by Angela Copeland | Jun 27, 2016 | Advice, Change, Negotiating, Newsletter, Salary
You probably already know. There’s an ongoing debate going on. It’s growing as workplace philosophies continue to evolve.
This is the question. How long should you stay at your current employer?
If you leave too soon, your next employer will think you job hop. They may think you have a problem with commitment. Perhaps you’ve been fired before. Or, maybe they’ll assume you don’t get along well with others. You definitely won’t be someone they’ll want to invest their company resources into.
That’s true, right?
Not necessarily. Staying at a job too long may send signs you never even thought of. Your future hiring manager may think you’re the kind of person who doesn’t challenge yourself to grow. They may assume that your skills are rusty. They may wonder what’s wrong with you… (Yes, what’s wrong with you.)
In today’s job market, it’s not unusual to switch jobs every three to five years. In fact, many hiring managers appreciate someone with multiple companies on their resume.
Here are a few of the positive perceptions hiring managers have about employees who transition between different companies:
- This person has a diverse skill set of knowledge
- This person is a real go-getter
- This person knows how to work well in many different environments
- This person has many industry contacts
- This person is self motivated
Don’t get me wrong, this perception varies by industry. In certain industries, it is more important to change frequently while in other industries, staying for a long time can be valued. But, overall, it’s becoming more and more expected that you change frequently. In fact, people hold more than ten different jobs in their lifetime today.
And, do you know what’s more? The data suggests that employees who stay at companies longer than two years get paid 50% less over the course of their lifetime.
50% – that earning figure sounds crazy! Well, until you think of how hard it is to negotiate a good raise within your company. Where do you think all the raises are going to? They’re going to outside candidates the company is trying to lure in.
So, what’s holding you back? Do you think your boss is eventually going to recognize your brilliance (one day)? Do you feel under-qualified to take another job? Are you afraid of the interview process? Are you convinced there are no good jobs out there?
Or, are you sure that someone is going to appreciate your long term commitment?
If this is your strategy, I hate to break it to you, but it may not work. In fact, it could backfire in a big way.
Imagine you live in a small city where you’re known for doing a particular kind of work for a certain company. You’ve earned respect for many years working at the same place. Then, you decide that you want to pick up and move to someplace bigger — maybe New York or LA.
And, all of the sudden, that longevity and respect don’t take you as far. You may just look like someone who’s comfortable… complacent… not committed to growth. You may have become someone with a tiny network of contacts.
Of course, the length of time truly varies by the type of profession you’re in. But, keep that in mind when your great uncle (who has never worked a day in your field) starts to give you a hard time about job hopping. These relatives will often scare you with stories about the unknown. They talk about the possibility of failure, of being laid off, and of losing your health insurance.
But really, you’re at risk anywhere you go. Jobs today are not a guarantee. But, if you do switch periodically, you will diversify your skill set – and your professional network. And, you will create a bigger safety net for yourself than you started with.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Jun 20, 2016 | Advice, Negotiating, Newsletter
If you ask an employer why their employee quit, they often say pay. The person found a better deal somewhere else. But, if you ask the employee the same question, pay is rarely the reason.
It’s certainly at the top of their list for the new company they want to work for. But, it’s rarely the real reason they left their old company. As you know, a big reason employees leave is they feel treated unfairly.
This brings the question, “What is fair?”
At a government job (including the military), what’s “fair” can feel more obvious. Pay is a known quantity because pay scales are public information. Promotions and raises are typically scheduled. In this type of job, it’s unlikely you will wake up one day to learn that your peer is making significantly more money than you, or has been awarded more vacation.
In a corporate job however, this isn’t the case at all. I’m the biggest advocate for the job seeker, so don’t get me wrong. But, things work differently in this world.
What’s “fair” often doesn’t matter.
Pay is based on things like how well you negotiated. It may be based on your previous salary history. It could even be based on the college you attended.
It isn’t necessarily based on the following:
- The quality of your work
- How senior you are
- How much money you saved the organization
- How smart you are
Essentially, fair is what you’re willing to accept.
And, once you’re in the door with a company, they aren’t obligated to pay you more just because you’re a superstar.
It’s upsetting, I know. It can make you angry. It can make you want to scream.
But, in the corporate world, you are your advocate. You’re the one who must convince your company and your boss that you’re valuable. Getting the most money is a game. It’s one you have to play.
And, you have to play it on the front end. Don’t expect future raises to be more than 2-6% annually once you’re at a company.
So, what should you do when you wake up one day to realize that your peers are making more than you?
You could kick and scream. You could quit. There are laws about this stuff, RIGHT?
Yes, you could. And, if you’re truly being mistreated, I don’t want to discourage you from seeking help. But, think about where you want to put your energy.
If your company doesn’t respect you enough to pay you what you’re worth today, what difference will it make if they pay you more tomorrow? You’ll still be in the same unfortunate situation, with a boss who is unlikely to recognize your talents or encourage your growth.
If you learn that you’re being treated unfairly, my suggestion is to start looking for someone who will treat you fairly. Search for a company that values you. Find a boss that will promote you, and be your advocate.
Stop focusing on the past and start looking toward the future.
But, whatever you do, don’t quit your current job (if you can help it). I know it’s awful. I know you hate being there. I get it; you hate your boss. But, if you quit, you will forever have to explain what happened, and why you have a gap on your resume. You’ll forever have to explain that you were underappreciated and underpaid.
Other people may even assume that you were fired. Crazy, right? It’s something we don’t think about when we make the choice to quit, but hiring managers will wonder what happened.
If you are being treated unfairly, I’m terribly sorry. It’s the absolute worst feeling in the world. Hang in there, and refocus your energy on what you can control – YOUR FUTURE. In no time, you’ll find someone who will truly appreciate you!
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Jun 13, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter, Relocation
The thought of moving to a new city can be one of the most energizing and most scary thoughts. Especially once you’ve settled down in a place for a few years, how do you pick a new city? How do you decide where to go? And furthermore, how do you get there?
Here are a few tips on choosing and successfully moving to a new city:
- Start with a broad list of cities that seem interesting. Write the cities down that you come up with.
- Create a list of things that are important to you. When you pick a new city to move to, it’s often based on lifestyle choices. Your list might include things like the quality of the public schools, the cost of living, the crime rate, and more. Decide what’s the most important to you and look up the stats for each city. You can find these things on the Census Bureau website, or on local government sites.
- Narrow your list of cities and start visiting them. Nothing can help you to decide where to move, and where NOT to move than by visiting the cities on your list. But, don’t make the mistake of being a tourist. Stay at a place you find on AirBnB.com, so you’ll live with the locals. Go to local events that you would attend if you were back home. Try things like networking events, yoga classes, dance lessons, or cooking classes.
- Once you have decided on a target city, research the companies there. Create a list of the companies you want to target.
- Now that you have your target list of companies, go again. But, this time, setup networking meetings with local hiring managers. Even if you don’t know them personally, reach out on LinkedIn. Explain that you’ll only be in town for a week, but that you’d love to take them out for a coffee to learn more about their business. Not everyone will respond, but those who do have the potential to turn into real connections.
Moving can be tough. Above all, don’t apply online and expect for things to just work out. If you’re not local, you’re not known. Companies prefer to hire local candidates if they can. They can find them through their existing network, they don’t have to pay relocation, and the candidate can start working sooner.
And, speaking of relocation — Decide how important paid relocation is to you. If you don’t want relocation costs to make or break an offer, start saving now. Get a quote from a local moving company so that you’ll have an idea of what to expect.
Going in person can set you apart from other candidates. It can make you more than just a resume. It can sometimes be just enough to get the hiring manager to hire you before they hire someone else.
And, one last note: If it’s your dream to move abroad, learn the rules. Different countries are easier or harder to immigrate to. They may have rules about the kind of work you can do, the age you must be, etc. From my experience, it seems to be easier to relocate from the U.S. to Australia than to Europe, for example — but, only if you are under a certain age.
Bottom line: Do your homework and take the extra steps you need to in order to turn your moving dream into a reality.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Jun 6, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
I speak to job seekers every day who are miserable at work. Going into the office is a chore they dread. Sunday nights are anxiety filled. Just thinking about Monday morning can keep us up at night.
Does this sound familiar?
If so, it’s really time to stop and think about how much longer you’re comfortable feeling so very uncomfortable.
Finding a job is a process. And, in many cases, it’s not a quick one. If you wait until you can’t bear to go in to work one more day, you’ve waited too long.
Think about it. It can take six months to find a great job. If you wait until things are in a dire situation at work to start looking, you will lose many of your choices. This is especially true if you find yourself out of work.
Suddenly, finding a job FAST is the number one priority. Speed outweighs everything else. When this happens, it doesn’t matter as much how well the job pays. It doesn’t matter as much what the title is. It may not even matter where the job is located. These things all become true when you’re running away from a burning building.
But, if you start now — start proactively — if you plan for the future — you will retain your options. You hang on to your power.
You’ll have time to find the best paying job, with a better title, in a city that you and your family want to live in.
But, this approach requires something different. It requires you to take a proactive approach to your job search. It requires you to take the reins.
If you’re like most people, you have been offered jobs over the years that you weren’t even looking for. You have great skills and someone else picked up on them and tapped you for a job. But, at some point, you may decide that you want to take the wheel on this entire process. You may want to find a job that better aligns with YOUR goals and YOUR interests and YOUR priorities.
It can be scary. Finding a job can be like learning a new skill; like learning a new job. But, this is exactly why you need more time to look. You need the time to learn the new skills of job searching.
And speaking of time, the holidays are coming up. That’s when things begin to slow down in the job search world. Well, they aren’t coming up tomorrow, but they’re just a little over five months away. And, if it takes six months to find something, you’re already behind on finding a job this year.
That sounds crazy, right?
I hope this message doesn’t come across too harshly. My purpose is not to be negative, but to shine a light on the potential that is still available.
If you’re thinking of finding something this year, start now. Start before the holidays. Start before your job gets worse. Start while you still have control.
Having the control to make the choices about your job that you want will be the key to creating a happy and fulfilling future — and to much more relaxing Sunday evenings!
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | May 30, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
I hope you are having a fabulous Memorial Day! It’s a perfect time to grill out with loved ones and take a little time to reflect.
Traditionally, Memorial Day is a federal holiday to remember and honor those who died while serving our country in the armed forces. First, let me say THANK YOU to those who have served and have allowed us to live in such a wonderful place.
My coaching practice has provided me a window into the armed forces that I would not have otherwise had — and has deepened my appreciation of their hard work.
I have had the honor to work with a number of veterans who are retiring or moving on from different branches of service. The transition from the military world to the civilian world can be an incredibly stressful one that can take years to truly figure out.
A veteran may go from a 20-year career doing something they are great at and understand the political rules to — to a corporate job that is completely foreign to them. But, before even beginning the corporate job, they must go through a grueling job search and interview process.
If you know a veteran going through this transition, don’t underestimate how challenging it can be. If possible, lend a hand. Offer to meet with them to discuss their career goals, or just to be an understanding ear.
The civilian job search process is completely different from the military career progression. In addition, it seems that many veterans are not completely prepared for what to expect on the other side. They’re told that the transition will be easy and that others will truly value their skills.
It doesn’t always happen that way; at least not as quickly as expected.
For those transitioning out of the military, here are a few key tips:
- Sign up for LinkedIn. It can help you to stay connected to those you’ve worked with, and help you to meet new people.
- Get help with your resume. A civilian hiring manager often doesn’t understand what you did. It’s such a different world and a different language. Get help translating what you did into a resume that is understandable by everyone.
- Smile. Even when you’re nervous in an interview situation, try to make eye contact and smile. Be happy! It helps to put the other person at ease and can help make a great first impression.
- Learn the hidden rules. No longer will you be able to look at someone’s sleeves and understand their rank. Start learning what unspoken social queues help to separate out various levels of management within a company.
Thank you again to everyone who is serving and has served in our military. And, if you know someone transitioning out of the military, be sure to take the time to check in on how they’re doing. Get the real scoop and offer to help out if you can.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | May 23, 2016 | Advice, Newsletter
Job searching is heavily influenced by first impressions. Many times, as job seekers, we focus on our qualifications and assume that the smartest candidate will win out.
Think again! Very often, hiring decisions are heavily influenced by first impressions.
As sad as it is, it makes sense. It’s difficult for a hiring manager to know who the good candidates really are based on your resume and a thirty-minute interview. So, they begin looking for other cues to draw hints from. Very often, those cues are in your clothes.
Unfortunately, when it comes to what to wear, there’s no one answer that will always work.
For many jobs, a standard suit is the best answer. Pick a suit in black, grey, or blue. A white or blue shirt is often the safest bet. Then, pair it up with a simple tie (for men) or simple jewelry (for women). Add in a pair of polished black leather shoes and you’re ready.
But, for other jobs, a more casual or hipper look is in order. For example, I once interviewed at a high end clothing company known for making casual clothes using natural fabrics in Southern California. Walking through the company’s front doors, many people gave me an odd look. I was wearing a very serious looking black pin-striped suit created with a synthetic fabric — and high, high heels. They were wearing natural fabrics like cotton and linen — along with sandals and flipflops. This situation can immediately send a signal that you aren’t a fit with the culture.
Advertising agencies are also a good example of this. When walking into an agency, you’ll want to have on a little more color, a little more attitude, and bring out your personal creativity. Agencies want to know that you can think out of the box and will be a fit with their culture. This is especially important if you’re transitioning from a more corporate environment to an agency.
If you are unsure about what to wear, ask a friend who works at the company. They should be able to provide clear direction on what normal interview attire looks like there. If you don’t know anyone on the inside, another potential option is to casually ask the HR recruiter who is scheduling your interviews.
Remember, chances are good that you’ll always be dressed a notch up from your hiring manager. That’s normal.
And be cautious. Do not be lured into the trap of casual Friday. Just because you may interview at a formal company on a Friday does not mean you should wear jeans. The entire company may be in jeans, but they aren’t interviewing for a new job. You are!
Whatever you do, remember to keep your hair, nails, and makeup to a minimum. Leave the perfume and cologne at home. The last thing you want to do is offend someone by your smell.
There’s one last consideration you should keep in mind when it comes to what to wear. It’s always very important to keep your job search a secret. Wearing a fancy suit to your current company will send the message that you’re interviewing for a job. If you need to, change clothes on the way to your job interview. I once changed in a fast food restaurant bathroom to avoid being detected at work.
But, if you do get caught looking nicer than usual, play it cool and nobody will know the difference. Years ago, I was working as a marketing director while actively interviewing. Someone stopped me in the hallway and said, “Do you have an interview today?” in a curious voice. I casually replied, “Everyday is an interview!” and kept walking. The person never suspected a thing.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
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