by Angela Copeland | Feb 9, 2014 | Advice, Media
Unfortunately, Memphis continued to experience the harsh realities of restructuring, cutbacks, and layoffs this week. Workers found themselves caught off guard, and forced to start over again.
Lauren Squires from WMC-TV interviewed me and Kevin Cochran yesterday on the topic of where to start when you’re starting over.
Watch the interview below to learn more. If you are an employer that is interested to talk with Kevin Cochran, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
by Angela Copeland | Feb 7, 2014 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Starting Over: When Corporate Goes Kaput.” It provides guidance on where to start when you’re starting over. I was inspired to write this column when I heard about the recent layoff at another large employer in Memphis this week. If you know someone who’s been impacted, please consider sharing this column with them.
For many employees in the Memphis area, the story is all too familiar. You wake up one day and go to work, just like it was any other. You wear the same clothes, drive the same route, and eat at the same place for lunch. Things seem fine at first, but something starts to feel a little out of whack.
You’re taken into a large room with your entire department or a small room with just your team. Then and there, you learn that the company has decided to take a new direction. And, the worst part – your job has been eliminated.
To read the entire article, visit the Memphis Daily News site here.
by Angela Copeland | Feb 3, 2014 | Advice, Media
Today’s an exciting day! Public Strategy firm Caissa invited me to write a guest column for their blog, 21 Words. The title of the column is “10 Steps to Career Professionalism.”
In it, I provide simple tips on how to build up your personal brand over time. It’s my first ever guest column, so be sure to check it out here.
Caissa Public Strategy is a great firm! If you haven’t heard of them before, here’s a little information from their site:
Looking for a smarter strategy? Want to shake things up? Dominate the game? That’s what we’re about. Caissa Public Strategy helps you move forward and achieve your goals. Focusing on deliverables and the endgame ensures we win for you. Whether you want to build trust with your stakeholders, develop support for your cause or need help running a project, our team has the experience and skills to develop and implement a winning game plan.
Challenge us.
by Angela Copeland | Feb 3, 2014 | Advice, Newsletter
What are the top three things that would make life easier for you? My guess is that at least one of those things is more money. Even if you’re not broke, more money can provide a better lifestyle, more opportunities for your family, and more vacation time for you at the beach.
What’s your own plan to increase your personal financial value? You probably have a full time job, a savings account, and investments (like your home or 401-K) that you hope will grow over time.
Most likely, your #1 source of income right now is your full time job. How much has your income, or salary, from that full time job grown per year in the last 10 years? If you’re like many people, you’ve been getting somewhere in ballpark of 1% more to 3% more each year.
It’s like pocket change. Your boss has shared stories like, “the economy is down and this is all we can afford” or, “I had hoped to give you more, but this is all that I’m allowed to give for now.” It feels frustrating, but you’ve learned to accept it. After all, you’ve been hearing the same story for years.
Frankly, these tiny raises may not even keep up with inflation over time. At some point, you look back and realize you’re making more or less the same amount of money that you were 10 years ago. You start to wonder how you’ll ever retire comfortably or achieve your other personal financial goals.
Well, I have a tip I want you to consider. It could change your life. It’s quick, fairly painless, and takes just a few minutes. With this one change, you might breathe a little easier. And, you might actually get to take that vacation you’ve been dreaming of.
As I’ve touched on before, in today’s job market, employees no longer stay at one job forever. Most people are switching jobs every 3 to 5 years, so there’s little incentive for your employer to give you sizable raises.
What’s this big life changing advice you wonder?
Learn to negotiate.
Many of my clients have always either accepted or rejected job offers they’ve received. This is the norm for most job seekers. They basically either say yes or no, but nothing in between. Keep in mind that a company almost never puts their best job offer on the table right away. They’re expecting you to negotiate, so they’re saving the best offer for when you do.
And, in the small chance that the company has presented their best offer first, they’ll tell you. If you’ve started your negotiation in a reasonable and respectful way, what they won’t do is take it off the table. It’s just up to you at that point to decide if you’re willing to take their first offer.
The point is, there’s little downside to asking for more. You may not always get as much as you ask for, but there’s a pretty good chance you’ll get more than was originally offered. If you ask.
Think about it this way: At an annual increase of 2%, it would take you over ten years to grow your salary by 25%. When you change companies, you can increase your salary overnight. The salary negotiation is typically over the phone or via e-mail, and takes about 10 minutes.
Sure, that 10 minutes might be a little uncomfortable. You might feel worried. But, ask yourself these two questions:
- What’s the worst that can happen? They might say no, and not give you what you asked for. You’ll now have to decide if you still want the original offer.
- What’s the best that can happen? They say yes, and give you more! And, suddenly, you’ve received multiple years worth of raises all in one 10-minute phone call.
If it sounds simple, it’s because it is. Most people don’t try because they’re scared, or they don’t know they can. Keep in mind that being really good at negotiation takes practice. But, being decent enough to get a little more money is something you can do right now.
Just remember to be respectful in your negotiations. These discussions are sensitive, and you definitely don’t want to damage your business relationship with your future employer.
That said, your future company EXPECTS you to negotiate. They will respect you for it, and chances are, they will in fact offer you more money. All in a 10 minute phone call.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
by Angela Copeland | Jan 31, 2014 | Advice, Media
My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Apply Dinner Party Etiquette to Job Search.”
The title of this column may sound funny. After all, you’re looking for a new job, not a steak and baked potato. On the surface, you’re right, but there are lessons you can carry over from your dinner tonight to your job interview tomorrow morning.
Much like a dinner party, you never know who you might be introduced to when you’re searching for a job. When you go for an interview, it’s important to be friendly to each person you meet – whether they’re the intern or the CEO. Look each person in the eye and greet them with a firm handshake. And, above all – do your best to remember their names.
To read the entire article, visit the Memphis Daily News site here.
by Angela Copeland | Jan 29, 2014 | Advice, Media
Great news! Yesterday morning, you may have heard me on Kenneth Kinney’s radio show, “An Education That Works,” on KWAM 990.
Kenneth produces the show for Victory University to help educate the students and community members on career skills, and related topics.
Tuesday, Kenneth interviewed me, along with Alex Matlock and Brian Lowe from Contigo Creative. We discussed career advice, interview tips, and the upcoming Memphis Multicultural Job Fair.
My interview begins at 27 minutes, 30 seconds.
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