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 19, 2016 | Job Posting
Blue Apron is seeking a Director of Corporate Development and Strategy in New York, NY.
What We Are Looking For: A driven, quantitative and collaborative Director of Corporate Development & Strategy. As the leader of the Corporate Development & Strategy team, you work collaboratively across functions (including Legal, Finance, Operations, Marketing, Engineering, Purchasing, Culinary, etc) to identify and evaluate both acquisition and investment opportunities. You provide the management team with the needed insight to drive intelligent, sound decision-making. You understand the industry landscape and harness it to manage our deals and integration. With an air of humility, you bring strong quantitative skills, strategic thinking and sound business judgment, along with the ability to think about what is — and what could be. You will be involved in decision making, strategic development and ultimately help define, shape and analyze the direction of our rapidly growing company.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Blue Apron website.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 18, 2016 | Job Posting
The New England Aquarium is seeking a Director of Project Management in Boston, MA.
The Director of Project Management, Exhibits and Planning provides leadership for the planning, design and execution of elaborate Aquarium exhibits, renovations and major capital projects throughout our campus. The Director establishes and directs project teams, builds consensus, manages deliverables and ensures exhibits are compelling, educational and align with our mission.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the New England Aquarium website.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 17, 2016 | Job Posting
Audible is seeking a Director / Senior Director of Product Management in the Education division in Jersey City, NJ. Audible is an Amazon company.
As the Audible Education team our vision is to enable better economic opportunity, social connection, and self-fulfillment for people across the globe by helping them strengthen their language proficiency. Our goal is to deliver world-class products that will disrupt the approach to language acquisition and proficiency. We are a nimble team with a game-changing mind-set, endless passion and uncompromising user focus. We operate like a start-up, yet we are backed by powerful assets that only Audible and Amazon can provide.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Audible website.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 17, 2016 | Job Posting
Best Buddies is seeking an Area Director in Amherst, MA, Miami, FL, New York, NY, or Tampa, FL.
The Area Director is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations in their regional office, and for securing funding for programs and special projects in the geographic region assigned by working with a local Advisory Board and associated committees, and through implementation of local fundraising initiatives. S/he identifies and cultivates individual donors, corporations, foundations and government agencies who have the capacity to provide financial support, and connects the interests or mission of these funding sources with the needs of Best Buddies. S/he also assists and directs program staff while collaborating with the State Director and Program Supervisors to ensure program consistency and success.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Best Buddies website.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 16, 2016 | Job Posting
StubHub is seeking a Senior Director of Global Customer Experience in San Francisco, CA, East Granby, CT, or Salt Lake City, UT. StubHub is an eBay company.
The Senior Director, Global Customer Experience position is a full-time role primarily responsible and accountable for leading the customer experience for StubHub. The Customer Experience team delivers a range of services (Intelligent Commerce Care) to an international customer base across phone, chat and email channels. Additionally, the position will lead development of consultative customer service offerings for a global range of clients. The ideal candidate will have a strong customer service background in a senior management role, demonstrated experience with developing and innovating customer service product offerings and leading in a growing and changing industry.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the StubHub website.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 16, 2016 | Job Posting
Experian is seeking a Director of Program Management in Franklin, TN.
The Director, Program Management will have responsibility for the Third Party Liability (TPL) solution including any systems and services. This role will have responsibility for setting and exceeding client expectations related to TPL through superior solution management, including development, implementation support and training, and client relations. Additional responsibilities include developing market-leading solutions that address commercial and government payer challenges.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Experian website.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 15, 2016 | Advice, Career Corner Column, Media, Relocation
With the summer finally here, you may be planning a fun vacation. That vacation to visit a far away, relaxing location can leave you dreaming of moving to a new place. The farther along you are in your career, the trickier moving can feel. At times, it’s hard to know where to even begin.
If you’re part of a unique profession where companies struggle to find candidates, you’re one of the lucky ones. Headhunters and company recruiters will seek you out. Companies will court you and offer to pay to move you and your entire family to their headquarters.
But, if you are not one of this select group, you may be struggling to figure out how to make a move. Organizations often want to recruit local talent first. And, it makes sense. Someone local doesn’t require relocation. They can often start sooner, and the recruiter can get references from other employers in the city about their work.
What can you do? First, don’t just apply online. I harp on this topic, but applying through the company website only will rarely land a job offer. This is especially true if that job is in another city.
Instead, consider this approach. Plan a trip to your target city. The trip could last anywhere from a few days to a week, but be sure to go on weekdays, when business offices are open. Stay away from big holiday weekends when employees are out of town.
Before you go, reach out to as many people as possible to setup meetings. Start with your existing network, including friends, family, and former colleagues. Then, contact local recruiters in your target city. Last, reach out to potential hiring managers are companies you’re interested in. You can find these people through websites like LinkedIn. When you reach out, mention that you will be in town only for a short time, but that you’d love the opportunity to take the person to coffee or lunch while you’re visiting.
Break each day into three parts: morning, midday, and evening. Try to schedule a coffee meeting in the morning and a lunch meeting midday for each day you visit. In the evenings, look for networking events to attend.
A great place to look for networking events is Meetup.com. You can search the website by the type of event you’re looking for in a particular location. You can also search the local Chamber of Commerce website, and other professional organizations that you may already be a member of.
For every meeting and event you attend, be sure to bring extra business cards and resumes. You never know when you might meet someone who’s looking to hire you. And, bring at least one suit, just in case you land an interview while you’re there.
This approach is much more in depth than applying online, however it is also much more effective. By meeting you in person, you become more than just a resume and you show potential employers that you’re serious about your move.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com or on Twitter at @CopelandCoach.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 15, 2016 | Job Posting
KPMG is seeking a Director of People and Change for State and Local Government in San Francisco, CA.
Responsibilities:
- Lead multiple client service delivery teams in the active execution of engagements in compliance with firm and practice unit service delivery standards
- Utilize technical and industry knowledge to identify complex client issues
- Manage and provide leadership to teams of staff level professionals and become actively involved in staff development and practice management
- Build long-term business relationships with key executives through engagement delivery and networking in professional organizations
- Participate in business development by identifying new opportunities and assisting with proposal response
- Contribute to the development and evolution of methodologies and intellectual capital including contributing to articles, whitepapers, and training efforts
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the KPMG website.
by Angela Copeland | Jun 15, 2016 | Job Posting
Goodwill is seeking a Vice President of Donated Goods in Memphis, TN.
Under the leadership of the Chief Operating Officer (COO); the Vice President of Donated Goods is responsible for the planning, implementation, evaluation, and supervision of Donated Goods Collection, Transportation, Salvage, Maintenance, Processing and Sales Departments.
To learn more, or to apply online, visit the Goodwill website.
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