Determine Your Own Path

Posted by Red Giraffe Team at 1:33 am

One frequently quoted saying is: “It’s not the challenges in life that define you, it’s how you deal with them.” In times of contracting job markets this is a saying worth remembering – one that’s even worth pinning to your bedroom wall.  Graduate careers are often hard to get started but even now, there are numerous graduate positions, graduate placement and recruitment opportunities.

Exactly how you deal with your work-related challenges will differ depending on the situation. However, in all situations it is true to say that you remain in charge of your own choices. Although circumstances may impact upon you, just how you respond to these circumstances is always up to you.

There are some techniques that can help you respond in a positive manner. One of these is to foster a strong awareness of your current situation. Workers who are most likely to remain in tact after a retrenchment, for instance, are those who have taken time to cue into the current performance of their company and the mood of their fellow workers.

The more you can understand the workings of your workplace, the more you will be able to put all changes into perspective, and keep your footing in times of upheaval.

Another good technique is to develop an ability to identify your emotional responses to stressful situations – and to turn them on their heads if necessary. If, for example, your first response to losing out on a job opening is anger, hanging onto this emotion is unlikely to help you move on. Yet, the sooner you can identify your response as anger, the sooner you can set this emotion aside in favour of, perhaps, acceptance,  or even curiosity as to how you may have improved your pitch.

Thirdly, there is enormous power in being able to view your setbacks as opportunities for growth, rather than as losses. These growth opportunities are a major part of the learning curve in graduate employment.  Although you will no doubt feel a personal sting at the time, always try and maintain a broad perspective and a belief that every step moves you forward – even if the location to which you are shifting may not be immediately apparent.

Angling for More Money

Posted by Red Giraffe Team at 12:24 am

In the current market, asking your boss for more money may not be a smart move. Especially when you have just secured your first graduate placement, you want to be humble in this area.  However, every workplace is different and there will be some situations in which companies can afford to up the salaries of some workers.
 
If you believe you are in a situation where a pay raise is warranted, and your workplace is not in financial hardship, there are some tactics that will help when it comes to presenting your case to your boss.

First and foremost, treat your pitch for a pay raise as a commercial process. Set aside thoughts of personal entitlement and think more along the lines of how to present yourself as a valuable asset – one that is worth more than your current remuneration.

Just like in a strategic recruitment process, businesses need to justify their expenses, so the more you can help your boss justify a pay raise then the easier it will be for them to give their approval. Approach the conversation with the same readiness as you would for job interview answers.
 
One starting point is to review your job description. If you have been with your workplace for more than six months chances are you have started to take on more than was called for in your original job description. Graduate positions for instance will develop to include much more than may have been initially discussed. Make a list of all the duties you perform above and beyond the role for which you were originally hired and present these to your boss as part of the proof of your increased worth to the company.

But just how much extra money should you request? No doubt you will have a figure in mind that would make you very happy. Yet you should also know how low you will go if the negotiation becomes difficult. One way to help you determine your range is to identify what kind of salaries other, similar positions, are receiving in your industry. Seek out online salary surveys as a starting point, as well as scanning the latest job ads in major newspapers and trade journals.
 
Not only will this approach help you set your own limits, it will also give you an independent reference point to which you can refer your boss. Just as effective interview techniques can determine success or failure in pursuing a job, a strategic approach in seeking a pay raise is also essential for getting what you deserve.