Want to make more $$$$ -- Negotiate Salary !!!

Yesterday's USA TODAY ran an extensive multi-page section on women and retirement was informative and yet it missed one very important FACT -- WOMEN EARN 77% FOR EVERY DOLLAR A MAN EARNS and a major contributing reason is that women don't negotiate salary and men typically do. I have seen this in my work as a career counselor having helped thousands through my private counseling and job search seminars. Women seemed shocked when they follow some solid salary negotiation strategies that resulted in securing thousands of dollars more. Men expect it. In fact, the biggest salary raises (over 15%) come from quitting your job and moving to a new employer but only if you successful negotiate your compensation package. Women need to step out of their comfort zone, and not be humble or complacent. You must ASK to be paid what they are worth. If you don’t know what your skills are worth, go to www.RobinRyan.com/tools. to get a good idea of the range you should be paid for the work you do. Sadly too many women are timid and just accept the first salary offer an employer makes leaving a great deal of money on the table that could have added to their retirement savings account if they had strategically asked. No one will volunteer to pay you top dollar unless you expect and ask quantifying your skills and experience convincing the employer you are worth the additional dollars.

Don’t accept –ASK for more. For additional assistance, here are more salary negotiations resources and articles on www.RobinRyan.com

don't take the summer off -- JOB HUNT!

A big mistake many people make is deciding to take the summer off so they don't check openings, don't network, don't send off resumes...instead they wait until September so they can then join the crowd. Many college grads, parents, managers, and execs, think relaxing & enjoying the days off is a good move. BUT they forget that job hunting usually takes 3-4 months or longer to land a good job. So I recommend you be smarter than the average bear -- or job hunter in this case-- and actively look and network all summer. Companies have needs now that you don't want to miss out on. Many govermental, agency, nonprofit and educatiopnal do almost ALL their hiring in May, June, July, & August.

So happy job hunting....find my list of recommended websites at www.RobinRyan.com/tools.

Job Boom Here says Bussiness 2.0 so is the $$$

Great article today in Business 2.0 entitled The Next Job Boom Companies have enjoyed a productivity boom that allowed them to employ less and less people and stifle wages. That trend seems to be over. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 33 percent more people are quitting than in 2003, and half a million new positions have opened since last summer.( link below to full article).

The full story discusses the labor shortage and how people are moving on to new & better jobs. As a career counselor with a national clientele I’m seeing first hand how some people can really parlay this market and get major raises. Clients are moving on to the tune of $20,000 more. Many employed talented people are moving – and moving quickly in less than two months. These are mid-upper managers & professionals making over $85K. Of course they are targeted and once armed with a good resume and some job search strategies they get hired fast. I am finding that job hunters must master salary negotiations which seems hard for most people to do if they haven’t learned how. The key error: revealing your current or most recent salary. When you are under paid, and want a raise you need to play poker and never show them your cards – in this case what your salary is or was. There is a second group of people who are trying to move on and it’s going slower. They aren’t as marketable because their industry has changed, their skills are old, THEY REFUSE TO RELOCATE, or they want to change careers and get more money….eventually even these folks do find a decent position……but it’s a much longer haul. Compromising a bit might make it move faster for them but there seems little compromising happening in the marketplace right now. Especially when a staff person can go to her boss and say, I got an interested employer who’s called me offering $4 per hour I want to stay????-- the blackmailed employer gave in and said OK. That’s about to become common place in the years ahead. I hope is job hunters like you heed the trends and see their own potential opportunity and value and move on to a better job AND higher salary ...so if you don't know what your value and true worth is link to my salary research tools .....http://robinryan.com/careerResources.htm for salary negotations help check out: http://robinryan.com/salaryStrategies.htm

If you haven't tried job hunting...you are likely missing out on thousands of dollars more you could be earning....word to the wise. --RR

Job Boom article link: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/05/01/8375922/index.htm

Hiring Is Hot -- Employers are active looking and hiring

Good News – I'm in a celebrating mood (OK tomorrow is my birthday), but the job market hasn't been this good in five years, according to the US Labor Department. The national unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in Feb 2006. Employers added 243,000 new employees in February. and 170,000 in January. Construction, retail, financial services, health care and education were among the industries seeing employment gains with weakness in manufacturing, mostly reflecting job losses in the struggling automotive industry.

US NEWS & World Report stated that businesses are hiring more workers, paying them more money, and letting them use technology to work from home. Some of my own clients are getting hired very fast. They are in various fields, but before you email me a flame mail that it's not great where you live or in your life – hot translates to "improved hiring" but that does NOT mean instantaneous! Sorry, but job hunting is a process with delayed gratification. Where you live, your skill level, past accomplishments, the job you seek, willingness to relocate, and most importantly how effective you marketing yourself, all play a factor in your success. Still I haven’t see it this good in a long time and people are getting jobs! so if you are think of moving on….now is the time to actively look. Got lots of articles on my website to help you get started….http://www.RobinRyan.com

She got the job!

I've been really busy -- so many people are leaving their jobs to find something better. It's always exciting when they reach their goal...But today I learned a very special lady got a great new job.

My eyes just welled up in tears as I read the email from the Katrina survivor that said, I got the job!!! She had a needle in a haystack chance and since I was her job search coach this made me feel REALLY good to know I made a difference in the life of a woman who has lost so much. Seems America has forgotten the people who are struggling to find new jobs after the hurricanes tore their worlds apart.

Living in Seattle, and am very removed from the devastation, but I had heartfelt compassion for this woman who was a college registrar for a community college in New Orleans. Her home suffered a great deal of damage, her family went to Atlanta, her campus was underwater. She worked in temporary offices the college set up 85 miles from New Orleans. In January the college president said they could no longer pay the staff salaries since so few students had returned. She HAD to job hunt. But her job is rare--most colleges only having one person in that role which meant only 30 jobs exist in all of ATLANTA! She had been looking since September and found one job, created her own resume but failed to get an interview at Spellman College. That's when she searched the Internet for a career counselor and found me.

Having lost so much in Katrina, I was amazed that she was NOT bitter or playing the victim card. She had overcome this disaster and was focused on improving her future. I was touched and committed to helping her. Made sure she had a topnotch resume that really emphasized her talents, strengths & skills. THIS TIME she got an interview. I then waived my fee entirely and coached her through the interview. Today she emailed to say she got the position. She wrote: "Robin, thank you so much for all of your help! I could not have done it without you!"

OK, I was moved to the core --I live to help make a difference in the lives of others and today I REALLY did in the life of someone who so needed a great break. And, I am sooooo proud of her -- her courage, and positive will to move on. She worked very hard practicing for the interview, working on creating effective answers. I'm so glad she got hired...and she proved to be a great student using my coaching tips to negotiate some extra salary too! She's off to rebuilding her life. I'm just happy for her and proud to know someone with this positive fortitude and courage.

Job Search Tip: Biggest Mistake to Avoid in an Interview
Not dressing up! Employers make snap decisions the second they see you and the wrong appearance can lose you the job. Dress as if the CEO was interviewing you. Wear a suit...it's impressive. Pants suits are perfect for the more causal industries like high tech. Select a well-fitted, stylish suit in a complimentary color. Avoid anything too baggy, boxy, sexy, low cut or see-through. Watch your hygiene -- be freshly showered, with clean, pressed clothes. Neat, groomed hair, with light makeup & cologne is ideal.

When you look good, you feel good about yourself and that self confidence is a great help during the interview. --RR

The WOW of living your dream!

The Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl! I’m so excited, jazzed, I can barely contain myself. THIS IS SO WOW!!!! Ok, I have an inside interest. My neighbor is a Seahawk -- Mack Strong #38. So the win was incredibly cool because I know this man. He’s been on the team for 12 years, and this is the first time ever the Seahawks made it this far in the playoffs. Pretty fantastic!
Right after the game me & two friends ran over & decorated his house. Balloons. Flowers. Streamers. Then, we banged on a few doors, so 20 of us were outside at his house cheering when he drove in the driveway.

One of the neighbors said “Mack you are living every little boys dream, so how does it feel?” He smiled from ear-to-ear and replied, “Hey, I’m living MY DREAM!”

I simply love celebrating any kind of success. Mack has been working towards this dream for almost 30 years. Even at 4, he wanted to play pro football. He’s a terrific guy so this kind of success could not be happening to a more deserving man. I did ask him how he felt at that moment when they actual became the NFC Champs. He was thoughtful, then say “I’m savoring the moment, letting it sink in.” A few seconds later he let out a howl, saying, “we’re going to Detroit”. Yes Mack you sure are. You are going to play in Superbowl XL, something every Seattle football player before you dreamed of doing, but until today, it never ever happened.

This is one good human being – a solid role model you want your kids to idolize. He lives by Christian family values, and in the off season he’s working with inner-city kids, or speaking at a school. He & his wife founded a SEAHAWKS Auction to benefit the nonprofit organization, Childhaven. Mack said to me that he’s been so blessed, so he just wants to give back.
Boy I do love it when wonderful people experience great success, don’t you?
OK so get psyched!
Jump onboard of that success ‘cause good karma is all around us!

Want a new raise – ask…just be sure you KNOW exactly what to say to get the dollars you want.

Hoping for a promotion….stop hoping & start investigating & talking to your boss &/or HR.

Think a new job is in your horizon? Set an action plan, network!

Start right now and make some of your own dreams come true.

so important

Today is my killer day of doing 21 radio shows to promote my new book Soaring on Your Strengths, so I started at 5:00am, and thanks to modern technology, I do all these radio programs via the telephone.

I had a tiny break in the schedule, so I just called to check in on my parents, since last week my father suddenly ended up in ICU for three days. He’s home now but sounded weak when we talked. I told him what I was up to today and he said something that grabbed at my heart. Daddy told me “ I’m proud of you Robin, you’re a great girl.” Maybe no biggie to you, but for me it was a rare compliment from a wonderful dad who’s from a generation where you just don’t tell your kids positive things about themselves. It sure was a heartfelt moment. One I’ll cherish always, knowing my Dad sees the important difference I am trying to make in helping others. Dad’s simple comment made today a banner day for me. And I am thanking God he didn’t take my Dad a few days back ‘cause I love him very very much and I don’t want him going anywhere.

My advice to you today, go tell someone you care about that they are special and make thier day.