How to Get a Raise in 2015

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For many people, the new year includes resolutions and oftentimes, those resolutions revolve around career changes. Some will be looking to add value to their career and to add value to their paycheck. If you are looking to get a raise in 2015, there are a few key things you need to do:

1. Show Your Value

If you are seriously committed to getting a raise in 2015, then you have to be seriously committed to your job.  It is not enough to simply want a raise; you have to earn it. Your employer will not just hand you an increase in pay. Instead, start working harder, dedicate more time to your job, ask for additional projects, and help out your coworkers when you can. By doing these things, your manager is more likely to notice that you have taken more interest in your work and recognize that you add real value to the company.

2. Research Salaries

Before you schedule a meeting or start thinking about numbers, you should research your position and see what others in your field make. Knowing these numbers and knowing your worth at work go a long way in negotiating a new salary. Researching salaries is not as complicated as it may sound. There are several salary comparison websites that will help you determine how much money to ask for.

3. Schedule a Meeting

After working on adding value to your company and taking the time to research salaries, you can schedule a meeting with the person you directly report to. When you schedule this meeting, inform your manager that you would like to discuss your performance and your career growth.

4. Ask for Endorsements

When you know that you have a meeting scheduled, it would not hurt your chances to ask for endorsements from coworkers and anyone else whom you have a working relationship with that is higher in the company than you. It’s important for your manager to know that others recognize your value.

5. During the Meeting

While you are meeting with your manager, be sure to make a strong case but do not come off as aggressive or forceful. By presenting your case, you can show your manager just how committed you are to the company and your job. There is a chance they do not know what your goals and ambitions are. This is a great time to discuss your career growth and exactly what you are looking to get out of your job.

Do you have any suggestions for getting raise? What has worked for you in the past? Leave us your stories and suggestions in the comments below!

5 Things Job Seekers Want In Job Postings

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As a recruiter or anyone looking to hire a new employee, it can be difficult to know what information you need to put on a job posting. As you start crafting job responsibilities, benefits, and company biography information, keep in mind these five things job seekers want in a job posting:

Understandable Job Titles

A complicated and random-sounding job title will turn candidates off. Instead of listing internal job titles like Sales Representative Title 2, simply list the job as Sales Representative. Using job titles that are easy to understand not only set a great understanding of what the description for the position will be like, but candidates are much more likely to click on the job posting.

Ability to Apply with Mobile Devices

More and more candidates are turning to smartphones and tablets to apply to jobs. If you are not currently allowing candidates to apply through a mobile device, then there is a strong probability that you are losing out on job seekers.

Detailed Descriptions

As you begin typing out the description of your open position, be sure to include as much detail as possible. Job candidates like to know everything about the position for which they are applying. This is not a time to be selective of the information you provide. Instead, provide a detailed description of the position and what will be required of the successful candidate.

Unique Postings

If you are hiring for the same position(s) all of the time, try to avoid stock job postings. If a candidate is searching for a job and finds that all of your postings read exactly the same, they may be turned off from applying. As you write a job posting, think about ways in which you can make content unique and exciting for candidates who may come across it.

Simple Process

One thing you should always keep in mind is how simple your application process really is. For example, if candidates have to fill out page after page after page of information, then they may just give up before reaching the end. Make the process engaging and as simple as possible to generate more potential hires.

What do you make sure to include in your job postings? What’s worked for you in the past? Leave your stories and suggestions in the comments section below!

Career Goals for 2015

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As you begin the new year, it’s a great time to set some career goals for 2015. Whether you want to find a new job or get a promotion within your organization, career goals can help you achieve those objectives. But, how do you go about setting goals and sticking to them? Just like with New Year’s resolutions, it can be difficult to stick to your career aspirations. Here are a few steps you can take to set your goals and stick to them:

Define Your Goals

As you begin thinking about what you want to accomplish professionally, in 2015, it helps to actually define those career goals. If you want to find a new job in 2015, then you need to set that as your career goal. If you simply want to get better at you current job or want a promotion in your current organization, then define that as your career goal for 2015. No matter what you hope to achieve, define that as your goal and share that goal with someone who can help you stay on track.

Create a Strategy

Now that you have defined your career goal for 2015, you need a strategy to accomplish the goal. For example, if your goal is to get a new job, then your strategy should revolve around making the best resume and applying to a certain number of jobs on a weekly or monthly basis. Remember, as you’re filling out application and submitting your resume, don’t just apply to any job. Only apply to jobs that you’re qualified for and actually can see yourself taking in the future.

Set Deadlines

The only way to really stick with your goal and strategy is to set deadlines for yourself. In the example above, applying to so many jobs a week or month is a great deadline to set for yourself. If you need to update your resume, then include deadlines to have certain parts of your resume edited until you are completely finished updating the whole document. When you have deadlines, you are able to keep yourself accountable and reach your goals.

What are your career goals for 2015? How do you plan to achieve them? Let us know in the comments section below!