The Holidays Can Be a Good Time to Find a Job

By DENNIS NISHI

It was the end of the year and Diana Tigani needed to fill several jobs for three new offices that were opening in South Florida.

At any other time, the area director for Regus—a company based in Luxembourg that provides virtual offices for home-based businesses—might have received more than 50 résumés from online job ads. Ms. Tigani had only 12 résumés by mid-November. So she tapped her network for leads and found a strong candidate that she ended up screening over the phone on Thanksgiving eve.

"Some people do take time off during the holidays. We're a growing company that's always looking for people. When we need to hire somebody for a new center opening in the first quarter, it's still business as usual for us," says Ms. Tigani, who ended up hiring the candidate two weeks later.

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Dennis Nishi

Many job hunters will skip over the holidays when looking for full-time work. But career experts say December is a great time to reach out to hiring managers—especially during that slow gulf of time after Christmas and before the new year.

Workplaces that are open will typically be quieter, which is an ideal time to make that connection by phone, email or even setting up a lunch meeting, says Laurie Ruettimann, a human-resources consultant from Raleigh, N.C. "You're not competing with the regular rush of business. Just remember that many people work half days during the holidays or may work from home."

Holidays also are a good time to do something productive while making enduring face-to-face connections with people at personal and professional events or through volunteerism.

Ideally, you'd end up working in soup kitchens alongside chatty employees who are in festive moods, says Ms. Ruettimann. "You wouldn't ask for a job right there, but employees might offer some insight into what it's like to work for their company. And you can follow up with a call."

Search for networking opportunities at websites such as EventBrite.com or MeetUp.com or company websites, social-media feeds by employees and in your local newspaper.

Nonprofits also will list their corporate partners when advertising for holiday events. Just don't crash any office parties unless you are invited. Over the past few years, companies have been scaling back on the attendance at employee events. The human-resources staff may be forced to ask you to leave.

Always have your interview answers memorized as well as a short pitch about yourself in case you are questioned by interested parties. Hiring managers will interview you on the spot if you fit a hard-to-place job that they really need, says Ms. Tigani.

Make sure all of your social-media profiles, not just on LinkedIn, are updated and scrubbed since even hidden profiles may come up in online searches.

And here's a seasonal tip: Don't send a fruitcake with your résumé since that will put hiring managers in the awkward position of responding to your gesture. They would probably just pass on your application, says Ms. Ruettimann.

—Email: sjdnishi@gmail.com

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How to Generate More Interviews with Your Resume

Anish Majumdar

It's a situation pretty much everyone finds themselves in at some point during their careers: sending your resume out to scores of recruiters and/or hiring agents...and not hearing anything back. Before you consider giving up on your ideal job, here are three powerful tweaks you can execute that will immediately increase the amount of attention your resume receives.

Develop a Clear Job Target

Specificity is one of the keys to a successful search in today's job market. Instead of going the "one size fits all" route with regards to your resume, research open jobs using sites like Monster and Indeed and start developing a database of positions that interest you. While you should ideally end up with a single job target, it's perfectly fine to conduct a job search across multiple targets. Just be sure to develop a separate resume version for each.

Insert the EXACT TITLE of the position you're applying for right at the start of the resume. This will minimize the chances of your document being mis-categorized or lost in digital limbo during the submission process.

Develop an opening paragraph that highlights why you'd be a great fit. Key experience at a previous job, a recently acquired degree or training certification, even soft skills such as team building/leadership or managing multiple client priorities are all examples of what might work within this section. Keep it brief, no more than 3-4 lines, and make sure it comes across as genuine.

Create a "Core Competencies" section. Look through the job postings you've gathered and make a list of skills that are frequently requested (that you actually possess). Now create a section beneath the opening paragraph that lists these skills. For example, a Marketing specialist could have terms like Marketing Plans, Corporate Branding/Rebranding, and Trend Tracking & Analysis within this section. Utilize bullets to differentiate between terms and keep things tidy.

Structure Your Work History to Support Career Goals

At its core, a resume is a personal marketing document. While most jobseekers know to leave off negative information such as why they were let go at a particular job or other workplace conflicts, it's the savvy ones that understand the importance of emphasizing and de-emphasizing positions within the "Professional Experience" section to support their career goals. Ask yourself the following questions to determine the optimal layout of this section:

Is the position directly relevant to the job I'm after? If so, begin the position with a few lines describing unique responsibilities, followed by a "Key Accomplishments" or similar section offering bulleted accomplishments. This approach provides the necessary context and really makes an impact visually.

Can I use the position to highlight soft skills or a unique aspect of my background? Many jobs that aren't directly related to what you're presently after can still hold value in these 2 areas. Use the same approach as above but make sure these positions take up less space within the document.

Is the position a liability? If you took on a role that was a significant step down in terms of responsibilities, salary, etc. or simply didn't work out, then it's worth considering leaving off entirely. As long as it doesn't create a major time gap within the resume, then simply skip to the next position. If it does, then briefly encapsulate the position within 1-2 lines and move on.

Eliminate Red Flags

One of the most frequent reasons resumes get rejected is due to "red flags" that pop up during the evaluation process. Here's the thing: being upfront about a potential vulnerability gives you the opportunity to control it, whereas ignoring it basically guarantees that it's going to be perceived as a negative. Here are the major causes of red flags and how you can keep them from becoming a barrier to your candidacy:

Lack of a clear link between stated career goal and work history. It's important to use the opening paragraph you developed in step #1 as a kind of running theme within your resume. Make sure that the skills and attributes mentioned here are expanded upon throughout your work history, particularly with regards to recent jobs you've held. Don't be afraid to be a little redundant if necessary. A clear link is crucial to establishing credibility during the hiring process.

Significant time gaps in your work history. While a gap of a few months between jobs won't raise any eyebrows, anything over 6 months needs to be addressed. Create a "Career Note" of a few lines and place it directly within your work history, between the 2 positions in question. Examples of information to include here can range from managing family responsibilities and fulfilling a personal life goal to taking an advanced training course or exploring new career avenues. Just make it clear that you weren't sitting around doing nothing.

Lack of necessary education and/or training. If you're currently obtaining a degree or advanced training in a particular area, don't wait until graduation to leverage it within your resume! Simply add the words "In Progress" as well as the anticipated graduation/completion date when listing it within the "Education" section and you should be good to go.

Anish Majumdar is the founder of ResumeOrbit, a firm that helps jobseekers develop new resumes and cover letters, leverage social media, and capitalize on under-the-radar career opportunities. Send him a note if you're interested in learning more.

Want to see your work on Lifehacker? Email Tessa.

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10 Reasons You Should Stop Checking the News | Time Management Ninja

We have become a news addicted society.

Doubt it?

How many times did you read the news so far today?

How many more times will you check it before bedtime?

When All News is Breaking News

If you turn on the TV or check your favorite news website, chances are that there will be a banner that says “BREAKING NEWS.”

Like some disaster has just occurred.

Unfortunately, (or fortunately?) it is usually just some trivial event or topic that you could care less about.

News is meant to inform, educate, and discuss the important topics of the day. 

Unfortunately, most news these days is entertainment, sensationalism, and basically a waste of your time.

So, how much of your time do you spend reading the news?

For most individuals, the news takes up too much of their time each day.

We now get it on our TVs, computers, laptops, iPads, and smartphones. It’s everywhere.

In a world where you can get the answer to anything with the push of a button, do you really need to read it all?

Less News = More Productivity

What could you get done if you read less news?

Chances are that you could reclaim a good amount of time in your day.

So, instead of saying you don’t have time to do this or that… stop checking the news.

Here are 10 Reasons Your Should Stop Checking the News: 

1. It Doesn’t Change That Often – Really, it doesn’t. You don’t need to check it 17 times a day. Every day or even every other day is plenty.
2. Most of It Doesn’t Matter – Most of the news out there is not meaningful. You are better collecting the topics that are important to you via a news reader (RSS).
3. Much of it is Wrong – As the cliché goes, “If it was written on the Internet, it must be true.” Anyone can type on the Internet, and you shouldn’t read anything without questioning its truth. News curation in the future won’t just be about content… but accuracy.
4. Even More is Sensationalized - Many news sites have blurred the line between news and rumors. This is almost as dangerous as #3, in that made-up stories are portrayed as news.
5. Most of it is Trivia – Does what the The Kardashians are doing help your day? Does what car Justin Bieber is driving today matter to your work? Most of the news we read is the equivalent of junk food for our brains.
6. Much of the News Isn’t News at All - I just reviewed the front page of one of the top news websites and found 14 front-page headlines that end with a “?” This basically means that these news stories aren’t stories. Rather, they are questions, made up topics, and fluff material. Not worth your time.
7. Facebook Isn’t News Either – I see individuals that spend their entire work day with their Facebook stream open. Again, do you really need to know what your friends are doing minute-by-minute of the day?
8. Many News “Experts” Aren’t Experts – Don’t let the pundits and so-called experts convince you that they know any more than you do.
9. Watching/Surfing the News is Inefficient – Watching the news is not a great use of your time. Sitting through endless segments, commercials and more, when you could be doing more productive activities. Surfing the news is just as wasteful. Many news sites are covered in more ads than actual news. Again, you could get the same information in a fraction of the time via a new reader. (RSS)
10. Too Much of the News is Negative – The news loves a bad news story. Reading the front page is bound to bring your attitude down. Don’t let the news impact your attitude and thus your productivity.

All the News That Is Fit To Read

If you want to get more done in your day, stop reading the news.

Or at least cut back on your daily excess.

The news will be there when you are ready for it.

And don’t worry, if it is that important… the news will come find you.

Reclaim some of your news time each day and you will be able to get to the things that matter.

So, stop reading the news… and instead go do something newsworthy.

Question: How many times a day do you read the news?

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10 Reasons Your Emails Are Too Long | Time Management Ninja

I recently received an email asking me a simple request.

However, the email was 3 pages long.

The whole message could have been 3 lines, but instead the author decided to write a short novella.

Needless to say, I didn’t read the whole thing. Nor did I respond.

Are your emails going unread because they are too long?

Long Emails Don’t Get Read

You may take email for granted.

However, effective email communication is as much a skill as anything else.

When used effectively, email can be a powerful tool.

However, one of the top email inefficiencies is message length.

“One of the top reasons your email isn’t getting read is because it is too long.

Writing long emails doesn’t mean you are getting more work done.”

As people are fighting to get their inbox to empty, the last thing they want to do is read a multi-page rambling email.

Keep Those Emails Short

Resist the urge to write long and drawn out messages.

If you find yourself writing long responses, you probably should be having a conversation, not an email writing contest.

The shorter and tighter your email messages, the better chance that they will be read, understood and acted upon.

Here are 10 Reasons That Your Emails Are Too Long:

1. You don’t know what you are trying to say. It’s like when someone calls you and says, “What’s up?” Um, I don’t know… you called me. Hold that email until you have something specific to say or ask.
2. You don’t know what you are talking about. This is similar to when people endlessly talk in meetings to cover up their lack of information. Writing more isn’t going to cover up the fact that you are lacking knowledge. This practice occurs in many companies when individuals send emails to “appear” busy.
3. Your signature is unnecessary. Your half-page signature doesn’t need to be on all of your emails. Do you send emails with a 1 word response and then half of a page of signature? As well, please lose the attached graphic and cute quote.
4. You are writing a book. – Emails are not books. If there is additional information, attach supporting documents. If you are putting a large table in your email, you should stop and consider whether it should be in an attachment.
5. You are spamming. This happens often in larger corporations. Employees feel the need to send each other lengthy updates of what they have been doing. And it’s not just the remote employees. I used to get multi-page updates from a guy down the hall on his daily activities. Not needed.
6. You are rambling – Don’t write a 2-page email to ask a 1-line question. Be direct. Thanks.
7. You are forwarding a mess. Instead of taking the time explain, you just forward your email stream. Ever get one of those, “See below..!” messages. Um, I don’t want to read the 45 page back-and-forth that you participated in.
8. It shouldn’t be an email. Don’t send an email when it should be a meeting. Or a phone call. Sometimes email isn’t the right medium for your message. If it is taking more than a few lines to explain, then go talk to the person you need to communicate with.
9. It should be multiple emails. Here is a good one. One boss combines all of the team items into one email. You may think this is an attempt at efficiency, however combining multiple emails into one doesn’t work for everyone involved. And it creates great aftermath when people “Reply All.”
10. You don’t edit your emails. After you write an email, you should edit it before sending. Besides the obvious spelling and grammatical errors, you should be editing for content, meaning, and conciseness. Another good thumb-rule: the number of times you should re-read an email before sending is equal to the number of people you are sending it to. (And yes, this rule scales.)

Make Sure Your Email Gets to the Point

In today’s high-speed communication, no one wants to read overly long email messages.

If your emails are brief and to the point, your recipients will be more likely to get the point.

Remember that short and sweet, will beat the 3-page email every time.

Question: Are you guilty of sending long email messages?

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How to Clean Up Your Online Presence and Make a Great First Impression

Alan Henry

Odds are someone is searching the web for you right now, or at least has looked you up fairly recently. Do you know what they learned? Better yet, do you control the pages and profiles they visited? If not, it's time to take your online reputation into your own hands instead of leaving it to Google. Here's how.

Why First Impressions Matter on the Internet

It's no secret that friends, nosy family members, and potential employers will all take to Google, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to look for more information about you when they want it. In the case of family and friends, they already know you. When it comes to potential employers or people interested in working with you, it's important to make sure that the things they find about you are representative of who you are (or who you want them to think you are.) Photo by Quinn Dombrowski.

You don't have to be a job-seeker to understand the importance of your online reputation, though. You can be a freelancer or entrepreneur who wants to control their image, or just someone who doesn't your name dragged through the mud. It may seem like the wall of Google search results when you search your name is impossible to control, but there are some clever things you can do. In this post, we'll tackle some of them, and by the end you'll have a better picture of what people find when they search for you. With work, you'll even have better control over what they find.

Step One: Find Out Where You Stand (and Erase Embarrassments)

Before we get started, it's a good idea to see what others see when they search for you. Then we can tweak what we find so it's representative of the "you" that you want the public to see, not just what Google collects.

Search For Yourself on Google and Facebook

We'll start with Google. You've probably done a vanity Google search before, but if not, now's the time. Just log out of your Google accounts or use a browser where you're not logged in (Google personalizes results based on your account activity) and search for your name. Don't bother going more than a few pages deep, and make note of what you see. Remember, making a good first impression requires actually making an impression. While turning up nothing means no one will find anything bad, it also means they won't learn anything good about you, and that can be pretty bad too.

Next, let's check Facebook. You can view your public self on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+:

1. Log out (or use a browser that's logged out) and search for yourself by name. Even if you don't use your name as your account ID, it may be easy to find yourself with a quick name search. See if that's the case, and see what's visible.
2. Log back in and view your profile "as public." Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ all make it easy to do this from your profile page. This way you can see what your profile looks like to someone who stumbles on you, even if you're not easily found.
3. Optional: Go deeper.We've covered how to do an even deeper dive on someone before. Most people won't go to such lengths, but if you're curious, give it a try.

Clean Up Any Results You Don't Like

Now that you've seen what others see, it's time to get rid of anything you don't like. You can't trust you'll have the opportunity to explain the bad stuff away in a phone or in-person interview. We've discussed how to fix internet embarrassments before. Whether the behavior is your own, someone trolled you and set up fake profiles to defame you, or someone's been impersonating you online, here's how to handle it for each service:

• Google and Other Search Engines: If you found the offending results at Google or another search engine, ask them to remove the pages from their results. Google has a process for this, and another for Google Images, but they only apply to pages that have been taken down, or old, cached versions of pages that are still up-it's not for pulling down any old page. DuckDuckGo has a feedback form, as does Bing, where you can submit takedown requests for non-legal reasons.
• Facebook: Deleting is your best option (so no one takes screenshots or makes your private posts public without you knowing.) Alternatively, change post visibility individually, or can go go to Privacy Settings > Limit Past Post Visibility to hide everything at once. Get familiar with Facebook's privacy options, and if the content is on Facebook but not under your control, we have some tips to help. Don't get caught making the same mistake Lindsey Stone did. Make sure private posts are truly private, the only things public are the ones that showcase your public persona, and you think before you post.
• Twitter: Twitter is easy, just look at your profile by name. If your profile is public, everyone can see it, and if you use your real name as your handle, it's easy to find. You can take your account private, but that won't stop public users from quoting you (although it does stop retweets) or responding to you publicly. Remember, Twitter is probably the most public of all networks. Think before you tweet.
• Google+: Your posts at Google+ aren't as important as your Google profile. Hide anything you saw but wanted private when you viewed your profile earlier. Make useful details (a contact email address, links to your portfolio or personal web site, etc) are visible. Create topical circles for sharing and familiarize yourself with Google+'s privacy settings.
• LinkedIn: If you post articles to LinkedIn, make sure they're professional in nature and relevant to the public persona you want to put forward. While you're there, go ahead and fill out your profile with additional details: odds are your profile may be incomplete, or the last time you updated it was the last time you changed jobs.

If all else fails, you can turn to services that promise to protect your online reputation. They're usually effective, but they all cost money. For example, previously mentioned BrandYourself and Reputation.com (formerly Reputation Defender) will all help streamline this process for you.

Step Two: Beef Up Your Online Presence with Better Profiles, a Nameplate Site, and More

Now that we've ditched the bad stuff, it's time to build up the good stuff. Potential employers, business contacts, and people you network with will look you up anyway, so why not make sure what they find is what you want them to know?

Spruce Up Your Social Networks. Your social networks can be valuable tools if you use them. Update your LinkedIn profile with your interests and skills, not just your work history. Add some relevant interests to Facebook and leave them public. You may even want to like a few job or industry-related pages, or create a Facebook page specifically for your professional persona. Upload a good-looking profile photo to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google profiles, and consider filling out your photo gallery with flattering shots of you, your work, or even your projects and things you've worked on. Use every opportunity to showcase your skills, talents and interests, whether it's in the "Likes" section of your Facebook profile, or the photos in your Instagram account. There's nothing wrong with food photos at Instagram if you're a self-described foodie, for example.

Sign up for new services that best showcase your skills. For example, if you want your indie film to get attention or you want to expand the audience of your video podcast, consider signing up for Vimeo as well as YouTube. You get access to a whole new community, and much more exposure. Are you a writer? Consider nabbing a named Tumblr account, even if you already blog at Wordpress. If you're a photographer and want to build a portfolio, consider hosting your photos at Flickr, Smugmug, and Picasa to get the most exposure and make it easy for people to find you. At the very least, you can direct visitors to the service you regularly use.

Get a nameplate site (or several) that accurately reflects who you are. Choose the best nameplate site for the information you want to convey and sign up. For example, almost anyone can benefit from an About.me, Flavors.me, or Vizify account, but students may want to try Seelio because you can upload videos and projects that show off your skills even if you don't have a resume to speak of. Business owners with projects can use Sidengo because their template pages feature things like contact pages, maps, and document downloads for things like forms and menus. They're all free, and do a great job of linking visitors to networks you already use while conveying useful information.

Get your own domain and use it as a portfolio and for email. Owning your own domain is extremely valuable and worth more than the money you'll pay to get it. Before you say "all the best domains are gone," keep in mind that even if you can't get yourname.com, you should be able to get a variation on it that's close enough. If you can't use your name, pick a domain you're comfortable using as your personal banner and use that instead. Once you're registered with a great registrar, choose a great hosting company and set up shop. If you're a writer, host your own blog, or publish selected clips of your writing from other blogs. Republish yourself if you wrote something amazing elsewhere. If you're a photographer or artist, use your domain as a portfolio to showcase your work. You can even just use it as an additional nameplate site. Behind the scenes, use your domain for email. It looks professional and every email you send is an invitation for the recipient to come and see your portfolio, full of links to the things you want them to see.

Make the most of those services. Make sure all of your profiles are filled out with as much useful information as possible. Don't just sign up and walk away. Upload a good photo of yourself to your social networks and nameplates—preferably a flattering one—so potential employers and new friends alike see you at your best. Use a consistent email address across all of those services so it's easy to get in touch with you, and cross-link them to one another frequently. This makes sure anyone who lands on one can easily get to everything else you do, and makes it easier for Google to index the real you.

Keep an eye on the results. For people who just want a good face and impression, you can stop here. For others who enjoy analyzing how people find them, most nameplate services offer analytics so you can see how people find you and where they click to leave. Add Google Analytics to your personal site and portfolio to see how well you're being recieved, and what people come to your site to see. This way you can keep an eye on who's looking for you and what their eyes are drawn to when they find you.

Step Three: Keep Your Best Foot Forward

By now, you've done your homework to find out what other people find when they look for you, cleaned up your profiles, and added content to the web that you control so people only see what you want them to learn about you. As you go forward with your shiny, professional online persona, make sure to keep it clean by following the fundamental rule of sharing on the internet: don't post it if you don't want it to be public. The internet is a big place with a long memory. Internet Shame Insurance can remind you if you're about to post something you might regret. Photo by Lukas Mathis.

Keep in mind that your ideal online first impression doesn't have to be a perfect, rosy picture of your personality, just a truthful one. We agree with XKCD on this point—if putting your best foot forward keeps you from being a jerk, then great, but don't let it stifle your brilliance or keep you from expressing your opinion and being true to your ideals. After all, those are the things we want people to learn about us when they go looking.

Title image made using Viorel Sima (Shutterstock).

via lifehacker.com

Intern Sushi Goes Nationwide With Its Video-Centric Internship Site | TechCrunch

via techcrunch.com

Intern Sushi is trying to improve the often-horrible internship application/selection process, and it’s expanding with full nationwide support, as well as adding new industries.

Here’s the idea: Resumes are pretty useless when it comes to choosing interns. Actually, they’re pretty flawed in general, but they’re particularly bad for internships, where employers are probably choosing one or two candidates from a large list of applicants whose resumes are going to look pretty similar (because they don’t have much professional experience yet). Instead, with Intern Sushi, users are asked to create a profile that captures their personality and ambitions. That centerpiece of the profile is a short video, but users can include a portfolio of their work, too. They can also create content tailored to a specific opening, like a video cover letter outlining why they really really really want that internship.

Employers, meanwhile, can build a presence that isn’t just promoting a few openings, but instead the general company culture — so even if there isn’t an opening at the moment, a potential intern could still stumble on a company profile. Think, “Boy, I really want to work there,” and check back later. That’s one of the reasons Intern Sushi’s traffic continues to grow even when most companies aren’t looking for interns, said co-founder and CEO Shara Senderoff.

The startup was previously available in 15 major cities, and it has already worked with more than 4,000 companies, including Warner Music Group, FunnyOrDie.com, and Lionsgate Entertainment. Senderoff said there’s been plenty of interest outside those markets, which is why Intern Sushi built up an extensive waiting list of companies. In fact, the company opened its doors nationally without a big announcement last week, and Senderoff said the number of employers signing up every day has already doubled.

Intern Sushi previously allowed employers to list internships in advertising/PR, TV, film, fashion, sports, publishing, art, music, theatre, and web and technology. Now it’s adding finance, politics, hospitality, architecture, nonprofit, and consumer goods.

The service is free for both employers and interns, but the startup offers a paid service to interns with features like early application periods. Senderoff said she’ll be launching a premium business product next year, as well as revamped profiles, which she described as “insanely more advanced” and “profiles on crack.”

via techcrunch.com

5 Myths About Negotiating Salary - On Careers (usnews.com)

5 Myths About Negotiating Salary

By Alison Green

November 14, 2012 RSS Feed Print

Alison Green

Job seekers get more nervous about negotiating salary than seemingly any other part of the job application process. Negotiation doesn't come naturally to most people, and they're often not sure how hard to push for more money, or whether to push at all.

Here are five myths you might believe about negotiating salary, and why they're wrong.

1. You should always negotiate, no matter what. While you should usually try to negotiate, there are some cases where you shouldn't. For instance, if you tell an employer the salary range you're looking for and they offer you something at the high end of your range—or even higher than your range—asking for more would make you look like you were playing games or not operating in good faith. Similarly, if an employer discusses salary with you earlier in the process and you agree to a range, you can't really ask for more at the offer stage; you already agreed. In general, anything that makes you look like you're operating in bad faith will turn off an employer.

2. Never name a number first. Negotiating advice generally says that whoever names a number first loses. But the reality is that many employers will insist that you discuss your salary expectations before they'll allow you to move forward in their hiring process. Refusing or pushing too hard to hear a number from them first can make you look overly coy or like you're playing games.

3. One good strategy is to take a lower salary now with the understanding that it will be revisited in a few months. Candidates sometimes suggest this, figuring it's a compromise that will allow them to prove themselves once on the job, and then get rewarded for it later. However, it often backfires. Your negotiating power is strongest before you've accepted a job—it's far easier to negotiate more money before you start than it is to get a raise once you're already employed. Don't count on a hefty raise down the road; do your negotiations now, before you accept the offer.

4. Employers will be put off if you try to negotiate. Job applicants sometimes worry that simply asking for more money will cause the employer to pull the job offer altogether. But as long as you handle the discussion in a pleasant, professional, and non-adversarial way, and as long as you're not asking for an unrealistic amount, no reasonable employer will pull an offer. That said, some employers do bristle when a candidate tries to negotiate—but that's the sign of an unreasonable, dysfunctional employer, and you probably would have encountered plenty more dysfunction if you worked there. In other words, don't worry about turning off an employer by reasonable negotiation—you won't lose any employer worth worrying about.

5. You can lie about your current salary to get a higher salary offer. Candidates sometimes figure that by claiming they're currently earning more than they really are, they'll get a higher offer from a new employer. But this is dangerous to do, because plenty of employers verify salary history, either by asking to see a recent pay stub or W-2, or by checking with the previous employer directly. And they often do this after you've already accepted a job offer as part of their new hire paperwork, which means that you risk having the offer pulled over the lie—after you've already accepted it and resigned your current job.

Alison Green writes the popular Ask a Manager blog, where she dispenses advice on career, job search, and management issues. She's also the co-author of Managing to Change the World: The Nonprofit Manager's Guide to Getting Results, and former chief of staff of a successful nonprofit organization, where she oversaw day-to-day staff management, hiring, firing, and employee development.

via money.usnews.com