How to Ask for a Raise

How to Ask for a RaiseHow to Ask for a RaiseHave you found yurself adding up how much you contribute at work and wondering whether youre underpaid? Perhaps now is a good time to find out how to ask for a raise. You may deserve a salary increase or a job promotion.A Robert Half survey suggests you wouldnt be alone. More than half (52 percent) of the CFOs interviewed for the survey said the number of requests for promotions or raises has increased from two years ago.We know asking for more money and following through with it can be intimidating. But asking for a raise is normal in the workplace, and this could be an opportune time to ask. In todays job market, employers are finding employee retention strategies to be more important than ever.So, how to ask for a raise at work? Here are five ways to boost your confidence, make the request and find success.1. Benchmark your salaryTake the time to learn the average salaries for your fleck and similar roles. Consult the Robert Half Salary Guides to determine the going rates for your job, then localize the numbers to your area using our Salary Calculator. If your compensation is below par, you can use this information as leverage for requesting an increase. While youre looking at the numbers, you might want to consider whether your company is in the position to offer you a bump in pay. Has it landed a deal recently or realized an upswing in revenue? Or has it just undergone budget cuts or layoffs? If thats the case, rather than compensation, you might build a case for increased responsibility, which could help you later when the company is on firmer financial ground.2. Quantify your achievementsYou know youve been doing a good job, but when youre figuring out how to ask for a raise, you should start by building your case and documenting the bottom-line benefits youve brought to the company.Lets say you work in an accounting department. You used Excel to create those excellent month-end reports and introduced accounts payable alerts. But what does that mean to your employer? Instead of pointing to your actions by saying, I used Excel to update our month-end closing procedure, make clear their precise benefits, such as I cut 20 hours from our month-end closing by implementing new features in Excel. Or think in terms of quantifiable time and cost savings, as this example provides I reduced our payroll processing time by 12 hours per week by automating our reports.Perhaps, you work as an administrative assistant, and you took the initiative to create and manage a Facebook page for your company. The specific added value? I helped us create an online presence without having to hire a social media specialist, and now we have 1,000 followers.If youre a UX designer who wanted to ask for a raise, youd want to share impressive metrics, too. This worksIve improved our bottom line by designing a user interface that raised our webs ite conversion rate by 200 percent. 3. Prepare for a discussionWhen was the last time you read over your job description? If its been a while, take another look and make sure youre fulfilling all of your duties. If youre going above and beyond, make note of your accomplishments so you can mention them to your employer. Walk into your meeting ready to talk about the projects youve played a role in and how youve worked outside of your job description. But be prepared to listen to any feedback you get, too, because many managers will see your active interest as a positive sign, which might translate to a future pay raise.Something else to prepare If your babo doesnt have the authority to grant you a raise and has to get approval by someone else, you can help by writing a letter asking for a raise with the key points about why you think youve earned it.4. Practice your approachRole-play with a friend or family member. Practice answering questions about the standard salary figures youve researched, the hours and dollars youve saved the company, maybe even how youve helped improve productivity in the workplace. In a pinch, a mirror can offer honest feedback on your body language, posture and eye contact. Make sure your confidence shows. If you dont believe you deserve a raise, why should your boss?Were not saying this is easy, of course. According to Robert Halfs Confidence Matters study, many professionals find the idea of asking for more money fills them with dread 36 percent said theyd rather clean the house, 14 percent said theyd rather look for a new job, and 5 percent would prefer getting a root canal5. Have a fallback positionMaybe youve taken all the right steps before you walked in to ask for a raise, but your boss still turns you down. Dont be afraid to ask for a reason or even what it would take to get a raise in the future. If your manager isnt ready to consider a raise, ask what specific actions would be needed to merit one, and set a review date. If ti ght budgets are the issue, ask about a one-time bonus or employee benefits that can increase your job satisfaction - such as more vacation time, an increased annual bonus or spot bonus, flexible scheduling, professional development, a new title or an equity stake in the company.Position yourself for a future raise by taking the initiative, discussing your long-term goals with your boss, expanding your skillset, and networking with others to raise your visibility in the company. The next time you have a performance review or a big win, you can ask again.Just remember to be respectful and professional when you ask for a raise. And stay confident. You may not get what you ask for. But if you know how to ask for a raise and go in prepared, your request will very likely get careful consideration.Robert Half has been helping job seekers find great career opportunities since 1948. Let us help you find the right job for you.GET HELP FINDING WORK

Nominations Sought for the Allan Kraus Thermal Management Medal

Nominations Sought for the Allan Kraus Thermal Management Medal Nominations Sought for the Allan Kraus Thermal Management Medal Nominations Sought for the Allan Kraus Thermal Management MedalNominations are currently being accepted for the 2019 Allan Kraus Thermal Management Medal, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievements in thermal management of electronic systems and a genuine commitment to the field of thermal science and engineering. The deadline to submit a nomination by email for the award is Feb. 1.Nominees for the for Allan Kraus Thermal Management Medal should have made significant contributions to the field of thermal management of electronic systems, as demonstrated by successful product development, seminal papers, filed patents and/or the leadership of research and development programs.One area of research that members of the awards selection committee are particularly interested in recognizing is on-package heterogeneous integration ( HI), which offers computing and communications devices enhanced functionality, faster time to market and improved silicon yield resiliency. HI also highlights the importance of packaging and systems engineers in developing innovative solutions that drive the growth of the semiconductor industry.The award, which is sponsored by the Electronic and Photonic Packaging Division (EPPD), includes a $1,000 honorarium, a bronze medal, a certificate and a travel supplement of up to $750 to attend the award presentation at ASMEs International Technical Conference on Packaging and Integration of Electronic and Photonic Microsystems Conference and Exhibition (InterPACK) in October.Nominations should be emailed to Dr. Ravi Mahajan, chair of the Allan Kraus Thermal Management Medal Selection Committee, at ravi.v.mahajanintel.com by Feb. 1.For more information on the Allan Kraus Thermal Management Medal, or view a list of past award winners, visit www.asme.org/about-asme/participate/honors-awards/a chievement-awards/allan-kraus-thermal-management-medal.

Career as a USAF Space Systems Operator

Career as a USAF Space Systems OperatorCareer as a USAF Space Systems OperatorDo you stare up at the stars like an angsty young (rebooted) Captain Kirk? Sure, becoming a NASA astronaut in the military is a rare opportunity, and maybe your long-term goals dont otherwise include the officers commission, pilots wings, or doctoral thesis commonly found on an astronauts resume. That doesnt mean that your goals have to stop at the lower atmosphere. On the enlisted side, the Air Force maintains a cadre of Space Systems Operators that support both military and national goals beyond the clouds. Duties and Responsibilities Space Systems Operators are split up until several functional areas depending on their duty assignment, but all support Air Force space-related missions via console, similar to the work of an air traffic controller. Some may begin their careers detecting and deterring intercontinental missile launches, a space-centric discipline but with a decidedly military focus. Other s work with satellite communications maintaining the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system, disrupting enemy satellite communications, or keeping US satellites in their proper orbits and trajectories. Some operators also handle command and control functions at...agencies such as the Joint Space Operations Center...Missile Warning Center, and NORAD/NORTHCOM Command Center. (Air Force Credentialing and Education Research Tool.) Then there are sortiment operations overseeing space launches. The manned space program at NASA may be on the backburner, but thats not stopping the US from launching missiles, satellites, and unmanned vehicles into the great unknown. Airmen in range operations dont just work with the Air Force, either According to their Enlisted Classification Manual, they also support in-flight hardware processing and satellite launch operations for DoD Department of Defense, NASA, and commercial users. Military Requirements Space Systems Operators need to meet medica l qualifications for space operations, which include normal color vision, hearing, and equilibrium absence of chronic migraines, epilepsy, or psychological conditions such as claustrophobia and preclude those with regularly prescribed medications that affect alertness, judgment, cognition, special sensory function, mood or coordination, according to the Air Force Instruction on Medical Examinations and Standards. Candidates must also pass a background check with eligibility for at least a Secret-level security clearance. Although not required, high school work in physics, geometry, trigonometry, algebra, and computer science are all considered helpful primers by the authors of the Enlisted Classification Manual. Education Preparation for a career in Space Systems Operations begins at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, following basic training. All airmen start with Space 100, a month-long primer on the whole space operations career field, covering launch, missile, warning, a nd safety. The course, described by some as more challenging due to its breakneck pace than its content, leaves students ready for follow-on training specific to their first duty assignment. These follow-on courses vary in length and prepare airmen for assignments such as space lift operations, missile detection, and satellites. Certifications Although the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) Credentialing and Education Research Tool comes up pretty scarce on suggestions (just two professional management certifications), it does advertise CCAFs optional degree program for Air and Space Operations Technology. Career Outlook Word among self-professed veterans of Space Systems Operations on the Military.com forums is that theres mobility between different specializationsmissile surveillance, range operations, etc.but that constant retraining is the key to qualifying for new assignments and staying on the cutting edge of Air Force space ops. The variety of duties and mobili ty between assignments are a positive counterbalance to the fact that, according to these same veteran operators, the work tends to take the form of long shifts windowless rooms (hence the medical standards singling out claustrophobics.) Beyond the Air Force, successful duty in Space Systems Operations has the apparent advantage of your security clearance. Civilian careers that require experience with security, radar, and mission management are prime targets. Unfortunately, Americas switch to a privatized model for manned spaceflight has pained a lot of NASA employees on the space coast, according to Payscale.com. This seems like a bad omen, but some of the trouble may stem from (a) workers who wont relocate or are facing a late-life career change and (b) the fact that this is (hopefully) just the rocky start of a new stage in the industry. For those with galactic-sized ambitions, the privatization model will hopefully develop new and more jobs in the civilian sector as this industr y gets off its feeta prime place to go after starting off as a Space Systems Operator in the Air Force.

United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP)

United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP)United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP)Military experience is an outstanding resume-builder if you know how to sell it, but everyones looking for that extra edge - something they can back up with certificates and credentials. One option for sailors and Marines (and the Coast Guard) is the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP), a partnership between the US Department of Labor (DOL) and the military that lets service members use their on-duty experience to earn journeyman status in a trade. Requirements Designed as an on-the-job training tool, USMAP is only for active duty members of the Navy, Marine studentencorps, and Coast Guard who already have a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or rating, a high school diploma or GED, and enough time on their enlistment contract to schliff an apprenticeship. Because theyre not employed full-time in a MOS, reservists, unfortunately, cannot participate in USMAP although they could still find civilian apprenticeships on their own (more on that later.) Because USMAP is intended to give servicemembers a leg up using their actual military experience, you need to have a MOS/rating (or an official duty assignment outside your MOS) that corresponds to a journeyman trade. (In other words, an infantryman cant enroll for a construction apprenticeship just because thats the job he wants after the military - unless hes assigned to official and regular duties, outside his MOS, working in construction.) Heres an example that could work As a career planner in the Marine Corps, Joe was also assigned as the commands local photographer for portraits and public relations shots. With some creative thinking and some off-duty education, Joe might have got himself an apprenticeship in photography normally only available to combat camera operators. The downside? Since USMAP only allows one apprenticeship at a time, hed have gambled away his shot at a human resources certificate relevant to his actual MOS. Eligible Occupations USMAPs Self-Service website offers a convenient list of eligible MOS and ratings that are not only staggering in size but surprising in some of the fields it covers. For the sake of brevity, heres a count of the Navy and Marine occupational fields that arent covered by USMAP Musicians (MU/5500) and air traffic controllers (AC/7200) in either branch.In the Navy, there are no USMAP apprenticeships for Interpretive Cryptologic Technicians (CTI) or Navy Divers (ND).In the Marines, Infantry (0300), Training (0900), Tank and Amphibious Assault Vehicles Operators (1800), Linguists (2700), Chemical/Biological/Radioactive/Nuclear Technicians (5700), and Flight Crews (7300) have no journeyman equivalent. A Few Surprises While it seems USMAP excludes all direct-combat jobs like infantry for the presumed reason that they have no equivalent civilian trade I found a few interesting exceptions Special Warfare Op erators (SO) aka Navy Seals are actually eligible, at grade E-7 and above, for an apprenticeship as a Master Homeland Security Specialist if theyre officially assigned the Navy Enlisted Classification Code (NEC) for Disaster Preparedness Operations and Training Specialist (9598) or Anti-Terrorism Training Supervisor Instructor (9501).The Marine Corps artillery occupational field (0800) actually has a few journeyman equivalents Cannoneers (0811) can apprentice as government service ordnance artificers, Fire Controllers (0844) as surveyor assistants, and Sensor Support Techs (0847) as weather observers. Education USMAP claims that it requires no off-duty hours, but you do need to log 144 hours of formal training for every 2,000 hours (about a year) of apprenticeship work. Fortunately, formal military training for your job can knock a lot of that out in the beginning, and even relevant correspondence courses such as those offered by the Marine Corps Institute (which can also boo st promotion potential) count toward the requirement. The worst-case scenario is, of course, having to take off-duty courses using tuition assistance or the GI Bill. But a little education never hurt anyone. Other Apprenticeship Programs Theres a conspicuous lack of information out there regarding apprenticeship programs for the Army, although a program has popped up in the past few years to help soldiers in the Army Reserve and National Guard. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, veterans may also be eligible for payments to support vocational, technical, and on-the-job training. However, these (with the exception of GAPI) are not military-sponsored programsand are not necessarily apprenticeships. To become a journeyman this way, youd still have to seek out, apply for, and gain acceptance to an apprenticeship program sponsored by a civilian employer that incorporates vocational training approved for GI Bill payments. Unfortunately, working a civilian apprenticeship opens up the possibi lity of being paid less than minimum wage, not to mention working outside the uniquely supportive environment of the military.

What You Must Know About It Director Resume

What You Must Know About It Director Resume The Dirty Facts on It Director Resume Resume writing isnt a simple job at least not as simple as we often consider it. Sites like LinkedIn or Github can act as a portfolio for potential employers who need to find out more about your qualifications. A Sample Resume is believed to be an important expert document, which is frequently analyzed by the employers to distitelbild the strength, weakness, and compatibility of the job applicants. As soon as you have crafted that perfect resume, you ought to at least put it on LinkedIn and build that on-line presence. Create My Resume Director Job Seeking Tips As is true anywhere in the usa, the best technique for landing a great job for a director is an effective resume. These 5 interview help will help you ace your interview and receive the offer. By placing all the info on Work Experience in the center, the Hiring Manager might have to go through the Objective anschauung and Strengths section s. Prior experience for a TME or Sales Engineer is vital. So long as youve got the necessary technical abilities and competencies, you still have an opportunity to find the work even when you are submitting an entry level IT Manager resume. It is crucial to note that you need to only add skills that are pertinent to the position youre applying for. Imagine you have two resumes before you. Without a good resume, you wouldnt be in a position be eligible for a great job. Begin with a list of job responsibilities for every one of your companys positions. Your LinkedIn summary is among the most crucial components of your profile. A Professional Resume must be written with precision, and it often includes a suitable structure. Now have a look at your information technology resume. You are able to take a look at the IT resume example for more details Even if your information is in bullet format, it may still be hard to quickly recognize the pertinent abilities and accomplishments which are important to the possible employer. Start with gathering information from several director resume samples in your area. The Foolproof It Director Resume Strategy Concentrate on the quantifiable outcomes of your projects and roles, as well as what you need to offer you a possible employer. Second, $15,000 is a substantial saving for smaller geschftlicher umganges. Letters and other correspondence needs to be edited to fit your individual circumstance. Fresh recruitment for a business director is a complex approach. Creating an IT resume objective gives you a means to demonstrate a hiring manager what you need to do and how you are going to benefit the business. Finding that real-world experience demonstrates that you are able to stay informed about the day-to-day operation of an organization. These skills may be used in just about any managerial atmosphere. Award-winning management and communication abilities and capacity to think outside the box. Being an execut ive director entails a good deal of responsibilities. To be a director, you will require a balance of education and experience. Your experience for a cashier at Burger King isnt likely to assist you in getting work at an IT consulting firm. To work as professional manager applying exceptional ability to produce and implement a great work culture in an organization which will assist in fulfilling the overall mission or target of the organization. You may even argue an executive-level professional has it tougher than the prior. Secondly, have a look at the net for freelance gigs. The Dos and Donts of It Director Resume 5 Your resume should be as easy as possible to read. Personal Information You want to place your complete name and address. It Director Resume Secrets Its vital to make distinctions in your resume. The same as educational attainment, the more languages youll be able to master the better your odds of landing the job. By opening with this, youre telling your pr esent employer that youre content. A cover letter is your opportunity to convince your future employer that youre the one. Your resume often is going to be the very first opportunity youve got to leave a great impression with a possible employer. There are lots of things that produce a resume good enough to grab the interest of the prospective employers.

Spark Hire Podcast for the Week of November 5 - Spark Hire

Spark Hire Podcast for the Week of November 5 - Spark HireThe Spark Hire podcast is back in action, ladies and gentlemen For ur first week back at it, we tackled articles from both the Job Seeker blog and the Human Resources blog. For HR professionals, we touch on the email mistakes hiring managers make. Its second nature for hiring managers to pick out the mistakes that job seekers make, but are they aware of the mistakes they are making? From spelling errors to long wait times, we talk about what you should avoid in your email correspondence with job seekers.We also discuss how HR professionals can spot a right now job seeker. Not sure what a right now job seeker is? Tune into our podcast to find out, and listen to some of the best and most helpful tips for HR professionals.Articles CoveredEmail Mistakes Hiring Managers MakeRight Now Job SeekerThe official podcast of SparkHire.com. Covering news related to the job market, HR, and more.Follow us on Twitter Spark Hire TwitterLike us on Facebook Spark Hire Facebook PageWatch us on YouTube Spark Hire YouTube ChannelHOST Nicole Nicholson (Content Editor at Spark Hire)ALSO Josh Tolan (CEO of Spark Hire) Patrick Beggan (Marketing Assistant at Spark Hire)powerpress url=http//blog.sparkhire.com/sparkcast/sparkcast28.mp3