Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

It’s time to meet the boss to ask for an increase and impress him/her that he/she should give it to you. Remember: Most companies do not give salary increase now unless you demand for it. If you are asking for one, that’s your right!

Here are 8 steps to a higher salary:

1. Schedule a Meeting with Your Boss

Take the correct time and/or situation to ask for a salary increase. Make sure that the company has the capability to give you an increase. If it’s losing, your case is lost. Although some companies do give salary increases even if the bottom line is red, your company may not be the -exception. Timing is crucial to getting the salary increase you want.

2. Go to the Meeting

Assuming that your company is capable and/or maybe willing to give a salary increase, set the meeting with your boss. The best time to do it is after a great work review or at the end of the financial year. Avoid Mondays when your boss is likely to be at his/her busiest. A good time to -aim for is early afternoon. Go to the meeting 30 minutes before the actual appointment.

3. State Your Case

Speak of your accomplishments in the company. Remind your boss what you’ve done for the company. Talk about how you’ve increased productivity or how you’ve contributed to its profitability. State them in a positive way. Mention any extra training or study that you’ve done. You can also present ideas for company improvements.

4. Know What You Want

Don’t dither. Such an attitude will make your boss think that you are not confident of what you want. Besides, it can make you nervous that you lose track of your ends. The best way to do this is, be firm of what you want. State a dollar amount that’s commensurate with your experience and the going rate for your position.

5. Suggest a Range

Don’t give a fix amount of the salary that you expect. You may give a specific amount hat is way too high of what the company can afford. It can also –work the other way around. Your quoting price may actually be lower than what your boss has in mind. A much better strategy is to give a range. This will give yourself and your boss room for negotiation.

6. Invoke Tenure and Qualification

Remind your boss how long you’ve been with the company and the accomplishment from the time you began until your salary request. Tell him/her the extra duties that you’ve assumed during the time. Be as specific as possible. If your boss asks question/s about them, answer as clearly as possible. Emphasize how they improve company operations.

7. Present Supporting Documents

It is best that you put your request for a salary increase in writing. Copy-furnish the personnel department. Bring other documents such as certificates and other papers in connection with your work. If you have received additional training and/or education, present them, too. This will make the presentation of your request complete.

8. Finish Up Quickly

Make your points. If the pitch works, you have done a good jab. If it does not work, it may be that your boss is unable to grant you a raise on the spot, so ask when you should check back with him/her. If the answer is “no” because of budgetary constraints, negotiate for perks. Do not show a negative reaction if you don’t ‘get it. It may work against you.

Good luck! Remember the, ever-reliable cliché: Practice makes perfect! Even men are turned down when they ask for a salary increase! They also must; practice to be perfect at it.

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

Evelyn is leaving her job and she’s actually excited about it. “The job was great,” she explains, “but it was simply not meant to be.”

According to Evelyn, she really has a lot to gripe about her job. “My officemates are awful,” she remarks, “no matter how hard I try to befriend them or at least work with them; they always made me feel like an outsider.” Worse, she notes, her boss is indifferent to her and even hostile at times.

“We simply didn’t connect,” Evelyn says. “I’ve spent a lot of time crying my heart out in private because of the things I’ve experienced.”

Luckily, Evelyn was accepted in another job. Soon enough, she filed her resignation (“To my boss’ surprise”) and prepared to leave the soonest that the company could say “go.”

Lately though, Evelyn’s thoughts, have become slightly darker especially towards her boss and the officemates she will be leaving behind. “Oh, I’ve a mind to speak out before leaving,” she notes, “but somehow, this little voice inside has stopped me from doing so. What should I do?”

Well, it is Evelyn’s (and other employees in a similar situation) choice to do what she pleases. However, it’s a small world out there and employees should be mindful of not readily burning bridges in exchange for a personally satisfying rebuff to people who have caused them harm.

Quitting your job? Here’s a list of dos and don’ts that would enable you to leave a lasting and good impression

Be professional. So you’ve decided to leave and are in fact ready to give your resignation letter. What to do? Well, dress the part. Dressing professionally (in a business suit or something appropriate) confirms the impression that what you are doing is professionally motivated and is no way personal in nature. Plus, it shows your superior and officemates that you are serious with your decision and happy with it—something that might infuriate them further perhaps, to your satisfaction.

Finish your job. You’re ready to move. Should you decide to stay on for the mandatory two-week’s notice or should you pack your bags immediately? Well, better stick with the former even if you do want to run outside the company premises shouting hallelujah. This shows that you are committed and loyal despite your ‘bad’ experiences with the company.

Moreover, you can take this time to prepare all the necessary paperwork with regards to the benefits you might receive from the company.

The former is also the smart thing to do as you are legally obligated to show your replacement the ropes. You could also take this as an opportunity to teach your replacement the finer points of office politicking (i.e. who to keep away from and who to approach in order to get the juiciest office gossip).

Nonetheless, set a reasonable limit to your departure because you never know if your present boss might decide to jeopardize your chances of moving on. As such, be sure to explicitly state the terms of your departure (“two weeks that’s it”) with or without extension as you see fit.

Show appreciation. Saying ‘thank you’ despite the horrible experiences you had in the job you are leaving shows good breeding and office savvy. Again, what goes around comes around and you never know just when and where you might bump into your boss and officemates.

Resist the urge to say a mouthful you might regret later on. Such an act further mitigates the chance of your previous boss and officemates badmouthing you in the future. Indeed, they’d probably be confounded by your class act and may even feel guilty.

Resist saying the last word. This is related to showing appreciation. Sure, you felt bad during your stay in the company but that is almost in the past. Resist saying anything that would be misconstrued as negative as this would be a bad mark towards you. After all, despite your experiences, no job is perfect and you should be able to discern that by now—evil bosses and officemates notwithstanding.

Give stuff away or return them. You don’t have to bring everything you’ve accumulated in your office desk to your new job. Clutter is clutter no matter how much you infuse it with memories. Just bring your personal effects and leave the rest behind. Return the office equipment given to you. Try to make a list of the equipment and provide personnel with a copy.

Parting is such sweet sorrow—so say goodbye! Believe it or not, if your office experiences are horrible in the first place, saying goodbye to your officemates and boss will be a cathartic release unlike any other. As such, be sure to say `goodbye’ as often as you can to the people around you. Again, the world we are moving in is so small that you just never know if you and your officemates will cross paths again. As such, say ‘goodbye’ honestly and sincerely. After all, you never know when you just might meet anew to say “hello.”

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

Continued from How To Tell If You’re Considered For Termination – Part One

4. You committed a blatant mistake. There’s a rather cute saying that say, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” Well, it sure doesn’t hurt if you make occasional slips from time to time. For as a human, you are not created to act and think perfectly. Unfortunately, the workplace is a world where there are practically no rooms for errors. It is not like in school where you are allowed to have mistakes in a quiz and still earn a satisfactory grade in the end. In the office, one wrong move could spell total doom to the company, and subsequently, to your career. So rather than treat your major mistake as an insignificant oversight, do something to rectify it right away. Failure to do so may mean packing up your bags for good.

5. Your newly arrived workmate has taken over. It pricks your pride like it has never been pricked before. You’ve been loyal to the company and diligent to your work all through these years. And now, your boss has suddenly repaid your efforts by assigning a new man to call the shots in your department. He carries outstanding credentials and glowing work experience. On the job, he knows how to play the game smoothly and when to take charge. You try to protest but management seems comfortable with his services. The guy has been personally hand-picked and you can’t do anything to bend that fact anymore.

6. There’s a change in management control. Powers have shifted hands. New executives have barged into the scene and, sadly for you, they are starting from scratch. That means your previous reputation as the department’s resident star may not at all be recognized. Put your feet back on the ground. Management has expressed its interest in retaining the body essentials and melting the excess fats. Are you in or out?

7. You get unsatisfactory review from your superior. When your boss scrutinizes every move you make and every word you say, you know that something is wrong somewhere. You don’t have to seek the help of a cartomancy expert to realize that the reason why he’s breathing down your neck is because he really is evaluating your performance. Think of what you can do to change his view while there is still time left. Don’t wait for your boss’s personal appraisal to finish. Your future in the organization may be on the line now, so improve your overall performance and prove that you are truly a prized recruit. That will give them reasons to think twice before booting you out.

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

Job security is a big deal among the members of today’s workforce. With economy still standing on shaky grounds and the cost of living rocketing to almost sky high, it is not hard to fathom why every employee’s primary concern now is how to hold on tight to his steady source of livelihood.

A regular worker certainly knows the importance of clinging on to his job. What he may not know is how to make sure that he won’t be singled out by management once dreadful company decisions like downsizing and merging come striking. Needless to say, to be given the pink slip is the worst nightmare that every nine to five guy could have. It messes up one’s career plans. It jeopardizes one’s future. It demoralizes one’s spirit:

Yet to be bumped off from your post is a fact of professional life. When the wheel of competition rolls, no one is completely untouchable. Even CEOs and other company executives can be given the axe under certain circumstances. What more for an ordinary workplace fellow who is always regarded as an expendable part of the organization?

For sure, no one wants to be fired from his job unceremoniously. But then again, if your time is up you’ve got nothing else to do but accept it. The important thing is that while you’re giving your best shot at all time, you are also prepared for the worst that could happen.

If you suspect that you’re being considered for termination, confirm your feelings by looking at these signs:

1. You get the feeling of an outsider. Two years ago you were considered the company’s go-to- guy. You orchestrated some of the plays and were always one of the first people in the office to know it there’s a corporate scoop coming. Your boss trusted you with vital information and the prospect of your future looked bright. However, things have alarmingly changed these days. You’re no longer invited to attend crucial meetings. Your immediate superior seldom seeks your suggestion. Your responsibilities have been significantly decreased. When there’s an apparent lost of trust from the person you’re working for, you might be headed for the nearest exit in a matter of days or weeks.

2. Your boss has advised you to take a vacation. A break granted when you don’t need it or seek for it can raise many questions on your part. But if you think logically, you’ll understand what kind of message your superior is actually attaching to his statement. This is not the normal reprieve that a battered employee receives after weeks of non-stop work. This is not the ordinary vacation given at the end of the fiscal year when everybody else deserves a few rest days. In an indirect manner, your boss may be trying to say that he doesn’t want your presence around the office for the time being. Maybe you have put up a sub-standard performance in your latest project. Maybe you have fallen short of your job description.

3. You need an attitude overhaul. You say a word and the people around you never take it seriously. You do a thing and your colleagues just shrug their shoulders and never bother to comprehend. Instead of casting your influence on others, they are the ones who are mouthing off criticism to your direction. They complain about your bloating ego. They talk about your penchant to say the first thing that comes off your mind, even if such remark offends someone near you. In short, they have completely thrown off the window their respect on you. Are you still in-tune with the times? Are you still in control of yourself? Or do you need a refreshing course on how to be sensitive and decent in dealing with your co-workers?

For more please read: How to Tell If You’re Considered For Termination – Part II

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

There are many opportunities as well as challenges associated with being unemployed.  When we are working on a job, we put all our strength into it, whether we are satisfied with it or not. When we lose that job, we feel rejected and unwanted. If we can not find another job quickly to fill in the gap, we will feel very stressful or even depressed.

However, if we look at unemployment from a positive point of view, it is an excellent time for us to refresh ourselves and make crucial changes that will have a positive impact on our lives.  Choosing the right career is extremely important.

The first “resolution” you should make is to take this free time to repair things around the house. You can also choose to work on a project that you have wanted to do but haven’t got the time. You will find fun in doing small things and have a sense of accomplishment. This will certainly improve your mood if you are under stress.

You can provide your service for free to prove your ability in order to attract employers. You can search public records.  Volunteer to do jobs for your neighbors or help the community with social activities is just some ideas you can follow. You will feel elated when being able to help others and the people who receive your free service can become your potential employers.

You can also start your own business. Many people after being unemployed start their own business and succeed. What you need is a passion and determination to turn that passion into a lucrative business. You will be your own boss and there is no more “regular schedule”, or “late for work”. But remember, starting one’s own business requires lots of energy and knowledge. You have to learn about the facts before beginning to do anything.

If you can’t start your own business then think about the possibility of part-time or contract employment.

Job. At least a part time job will provide you with a means to cover your basic expense. It is better to work for your pay than to wait for an unemployment check. Many part time jobs offer the possibility of full time employment.

You should maintain a positive attitude all the time. Follow the tips for choosing a career.  Although it is very hard to keep feeling well while you are unemployed and have nothing to do, you still have to keep confident feelings with you so as to be truly successful afterwards. A positive attitude is everything you need to advance in life. Just a minor setback should not ruin your confidence. People will have difficulties some time in their lives, you are just one of them, and therefore, you should learn to deal with these adversities effectively.

In summary, you need to keep your chin up and fight the adversities. You have to be someone an employer wants to hire. By being confident and doing various constructive activities you will greatly increase your chance of getting a job.