once you find out more about what your responsibilities will be. The low number on the range should be the number that's the absolute lowest that you need for the job with the lowest amount of responsibilities. With the high number you want to make sure that it's not unreasonable. A high number that is too high may give the bad impression that you are not aware of the going wages for your occupation.

How to Handle Salary History:

• Make a separate file that is titled Salary History. List the most recent jobs. Here is the format that you should use for each job opening:

Company Name:

Your Job Title:

Dates of Service:

Annual Salary:

Additional Compensation: (List insurance benefits, 401(k), bonus packages, commissions, etc...)

Total Annual Compensation:

• I teach this format because most of us in America work on Pay for performance basis (As of 2005, 75 percent of all U.S. companies connect at least part of an employee's pay to measures of performance). This compensation needs to be included in your salary negotiations.

Future Awesome Australian Social Worker

By Career Advisor

Question:

Hi my name is cassie and I was wanting to ask for some
advice about career options within counsilling/youth work/ and those
jobs that help people through their problems.

I have recently just finished year 12 and I am unsure about what to
do or where to go. ( uni or tafe? )

I have been accepted in Griffith University Logan for the course -
human services for 2010. However, I'm worried that I won't like the
study part of it and will end up pulling out, left with money to pay.

So then I was thinking maybe tafe course? but would that get me into
a counsilling job straight away once I finished that course?

Please help me out, I have no idea and need ALOT of help.

Thank you for your time.
Cassie

Answer: Cassie, I am a firm believer in a University Education over a vocational certification. Griffith University looks like a very good school and their Human Services program looks very good. Your University education will help you do more over your career to help people then the tafe education. It will open up more doors for you.

I know that a University Education seems very scary to you right now. That's a normal feeling. I guarantee you that once you start classes you will see that it is not as hard as you're making it out to be in your head. Griffith University has a Counselling department that can help you once you start with any stress or study habit problems. Please take advantage of this since it's free. Their web page is here: http://www.griffith.edu.au/ua/aa/ss/counselling/

As far as the cost of this education. Have you contacted the Welfare and Student Liaison about Interest free University Student Loans? That web page is here: http://www.griffith.edu.au/ua/aa/ss/welfare/

I am convinced that you can do the study part of your education at Griffith University or you would not have been accepted. Just relax, it will be OK and it is worth it.

Military Separation and Applying

By Career Advisor

Question: I'm currently set to separate from the US Marine Corps roughly in late June, and was wondering when the best time would be to start actually applying for a new job. My resume is already posted to several job sites, and I've seen quite a few positions I'm interested in. However, due to the fact that I won't be leaving the military until late June and won't be able to actually start working until July 1st at the earliest, I'm stuck in a bit of limbo as to the best time to actually begin applying.
Thanks for your input!

Answer: It's too early to be considered for openings right now. Hiring managers are usually looking at 30 to 60 days out from start date.

Take this time to collect information of people that you know that may be able to find you job leads. Who do your parents know that may be able to help with a job search? Contacts that your other family members may know? People from High School that may be working at where you want to work? Collect up their addresses and then write them a letter letting them know that you're getting our of the Marine's in June. Ask them to keep and ear out for any job openings they may hear of.

Also, here's another tip. Put the address of the location that you'll be living at once you get out on your resume if it's different then where you live now. This will help people know you have some connection to that area.

How to join the Indian Air Force

By Career Advisor

Question: I want to join the Indian Air Force. Right now I'm doing btech in
computers. Please tell me scope for me & about any entrance exam for
Air Force if any....please help me.

Answer: Do you want to be an Airman or an Officer?

The web site for the Indian Air Force is http://indianairforce.nic.in/

To be an Airman:

The recruitment of Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) as an Airman in the IAF is conducted through All India Selection Tests and Recruitment Rallies. All India Selection Tests are conducted at the Airmen Selection Centres (ASCs) located all over India as per schedule whereas the Recruitment Rallies are conducted from time to time in selected areas/regions of particular States/Union Territories of the country.

• All India Selection Tests: Advertisements are published in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar inviting the applications for All India Selection Tests(STs). In response to the advertisement, eligible male Indian Citizens are to forward application to the:
  President,
  Central Airmen Selection Board,
  Post Box No. 11807,
  New Delhi – 110 010
  The Board sends admit cards to eligible and shortlisted candidates to appear in the Selection Tests.

• Recruitment Rallies : Recruitment rallies are conducted at select places within the country from time to time.  Rally advertisements are published with the details of eligibility conditions, selection programme and rally venue in local/regional newspapers circulated in the region/area of the rally. For rally recruitment, eligible candidates are to report to the rally venue on the day of test with the requisite documents as published in the advertisements.  Further procedures will be briefed to the candidates at rally venue by the team of selections.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Candidates while reporting for Selection Test/Rally Recruitment are to be in possession of their Certificates/Mark Sheets and other related documents as mentioned in the advertisement. These documents will be scrutinized and verified by the Testing Team.

Written Test:  Candidates are tested in English, Physics & Mathematics for Group ‘X’ (Technical) trades and in English & Reasoning and General Awareness (RGA) for all Group ‘Y’ trades.

Written Test is objective type and question paper is bilingual (English & Hindi), except English paper.  Written test is based on CBSE syllabus of AISSCE.  Candidates for Group 'Z' (Musician) trade are tested in English dictation and proficiency to play the musical instrument applied for. Candidates are to qualify in each paper/test separately.

Physical Fitness Test (PFT):  Candidates passing the written tests are to undergo Physical Fitness Test(PFT).  The PFT for all trades excluding Indian Air Force (Police) & Indian Air Force (Security) trades consists of a 1.6 Km run to be completed within specified time.  The PFT for Indian Air Force (Police) & Indian Air Force (Security) trades includes a 5 Km run & 2.4 Km run to be completed in 30 minutes & 15 minutes respectively. Candidates completing PFT earlier will be awarded additional marks on a sliding scale.

Interview:  Candidates passsing PFT will be interviewed by a team of Officers & Warrant ranks. Interview is normally conducted in English.  Working knowledge of English is thus essential.

Medical Examination:  Candidates who are recommended in the interview will be medically examined by the Recruitment Medical Team as per Indian Air Force medical standards.

ENROLMENT & TRAINING

All India Select List (AISL) & Enrolment  Candidates who are passing the Written Test, completing PFT, recommended in interiview and undergone Medical Examination are arranged in All India Select List(AISL).  The inclusion of names of the candidates in the AISL depends upon the performance of the candidates in the Selection Test.  Candidates are enrolled in the Indian Air Force as per the existing vacancies.  Enrolment is for an initial period of 20 years and extendable up to the age of 57 years.

Training:  The candidates on enrolment are routed to Basic Training Institute (BTI), Belgaum, Karnataka to undergo Joint Basic Phase Training (JBPT) for a period of 12 weeks.  On successful completion of JBPT, candidates will be allocated trades and sent for trade training of specified duration.  After successful completion of training, the airmen will be deployed on ground based jobs as per their allotted trades.

To be an Officer:

 

How to Apply? This page tell you how to apply: http://careerairforce.nic.in/career_opp/caropp_officer_howapply.html

Selection Procedure? This page explains the Selection Procedure: http://careerairforce.nic.in/career_opp/caropp_officer_selproc.html

Aging Fast

By Career Advisor

Question: I feel like I am on a downward spiral.  Although I am very good at a number of things, I am not good enough to hire permanently.  I am starting to feel that my age is being held against me.  I have signed up with a temporary agency to document my administrative abilities.  I've gotten rave review from my temp assignments.  One employer going as far as writing me a recommendation and standing as a reference for any job I consider applying for.  However, no jobs seem to be in the offering.  What should I do?

Help!

Answer: I don't think it's that fact that you're aging that is keeping you from getting a permanent job. I think it's two things. 1) The Employer thinks of you as a Temp Employee. 2) The Employer does not need a permanent employee. These are obstacles that all temps face.

You can's solve number 2 because they either need someone or not. Here is how to solve number 1.

1. Become needed: You need to become valuable to employers. You have to prove to them that they can save money by taking you on permanently. Money is what is important to a business.


2. Punctuality: Never be late and never miss work while a temp. This is making a bad impression.


3. Be a go-getter not a butt-kisser: It's important to strike a balance between being a hard working professional and a needy want-a-be.

Job Search Dilemma

By Career Advisor

Question: There is a position that I interviewed for on Tuesday afternoon.  The company would like me to start next Monday.  However, I interviewed with the college (where I graduated from) two weeks ago and they contacted me today for references.  The hiring manager (from the college) is out of town until next Monday, but hopes to make a decision by Tuesday when he returns to the office.  My dilemma is: I've been trying to find the right opportunity with the college for the last 10 years, as I've wanted to return to the college as an employee since graduating.

How should I handle this situation since the other company would like me to start Monday?  I realize that I need to truly determine which job I'm more interested in, but I also don't want to risk having an assured job if the college opportunity falls through.

Answer: There is no reason that you can't accept the job that was offered and start on Monday. If you are offered the job at your college after, simply quit the first and take the one that you want. It's done all the time. If this happens, don't put the first job on your resume. If it's not on you resume you'll not have to give a reference for it. Your making this harder then it really is.

What should I do to get my career started?

By Career Advisor

Question: I am a 32 year old woman. I have been a stay-at-home mom
for, virtually, my entire adult life. I have had a few odd jobs here
and there, but not anything long lasting. I thought I was doing the
right thing by staying home with my kids, but I think it has only hurt
my chances of employment due to my lack of work experience at my age.
Do you have any suggestions as to what I can do to make myself more
marketable to employers?

Answer: My wife is going through the same thing. Now that are kids are older she needs to do something else.

Here are you're options to improve your marketability to employers:

More Education: The ideal situation for you to jumpstart your career is to get further education. If you don't have a degree start with an Associates in a field that you're interested in. If you do have a degree go back to school to get a professional certification, advanced degree, or just a refresher. Graduation from additional education is the only time you can legitimately start your resume over. That's because any experience that happened before your graduation is irrelevant to the career that you're now in. Unfortunately if you pick this option you have to be willing to take an entry level salary for that career.

Many people think that this will be too hard to do in when they are in their 30's, 40's etc..., but I know a lot of people that are in school at these ages. My wife is 35 and is in classes now with 18 year olds but she is not the oldest person in her class. Look for grants, and financial aid to help with this.

There are a large number of options for getting your degree online these days. This will help you juggle being a mom and student, because you take classes in an asynchronous manner. Most of the State Universities are offering this option for people such as your self. This means that you do not have to be online at any certain time. Just that you will need to complete certain assignments by the cut off time. You should read this: http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Ten-Reasons-to-Go-to-College-Online&id=1465036

 

I was going to list more options for you but upon further thought, education is the only option that I can recommend. If you absolutely need to get to work now, get any job that you can do in addition to going back to school.

Good luck.