Watch For the Signs

by Angela Copeland | Mar 2, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

In our relationships, especially the personal ones, we often ignore the signs. We hope things will get better and they usually do. When it comes to love, it can at times be better to let things slide at first in hopes that they’ll work out.

But, when it comes to work, this philosophy can leave you blind-sided and without a job. I once had a friend whose entire department had been eliminated. They were the only survivor, and their office had been moved into a storage area. Fortunately, they got out just in time, but if any additional months had gone by, I’m not sure what might have happened.

Waiting until you lose your job to find another takes away your power. It leaves you helpless and desperate for anything. You’re not able to effectively negotiate and it’s unlikely your salary will grow at your new job.

Here are a few of the signs to watch for:

• Your position has been what’s called “layered.” Suddenly, there’s another layer of management between you and your boss, and you’re reporting to someone else; someone lower in position.
• You’ve been demoted. You’ve been moved into another role that’s more junior, or have been given a less significant title in your same role.
• Responsibilities are slowly being taken away from you.
• You’ve received a pay cut.
• You haven’t been given a bonus you were expecting.
• You didn’t get a raise when everyone else on your team did.
• You’re not being invited to meetings anymore.
• Your boss is beginning to send e-mails documenting all sorts of complaints about your work that you’ve never heard before.
• After years of great performance reviews, you’ve suddenly started receiving negative reviews.
• Your boss has left the company and your new boss doesn’t seem to be as “into you” or your work.
• Your department is losing money, people, and power within the organization.

What should you do when you see these signs? They’re good to take note of for your own sake. When you begin to notice the writing on the wall, it’s time to take a proactive stance. Brush off your resume, begin networking, and look around you for new opportunities outside of your current organization.

Whatever you do, don’t wait on your company to decide what they think about you. Decide what you think about your situation, and act! It will save you significant heartache in the long run. And, chances are good that if you act fast enough, you’ll end up on top, possibly making more money in a better job!

For more tips on what to do when you find yourself suddenly without a job, be sure to download tomorrow’s Copeland Coaching Podcast. I will interview Jim Simpson, an employment attorney from Allen Summers law firm. Jim has many great suggestions on what to do, and how to completely avoid a potentially negative workplace situation.

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 and 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

Get close to the money

by Angela Copeland | Feb 23, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

As you know, one of my favorite topics is negotiation. I love helping my clients to make more money at work.

A number of factors influence how much you’ll be paid at your next job, including:

• Your years of experience
• Your education
• Your career field
• Your location
• Your negotiation skills
• Whether or not you manage others

Often though, a manager in one department makes a very different salary than a manager at the same level in another department. This is despite having similar experience and education.

Why is that?

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, one thing to consider is how close you are to the money. In other words, how critical is your role to generating revenue for the company?

That’s right. How close are you to the customer? How close are you to sales?

Even if your role is a very important one, upper management often prioritizes positions based on their impact to the bottom line.

For example, in the digital marketing world, there are many roles. Some people manage social media sites, like Facebook. Others keep the company website up and running. And, some focus on customer lead generation. If you were to compare the salaries of these positions, on average, you would find that those marketers who focus on generating leads and sales are more highly compensated than those managing social media.

Again, all these roles are important. But, if you think of it from a company perspective, what’s the most important thing to the company? Getting new customers and generating more revenue.

Have you ever wondered why the sales force drives new cars and is rewarded with company trips? It’s surprising, but in some organizations, a top performing salesperson is even able to bring in more income than their manager!

So, if you find yourself in a situation where you want to make more money, reflect back on the entire list of factors above. If you feel you’ve covered everything else, such as education and experience, consider your impact to the bottom line. Is there another role you might consider that has a more direct impact to the health of the company?

Focusing on “the business” will often get your further and help to put more money in your pocket.

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 and 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