Career briefs: Tips and trends for today’s employees and job seekers
It’s a good time to ask for a raise. After all, companies are looking to secure their current job force so they don’t have to spend so much time recruiting new employees. In other words, even if you’ve been nervous about asking for more money in the past, it’s time to get comfortable with the idea that you deserve a step up in salary and responsibility.
Sandra Naiman, author of “The High Achiever’s Secret Codebook: The Unwritten Rules for Success at Work” (Jist, $14.95), suggests setting an appointment with the appropriate people and letting them know ahead of time what you want to discuss.
Next, be prepared with a chronicle of your accomplishments and give concrete examples of how you’ve already demonstrated you’re competent to take on the next level.
Third, Naiman says, focus on the needs of the company and how much you will contribute in your new position.
“Share ideas and let your enthusiasm show,” Naiman says. “Show that you are excited about the work, not the money
and status.”
Roll titles
Backing up any title on your resume with accomplishments is key to progressing up the career ladder, but the right job title can definitely get you to the next rung quicker.
“A job title can influence a career that’s still on the rise, since it can be difficult for someone to get his or her first chance at a significant role,” says Jack Williams, vice president of National Sales and Recruiting for Staffing Technologies in Atlanta. “For example, many companies don’t like to be the first to promote someone to a VP level.
Diversifying innovation
Diversity initiatives create a more cohesive work environment, but do they increase productivity among workers, especially among traditionally underrepresented groups?
“I think that what increases productivity is the way companies treat their workers, all the workers, but in particular members of underrepresented groups,” says Michàlle Mor Barak, professor at the University of Southern California with a joint appointment at the School of Social Work and the Marshall School of Business. “Everyone wants to be treated fairly, with respect, and everyone wants to be given opportunities to grow professionally.