I recently spoke with salary expert, Jack Chapman,  about several easy methods you can use to leverage your negotiating power to best advantage. Jack should know since he is author of Negotiating Your Salary, How to Make $1000 a Minute.

Listen in as Jack talks about ways YOU can leverage yourself to the best compensation possible as well as ideas on how you can negotiate your way past that initial salary requirements bottleneck that may be sending you to the reject pile.

Radio Interview w Jack Chapman Salary neg 9-9-09

Have You Thought About Working for the Federal Government?

As this economy collapses on the private sector side, guess what?  The Federal government is expanding! 

The current multi-billion dollar economic stimulus bills are requiring the government to expand to oversee and manage the multitude of areas that these complex and spendy bills will cover.

Now, most of us on the outside perhaps never really thought of getting into the government as employees.  It's a complex labyrinth with a maze of special requirements and hurdles to overcome.

Not so fast! 

As government grows, this means more jobs are available.  Many of these you may be qualified for. 

I recently interviewed Kathryn Troutman.  Kathryn is a person who knows her way around the Federal maze.  She's spent years writing resumes for and advising clients on how to work their way successfully through the process of landing good jobs in the Federal government.  

Listen in as Kathryn describes how you can locate jobs in your area that you might qualify for and how to successfully apply online for these jobs. 

Normally I don't sell stuff in my posts, but you may even want to buy her new book, 10 Steps to a Federal Job.  Here's why: it's step-by-step information on how you can land a Federal job during the Obama Administration.  As a $20 investment, it's peanuts if it can get you on the inside with a good job with great benefits!

Check it out. 

Joe

Dealing with Salary in a Lousy Economy

When previously untouchable companies like Microsoft and Starbucks are now laying off workers by the thousands, how do you approach the subject of salary in today’s interview?

I recently talked with Neil McNulty about this.  I like Neil because he doesn’t lay any BS on people and he often goes against ”conventional wisdom” – you know, outmoded advice that no longer applies.

As the economy enters further down uncharted territory, just how do you handle salary these days?  Most of what the “experts” have been saying for the past many years just doesn’t fly anymore.

Listen to Neil describe some practical ways to handle this sensitive area without getting yourself blown out of the water today.

Joe

Credit or Finance Problems? Some Timely Pointers from an Expert

Is your credit sinking?  Is your financial picture dimming?  Is your debt beginning to overwhelm you and keep you up at nights?

Having financial issues can be a burden anytime, but when you're in the middle of, or soon to start, a major job search, they can crush the life out of you.  In these troubled economic times, assests have evaporated and cash flow has dwindled for most all of us, but if you're in job search mode, you're probably losing sleep and losing ground.

It may not be necessary.

Listen in as I talk with Scott Deschene, a financial consultant who specializes in debt management and elimination.  Learn why you needn't fear losing your home or heading for bankruptcy if you act NOW to protect yourself. 

Learn your rights.  Find out why universal default can cost you money as well as your credit and why you should avoid "credit repair" firms.  I ask Scott about the in's and out's of debt management, even debt elimination. Discover several strategies you can employ right now to protect your credit and save your assets.

Your credit and financial picture can also determine whether you can be hired.  Learn what you need to do to prevent any financial issues you might have to stop you from being hired.

Joe

Build Your Own Personal Brand to Break Through the Competition

A good personal brand can make the difference between getting that phone call for an interview or getting lost in the resume discard pile.

There's been alot of buzz around "personal branding" lately.  Some of it is true, some of it misconception.  We've already talked about this topic several times in past columns over the months in this blog.  Recently, I interviewed Helene Sigman, an expert on personal and corporate branding.  Helene consults with major corporations as well as individuals on crafting and modifying their brand. 

We already know that a good brand can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to a corporation, but what about an INDIVIDUAL JOB SEEKER?

Find out how you as a job seeker can benefit from having your own personal brand.  Listen to Helene as she walks you through the steps to define and craft your own personal brand that you can use to gain attention from potential employers that you're NOT getting now. 

Joe

Joe Talks with Jason Alba of “Jibber Jobber”

Once your job search extends beyond a few weeks, you've most likely amassed quite a few notes, names and contact info.  Over time, this builds up and important details tend to fall between the cracks.  This can not only drive you crazy, but it can be disastrous as you miss out on important follow-ups and potential call backs you need to be making.

I recently caught up with Jason Alba.  You may recall the last time we interviewed Jason a few months back about his recent book, "I'm on Facebook, Now What?" 

This time, we talk about his primary job search tool called Jibber Jobber.  You can check out his website as well as listen in here as he talks about what the Jibber Jobber tool can do for you in helping you better manage your job search for life. 

Joe

Career Coach Kay Stout Offers Five Tips for This Economy

Is the sky falling?

With the current hysteria over the bailout crisis, one might think. Listen in as Kay Stout, seasoned career coach, talks about her experiences living through the Oklahoma City Oil Bust of 1982 and the similarities of then versus today.

She also offers 5 pointers to further you job search in these tough economic times.

Joe

Facebook 101

There’s no reason to be hung up on how to best use social media today in your job search.

I recently interviewed Phil Rosenberg of ReCareered who knows a thing or two about using social media like LinkedIn and Facebook to accelerate your job search process.

Listen in as I spoke with Phil about the not only WHY you should be using Facebook today, but also some down to earth advice about some great practical ways to get the most from your efforts.

It doesn’t have to be rocket science!

Have a great weekend!

Joe

Phil Rosenberg’s 5 Tips for Your Next Phone Interview

Quick…what's the first contact that a prospective employer has of you?

The phone screen.

Now, what's one of the biggest areas that job hunters continually screw up?

Okay, most all of us have committed blunders in past phone interviews that scratched us from further consideration.  Spend a few minutes to learn how you can avoid those pitfalls and ace the phone screen.

Listen in as I talk with Phil Rosenberg of ReCareered. He has some interesting, if not contrary advice on how to best handle the phone interview. See what you think of his tips and how that might help you on your next phone screen.

Joe

Bill Gaffney Tackles 5 More Top Job Search Myths

Bill is a senior recruiter, career coach and he also writes a column entitled “Ask Amaxa”. As a followup to our last interview with Bill, he tackles his second 5 top job search myths.

These are ideas that many (perhaps you?) hold true in job search. Bill thinks otherwise and tells you why.

Listen in as Bill also offers some sensible advice for job hunters during these trying economic times.

Joe