Work on Vacation Not to Vacation

By Alysha Gomes, Toppel Peer Advisor

The time comes again when many other UM students and I are forced to pick classes to fulfill credits toward our majors. Around this time, I am reminded how stressful it is to pick a career path that I will be inevitably following for the rest of my life. Torn between what my parents wants, what society deems as respectable, what I believe will pay enough to support the life I hope to have, and what I enjoy, the decision is more complicated then most make it out to be. However, the best advice I have been given it to find a happy medium.

There are so many quizzes, questionnaires, and surveys that claim to tell you the best job fit, but the decision is ultimately left up to you. When picking a job there are three major factors (at least for me):

1. What am I good at?

People who stick to this and run often end up in jobs where they only go through the motions. Everyday, they get up, go to work, perform, and go home to the life that their work has made possible, but instead of ruling their own life, they fall victim to routine and hardly ever experience excitement.

2. What makes money?

This is the big debate question. Does my job fit my personality or do I do this because it makes me a ton of money which I can spend after I get off work? People who decide their job based on this question work to pay for the weekends in which they enjoy their life. It is lifestyle they let rule their life. 

3. What do I love doing?

This is the thing that everyone insists should be the deciding factor. We forever hear in our heads, “Do what you what to do, not what people think you should do!” However, this is not the only thing to consider. If you only think about what you love then you forget to consider what you want your life to be like. Yes, many people who give up everything and just roll with their talent do end up on the top of society’s ladder, look at Einstein, but that involves luck and, if you're like me, luck isn’t always on your side.

When picking a career, you should consider not one, but all three of these questions. What are you good at doing that makes enough money to support the life you want that you would love waking up to do? That question will lead you to live a very healthy life in which you do not have to wait till your next vacation to enjoy yourself.

It is estimated that 70% of employees are dissatisfied or disengaged in their careers. So please take some time to reflect on who you actually are. Forget what your parents want, what the top 10 most paying jobs are, and what your rich movie star idol does, and ask yourself what do you want. You don’t have to decide now, but remember that if you don’t pursue your own desires, then your just adding to the 70% who wish they did things different.

Goal : Best put by Dr. Seuss

3 Tips for Negotiating Salary

Guest Blog By CareerBliss

There are many milestones you have to pass when going from job seeker to job holder – filling out applications, smiling through phone screens, selling yourself during in-person interviews and, eventually, talking about compensation.

  

Upon receiving a job offer, you may be tempted to immediately say yes, shake hands and ask when do I start. Slow down, take a breath and tell them you need a day or so to make a decision. 

Then start thinking about your worth. Most employers expect you to negotiate compensation – in fact, they may be lowballing you a bit to leave wiggle room for negotiation. So don’t feel greedy or ungrateful for speaking up about wanting more. But remember: Wanting more doesn’t mean you’re going to get it. Skillful negotiation, however, will get you closer to the compensation you deserve. 

Here are some tips for getting to where you want to be.

1. Build Rapport

Begin laying the foundation for a fruitful salary negotiation long before the topic is ever broached. From your first interactions with a hiring manager (and anyone else you may meet at the company), start to build rapport. 

You’re not just trying to get top dollar for your skills and experience – you’re also selling yourself. If the person you’re negotiating with really likes you, she’ll be more open to be persuaded that you’re worth what you say you are. It’s the old catch more flies with honey thing. Be the honey!

2. Do Your Research

Before you start tossing numbers around you need to have a good idea about what others in the area are getting paid for the same kind of work. Lucky for you, salary information is easily available via the magical thing we call the Internet.

CareerBliss, for instance, has a database of millions of salaries for all types of jobs across all industries and locations. So do your research and come to the negotiation with data to back up your salary desires.

  

3. Articulate Your Value

In addition to having salary data, you’ll need to be able to articulate why you are worth the compensation you are requesting. Talk about successes in past jobs, and provide a concrete plan for what you are going to do in your new position to further the company’s goals. The idea is to give them a good idea of that they are paying for.

If you’re new to the professional workforce and the employer won’t budge, consider agreeing to the salary offered on condition that your performance is reevaluated after 90 days and, if you have reached agreed upon goals, your salary is increased at that time.

A Very See-Through Door Made of Borosilicate

Written by Thien Tran
Part of the Career Toolbox Series 

I know you’re probably thinking, “Thien, this is a very bland name. Why did you decide to name something so plainly?” Well I’ll tell you exactly why I did so. You see, I have always found that it is better to be as straightforward as possible when it comes to names. For example, if hurricanes weren’t named after boys and girls, then maybe everyone would evacuate like they’re supposed to and no one would get hurt. You may decide that you want to play outside during Tropical Storm Sandy, but I bet you’d never go near Hurricane Death Machine 5000. So this blog post is about precisely what the title says: a look through the glass door of a company.
 

What is it?

GlassDoor.com is a website that can be used to search for jobs, much like any other job board on the internet. However, there are many unique aspects that set this particular website apart. For one, it is very aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate and narrow searches. Other websites look atrocious. Like ugly little animals. Like something I would draw with my left hand. Anyway, GlassDoor.com not only offers job postings, but also company and occupational salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and hiring process reviews. These are usually anonymous, written by employees and job seekers alike. Although, some companies will put their own information on the website to ensure the information is accurate as well as to promote.

 How do I Sign Up?

By now you’re probably thinking, “Why Thien, how do I become a part of this elite group?” And worry not my dear friend, for I’m here to tell you just that. You can become a part of this group by simply signing up on the website with your email, or even through your Facebook account. You may be thinking at this point, “Whoa, my Facebook? But why Thien?” And I’ll tell you exactly why. Here it comes, ready? Here it is: with your Facebook connected to GlassDoor, you can see who your friends are connected to. They may be employed by a company of interest, or may be friends with someone who works for a company you are looking at. Still don’t trust me? I wouldn’t either. You know that guy who always farts and then asks everyone, “Hey, do y’all smell popcorn?” And then everyone takes in a huge whiff trying to smell popcorn. That’s ME!

Searches

You can search for jobs with a keyword, title, or company, along with a location. You can further narrow down your search in terms of distance from the location, posting time, and company rating. These postings are usually hosted by another website, such as Monster or CareerBuilder. In addition, you can check out company overviews, salaries, employee reviews, photos from the office, and Facebook connections. It’s a like a buffet! But please try to have some self-control. Like the people who make bubble wrap.