– Secure yourself the salary you deserve!

So, you have gone through the interview process and been successful in getting an offer, but when the proposal comes through the salary doesn’t quite meet your expectations. What do you do? Do you accept the role regardless and hope for a pay rise in the future, (after all it’s the job you want)? Or do you negotiate to secure a better deal? The answer to this question is obvious right? You need to negotiate! But we know it’s not that easy; it can be scary to discuss money. Well, here at Selective Recruitment we have a lot of experience in discussing salaries, so we thought we’d share some of our top tips on how to make sure you secure the pay you deserve. 

1 – Know what salary you are looking for before you go for an interview.

To start with, it is a common mistake to wait until you’ve been through the interview process and are at the offer stage to discuss your salary requirement. Roles are often advertised within a wage bracket and these can be quite large, sometimes up to £10,000 or even £20,000, which is a huge banding. Companies often advertise positions in this way because they are able to consider someone with less experience, that they can train (who would sit at the bottom end of the pay scale) or would employ a candidate that meets all the qualifications and expertise they require (who would sit at the top end of the pay scale). The trick is to know where your skills sit along this banding and be clear about your minimum salary expectation. Where possible it is good to set your intention early on, if possible, at the application stage, but if not, it may be worth including a question at the end of your interview to open a dialogue around salary. If you make it clear what you are looking for early in the recruitment process prospective employers are more likely to offer what you are seeking, and you will avoid that awkward conversation later on. 

2 – Know your worth

One of the driving forces behind looking for a new role is often a pay rise. But another common mistake people make is applying for roles that are too similar to the one they currently have and thus they have a similar salary. If you are aiming to secure a pay rise in your next role you need to be aware of this when making applications. Are you staying within your comfort zone or are you putting yourself forward for positions that are going to stretch you? It may be easier to think of it in terms of career ladder; if you are looking to step up and secure a larger pay packet you need to apply for roles that reflect this. It may be prudent to reframe how you think about your next pay packet, focusing not on an incremental pay rise, but what you could earn.  

3 – Consider the whole offer

It is very easy to focus solely on salary and make a decision based on this. We are not suggesting that it shouldn’t be a key factor, but many companies now offer so much more. It is therefore imperative to consider what else will be included in your employment package. Will there be any other financial rewards such as a bonus, company car or share schemes? Is there the possibility of training, which in turn could increase your ability to secure a higher salary? What else is important to you? In recent times flexibility has been identified by many as key to ensuring a work-life balance, whereas others seek good healthcare, holiday allowance or pension schemes. To be solely focused on your annual take home, may mean you overlook other benefits. Consider the whole picture when making a decision and don’t be blinded by numbers.

4 – Seek Clarification

If you are unsure why you have been offered a specific amount, then ask why. Don’t be scared to find out why you have been made an offer as the answer is likely to impact your decision. Remember, you can reject an offer based on salary, but an offer cannot be rescinded because you want to discuss the salary. It may be, as discussed in the previous point, that a company has other things to offer or that they are restricted by banding scales or budgets. It is likely that they will have considered their offer but will be open to negotiation. Lest we forget, businesses will look to secure a good deal for themselves too, and although they may have a maximum spend, they will look to stay within their budgets.

5 – Speak to a Recruitment Consultant 

One of the advantages of working with a Recruitment Consultant to find your next role is that they are able to offer advice based on their industry knowledge. They have an understanding of pay scales for certain roles and locations as well as being able to offer specific company insights. Perhaps more importantly, your consultant can support you to have a discussion about pay or have it on your behalf. When registering with Selective Recruitment an important part of our candidate interview process is discussing the expectations for your next role and speaking at length about salary and the factors that will make a job appeal to you.

Do you start your day looking at your to-do list and immediately become filled with dread? 

Do you get a sinking feeling in your tummy about all the tasks you need to complete?

Do you feel like your to-do list is never ending and you never seem to make any progress? 

Well you are not alone. It is very easy to feel suffocated by the endless day to day duties that divert our attention and demand our time. Here at Selective Recruitment we have come up with some helpful tips that will allow you to take back control of your schedule and feel confident and proud of the work you produce. 

The 4 Ds

One of the main problems with a to-do-list is that it can lack structure and as such seem overwhelming. The 4 D’s is a simple strategy that will help you focus on the tasks that matter most, and ensure you become more productive and efficient. The 4 D’s stand for ‘Do, Delay, Delegate, Delete’. By analysing your tasks and placing them into one of these four categories you can manage them more effectively and ensure that those featured on the ‘Do’ list are given the time, attention and commitment they deserve. You may also be surprised by how many tasks you can ‘delete’ or ‘delegate’ to others, thus freeing up your time to hone your focus. By applying this system, your to-do-list should become instantly less daunting and more manageable.

Time Management

Now that you have worked out which items on your to-do-list need to take priority, you should address how long each will take and when is the best time to complete them. By allocating a specific time period to an activity you will give structure to your day. Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that by setting a completion deadline one becomes more motivated and focused to deliver on time. That said, many of us work in jobs that require us to be responsive and as such it is important to allow for a degree of flexibility and not get stressed if you have to amend your workflow.  

Another key factor to think about when scheduling your tasks is when you are personally most productive. We all work differently; some of us are highly energetic first thing in the morning, whereas others need at least 3 cups of coffee before we can get the wheels in motion. When looking at your daily schedule think about aligning the more challenging or time-consuming tasks to when you feel most switched on and have the most energy. In so doing you will find that the challenging tasks don’t seem as formidable. A classic mistake many people make is putting things off to the end of a day when energy stores are low. This often results in extended hours in the office and tasks taking longer to complete. 

Break down big tasks

More often than not there are tasks on our to do lists that seem impossible. You may not know where to start or how you are ever going to reach the finish line. You end up procrastinating and put off starting due to sheer fear, and then you reach that point of no escape and it all comes tumbling down. Stop! Take a breath and pull back for a second. When presented with such a scenario you need to break it down; divide it up into smaller, more digestible and realistic activities that you can achieve. This is often referred to as ‘chunking down’ and will enable you to reframe your thinking; instead of being focused on the final outcome (which is the bit that seems impossible) you will be able to look at each component task as a stepping stone towards your final goal. Also, by taking this approach you will often find that a logical order presents itself and instead of feeling swamped you will feel in control. 

Ask for help

If you are struggling to complete one of the tasks on your to-do-list, then it may be beneficial to look to others for help. Do you have a work colleague or a manager who could give you a different perspective? Many people see asking for help as a sign of weakness or worry that they will be shunned. This is not the case; a supportive workplace should always allow for colleagues to work together and pull on resources. It is important to remember that we are all individuals and have distinct problem-solving abilities; depending on our personality type and experience we see things differently. So instead of letting that difficult task consume you, or not doing it for fear of getting it wrong, reach out to someone who may be able to support you in taking it forwards. The likelihood is that you will be able to return the favour at a later date and ‘two heads are always better than one’!

Think Creatively

Sometimes even simple tasks can cause no end of problems, but, as the well known saying goes “if at first you don’t succeed, then try and try again” However, what this doesn’t make clear is that if something isn’t working it may be time to take a different approach. When tasked with an assignment that doesn’t seem to be going to plan it may not be best to plough on regardless. The likelihood is that even if you complete it you will not be totally happy with the results. Instead, you may need to readdress your approach and think outside the box. Try grabbing a sheet of paper and brainstorming some ideas – it doesn’t matter if they seem far fetched, this will help get the creative juices flowing. By allowing yourself to find an innovative approach, it is likely that you will become more engaged in the task and produce better results. 

Acknowledge your accomplishments. 

In our day to day working lives it’s very easy to complete one task and move straight onto the next without taking a moment to stop and take stock of what you have done. Even the simple activity of ticking off, or crossing out, something you have completed will have a beneficial effect on your psyche and give you a moment to note your accomplishments. Equally, taking some time to evaluate the success of a task will allow you to think about areas for improvement and you can apply these moving forwards. It is even more important to celebrate ‘the win’ when you have finished a significant piece of work. Give yourself permission to feel proud of what you have achieved. After all, success at work is likely to be one of the driving forces behind why you do what you do. 

Is it time for you to re-evaluate your to-do-list? If you apply these techniques not only will you be able to become more effective in managing your workload, but you will be able to deliver ‘ta-da’ results that you can feel proud of. 

It may be that you’ve been in your job for some time, that you are currency between roles, or that you have recently entered the job market having secured your first position, whatever the case, a pivotal focus throughout your career should be Continued Professional Development (CPD). That is, developing your professional knowledge and skills through self- learning, specified interactive courses and/or formalised training. Many workplaces encourage and provide opportunities for CPD, but if you’re savvy you can tailor your CPD towards your own personal career goals. Through targeted learning you can carve out the path you want to take or rise up through the ranks at an accelerated pace.

But what’s that we hear you say, “I don’t need CPD, I am comfortable in my job and know what I am doing”. Granted, but with this mindset you won’t be moving anywhere fast! It’s a competitive market out there, so do you really want to stay where you are while your friends and colleagues surpass you? Is comfortable good enough when you could be aiming for ‘engaging’, ‘rewarding’ or, dare we say it, ‘fun’?

Perhaps you are looking at CPD all wrong; CPD shouldn’t be a chore, it is an opportunity for personal and professional growth and your chance to flourish in the workplace. Here at Selective Recruitment we see first-hand how candidates with strong CPD accreditations stand out from the crowd, so we implore you to consider its importance and if it’s worth taking some time to invest in your career development.

Benefits to CPD:
1 – Knowledge is power.
This may be a little cliché, but there is truth in this well-known phrase. By arming yourself with knowledge in a specific area you will undoubtedly not only become more proficient and increase delivery in your current role, but you will grow in confidence to be able to push yourself further. Furthermore, more knowledge makes us better at decision making and undoubtedly we become more equipped to make informed choices.

2 – It opens doors
CPD is a great way to help you attain the skills required for a promotion, or if you are looking for a new role, adding CPD accreditations to your CV is a must. Employers are always on the lookout for candidates that can bring something extra to their company, and those applicants who have clearly invested in their own personal development present as hardworking and motivated individuals.

3 – It allows you to move with the times
In these ever-changing times it’s important to stay up to date with current trends and not fall behind the curve. With technology constantly evolving and the climate of industry ever changing, keeping yourself informed will allow you to amend working practices to ensure that you are able to deliver a consistent and professional service.

4 – You can help to enhance your company
Employees who undertake CPD can contribute in a meaningful way to company growth and a strong reputation. Through continued learning you will be able to pitch yourself as an expert in your field and can also support the development of others within the workplace via the sharing of information.

5 – Personal satisfaction
CPD can stop things getting stale and will keep you engaged in improving your work. Although many of us struggle with time, learning is a valid investment and when you have a clear destination in mind, studying can be exciting and fulfilling. Through CPD you will become more accomplished and this in turn will boost your confidence.

There are many CPD opportunities available. It may be worth speaking with your employer about relevant training within the workplace. Or, you could allocate some time each week to keep up to speed with current affairs, set up some training or mentoring with a coworker, or identify an area in which you want to personally improve and track down an online course that works for you.