Ask the Headhunter

Dear “O Great Headhunter of Headhunters”,

I really need your help. I am having a huge fight with my parents regarding my nose ring. I am going to be graduating from college in a few weeks and I have an upcoming interview for a role in a regional accounting firm. My parents are insisting that I take the ring out, I believe that I have to be who I am and should keep it in. What do you say?

Signed,

IamwhoIam.

Dear Iam,

I wish this was a tough one, but it is not. Unless the accounting company your interviewing has a specific clientele that would share your love of body jewelry, I say you have to take it out. The reality is that you have to consider every interview a competitive situation. Usually there are at least 3 to 5 people interviewing for the role and all of them want to beat you. In addition, regardless of your feelings about the nose ring, you have to consider what the person hiring might think . They are also going to be sending you out to meet and help their clients. This is definitely the time to use good judgement. Take it out, do a great job and then decide if you can add the accessory later, after you prove your worth!

Headhunter of Headhunter has spoken…..

Tom Johnston is the headhunter that headhunters seek to find talent for their firms. He is the CEO of SearchPath and has more than 18 years of experience in franchising, search and recruitment, and office development. Tom is recognized as a leader and authority in the executive search industry. 

Is your College Grad Moving Back Home? 4 Things you Should Discuss Beforehand

Is there an end date to the arrangement? 
This can be negotiable down the line, but it is important that everyone is clear on how long the returnee can stay until they move out. Is it 6 months, a year? Defining this from the start will help your new grad stay on track to finding a job and moving out on their own.

Will they be expected to contribute financially? 
There is no free lunch in the real world. It is okay for parents to charge rent, especially to help pay for groceries, utilities or cable. If you feel weird charging your grad, work out other arrangements such as chores, projects around the house, errands, etc.

Are there house rules? 
College kids are used to doing what they want, when they want. It is important to clarify expectation on household chores, overnight guests, or curfews. Define 3 things you cannot stand to live with and try to be flexible with other limits.

Are there expectations about looking for a job? 
No one likes a free-loader! Is your grad actively seeking opportunities every day or are they laying around the house and doing nothing? Are they required to apply to at least one job per day,  attend job fairs or networking events every month?

4 Ways to Negotiate Salary

Salary negotiation can be a very awkward conversation, especially if you are not prepared. Whether you have been given an offer for a new position, or have been with the same company, the opportunity to negotiate is there.  Here are 4 tricks to negotiating your salary.

Use free tools to your advantage

Salary.com, Payscale.com and Glassdoor.com are all websites that can provide you a specific salary range for your position and industry. They compile HR-reported salary data that can break down your worth by market, experience, and education.  

Consider the company standing

Is your position with a large corporation, new start up or non-profit organization? It is important to remember the financial impact of a company before making higher demands. After all, it does no good having a higher salary if the company goes under after a year.

Consider your performance

Do you have stats that show you have helped generate revenue, reached your target goals, or helped save money? Have you taken on new responsibilities and continued to meet your goals or deadlines? These are all measurable facts to use to your advantage.  Negotiating a higher salary because you are trying to buy a house or send a child to college won’t get you far. You must have facts and data to support your request.

Consider other benefits

If you work for a startup or non-profit, they may not be able to negotiate a set salary. Extra vacation days, equity, working from home or performance-based bonuses are all up for negotiation as well.  During your discussion, take time to understand what additional benefits the company can offer and focus on negotiating in these areas. 

Why it is worth it to Invest in a Career Coach

Investing in a career coach might seem like an unnecessary expense, but when you have been stuck in your job search, isn’t it worth it to invest in yourself and your career? A good career coach can provide tools, technology and perspective that could eliminate your search by 50%.

If you are not sure if you want to take the plunge and make the investment, consider these reasons on why it may be a good idea. 

Not Happy with Current Position

According to an article by Global Newswire, 7 in 10 Americans are unhappy working in their current position. Maybe you are new to the work force, or you are 5 years from retiring, but don’t you deserve to do something you are passionate about? A career coach will give you personalized advice on how to translate your passions and values into a career or position that you love.

Industry or Career Shift

A major industry shift or total change in career can be very difficult, especially if your experience dates back 20 years without change in direction. A good career coach will be able to help you break down your skills and experiences to identify how those skills can be a benefit to the new career track you wish to take.

Getting Back in to the Workforce

Circumstances like raising a family, traveling or recovering for medical reasons can all lead to taking substantial time off from the daily working grind. Whether it is seeking direction on job searching, defining your passions and finding positions that match your goals, or even assistance building a resume to address gaps in your work history, career coaches work to help provide you with proactive searching methods.

Discovering New Ideas

Working with a career coach can help you explore options you may have never considered before. Whether it is going into business for yourself or applying for positions that you never knew existed, opening these doors can provide new opportunities that may have been overlooked.

If you are still unsure about making the move to invest in a career coach, call MyHuntPath today for a free consultation and to learn more about our coaching services.  https://www.myhuntpath.com/CoachingServices.aspx  

5 Signs It’s Time to Hire a Career Coach

If you are reading this post, chances are you need a career change! Career coaches can help job seekers determine their overall goals and passions to develop a proactive plan that will help land their dream job. Through networking, researching, and planning, career coaches are trained to empower you to realize your dreams and monetize your passions.

If you have ever considered working with a career coach, now may be the time. Here are 5 signs that indicate you need a career coach.

Job -hopping with no direction

Taking job opportunities as they come for something seemingly better may not always work out. Without defining parameters of what you truly want, you will always land in the same place as your last position. Unhappy. A career coach can help you define those parameters and create a strategy to target job opportunities that make sense. 

Your network is limited

If your network is on the smaller side, a career coach can give you advice on how to grow your connections. Chances are, the career coach is also well connected in the community because they are constantly working with different companies and helping people.

You know what you want to do but you don’t know how to achieve it

You have goals and dreams, but how do you make them a reality? If you spend your time thinking that you should be doing something else, you are probably right. Career coaches are trained to help you make your dreams come to fruition, and make money doing it!

Unhappy and loosing hope of finding a better opportunity

If you have lost your positive outlook on finding the right position or career path, having a career coach can help realign that mind set.  They will work with you to outline what job functions you like, what salary range you desire, and which type of company culture would fit your needs.  

You have the potential to do more

Are you being looked over for potential promotions? If you have been in a position for 2 or 3 years and feel stuck, it’s time to move in a different direction.

MyHuntPath has an amazing team of certified career coaches ready to steer you in the right direction! Call today for your free consultation. https://www.myhuntpath.com/CoachingServices.aspx