The 3 Best Qualities That Get Software Engineers Hired

The 3 Best Qualities That Get Software Engineers Hired The Software Engineering role isn’t going anywhere. Since 2001 the software engineering role  has grown rapidly in demand. And in 2015, became a job function that many could receive an  education on relatively easily and start earning $80,000 per year at a minimum. Thanks to places like Khan Academy and now online programs offered by universities, you don’t  need a 4-year bachelors degree in Computer Science in order to land a Software Engineering  role. But with that accessibility to higher wages and plenty of market demand for the job, comes  saturation. And with saturation means competition. We’re going to cover some of the best qualities you can show in your Software Engineering  interviews to stand out as the top 5% of candidates, impress your interviewer and get hired. Is Software Engineering Really in High Demand Still? The first thing to cover is the question, is Software Engineering still in high demand? The  answer is, yes. Software Engineering is still a very high demand position. And it’s accessible to  many of those who want to be remote workers as well. More businesses are continuing to find  ways to introduce technology into their workforces in order to reduce labor costs or advance  revenues. This is a wonderful time to be a Software Engineer, even with the increase of  candidate competition. Is The “Software Engineer” Role Is Great For Entry-Level  Professionals? Yes. It’s true. You can be an entry-level applicant and still get $80,000 per year at a minimum.  This is because the market is still showing signs of higher demand than supply of workers.  Meaning, compensation for the position is still steep for the business. If you are a recent graduate or even someone who decided a 4-year university wasn’t for you,  Software Engineering could still be a feasible career path for you. The 3 Best Qualities That Will Get You Hired As A Software Engineer Software Engineers often present similar concerns to the employer when interviewing. They  lack certain skills that employers value. And when the candidate shows signs of these common  characteristics, it can often mean lower salary expectations for the employee or more junior  positions that the employer finds them suitable for. We’re going to cover the three best qualities (and why they’re the best qualities) to show to your  potential employer in order to stand out as one of the highest quality Software Engineer  candidates. 1. Communication Skills Most Software Engineers lack communication skills. Or people skills in general. This is because  a majority of their talents lay in the ability to write great computer code. Employers will consider  you a top percentile candidate when you can show them that you can communicate effectively  and clearly to non-engineering employees. This is a tremendous value to the employer because  you are able to more easily bridge communication gaps between Software Engineering and  other departments. 2. Business Experience Having any type of business experience is a great skill to highlight as a Software Engineer. It  may seem inapplicable since you are wanting to showcase your coding abilities. But when you  can communicate to the employer that you understand their business and how it works, you will  stand out. Employers want to know that Software Engineers have a deep understanding of their  business so that when developing code it more directly aligns to what the business is going to  value from. This is a skill that many Software Engineers either lack or choose now to show, but  should. 3. Management Experience Management experience is another key skill set. Software Engineers are notorious for being  difficult to collaborate with. Both within the Software Engineering group and outside of it. This is  because Software Engineers feel as though other departments of business “don’t understand  the code”. Having management experience means you could better direct the engineers that  you are working alongside and help them to see the value in working with other departments.    Sharing any type of management experience and positioning it to the employer as you being  able to be a “change agent” within the engineering group is a great value. These Skills Really Make Me a Top Candidate? While all three of these skills don’t seemingly align with Software Engineering, they are the keys  to you being the most valuable Software Engineer to the business. It’s because you can act as a  translator to the rest of your team, ensuring that work that’s being produced is correct and also  delivered efficiently. Many businesses suffer from having waited weeks or months for Software Engineers to deliver  work, only to find out that it doesn’t meet the business requirements. This causes the business  to hemorrhage resources. If they see these 3 qualities in you, they can feel assured that you might not be an engineer that goes that direction, ultimately making you a top percentile candidate. Be sure that you position these qualities or prior experiences as those that will help you do a  better job in Software Engineering. For example, “understanding the business” is key to  producing great features for the Users. All you have to do is state that. That’s the way to align  the positioning between these qualities and your abilities as a Software Engineer. Patrick Algrim is an experienced executive who has spent a number of years in Silicon Valley  hiring and coaching some of the world’s most valuable technology teams. He writes more  articles like this one over at Algrim.co. The 3 Best Qualities That Get Software Engineers Hired The Software Engineering role isn’t going anywhere. Since 2001 the software engineering role  has grown rapidly in demand. And in 2015, became a job function that many could receive an  education on relatively easily and start earning $80,000 per year at a minimum. Thanks to places like Khan Academy and now online programs offered by universities, you don’t  need a 4-year bachelors degree in Computer Science in order to land a Software Engineering  role. But with that accessibility to higher wages and plenty of market demand for the job, comes  saturation. And with saturation means competition. We’re going to cover some of the best qualities you can show in your Software Engineering  interviews to stand out as the top 5% of candidates, impress your interviewer and get hired. Is Software Engineering Really in High Demand Still? The first thing to cover is the question, is Software Engineering still in high demand? The  answer is, yes. Software Engineering is still a very high demand position. And it’s accessible to  many of those who want to be remote workers as well. More businesses are continuing to find  ways to introduce technology into their workforces in order to reduce labor costs or advance  revenues. This is a wonderful time to be a Software Engineer, even with the increase of  candidate competition. Is The “Software Engineer” Role Is Great For Entry-Level  Professionals? Yes. It’s true. You can be an entry-level applicant and still get $80,000 per year at a minimum.  This is because the market is still showing signs of higher demand than supply of workers.  Meaning, compensation for the position is still steep for the business. If you are a recent graduate or even someone who decided a 4-year university wasn’t for you,  Software Engineering could still be a feasible career path for you. The 3 Best Qualities That Will Get You Hired As A Software Engineer Software Engineers often present similar concerns to the employer when interviewing. They  lack certain skills that employers value. And when the candidate shows signs of these common  characteristics, it can often mean lower salary expectations for the employee or more junior  positions that the employer finds them suitable for. We’re going to cover the three best qualities (and why they’re the best qualities) to show to your  potential employer in order to stand out as one of the highest quality Software Engineer  candidates. 1. Communication Skills Most Software Engineers lack communication skills. Or people skills in general. This is because  a majority of their talents lay in the ability to write great computer code. Employers will consider  you a top percentile candidate when you can show them that you can communicate effectively  and clearly to non-engineering employees. This is a tremendous value to the employer because  you are able to more easily bridge communication gaps between Software Engineering and  other departments. 2. Business Experience Having any type of business experience is a great skill to highlight as a Software Engineer. It  may seem inapplicable since you are wanting to showcase your coding abilities. But when you  can communicate to the employer that you understand their business and how it works, you will  stand out. Employers want to know that Software Engineers have a deep understanding of their  business so that when developing code it more directly aligns to what the business is going to  value from. This is a skill that many Software Engineers either lack or choose now to show, but  should. 3. Management Experience Management experience is another key skill set. Software Engineers are notorious for being  difficult to collaborate with. Both within the Software Engineering group and outside of it. This is  because Software Engineers feel as though other departments of business “don’t understand  the code”. Having management experience means you could better direct the engineers that  you are working alongside and help them to see the value in working with other departments.    Sharing any type of management experience and positioning it to the employer as you being  able to be a “change agent” within the engineering group is a great value. These Skills Really Make Me a Top Candidate? While all three of these skills don’t seemingly align with Software Engineering, they are the keys  to you being the most valuable Software Engineer to the business. It’s because you can act as a  translator to the rest of your team, ensuring that work that’s being produced is correct and also  delivered efficiently. Many businesses suffer from having waited weeks or months for Software Engineers to deliver  work, only to find out that it doesn’t meet the business requirements. This causes the business  to hemorrhage resources. If they see these 3 qualities in you, they can feel assured that you might not be an engineer that goes that direction, ultimately making you a top percentile candidate. Be sure that you position these qualities or prior experiences as those that will help you do a  better job in Software Engineering. For example, “understanding the business” is key to  producing great features for the Users. All you have to do is state that. That’s the way to align  the positioning between these qualities and your abilities as a Software Engineer. Patrick Algrim is an experienced executive who has spent a number of years in Silicon Valley  hiring and coaching some of the world’s most valuable technology teams. He writes more  articles like this one over at Algrim.co.

How to Use Resume Writing Services in Salisbury, MD

How to Use Resume Writing Services in Salisbury, MDIf you are an experienced resume writer, why not use your professional service for your next resume writing project? The Internet and other communication tools have made it easy to reach potential clients as well as potential employers.While you may be familiar with the term, 'job reference letter,' you may not know what it entails, how much it costs, or even where to find a company that will conduct a background check on you. How about looking into what is available on resume writing services in Salisbury, Maryland? Let's explore this topic further.No matter what sector of the workforce you work in, there are career-driven people that would appreciate receiving a resume on your behalf. Such individuals are interested in finding out more about you so they can decide whether they want to interview you. Many employers prefer to talk to the people who have conducted the research for them. Why not let them do the interview, rather than y ou?In many cases, resume writers who work for well known companies are offered a percentage of the fees they produce, usually around 15%. This payment makes for a fair price, but it could be even less if you offer your writing services for free. Even if you produce fewer copies, your company will benefit by paying you for the time spent, as well as for the time you spend researching candidates.One good thing about resume writing services in Salisbury, MD is that most have excellent customer service. Most of them can be reached through e-mail, and this means that if you ever need to ask a question, you can do so in a few minutes. And if you get tired of hearing back from a company, you can always go elsewhere. You should also be aware that some companies have poor English skills, which can be off-putting to foreigners.If you do choose to contact resume writing services in Salisbury, MD, be sure to ask if they offer job references on your project. If they do not provide a way to obtai n references, then you should find another company. Some companies only have one or two employees who can only provide references in written form.In the same way, be wary of companies that offer free resumes to their customers, as they are most likely using this tactic as a cover. It is best to ask how many resumes they will produce, how long it will take, and if they would pay for your resume. Most companies require some form of payment before they begin to produce a resume for you.If you are interested in obtaining professional resume writing services in Salisbury, MD, contact several companies to see what each one offers in the way of assistance. It is important to get a good feel for how the process works, as well as what type of information you can expect to receive in return.

Industrial Engineer Job Description - Algrim.co

Industrial Engineer Job Description - Algrim.co Industrial Engineer Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs.

Take Control of Your Personal Brands Search Results - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Take Control of Your Personal Brands Search Results - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career What is a simple, but effective way of taking control of search results for your name? These answers are provided by Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs.YECmembers represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year and have created tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more atyec.co. 1. Claim Your Business on Reviews Sites Most often when you search for a business name on Google, Bing, etc. the first thing you see is the businesss website and a few important links from that website. Youll also notice many review sites below the main website links such as Trustpilot, Glassdoor and the BBB. Make sure to sign up and claim your business on those sites to help control what shows in the search results. Jared Weitz,United Capital Source 2. Turn on Google Alerts Use Google alerts to notify you whenever your name shows up in search results. Then if your name shows up for a negative incident, you should first send a takedown notice and then potentially do damage control by sharing your side of the story or also creating content to override and drown it out. Cody McLain,SupportNinja 3. Optimize Your LinkedIn Account LinkedIn profiles typically rank high in search results, so you want to make sure your profile is as complete and as polished as possible. Specifically, create an eye-catching headline and summary. Make sure your profile includes at least a few recommendations. It also helps to personalize your URL (make sure it includes your name), and set your entire profile to public. Shu Saito,Godai Soaps 4. Take Blogging Seriously The thing about Google is that people dont often look further than page three. If you want to control the search results to your name, you want to focus on creating blog articles and images that are on the first few pages. Create an in-depth About Me page as well as blog posts while researching keywords to focus on writing content people will be searching for. Jared Atchison,WPForms 5. Create Detailed Profiles on All Relevant Social Media Platforms Have a comprehensive profile on social media to dominate search results for your name â€" sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit, Tumblr and Flickr. If you have a common name, include your middle name. This all may be simple, but it will require time and effort invested, good SEO and backlinks to rank these pages. Diego Orjuela,Cables Sensors 6. Start Guest Posting on Credible Sites Guest posting on credible sites and publications will allow you to take control of search results for your name. The guest posts you write for credible sites will rise to the top of search results so that when people search for your name, theyll see that youre associated with the best, most high-quality sites. Syed Balkhi,WPBeginner 7. Discover How People Are Finding You Do prospects search for your product or service by its name? Or, do they search for their problem and possible solutions? If you want to show up in more search results, create content that search engines determine to be relevant and useful. Stanley Meytin,True Film Production 8. Spread Your Digital Footprint With Backlinks to Your Website When anyone searches your name, ideally your website shows up first. A few ways to assure that happens: buy the domains for your name, backlink all your social media sites to your website, backlink your name and get some coverage via podcasts, blogs, radio and other outlets and have them backlink your website and name to your main site. This will ensure your website ranks for you name. David Ehrenberg,Early Growth Financial Services 9. Use a Tool to Monitor Whats Being Said About You Online Use a tool to monitor whats being said about you online. While you cant control what other people say about your company, you can control how you respond and handle the situation. If someone left a bad review of you somewhere online, you can discover it and reply to them in an attempt to reach a resolution. John Turner,SeedProd LLC 10. Google Yourself in Incognito Mode First, you need to see what comes up when you search your name. Sign out of your Google account or open an incognito window and search for your name. Look through the results and see what comes up. You might find that years ago youve created online accounts that you no longer want to be associated with. When you do discover those unwanted results, delete those accounts or remove your info. Chris Christoff,MonsterInsights 11. Be Selective With Your Media Interviews To effectively manage your public image, including the search results for your name, be selective about the media interviews you give. Work with bloggers and reporters who understand your accomplishments, ambitions and values so they can articulate those well. Its easy for audiences to misinterpret things, so just be mindful about how others present information about you. Firas Kittaneh,Amerisleep 12. Flood Google with Information To own the SERP for searches of your company name, you must flood Google with information and make it believe that you should be at the top. Do these by getting PR, creating profiles on high authority sites like Crunchbase or Wikipedia, publishing guest posts, adding schema to display the Knowledge Graph and creating a Google My Business listing. Colton Gardner,Neighbor 13. Turn to Professionals for Help If your personality attracts more and more attention and its not always positive, the good news is that you can fix that. There are lots of strategies you can use to take control of search results for your name, but the most effective ones take a lot of time. If you dont have any, hire a reputation management company and let them take care of all this for you. Solomon Thimothy,OneIMS

Skills Required For Resume Writing

Skills Required For Resume WritingGood skills required for resume writing includes: choosing the right skills, designing a job description and being able to compose the content. People with good knowledge of computers are the ones who excel in resume writing. If you choose the right computer skills, you can easily compile and edit resumes without the help of any other person.Employers prefer to have resumes that show their interest in the positions and the skills that are required for the job they are offering. They do not like applicants who seem to have no idea about the job they are applying for. If you are offered a job but do not know how to use the equipment, your resume is worthless. You need to be trained in the use of these machines before you can confidently submit your resume. You can get these skills from professionals who can give you personalized instruction for making a good resume.Good resume writing is not as easy as it sounds because there are many details that are needed to be included on the resume. The first thing that is required is an accurate listing of all the skills that are required for the job. For instance, the description of a job requires the candidate to have some skills like 'administration of human resources,' 'information technology' and the like.The next part of a good resume is the description of the work. Since resumes are used to highlight the capabilities of the candidate, you need to include the skills that are required by the employer in order to land a position. On the resume, the responsibilities of the employee are also listed in detail.Now, if you want to create your own resume, you will have to include the same details. You can research and write a resume that is similar to the requirements of the job that you are applying for. This will make your resume look professional. However, if you are a bit more imaginative and creative, you can take some creative risks and make your resume unique to the company you are app lying for.Before you choose the technical skills that you will put on your resume, you need to study them well. You can read books or online articles that explain about the technical skills you are applying for. By doing this, you will be able to pick up the technical skills that are needed for the job that you are applying for. If you have a background in computer science, you can choose to include the skills you have gained in college such as Java Programming, Web Design, programming in C++ or .NET.Besides the skill set that is required for the job, it is also important to list the skills that were acquired from a previous job. This would be in the form of an experience summary. The experience summary will show how many years of experience you have had working in various fields.Good resume writing skills is just as important as making a good resume. If you are serious about landing the perfect job, you need to apply for jobs that are very suitable for you. You need to be ready to invest time and effort in improving your skills to be able to land a job that you really want.

Does Discipline Really Kill Creativity CareerMetis.com

Does Discipline Really Kill Creativity Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comFor an artist, subjecting oneself to the rules may be tricky. Creative work does not always go hand-in-hand with discipline. We define creativity as work based on inspiration â€" and inspiration does not follow a specific plan. It may be momentary and spontaneous. So, is it possible to be creative yet still productive enough for others to call you disciplined?Let’s discuss ten ways that discipline can kill creativity, and how to avoid this stigma.1.Discipline as comfortevalAs you come to the same office every morning, follow your daily routine, take coffee breaks at certain times, you may begin feeling comfortable. At this point, you seize wanting to be different from the other office plankton around you. However, you calm yourself down by thinking you’re disciplined enough to follow the same schedule every day. This sort of ‘comfortable discipline’ is the worst enemy of creativity.evalWhen you stop changing your environment, you kill creativity. On e cannot create if he does not continuously grow as a person. You may remain self-disciplined if you try new things daily. For example, using a new software solution to do your creative work, or taking lunch outside with your computer to see if creativity strikes, or even going rollerblading with your colleagues during lunch will change the course of your routine.2. Doing the job that you do not likeWhen you are doing something that you do not enjoy, no amount of self-discipline and planning can make you creative. You can stay disciplined as far as forcing yourself to sit and stare at the screen. This type of work requires a change of attitude if it is to keep you being creative.If you can think of at least one reason why what you’re doing would be beneficial for someone else, then you may work on changing your attitude. If not, it’s time to part ways with this job.3. Binge drinking, binge eating, or binge restingThis is more an outcome than a process itself, which can destroy c reativity. You can force yourself to power through work you hate for many hours despite your disdain for the job at hand. It will make you feel proud.But later, your creativity will slowly wither because you will not have any more motivation. In such cases, many people resort to such destructive activities as:alcohol,binge eating,sleeping too much.They feel that they’ve been working so hard that they deserve this outlet.4. Thinking that discipline is productivityThe trick in creative work is to be working without actually thinking about it as a job. In creative work, when you make lists and try to get things done one by one, you will feel like running a mental marathon. Good news is that most jobs today are mobile and flexible, allowing workers such benefits as:longer breaks,work at nights,work during weekends.evalTake benefit of being flexible and stop calculating hours. Start making mind maps. They are more visual, and they do not make you feel ‘only half done’ when you didn ’t manage to complete one of the tasks.Indulge in things you enjoy daily, besides work, don’t abstain. Abstaining is your enemy, especially when it comes to fun. It will come as a surprise that sometimes you may be more productive in less time than you would expect, and maybe that happens outside of regular working hours.eval5. Exposure to people you don’t likeWe can’t perform up to our full potential when surrounded by people we don’t like. It’s just a human factor. Especially when it is your boss who demands more discipline, better planning, and more significant results from you. Such people must understand that the creative job done under pressure does not compare to the creative job done in freedom.You need to demonstrate that you perform better without their over-involvement. This approach may earn you some extra points, more flexible work hours, or even occasional working from home days â€" it all depends on the pre-set rules that exist in your work environment.eva l6. Disciplined sleepingDuring the Industrial Revolution, the idea was born that the longer you can work without sleep, the better. It was considered healthy to be spending most of your day at work in the factory and sleeping for just a few hours. The bare minimum. Now we know that such routine is damaging and unhealthy.Therefore, we have more time for sleep and personal tasks with work taking only 25% of our weekly routine. So, it’s up to us to decide when to go to bed and when to wake up. And the society dictates that we should go to bed at the same hour every evening. However, not many of us count how many hours it takes us to fall asleep.This time of lying in bed waiting for the sleep to strike is, basically, useless. A person has to go to sleep when feeling tired. It’s better to wake up an hour later than your peers but to be fresh and creative all day than to wake up earlier and walk yawning around the office all day.7. Discipline or routine?When you are getting ready to t ravel, do you make lists of what to buy beforehand? Do you pack your socks and toothbrush? Weirdly enough, this is called routine. Something that you do without overthinking â€" you know it works this way. Discipline should come in the same way â€" seamlessly.It’s no amount of force. If you force yourself to sit down and write something just because it’s the deadline tomorrow, you will get nowhere.Real discipline is inbuilt into your routine â€" you will sit down to work way before the deadline, you will try a few times, and finally, it will work. There is no pressure of deadlines because you think in advance.8. Discipline in informational exposureEvery day, we scroll social networks for fun without realizing how much informational overload to which we’re exposed. Due to this overload, it’s harder to concentrate on work later. Discipline should come in all spheres of life:social,mental,physical,and online.Use handy apps that calculate and limit your time spent surfing social networks daily.9. Disciplined me timeevalYou cannot limit your me time because on different days you need different amounts of time for it. This will cause lower self-esteem and consequently will affect your creative work. Make sure that you take as much time to recharge as you need.10. Discipline isn’t necessarily badAs soon as you come to realize that rules are your ally, you will be able to use them for your benefit. Don’t be afraid of them, and don’t be scared to break them. Creative process may be messy, but a smart extent of rules will not hurt. Picasso would never be able to discover cubism if he didn’t break the rules of realism which was predominant in his era.Most often we define discipline regarding submission to specific rules, controls, and schedules. We also understand that this set of rules was created by someone else, as opposed to our desire to be creative here and now. However, it is time we stopped thinking in such limited terms about discipline and creat ivity as different sides of one coin. The balance between these two lies in a self-disciplined plan that leads to the creation of value.

Steps To Getting A Big Fat Pay Increase

Steps To Getting A Big Fat Pay Increase One reason you want to change jobs is to land a big fat pay increase, right? Well maybe, maybe not. Before you begin searching the job boards or apply for any jobs, you will want to understand some things about todays hiring process and pitfalls that may limit your earning potential. Supply and Demand If the workforce is filled with people who do the same thing you do, then its easy for an employer to find the talent they are looking for. This tends to drive salaries down. This is one reason personal branding has become important to people job searching. When you promote your unique set of skills and experiences, you look less like an average job seeker and more like a must-have resource to employers. When done well, your efforts could result in an increased perceived value and therefore, more money. Know Your Value How much should someone with your experience be earning? Thats a great question! It isnt easy to answer but youll need to find an answer. There are many variables to consider such as education, years of experience, industry, geographic location, size of company and more. Its important to take all these factors into consideration as well as the fact that no one has the exact same background as you. Internal vs External Job Change If you are looking for a change in salary, keep in mind that it is often difficult to negotiate salary bumps when you are an internal candidate. It isnt unusual for people to leave their current organization to achieve the financial bump they are looking for. But following the steps below will at least give you the knowledge and confidence to ask for more! Step One: Use Job Postings You can start by searching job boards and look at the jobs that you are suited for. Some posted jobs do list salary information. As tempting as it is to stop here, dont! You will need to conduct research using several different sources. Using multiple resources will help corroborate the salary ranges. Step Two: Find Out What Other Professionals Earn There are several ways you can find out the salaries of jobs you are interested in. No, you shouldnt ask someone how much money they make. But you can ask someone in a similar role what she thinks the average salary is for that type of job. People Who Work In The Role The best source of salary information is asking someone who is working in the type of job you are interested in. Arrange for a networking meeting and ask about their scope of responsibilities, their background, and of course, what is the going rate for that type of job in the marketplace today? Professional Associations Did you know that professional associations often conduct salary research and share that data as a benefit to its members? Now would be a good time to investigate  joining one. Third-Party Recruiters Dont forget to tap into the market knowledge third-party recruiters have. Companies often hire a third-party recruiter to fill an opening, which means these recruiters know salary information for the jobs theyve filled. Pick up the phone and call a recruiting agency and ask to speak with the recruiter who places people in your desired occupation. Employer Review Sites Employer review sites like Glassdoor can also shed some light on how much people in a similar role are paid. Heres the link to their salary information. Online Salary Calculators Last, but not least, online salary calculators can give you a broad salary range. This is a quick and easy way to start your research, but dig deeper to find more information. CareerBuilder Indeed/salaries O*Net  Occupational salaries  (finetune wages by state) NACE  (National Association of Colleges and Employers) for new grads Payscale Salary.com Use a spreadsheet to collect your information. It will make it easier to analyze the data. Know  Your Range Based on your research and conversations, and taking your unique background into consideration, establish your salary range. The lowest number in your range is the amount you would accept if the right type of job was offered. The highest number is the amount you would love to earn. As a general rule, keep your range fairly tight â€" the difference between your two numbers shouldnt be much more than $10,000. Be Ready When Its Time To Talk Money You will be asked for your salary requirements during the online application process, so it is important to know your value at the beginning of your job search. You will also be asked about your salary expectations during a phone screen. Instead of responding with your range, ask ALWAYS ask what the company has budgeted for the position. It may feel uncomfortable to ask this question, but its important to know. You dont want to under- or overprice yourself for the position. You may need to modify your range to ensure it falls within what the company is offering. If you carefully analyzed the job description and youve done your due diligence researching salaries, your range should be close. However, if your number is far off, you may need to ask the recruiter more questions about the job responsibilities to make sure it is what you are looking for. Salary  Isnt The Only Thing That Matters Before you even start searching for a new job, make a wish list of all the job duties, benefits and perks that are important to you. Use this as a starting point for your search. Your challenge is to find a job with an employer that meets as many of your requirements as possible, and compensates you for the value you deliver. You may want to use this document to help you determine other perks of a job.   [Items to Negotiate] Looking for more insight and help with negotiating your salary? Payscale has many articles to help you, here. This post originally appeared on US News World Report On Careers

Survive the company picnic - Hallie Crawford

Survive the company picnic It’s time for some company team building or bonding. As summer draws to an end, in order to ramp up enthusiasm for the fall again, companies like to host a beach outing, picnic, or some other outdoor event before the weather turns cold. We all know how some of us really feel about them. If you Are one of the lucky ones who truly enjoys them, that’s awesome! There are plenty of people out there who don’t though, and they approach them as a chore sometimes with a feeling of dread. I was honored to be featured in this recent Wall Street Journal career article about how to survive that company picnic and even have a good time! Read article here Here are two things that I wanted to add to this career advice: 1.  Have a strategy â€" Decide who you would like to most connect with during this time. Is there someone you don’t get to talk to often at work but would like to get to know and possibly network with. Identify who those people are and make an effort to reach out. 2.  Decide on and communicate a  time frame  â€" You don’t have to stick to it to the letter, but if you can only stay for a certain period of time, make that known in advance so people don’t think you are just ducking out. Or if you are not looking forward to it, decide on the amount of time that is reasonable for you to make an appearance and be cordial and warm then have a good reason for leaving. If you decide to stay, that’s fine. But at least it’s not an awkward goodbye when it’s time to go. Handling professional events with ease is a critical piece to your professional development and, they should be handled with care. As a career coach, I always advise my clients to be mindful of their professional image, at all times. You just never know who is watching and what your behavior might communicate. So â€" be thoughtful about it! Ideal Career Coach P.S.  Is your clock ticking towards retirement? Check out our  Encore Career Coaching  services to help you define your life â€" on your terms.