Tips & Trends

I am often asked “how much time can I ask for?” in reference to negotiating offers as well as setting interview dates. A bit of a tricky question but I’ve decided that “matching” is a good rule of thumb.

Let’s say you receive an offer for a new job on a Monday and the company asks you to give them a decision by Friday, which is 4 business days. If that isn’t enough time (you’re waiting on another offer, you need to discuss it with a mentor or partner who is out of town, etc), I’d recommend asking if you can have until the following Thursday or Friday to decide, thereby matching their 4 business days – give or take.

This can be particularly helpful if you are changing industries and aren’t sure of the culture. A recent client was invited to an on-site interview with a progressive technology company. He currently works in an academic setting which moves at a much slower pace particularly with hiring processes (understatement!). The recruiter proposed an interview date 10 days out from their conversation. He asked to delay the date 3-4 weeks, which would have been reasonable in academia, but he unfortunately hasn’t heard from them since.

I wish he had matched their offer.

Using email as a means to retain networking contacts is attractive for a few reasons: it’s quick, timely and easy and many people use mobile devices on which they can read your email almost immediately. However, I love to use snail mail.

I try to send thank yous in a handwritten notecard as often as possible. I like to cut out actual articles from magazines and newspapers and send them to relevant contacts, as opposed to sending the email link. I do this because of the emotion it can evoke. Think of the last time you received hand addressed, stamped and handwritten correspondence at your business address and think of what went through you mind when you opened the envelope. Probably something like, “Oh! I wonder who sent me a note?” with a bit of anticipation attached to the thought. And then remember whether you spent a moment glancing at the material. Now think of how much email you get and the emotion associated with another message. And that’s why I like snail mail.

While most of us are not boyscouts, the Be Prepared idea is one to keep in mind. As the economy starts to turn around, new opportunities  will be out there, whether internally or externally at a different organization. Create a spreadsheet or document to continuously track projects you’re working on, accomplishments you’re proud of, and outcomes you’ve impacted. That way, when your ideal next job gets posted, or a recruiter calls, updating your resume means opening that file, not racking your brain trying to remember what you’ve been doing for the past few months.

This is the first of what will become approximately monthly postings. My intention is to provide tips and trends to help job seekers. These tips will center on resume writing, job search strategies, interviewing tips, networking thoughts and other career-related items. I will amalgamate these on a montly basis and send them to the subscription list. Please subscribe using the link to the right. I look forward to your comments, and would certainly love to engage further with anyone who is interested.