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Originally posted by texasgirl
I totally agree with the idea that if you don't like your job then find another one. I was working for one company for 4 1/2 years under a great boss until she quit. The next boss was an arrogant, potty mouth sort of fella who was very handsy around me. It didn't matter that I was well-respected, been promoted, had proven success with the company; he didn't listen to my ideas and spent every chance he could get to hug/touch/make crass comments. I started hating my job. I did some research for another job, kept my mouth shut and left when I had enough money saved to start my own business. I did NOT contact human resources and, therefore, did not burn any bridges when I left.
However, there are some things not worth staying for, even if I get a paycheck for doing my job.
As a Employee I expect to be trained in the position, I need to be given the tools in order to succeed.
It is not my personal responsibility to run your business, this is your job.
Would you inform your employees of financial crisis involving the business?
So you wish to remind employees that they are below you?
What you need to remember is that the profit you earn from your business comes directly off the backs of your employees.
Its the bosses job to create a safe, clean, and professional atmosphere.
Again its the boss or owners responsibilities to use standard operating procedures to clean up messes or other safety issues.
I wouldn't pit one employee against another when there should be set sop's.
A employee handbook would be a great way to tell your employees a dress code and basic grooming expectations.
I'm not saying all lawsuits or calls to the labor board are not warranted, but if you like most business owners cut corners with worker safety or if you allow sexual harassment then you deserve to be sued. To automatically think you are faultless because you own a business is not realistic.
The job market will decide if I stay with you or not.
Use corporate jobs to get the training and skills needed...
Originally posted by syrinx high priest
I was a headhunter for 5 years. I worked physicians, executives, middle managers. I placed people at GE, Cendant, Castrol NA, and many hospitals. the average all in comp package was worth around $200,000
the reality is depressing, but here goes.
getting the interview means "on paper" the employer feel you are qualified on a basic level for the job. the interview is to determine if you will fit in with the culture, are likeable and usually attractive on some level.
the reality is some decision makers are loking for some eye candy. some are looking for a non-threatening stooge to blame failures on, while others are looking for their replacement so they can be promoted. sometimes there is no job, and they are picking your brain because you work for a competitor.
so it's literally impossible to have a one size fits all advice package.
it's like any other human interaction tho, chemistry is key to success, and that is unpredictable, just like dating
I interviewed hundreds of candidates over my career, and there are some universal ways to maximize your chances on an interview
do your research ahead of time. go online and read the company mission statement, news clippings and "about us" page. don't just read it, think about it, read through the tea leaves and make a determination of what direction the company is headed. come up with 3 questions about the company and memorize them. there is NOTHING WORSE than an candidate that doesn't have interesting questions that show they did their homework. it signals the hiring manager you are lazy, arrogant and going throug the motions, like you took the interview to get your spouse off your back.
Find out the process. Is it 2-3 interviews or 1 ? are you the 2nd to interview or 10th ? are they weeks from making a decision or days ?
On a first interview, these questions better NOT be about money, benefits, hours, travel or what's in it for you. NO, the article you read that said showing your killer instinct sets you apart. it makes you look like you have no idea how the process works. of course, if it is a 1 interview process, ask these questions at the end
ALWAYS follow up from the interview with a communication saying thank you. manners matter. if it's a young computer culture, email is ok, but make it a formal letter style inside the -mail. otherwise, pop a hand written letter on that paper stuff in the mail that night so it gets there is a coupla days. please don't reiterate how great you are, that's for me to decide. just say thank you and list your contact info again so I can find it when I need it.
the only other time to send an e-mail is if the decision will be made in a few days
at the appropriate time, simply ask for the job. a salesmans job is to ask for the money, and a candidates job is to ask for the job. keep it simple, and hopefully as close to the end of the final interview as possible. make it something like, "I can really see myself here, and would love to hear something positive from you when you have made your decision"
NO, this will NOT hurt your negotiating leverage. any employer with experience is expecting haggling, even if you ask for the job.
last point on money. don't lie about your earnings, anyone with local experience knows how their competitors pay, and can find out on the downlow, or even ask for a W-2.
don't give the first number. ever watch pawn stars ? whoever gives the first number is at a disadvantage. rick always make sure to ask "what are you looking for ?" and then he low balls from there. if he gave the first number, than the seller highballs from his number, and he would do worse
if they ask about salary requrements, simply say, "you know what I'm making, I need to do better than that, but I'm really more interested in other long term aspects of this position, and I'd consider any competitive offer"
again, the real key is chemistry and knowing your auduence. look for clues everywhere. I always start with the cars in the parking lot. finally take your key from your interviewer. don't imitate them, but alter your presentation to mach their energey level and basic style
hope this helps
YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY!
Originally posted by TheRedneck
reply to post by mbkennel
Imperious "you don't deserve profits" attitudes result into "you don't deserve more than my mediocre effort".
If I have to cowtow to someone who thinks they deserve what I have worked for in order for them to do their job, sorry, but I will close the business before giving in to that kind of demand.
Imperious? You can call it that. I call it reasonable, just as reasonable as you would be if I showed up at your front door demanding you give me free room and board in your bedroom.
Every business I have built operated on one single core concept: I was the one who started it, I was the one who grew it, and I was the one responsible for it. That meant I made the final decisions. Period. End of paragraph. End of discussion. There is something I just cannot stand about anyone coming into a business I built and thinking they should make decisions. Call it a pet peeve; call it arrogance; call it peanut butter. It is what it is.
Originally posted by TheRedneck
The guy who spent 6-7 years in college, racking up student loans and eating mac-n-cheese every night to learn and become an engineer is simply worth a lot more in business than the guy who dropped out of school early and somehow managed to land a job sweeping the floor. The latter does not deserve to starve; I want everyone to have a good life. But he does not deserve a plush corner office, a six-figure salary, a company car, and a nice bonus package. The guy who sacrificed and worked hard to become better than he was does deserve that.
I would love to see the drop-out go back to school as well, get his degree, and land a nice cushy job. But who decides his position? He does.
That's fairness. You get what you are willing to work for. It's just not Politically Correct.
TheRedneck
Originally posted by ThisIsNotReality
Originally posted by TheRedneck
The guy who spent 6-7 years in college, racking up student loans and eating mac-n-cheese every night to learn and become an engineer is simply worth a lot more in business than the guy who dropped out of school early and somehow managed to land a job sweeping the floor. The latter does not deserve to starve; I want everyone to have a good life. But he does not deserve a plush corner office, a six-figure salary, a company car, and a nice bonus package. The guy who sacrificed and worked hard to become better than he was does deserve that.
I would love to see the drop-out go back to school as well, get his degree, and land a nice cushy job. But who decides his position? He does.
That's fairness. You get what you are willing to work for. It's just not Politically Correct.
TheRedneck
We'll have to agree to disagree here because I think I see things in a totally different light than you do.
Should you ever be interested in my (much more primitive) view on things, again, they are present in a bit more detail in the thread in my sig. To put it shortly; That nice engineering degree, as fancy as it may be, is NOT essential to this planet nor is it essential to the primary needs of 7 billion people. However, knowing how to produce food, grow cattle,... IS essential.
Now you tell me who gets the nicest pay and the easiest life? Yet who is the most essential? Of course, step by step the truly productive people are being replaced by automatization, a horrible thing if I may share my opinion, and thus an artificial saturation of the work-market is being completed. Those previously very productive people who contributed to what mankind really needs every single day, can now go find a job at walmart, because farming on a greater scale is more lucrative to some.
Someone who spent 6 years on an engineering degree obviously deserves what he gets, but in my opinion, so do people that truly contribute to mankind's needs. In real life, when I purpose things along these lines, I usually get all the expert-talk thrown at me indicating that this is not how real life works, how degrees are important and this and that, while in reality, it's all just lies covering up a really simple truth. In our most primitive form, we have needs that NEED to be fulfilled, to me those needs and the people providing them every day, are astronomically more important than someone who can program a new iphone app.
The whole system is based on exploitation and until that changes, and it will, the people who do not want to join said process of exploiting everything and everyone, are prevented from living a good and normal life. I don't need 5 cars, a big mansion and a million dollar bank account, I want to enjoy living a NATURAL life, and I don't want to enforce this on others, but the view of the majority IS being enforced on me. It's either join in, or live on the street.
So you believe that compensating employees in ways which correlate with the profitability of the business is "cowtowing" and you'd rather hurt yourself in that circumstance to spite those uppity employees?
And what is a "demand"?
Guess I gotta peg you as an INTJ at this point.
Originally posted by TheRedneckThat comparison was concerning skill sets. If you are a CNC Mill Programmer (a 52" $10,000 TV), and you are working in fast food (50" $500 TV), you are not going to be treated as anything more than a fast-food worker. With all due respect to those who work in fast food, that is not an exclusive skill set; there are a lot of people capable of doing your job.
I have to think some more about your reply but responding to this not everyone can be a fast food worker. For example people who have had these high status jobs get fired and have to pay the rent or whatever and are confronted by the prospect of flipping burgers, they'll have a hard time. They do it but become miserable individuals who can barely put on a fake smile.
Sure it's easy to be happy when having a high status job.
The same with other low status jobs