How to Earn a Six Figure Salary in Your Lifetime - TheJobNetwork

How to Earn a Six Figure Salary in Your Lifetime - TheJobNetworkIf you want to earn a six figure salary, you have two main options A) play the lottery and hope for five numbers out of six on your ticket to hit, or B) start building your career toward that goal. The odds are millions-to-one against option A, so really your best bet is option B. Now that leaves just one question how? googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) A high-paying career that you enjoy is, when you get right down to it, just about everyones goal. And making a six figure salaryor $100,000+, seems like an attainable goal. Its not a million dollars, so it seems like a modest ask from the universe. Yet it also offers a kind of financial stability that is appealing. So its the ideal for many of us who arent creating the next hot startup or able to hit 35 home runs per year.Your first step in reaching that goal is doing a self-survey of yourself and your career so far.How close am I to that goal right now? This can affect the timeline and scope of your goal. If you want to make $200K but are currently only making $40K, thats a huge jump. Depending on your field, it might be possible, but you might have to adjust how long it will take you to get there.Is it even attainable in my field? For example, if youre a lawyer, then sure, this is attainable. If you are a mid-level manager at a nonprofit, it might not be. Its important to make your goals reachable, and if youre working happily in a field that tends to top out at $80K, youre not doing yourself any favors by working toward a financial goal that may not be likely or even possible.What career level do I need to achieve to make that paycheck? Is it only executives that make that kind of money in my field, or are there other jobs/roles that can do it? What does the promotion path look like in order to reach that goal?What do I need to do next? Are there specific skills, or a certain education or experience I w ould need to move me closer to that goal? Am I in a position to get another degree, complete a training program, or learn the next-level skills that would be required?Do I need to go elsewhere, or does my current job offer that kind of path? If you see this salary as a possibility at your current company, ask yourself if youre willing to commit to that. If that kind of growth just doesnt seem possible where you are, or youre not happy or content there, start scouting for other opportunities.Path One The Steady BuilderLets call this the old-fashioned example of the kid who starts in the mailroom, and ends up as the CEO. Its a model that, quite frankly, is much more challenging ansicht daysthe average person switches jobs at least 10 times throughout their career, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, so the idea of putting down roots and growing from professional youngling to high-earning executive in one place is rather quaint.But its not impossible. If youve been accumu lating experience at one company or in a particular field, its not unreasonable to expect to make a six figure salary at some point in your career, assuming you have a good amount of forward motion. However, unless you are constantly promoted with a significant salary jump at each point, this is a process that can take a long time.Path Two The JumperLets call this one surfing for opportunities. In this scenario, you create that forward momentum by actively seeking out new jobs, ideally raising your salary each time. Some studies have suggested that employees that stay at a company for more than two years have relatively stagnant salaries, potentially earning about 50% less than people who switch companies more often.If you move to a new position at a new company, experts suggest that you look for a salary bump of up to 25%, particularly if the new position is a step up for you. This is a path that is more in line with todays job-hopping trend, but it means you have to be savvy about what your next steps are, and how they fit into your long-term plan and goals.What is a Realistic Timeline?Your timetable for making a six figure salary is going to vary according to your industry, your skills and experience, and what your goals are.Entrepreneur Peter Voogd suggests that this financial goal is achievable on a short-term schedule, discussing his philosophy of getting clear on your goals, connecting to influencers, and going after that aggressive salary goal with confidence.This method is heavy on entrepreneurship-style philosophies (more on that in a bit), but doesnt account for the fact that everyones career is different. Again, factors like your industry and your resume can make a significant difference. If your field is one where middle and upper management can approach that six-figure salary, then you might just need a few more years (or a couple of steps up in the org chart) to get there. If you work in a field where only executives are making six figures, then it can take significantly more time and positioning to get to that point.This is where you should be doing comprehensive salary and trajectory research on your field. What are others at your level making? What salary are people two levels ahead of you making? Sites like Payscale and Salary.com can really help you get an accurate picture of what you can expect in your industry, at your education level, etc. Knowing who makes what can help you figure out how long it might take you to hit your goal.Are There Any Shortcuts?Short answer on shortcuts nope. Whether it takes you one year or ten, youve got to put in the work necessary to build your career to the point where youre earning those six figures. If youre at the beginning of your career, you have the advantage of starting early. Its like saving for retirementthe earlier you start, the better off youll be. If youre mid-career and are looking to jumpstart your path to six figures, theres more pressure to get there fast, but youll st ill need to go through the tasks of positioning yourself for advancement, and seeking out the opportunities that can move you forward.What Can I Do?While we know theres no magic solution that will pump up your salary exactly where you want it, this means its on you to start working diligently toward that goal. There are a number of ways you can attack this, all of which work together in moving you forward.Increase Your NetworkYour network is an invaluable resource for any career advancement. You never know when someone in your professional network will have an opportunity for you. They can also offer valuable expertise in your field, help you build necessary skills, and act as a sounding board as you tischset your goals. Listen to experts, and avoid mistakes that could slow you down and impede your goals.Also, part of it is a mental game if you believe that you are who you associate with, adding successful and insightful people to your network can help you cement that image of yours elf as a successful professional in turn.Become a Master NegotiatorIf you can advocate confidently for yourself , you stand a much better chance of increasing your salary with every promotion or job change.Seek and Build the Most Valuable SkillsHeres where you need to be a bit daring, because this could involve a significant commitment on your part. Right now, some of the fruchtwein valuable skills are technical ones, like coding. If youre unfamiliar, try taking a course. If you have very basic skills, take them to the next level.There are also more allgemein gltig skills that can really help you move up in your field. For example, project management is a well-compensated skill that is invaluable across most industries, because it means you can manage tasks and people to achieve concrete goals.Think Like an EntrepreneurThis doesnt necessarily mean starting your own business from scratch, but rather taking control of your career path. You may not be your own boss at every step, but y ou can still move through with confidence and assertive decision making when it comes to your job.In this vein, Peter Voogd recommends building your internal confidence account, which gives you the self-drive to navigate around obstacles in your career without letting them stop your progress toward your goalsin this case, your salary goal.Whether youre close to making a six figure salary already and just need a final lift, or arent quite as far along, and are looking for ways to boost your career significantly to meet that goal, the most important element is coming up with a realistic plan and sticking to it. Good luck

QUIZ Plan Your Dream Vacation and Well Tell You Your Work Personality

QUIZ Plan Your Dream Vacation and Well Tell You Your Work Personality Picture this its Monday morning ugh.But instead of waking up to your 5 A.M. alarm, hustling to the office in the freezing cold and sitting through a droning 10 A.M. weekly meeting, you sleep in... until 11 A.M. And when you wake up, you wake up between two crisp, pearl white sheets on a perfectly firm bed. Theres a knock on your door, so you slip on the plush slippers next to your bed and walk over. Someone left breakfast on a tray. Theres fresh orange juice.Everyone has a dream vacation. It might sound like the one above (because, you know, I have great taste). But the best thing about your dream vacation is that its perfectly you. How you play says a lot about how your work, and this quiz will help you decode it all.Click below to take the quiz.

Spark a Conversation Employee Retention with Video Interviews - Spark Hire

Spark a Conversation Employee Retention with Video Interviews - Spark HireHere at Spark Hire, we want to help companies utilize the power of online video to find the best candidates. We get a lot of questions from readers about best practices for using online video in the hiring process. These posts will address those questions about how to find your next superstar employee.Question How can I use the video einstellungsgesprch to improve employee retention? Gerard from Chesapeake Thank you for your question, Gerard Employee retention is very important and is certainly something every company should be working on. If you have poor employee retention then chances are you have a high turnover rate as well. This means that employees are constantly coming and going from your company and no one ever stays long enough to truly contribute. Because of this your company culture suffers and so much more can go out the window. That is why making great hires right from the start is so important. If you hire employees that fit into the company culture you already have, those employees are much more likely to stay and grow within your company.Hiring the right people can bring down your cost of hiring and simply make your company more pleasant to work for. Using video interviews in your interview process is a great way to ensure you are hiring the right people from the start. In using video interviews you are able to see a candidates partieality right away. Chances are you know what kind of person you need to hire in order for them succeed in the position and mesh well with the rest of the gruppe. Watching a candidate on video before even formally meeting them can really help out with this.Furthermore, you can use one-way video interviews or live two-way video interviews to ask candidates probing and curveball questions in order to test how they handle themselves in a more candid moment. Sure, you can do this in a traditional, in-person interview as well but why not test your candidate out right away? When you have narrowed your qualified candidates down to a small schwimmbecken you can then have them come into the office for an in-person interview and put them to test even more. However, making your candidate pool smaller in the beginning helps you out greatly in the long run.You should also be sure to ask your candidates about their career aspirations and their long-term goals in order to assess whether this position is good for them right now or not. Are they looking to advance pretty quickly in their role? Can they do that in this position or will they be unhappy and jump ship right away? Finding a good match in this respect is also very important for employee retention and you should be sure to touch on it in your video interviews.Do you have a question you need answered? Spark a conversation with the Spark Hire team by submitting your question to blog(at)sparkhire.com or in the comments below.

4 Cringe-Worthy Career Moments (and What I Learned From Them)

4 Cringe-Worthy Career Moments (and What I Learned From Them) 4 Cringe-Worthy Career Moments (and What I Learned From Them) Those cringe-worthy moments are sort of a given for all of us. You thought you were so cool at the time, but later on, thephotographic evidence proves you so patently were elend.Even so, those cringe-inducing memories are fantastic to wade through. Recently, my friend Laurie Ruettimann publisheda blog postabout an experience she had with her boss as a young recruiter. Her story is one to which Im aya many of us can relate The boss she thought welches a jerk turned out to be right, and Laurie learned a valuable lesson not until much later, of course.I appreciated the article because it reminded me that, just like the old photos we all have, weve all experienced cringe-worthy professional moments. I spend so much time teaching and leading my team now that I often forget I welches once young and trying to figure out this whole career thing. While todays professi onals have blogs and media like The Museand Ask a Manager,no amount of career advice will save you from having a few of your own cringe-worthy moments.But maybe I can save you from going through the same ones I did. Here are four of my most cringe-worthy career moments, in order of embarrassment, and the lessons I learned from each1. The Time I Realized My State School Journalism Degree Was Not the Same as a Decade of Experience at a Major U.S. PublisherPride is a funny thing, and I have it in spades.I was working my rear end off as the staff writer, ad salesperson, distribution coordinator, and photographer for a local paper which, as you can imagine, did not have that many people on staff. The publisher and I were drowning in work and needed somehelp. When the publisher found that help in the form of an accomplished woman with more than 10 years of experience at a national newspaper, I was thrilled. When I learned she would be in a position of authority over me, I was not. After all, we both had journalism degrees werent we the same?Looking back at that moment, I honestly want to smack 23-year-old me. Experience matters. Of course my state school degree couldnt compare Of course they werent going to have a 23-year-old manage a woman in her 40s Back then, though,I railed at my husband for weeks over the injustice of it all. Ah, youth.Lesson Experience beats youth.2.The Time I Was Passed Over for a Promotion After Four Months With a Company and Responded by Throwing a Fit and Crying at WorkI had just started at an investment firm, and I thought I was the stuff. I definitely padded my resume and spent the first few months taking work home so I wouldnt look like a moron. I worked really hard, sent a lot of emails, ingratiated myself with the higher-ups, and waited for my boss to notice that all my coworker did was complain about her husband while the rest of the marketing team did her work for her.What happened instead was I got written up for wearing shorts to work and she got a promotion.I thought I was a shoo-in, despite having barely a financial quarter behind me. This woman grew up in the same town as the big boss, was (as I have mentioned) quite the skilled delegator, and spent a great deal of time speaking to management in closed-door meetings. When I found out I did not get the promotion, I acted like a three-year-old. I stomped out of my office, cried in the bathroom (I am not a subtle or pretty crier), and vented toanyone who would listen.Lesson When someone is the bosss close friend, has been their longer, and does not throw fits in the workplace, she is manager material. You are not.3. The Time I Was pitching a PR Project to a Swanky Client and Said Buttload to Prove I Was the RealestThis totenstill makes me cringe, even though it was merely stupid rather than bratty or entitled like some of my other career mishaps were. My goal was to proveI wasnt like all the other buttoned-up, prissy PR folks. No, I understood the customer, I got the marketing goal (but it was PR, dur).I could see the distaste on the clients face. I know they selected a different team, at least in part, because I presented myself poorly. I still struggle with this today. In my mind, I know my stuff and everyone in the world should just accept that sometimes the package is a little rumpled. The real world doesnt work that way not at 21 and not at 37.LessonRightly or wrongly, people treat you according to the way you present yourself4. The Time I Learned That Doing Things Is Not the Same as Getting Things DoneI have always confused being in the kitchen with serving the meal but accomplishing tactical tasks is not the same thing as deliver strategic value. Dont get me wrong Both are necessary, but one is far more visible than the other.Generally speaking,technical knowledge will be valued more earlierin your career, but savvily solving strategic problems will bring you more respect as you move into management and beyond.I used to code sites, design one-pagers, write emails, and upload blog posts. I took pride in being a technical founder (at least to a marketing wonk), but that left me with little time to plan large events, speak about my experience, go to client on-sites, or create strategies that would actually impact clients businesses. Sometimes, I am still learning this lesson.LessonDoing things may be more visible, but getting things done often matters more.Even though incidences like the ones above make me cringe and hide from former coworkers, Im still kinda stoked I learned so much from each one. In fact, I would wager people who dont make similar mistakes are doomed to have little or no empathy for their direct reports, or they mayfind it difficult to grow intheir careers.Its like my friendand colleague Jason Seiden says Fail spectacularlyA version of this article originally appeared on the Red Branch Media blog.Maren Hogan is founder and CEO ofRed Branch Media.You can read more of her work on Forbes, B usiness Insider, Entrepreneur, and her blog,Marenated.

10 Ways to Get the Promotion You Deserve

10 Ways to Get the Promotion You Deserve10 Ways to Get the Promotion You DeserveAs a full-time working mom, to feel challenging to advance in the workplace. Luckily with more and more employers understanding of the task of balancing parenthood and work, a work aufsteigen is no longer a dream for working mothers. You just need to take some steps to achieve it. So how can you get the work promotion you desire when you have so many responsibilities to juggle? Consider unterstellung tried and true ways to get the work promotion you deserve. Make a Plan to Get Ahead at Work Create a daily plan that will help you get ahead of your work. When you set mini goals that direction will help get you through your work quicker. When youillustrate youre a hard worker and how dedicated you are to succeeding it shows you can handle more responsibility. Plus, if you are ahead of schedule, youll be in a better position to field the unexpected school cloaya or sick child. Show Them That Nothing Is Beyond Your Reach When it comes to your work performance, avoid using the word no. You can always say yes, and then suggest a reasonable due date for the assignment or ask which current priority should be put on the backburner so you can put all your energy on the new task. Show that you can be available to complete the task at hand, even if its something that is unappealing to you. Never pass off work to co-workers even if the task seems difficult because deep down you can do the job. Show you can complete any assignment that is handed to you Dont Let Fear Get in the Way and Just Ask for Those Hard Work Assignments Show that you want to go to the next level by taking on assignments your immediate bosswould handle. By showing you can go beyond your job duties, you show your employer that you can handle more responsibility, and position yourself for a promotion. Dont Be Afraid to Tell Your anfhrer Theyre Wrong Instead of sitting back and doing the job youve been assigned, m ake proposals that will help you succeed in business situations. If you can come up with a better way to gain new clients, enhance the web presence of your business or expand revenue, tell your boss about it in a formal proposal. This shows you are not afraid to challenge the status quo. Look for Ways to Showcase Your Talents Make your employer notice your talents by having them highlighted with all milestones that you accomplish. For example, if your negotiating skills are your strong point, then tackle projects that will showcase your prime negotiating skills, and make sure your boss knows a project was successful due to you being able to properly broker the deal. Dont Be Shy, Be the Leader Youre Meant to Be No employer wants to promote the follower. Show your leadership skills any time you take the reins on a project. If you show you can lead a team to the next level, then your boss will be more likely to view you as a candidate deserving of a promotion. Let It Be Know n That You Want a Promotion Make sure your employer knows you want to be next in line for a promotion should the opportunity come up. During a conversation with your boss or your bosss boss, you could mention how you plan to grow with the company and talk about yourlong-term career goalsat the company. Never Pass Up the Opportunity to Be Aggressive and Assertive Employees worthy of a work promotion are always aggressive in going after what they want for themselves in their career. Make sure you get noticed in the workplace by being the assertive one who is always there to take on the task at hand and see it through from the beginning to end. Instead of Working Hard Behind Your Desk Go to the Office Party While promotion is often based on your job performance, it doesnt hurt to get on good social terms with your boss. Find common interests and talk about these subjects during your lunch break or downtime at work. If its all business between you and your boss, then you dont g ive him or her time to see you as a human being and care about your success on a personal level. Be There for Your Team by Asking How You Can Help People who are viewed as worthy of promotion are those who can be team players. When you show your employer you can lead a team or be part of one youre illustrating your versatility. Promotions are often granted to those people an employer can count on to take the right leadership role during a project or assignment.

Interview Signs Can Be Misleading

Interview Signs Can Be MisleadingInterview Signs Can Be MisleadingInterview Signs Can Be MisleadingAlison Greens recent U.S. News World Report blog post, 7 Signs Your Interview Went Well, got me thinking about how you can tell if your interview went well or badly. Too often, we sit waiting patiently at home for weeks after an interview, only to learn the company is not interested and actually never was interested to begin with.While I applaud Alisons 7 Signs, I also know that interviewers can be masters of deception. Here are other ways of interpreting those signs1. The interviewer gives you a clear timeline.Interviewers who give you a clear timeline are lying, but they dont realize theyre lying at the time. They believe theyre telling the truth, but things change and timelines are rarely kept. One example is Melissa G., a friend who interviewed for an accounting supervisors position here in New England. On a Friday, the hiring manager told her to expect a call on Monday from HR wit h an offer. Monday came and went, so Melissa called the hiring manager Tuesday morning. When she got no response, she waited a day and called the HR manager, who was to have called on Monday. Melissa never got a call back from the company, never received an offer, and finally got a rejection letter in the mail two weeks later.The moral of this story is Dont believe any timeline given by the company. You know you did well on the interview when the company gives you a written, signed offer. Never stop interviewing until you start your new position. And after you start, keep your network active and your resume up-to-date. You never know when youll need them next.On a side note, alfruchtwein every employee is an employee at will. This means you can be released at any time, with or without cause. It also means you have the choice to leave anytime you like, with or without cause. Be prepared. Its your career and livelihood.2. The interviewer asks about your timeline.Interviewers, especial ly recruiters, ask this question to discern if other companies are interested in you. If youre in demand, then the interviewing company begins to believe that you must be talented because other companies want you.When youre asked about your timeline, state the following Based on current activities, I plan to make a decision within 2 to 3 weeks, if not sooner. This is your plan, and no matter what your actual situation is, you now appear to be in demand.3. The interviewer tries to sell the position or company to you.Skilled interviewers are trained to spend a little time selling the company because every candidate knows at least 250 people. One of the best ways to improve a companys reputation is through the hiring process. Just because they sell you on the company doesnt mean they want to hire you. All it means is that they want you to have a positive experience so that youll talk about it with your friends later. But if they dont hire you and give you the runaround like they did to Melissa, they could easily ruin their own reputation and there go 250 people who might have been interested in them.4. The interviewer spends a lot of time answering your questions.Unskilled interviewers are relieved when you ask questions because they dont have to think about what to ask you. If they dont ask detailed questions, they probably dont care enough to understand your talents. Or, more likely, they have no idea how to interview effectively. As Ive stated before, fruchtwein interviewers have no idea what theyre doing. If you ever run into a skilled interviewer, rejoice.5. The interview runs over the allotted time.This simply means the interviewer needs training in time management or theyre trying to waste time because they hate their job.6. After youre done, the interviewer introduces you to others or shows you around the office.This is a good indication that youre doing well in your interview. But remember that every person you meet has veto power over the hiring decisio n. So you must interview well with each and every person you meet, but dont read too much else into this.7. Your references tell you that the employer called them.This is also a good indicator that you did well in the interview. It also indicates youre either the candidate of choice or one of the finalists. But in some situations, it could mean the company is trying to recruit your references for the same or another position.To really know if your interview went well, ask the following three questions of every interviewer at the end of each meetingWhat do you feel my strengths are for this position?This gets the interviewer to tell you what they understand about you and the value you bring to the position. Dont argue with them. Just agree and listen.What concerns do you have about my background?This reveals areas of perceived weakness. This is the most important information for you to gather because the perceived weaknesses are the issue that will eliminate you from further consider ation.Respond to the interviewer by providing additional information about this dimension of your experience.How do you feel my style will fit with the rest of the team?This question communicates that you understand the importance of fit with the team. Fitting in with the team is often the most important thing. If youre qualified but you dont fit, you wont get hired. If you fit and are less qualified than another candidate, youll get the offer. Fit almost always trumps qualifications.

Doctor Recommendation Letter

Doctor Recommendation LetterDoctor Recommendation LetterA doctor recommendation letter is often the final process in the transition from resident to full-fledged doctor with the fancy nameplate and prime parking spot. Such a letter is usually written be a supervising physician, hospital administrator, shift supervisor, or just about anybody else whose opinion carries some weight. Detailed below, the structure of such a letter is similar to the setup of a cover letter in that it has a more personal tone.Kicking Off a Doctor Recommendation LetterThe initial paragraph of the letter answers the who and what questions. Who is the resident (or they may be a full-fledged doctor transferring jobs for other reasons like a relocation) seeking the new ort? What is the specific position theyre seeking? When is assumed to be sometime in the immediate future, so thats implied.The Meat of a Doctor Recommendation LetterThe body of a doctor recommendation letter, usually divided into at least two par agraphs to increase readability, answers the why questionas in why this person is being recommended for the job. Each paragraph within the body should focus on either a few specific examples of how the person contributed to the team or some specific traits they demonstrated.Optional Third Paragraph of a Doctor Recommendation LetterWhile brevity is a plus with a doctor recommendation letter, there are some valid reasons for adding another paragraph. For instance, it may be necessary to clarify that the hospital where the recommended doctor worked is recognized for its cardiac care program and Dr. So and So participated in those innovative programs and proved to be a valuable asset to the team.Concluding a Doctor Recommendation LetterThe concluding paragraph of a doctor recommendation letter includes one more positive shout out (Your team would greatly benefit from the addition of Dr. So and So to your roster.) and contact info. Preferably, any listed number should include a direct ex tension to avoid the hassle of going through receptionists or being shuffled to voice mail.Before soliciting a doctor recommendation letter, have a good grasp of your post-residency career plans. A vague letter singing your praises that can later be sent to any potential employer isnt going to be as effective as a recommendation letter addressed to a specific hospital or medical facility. If you need to brush up your resume before seeking recommendation letters, check out our detailed resume samples and other useful goodies Related Articles Dont Ask Your Employer These Questions In An InterviewEnjoy First Year Success After Getting the JobExperienced Resume