By Jeanine Skowronski
MainStreet powered by The Street
Recent college graduates aren’t making as much as they used to. A new study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) shows that the average starting salary for the class of 2010 is down 1.3%. Now, new grads are being offered, on average, $48,691 a year by employers. Last year at this time, class of 2009 alum were receiving an annual salary of $49,307.
“It’s simply reflects that there’s a decrease in demand,” Mimi Collins, NACE’s Director of Communications, explains. “When times are good, employers may want to hire people who have experience, but can’t find them, so they consider college graduates instead. In times like this, organizations that focus on college recruiting often have fewer openings.”
Fewer job openings may entice recent college graduates to take whatever salary is offered to them, but should those new to the job market rule out negotiating their way to higher pay? The answer, it seems, is not entirely.
“Salary negotiation is par for the course in the professional world,” career counselor Heather Krasna tells MainStreet. “If it’s done right, it can add thousands to not just your starting salary, but salaries you later earn for the rest of your career.”
Salary negotiations may increase your income, but applicants (especially those new to the job hunt) are often reluctant to bring up money during the interview process.
”Most of us were scolded as children when we asked how much a gift cost, how much that neighbor’s new car cost, how much money your dad made … so we’ve learned it’s impolite to talk about money in any situation,” Matt Scheihing, executive recruiter for J. Miles Personnel Services, tells MainStreet. “The fact is it’s impolite to talk about money at the inappropriate time.”
This means you can have your own set of salary requirements. You just need to know how or, more importantly, when to use them. For example, career experts universally agree that it is not a good idea to bring up a list of demands during your first interview. To do so means, yes, you may alienate employers. However, conversely, you risk shortchanging yourself.
“If you state a range that is too high, you might be taken out of the running before you have a chance to prove to the employer that you are the ideal candidate,” Krasna explains. “If you state something that is too low, you have just lost money that you could have earned.”
Typically, salary negotiation specifics should be reserved for after a company has made you a job offer. However, there are soft ways to approach the topic earlier on.
“Interviewees can voluntarily tell the employer, ‘I’m considering new opportunities in the $60K-$70K range. Does my salary requirement meet the salary range you’re offering for this position?’”Scheihing suggests. “That is the basic qualifier to know you’re competing for a job that is at least in the ballpark of what you would consider.”
Asking basic exploratory questions will prevent you from wasting your (and your prospective employer’s) time and are not expressely forbidden. As Scheihing points out, an employer is essentially buying your talent and anyone looking to purchase something ultimately needs to know what it costs. Just make sure that whether you mention salary in a second interview or after an actual job offer, you know exactly what it is you are talking about.
“It’s important to make sure you have adequate backup for your salary negotiation other than that you ‘deserve’ a certain amount [of money],” Nawoj says. “What is the going salary for an entry-level position in your field? What do others you know at similar levels make?”
Jobseekers can use websites like CBSalary.com, Payscale.com, Glassdoor.com or Salary.com to get an idea of what workers in their prospective fields make in particular geographic locations. NACE can also provide applicants with some vital stats about their desired professions. (Psychology majors, in particular, may want to reference the NACE study since they are making 5.6% less than their 2009 predecessors.) As Nawoj points out, the more thorough the research, the more likely it is you will convince employers you deserve a particular salary. Additionally, citing personal debt or financial troubles to rationalize a request for higher pay isn’t likely to net you an extra cent and could negate your job offer entirely.
“It’s possible to jeopardize an offer if you don’t do the request right,” Krasna says. “You first have to be appreciative about and excited by the offer. If you just state that you are waiting for a better-paying offer, you could lose [the job].”
Those worried about their negotiating skills do have other options. For instance, if talking money scares you, consider discussing other aspects of your job offer, such as benefits, 401(k) options, start date, typical working hours or vacation days.
“Always make sure the employer understands you will be negotiable on the total package,” Scheihing advises. “There is value in non-cash compensation like a company car, health insurance, retirement match, time off, etc.”
You should also guarantee a back-up plan.
“If you have to take a lower salary, consider asking what the promotional timeline is and whether you could have an early performance review tied to a potential raise,” Krasna says, adding that you should ask that this request be confirmed in writing.
“Ask for a six-month or year salary review when you accept the job so that you know the conversation will be brought up in a specific amount of time,” Nawoj agrees. “In the meantime, be a model employee. Finish projects on time, go above and beyond and offer to help on different teams. Keep track of the tasks you take on, specifically ones that help the company’s bottom line.”
That way, you’ll be less reluctant to ask for a future wage increase.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Do you have a college degree? You're Hired!
According to the July 2010, BLS employment report, there is one segment of our population who IS finding employment. Those with college degrees.
While the overall unemployment rate hovers at 9.5%, the rate for persons with Bachelors degrees (& higher) has dropped to 4.5%, down from 5.0% in February. Not surprising since many job descriptions have moved the bachelor's degree from a "Preference" to a "Requirement" in recent years.
See my post earlier today to read what you can do about it.
While the overall unemployment rate hovers at 9.5%, the rate for persons with Bachelors degrees (& higher) has dropped to 4.5%, down from 5.0% in February. Not surprising since many job descriptions have moved the bachelor's degree from a "Preference" to a "Requirement" in recent years.
See my post earlier today to read what you can do about it.
Finding a Job Without a College Degree
For many people who worked their way up, the lack of degree was never an impediment — until they lost their jobs.
August 9, 2010
By Debra Donston-Miller
Bill Gates never graduated from college. Neither did Michael Dell or Steve Jobs. Outside of the tech world, Richard Branson has done pretty well for himself without a college degree, as has Barry Diller.
But Sharon Willis is a more common example of the challenges to American workers who never graduated from college.
Since February, Willis has been the acting vice president for external affairs at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a medical and health-sciences graduate school of 850 students. She will continue in that role until some time in the fall, when she will resume her position as deputy vice president. The VP role is one she wanted to apply for when it became vacant but couldn't, even though she had the experience and knowledge. Why? She doesn't have a bachelor’s degree.
Willis started at the university 28 years ago as a clerk typist and worked her way up through the ranks. She describes herself as the "go-to" person for just about everybody with whom she works. Willis has done the job of vice president, and the college president knows she is up to the task on a permanent basis, yet her lack of a college diploma — a job requirement – means she does not qualify for the position.
Willis has hit a professional wall at the university, and she realizes that things would likely not be different elsewhere.
"When we have vacancies here, I see the qualifications of the applicants, many of whom have master's degrees," said Willis. "I realize that if I were to leave here, I would probably rank at the bottom of the applicant pool because of my lack of a degree, despite excellent experience, job stability, a very strong work ethic and great references. It's disheartening."
What Willis suspects to be true about the world outside the university is only too real for many of the millions of people the recession unleashed into the job market. Many of these people started at a company in an entry-level position and worked their way up the ladder. Not having a college degree may not have mattered – until the time came to apply for a new position.
Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, said he sees this issue come up regularly. "Every time I have tried to get a client to waive the college-degree requirement in light of the candidate’s exemplary work experience, I have been refused," he said. "They almost always say that it is their policy that all employees have at least a college degree."
Such jobs now account for most of the economy. Nearly 60 percent of American jobs now require at least a bachelor’s degree, according to "Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018," a June 2010 report released by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University. That number jumped from 28 percent in 1973 to 59 percent in 2008 and is expected to rise to 63 percent over the next decade, the report said.
Resume and networking solutions
So is your dream job, even most jobs, out of reach if you don't have a college degree?
Not necessarily. Experts who spoke with TheLadders said solid, long-term professional experience and proven results can often supersede the need for a college diploma.
Career Advice from TheLadders
• 5 Signs You're Ready for a Professional Resume Rewrite
• How to Follow Up a Resume Submission
• Sample Resumes for Technology Executives
• 9 Resume Tips Hiring Managers Wished Creative Pros Knew
"I believe that employers want the right person for the job," said Karla Porter, director of workforce development and HR for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry and a private consultant on human capital and new media. "They're not looking for a certificate, a degree, a piece of paper; they are looking for a solution provider. If there is a person who can do that for them and has a proven track record and can show what they've accomplished for other companies, I believe they will be considered."
All of this must be conveyed in a carefully constructed resume. "To replace the college-degree situation on a resume, the person needs to stress the results they have been able to achieve due to their extensive experience," said Dianne Durkin, president and founder of Loyalty Factor, a consulting and training firm.
"Make sure the resume is very, very well done," Porter said. "If it's not, it will go to the 'C' pile."
Tony Deblauwe, senior HR partner at Citrix Systems and founder of HR4Change, agreed: "Your resume has to be rock-solid. It has to demonstrate your experience, your skills, your accomplishments. You're promoting your best skills so that people focus on that and not get to the end and say, 'Well, where's your degree?' "
Cheryl Palmer, president of Call to Career, said she has worked with many people who have been to college but never got the degree. When writing a resume for a person in this situation, she mentions the college major and degree program but does not state that that he has a degree. "I'm being truthful, but not drawing undue attention to the fact that they don't have a degree."
This strategy will also help you get your resume past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software that most companies use to screen resumes.
"If [a job description] says 'bachelor's degree required' and you don't have a bachelor's degree, your resume can say 'bachelor's degree not completed or not attained' so the system will pick up the keywords 'bachelor's degree,'" Porter said. "You don't want to say anything that is not true, but you want your resume to get in front of people. Make sure your resume contains the same keywords that the job description contains, and then rearrange them to how they fit for you."
All the experts who spoke with TheLadders emphasized the importance of describing any training, certifications or licenses you have to show that you have invested in some training for yourself. "I haven't found too many scenarios where people have done nothing," Deblauwe said. "They've at least taken some college classes or gotten some certifications or something to talk to. Or something internal from a previous company."
It's commonly understood that networking is one of the most important things you can do when pursuing a new job, but it's even more critical if you don't have a degree, said Palmer. "If you don't have a degree, the whole idea of networking is much, much more critical," she said. "Employers prefer to hire someone that they know something about. They prefer people who have come referred. If you are trying to land a job in this very competitive job market and you don't have a degree, you really have to take that networking to another level, to get around the fact that most employers are looking for a bachelor's degree at an absolute minimum."
Along those same lines, strong recommendations from clients, former employers, co-workers and associations can go a long way toward making up for the lack of a college degree.
It's never too late
So, what else can you do if you don't have a college degree? Well, you can get one – or at least begin working toward one, no matter what your age.
Once enrolled in a program, you can write on a resume that a degree is "in progress," experts suggested.
That's just what the Uniformed Services University's Willis is doing.
A busy single mother of three, Willis is taking classes in business management in the hopes that she can break through the barriers put up by the lack of a degree. Willis said her boss is very supportive and is giving her whatever time she needs. In addition, because she works for a federal institution, she gets tuition reimbursement. All of this, along with flexible options such as online classes, has allowed Willis to start on a path she hopes will lead to a higher-level position.
"I think in the long run, people are much better off just going ahead and pursuing the degree, no matter how hard it may be," she said. "That's what everyone will be looking for. You do get to a certain point where you just can't go any further, and that's where I am right now."
For many people who worked their way up, the lack of degree was never an impediment — until they lost their jobs.
August 9, 2010
By Debra Donston-Miller
Bill Gates never graduated from college. Neither did Michael Dell or Steve Jobs. Outside of the tech world, Richard Branson has done pretty well for himself without a college degree, as has Barry Diller.
But Sharon Willis is a more common example of the challenges to American workers who never graduated from college.
Since February, Willis has been the acting vice president for external affairs at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a medical and health-sciences graduate school of 850 students. She will continue in that role until some time in the fall, when she will resume her position as deputy vice president. The VP role is one she wanted to apply for when it became vacant but couldn't, even though she had the experience and knowledge. Why? She doesn't have a bachelor’s degree.
Willis started at the university 28 years ago as a clerk typist and worked her way up through the ranks. She describes herself as the "go-to" person for just about everybody with whom she works. Willis has done the job of vice president, and the college president knows she is up to the task on a permanent basis, yet her lack of a college diploma — a job requirement – means she does not qualify for the position.
Willis has hit a professional wall at the university, and she realizes that things would likely not be different elsewhere.
"When we have vacancies here, I see the qualifications of the applicants, many of whom have master's degrees," said Willis. "I realize that if I were to leave here, I would probably rank at the bottom of the applicant pool because of my lack of a degree, despite excellent experience, job stability, a very strong work ethic and great references. It's disheartening."
What Willis suspects to be true about the world outside the university is only too real for many of the millions of people the recession unleashed into the job market. Many of these people started at a company in an entry-level position and worked their way up the ladder. Not having a college degree may not have mattered – until the time came to apply for a new position.
Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, said he sees this issue come up regularly. "Every time I have tried to get a client to waive the college-degree requirement in light of the candidate’s exemplary work experience, I have been refused," he said. "They almost always say that it is their policy that all employees have at least a college degree."
Such jobs now account for most of the economy. Nearly 60 percent of American jobs now require at least a bachelor’s degree, according to "Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018," a June 2010 report released by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University. That number jumped from 28 percent in 1973 to 59 percent in 2008 and is expected to rise to 63 percent over the next decade, the report said.
Resume and networking solutions
So is your dream job, even most jobs, out of reach if you don't have a college degree?
Not necessarily. Experts who spoke with TheLadders said solid, long-term professional experience and proven results can often supersede the need for a college diploma.
Career Advice from TheLadders
• 5 Signs You're Ready for a Professional Resume Rewrite
• How to Follow Up a Resume Submission
• Sample Resumes for Technology Executives
• 9 Resume Tips Hiring Managers Wished Creative Pros Knew
"I believe that employers want the right person for the job," said Karla Porter, director of workforce development and HR for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry and a private consultant on human capital and new media. "They're not looking for a certificate, a degree, a piece of paper; they are looking for a solution provider. If there is a person who can do that for them and has a proven track record and can show what they've accomplished for other companies, I believe they will be considered."
All of this must be conveyed in a carefully constructed resume. "To replace the college-degree situation on a resume, the person needs to stress the results they have been able to achieve due to their extensive experience," said Dianne Durkin, president and founder of Loyalty Factor, a consulting and training firm.
"Make sure the resume is very, very well done," Porter said. "If it's not, it will go to the 'C' pile."
Tony Deblauwe, senior HR partner at Citrix Systems and founder of HR4Change, agreed: "Your resume has to be rock-solid. It has to demonstrate your experience, your skills, your accomplishments. You're promoting your best skills so that people focus on that and not get to the end and say, 'Well, where's your degree?' "
Cheryl Palmer, president of Call to Career, said she has worked with many people who have been to college but never got the degree. When writing a resume for a person in this situation, she mentions the college major and degree program but does not state that that he has a degree. "I'm being truthful, but not drawing undue attention to the fact that they don't have a degree."
This strategy will also help you get your resume past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software that most companies use to screen resumes.
"If [a job description] says 'bachelor's degree required' and you don't have a bachelor's degree, your resume can say 'bachelor's degree not completed or not attained' so the system will pick up the keywords 'bachelor's degree,'" Porter said. "You don't want to say anything that is not true, but you want your resume to get in front of people. Make sure your resume contains the same keywords that the job description contains, and then rearrange them to how they fit for you."
All the experts who spoke with TheLadders emphasized the importance of describing any training, certifications or licenses you have to show that you have invested in some training for yourself. "I haven't found too many scenarios where people have done nothing," Deblauwe said. "They've at least taken some college classes or gotten some certifications or something to talk to. Or something internal from a previous company."
It's commonly understood that networking is one of the most important things you can do when pursuing a new job, but it's even more critical if you don't have a degree, said Palmer. "If you don't have a degree, the whole idea of networking is much, much more critical," she said. "Employers prefer to hire someone that they know something about. They prefer people who have come referred. If you are trying to land a job in this very competitive job market and you don't have a degree, you really have to take that networking to another level, to get around the fact that most employers are looking for a bachelor's degree at an absolute minimum."
Along those same lines, strong recommendations from clients, former employers, co-workers and associations can go a long way toward making up for the lack of a college degree.
It's never too late
So, what else can you do if you don't have a college degree? Well, you can get one – or at least begin working toward one, no matter what your age.
Once enrolled in a program, you can write on a resume that a degree is "in progress," experts suggested.
That's just what the Uniformed Services University's Willis is doing.
A busy single mother of three, Willis is taking classes in business management in the hopes that she can break through the barriers put up by the lack of a degree. Willis said her boss is very supportive and is giving her whatever time she needs. In addition, because she works for a federal institution, she gets tuition reimbursement. All of this, along with flexible options such as online classes, has allowed Willis to start on a path she hopes will lead to a higher-level position.
"I think in the long run, people are much better off just going ahead and pursuing the degree, no matter how hard it may be," she said. "That's what everyone will be looking for. You do get to a certain point where you just can't go any further, and that's where I am right now."
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