Majority of job seekers dont negotiate for a higher salary

Majority of job seekers dont negotiate for a higher salaryMajority of job seekers dont negotiate for a higher salaryThere are many waysa salary negotiation can go wrong, but it turns out some people arent even engaging in the discussion when they get picked for a job.New research from specialized staffing firm Robert Half found that a whopping 61% of people didnt ask for a bigger paycheck when they scored their last job offer, meaning that just 39% actually did.An independent research firmsurveyed more than 2,700 employees in 27 U.S. cities. Here are some of the results that stood out.Younger employees most likely to speak upA mere 30% of employees age 55 and olderlobbied for a larger salary when they received their last job offer, compared to 40% of those ages 35-54 did so, and 45% ages 18-34. In terms of gender, 46% of men and 34%of women said they have addressed salary when getting a job offer.Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half, drew on the concept that laws i n different areas dont allow employers to ask applicants about their past salaries (so this doesnt come up at the beginning of hiring, and pay is now decided in other ways), as mentioned in the press release. McDonaldcommentedon why past salary history shouldnt play into the decisionStarting salary should be a factor of the job skills required and current market demand for those skills. Thats why its more important than ever for both parties to research market conditions thoroughly to pave the way for realistic, productive discussions.People in Indianapolis were least likely to ask for a higher salaryThe research team found that Indianapolis had the least amount of people (24%) who reported negotiating for a bigger salary when they got their last offer for a position. Minneapolis (26%), Raleigh (29%), Denver (also 29%) and St. Louis (31%) rounded out the bottom five.So, where were people the most aggressive about their pay? In New York, for starters, where 55% of people reported neg otiating for more when an offer welches last on the table. Dallas (51%), San Francisco (50%), Pittsburgh (48%), Los Angeles (45%) and Washington, D.C. (also 45%) werent far behind.Want to be better at salary negotiation during your next hiring process, or better at asking for a raise? There are a few strategies you can use.Consider this Take a page out of researchers book and name an exact number (not a round one), make sure you know how much money others are taking homein your industry and make sure youre well-versed in what you have to offerthe employer.

5 non-traditional productivity tips for your busiest work weeks

5 non-traditional productivity tips for your busiest work weeks5 non-traditional productivity tips for your busiest work weeksBeing productive is crucial every day - but especially on your busiest weeks. You need to perform at your best to hit deadlines, but distractions and time-consuming tasks can keep you from doing that. Luckily, you canavoid those productivity blockers with these simple, non-traditional tips that help you boost productivity during your busiest weeks.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreMake a traffic light signIn a2018 Udemy Workplace Distraction Report, 54% of employees say that distraction causes them to underperform, and 50% say theyre significantly less productive. To reduce these distractions, make a traffic light sign for your desk. This may sound strange but can be critical if youre working in a busy sekretariat space. Heres how it worksGreen means peopl e can talk to youYellow means youd rather not be bothered, but can be if neededRed means, do not talk to me, come back later or send an emailBuy a sign, likethis one on Amazon, and then use a sticky arrow to point to your current status.Rethink your mealsWhat do you do when you dont have time to cook? Order out. If your home looks like a repository for Chinese takeout at the end of busy weeks, this productivity tip is for you. Eating unhealthy food makes you tired and irritable while decreasing mental effectiveness, reducing energy levels, and affecting your ability to think clearly - all of which reduce your productivity levels, according toHealthLine.Instead of spending money on unhealthy takeout that will slow you down all day long, plan ahead to get healthy food thats easy to grab and go. Here are two simple ways to do that.Order pre-made mealsUse a meal-delivery service to get healthy meals delivered to your door. The cost varies, depending on how many meals you want, so check out thisbrand comparison guidefrom MoneyUnder30.Make more than you needIf you dont want to spend extra money, plan ahead when you cook. If you have a busy week coming up, spend Sunday prepping salad stuff for lunch and cook a big soup or chili to have for dinner. Youll have everything you need to get a healthy meal without spending the extra cash.Get your clothes cleaned for youOn your busiest weeks, laundry is just one more chore that either keeps you from doing work or worse, relaxing at home, before another long day in the office. Instead of keeping this chore on your list, use a same-day wash and fold service, just for the week.In8 Reasons to Use Wash and Fold, cleaning experts explain that fruchtwein same-day services now email or text when your items or ready. Whats more, you can drop them off on your way to work and pick them up on the way home. Bonus use this time to finally give your comforter a good cleaning, without the hassle of getting it into your small washer at home .If youre looking to price this out, call the top three dry cleaners in your area and ask for a quote, which will vary depending on how many items you have. Price and features (like getting an email notification) will vary from one location to the next, so do your due diligence to find the most affordable and convenient option. Remember, this should take work off your shoulders, not add to your already heavy load.Download an app to limit phone timeIn the same Udemy report, 36% of millennials and Gen Z employees said they spend two or more hours each work day looking at their phone for personal purposes. We all know - you reach for your phone as web page is loading or if youre bored with a project. While short brain breaks are helpful, your phone could be slowing you down on your busiest weeks, when you need to be at the top of your game.Dont let your phone hinder your productivity. Instead, download an app that limits your access to certain apps. behauptung apps allow you to limit use of certain apps to a specific time of the day or a specific amount of time each day. For example, keep Instagram locked from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., when youre most productive at work.Here are a few apps to check outAppDetox(Android)Flipd(Android and Apple)Forest(Android and Apple)Another option is to simply turn off your phone during work hours, which 43% of employees in the Udemy survey said they do as a way to stay productive.Wear headphones (even without music)Interruptions could be wreaking havoc on your productivity, according to Gloria Mark, study author and professor at University of California. She tellsFast Company, Its generally counterproductive if youre working on one task and youre interrupted on a completely different topic. People have to shift their cognitive resources, or attentional resources, to a completely different topic.The time this costs you can add up quickly. Mark continues, We found about 82% of all interrupted work is resumed on the same day. But heres t he bad news - it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the task.One way to reduce interruptions is to keep people from talking to you. Wearing headphones is sign that youre busy. If you cant work with music, however, wear your headphones anyway. Not only will this help block out the noise of the office - which will help you avoid the distraction of co-workers talking or taking walking meetings - but youll also have fewer people interrupting you. In the end, youll save a lot of time, and stay productive, without much effort.Get productive, stay productiveGet the most from your busiest weeks with these simple yet non-traditional tips for being more productive. Youll block out distractions and get rid of tasks that are time-consuming, allowing you to perform at the highest level when your best is needed most.This article originally appeared on SmartBrief.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social c lass in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Make Big Career Decisions With No Regret - The Muse

How to Make Big Career Decisions With No Regret - The MuseHow to Make Big Career Decisions With No Regret What makes big decisions so hard? As a decision coach, I see many people struggle with tough choices, because they really, really want to have no regrets. While Ive never met anyone who felt they got it right 100% of the time, going back to the basics can help you get clear on what you want and feel better about moving forward. Here are five simple strategies Ive learned for lessening the odds that youll look back and wish you did it differently. 1. Youve Got to Collect All the InformationThe first step is research. If you make a decision without the proper information- like joining a company without learning what the culture is really like- youre setting yourself up for disappointment later on when you learn something that wouldve made a difference. Putting the time in on the front end means fewer chances for regret down the line. You dont want to be thinking, If only Id checked out the website more closely or I shouldve asked that in my interview You want to be thinking, I did my research and made the best decision I could.2. Youve Got to Chill OutMaking a choice is stressful by nature, but doing it from a place of calm consideration lowers your chance of making the wrong one. Thats because the calmer you are, the less likely you are to make a hasty, emotional decision.Try to get into a relaxed state of mind, remove any stressors- including people- from the room, and think through your decision with a clear head and an open mind. Dont rush, dont freak out instead, take deep breaths and think about the facts. If youre leid in the right state, ask yourself if you have to weigh your options right then, or if you can wait until a better time (i.e., sleeping on it usually helps).3. Youve Got to Know All the OptionsA client recently asked me to help her think through a big, cross-country move. Her husband had a job offer with a higher salary in the new location and while they loved where they were, they were struggling financially in an expensive city. I pointed out that her options werent simply to take the job or to stay and continue to barely make ends meet. There were other ways she could change her situation her husband could ask for a raise, she could look for part-time work, or they could downsize their house. Dont leave any option unexplored, no matter how unlikely it seems You want to know the full range of choices and not limit yourself to two.4. Youve Got to Keep a ListInstead of just going through the pros and cons in your head, write them out in list form. Its not just a matter of clarifying important points and picking a side. Keeping the list will help you minimize regret, because if you start to second-guess yourself later on, youll have evidence for why you made the decision you did. Sometimes, a simple reminder that your choice was based on concrete factors and the best information you had at the time- and wasnt just mad e on a whim- can help re-configure your thinking so you feel better about the path you took.5. Youve Got to Keep Things in PerspectiveThis is important both during decision-making and afterwards. We often get so caught up in finding the best option that it consumes us. Reminding yourself that things are going to be OK no matter which choice you make- which is true most of the time- puts you in the right mindset for a regret-free decision. Youre not perfect- and thats OK, no one is. Sometimes, we choose badly, or circumstances beyond our control mean that a decision we made wasnt the right one. Regret is usually unproductive and pointless, and although that doesnt help when you feel like you made a huge mistake, the less time you spend dwelling on what could have been, the better. If all else fails, try to channel that regret into something useful. Making a poor decision prepares you for better decision making in the future. Analyze what went wrong, refine your process, and move forw ard.Photo of person reflecting courtesy of alvarez/Getty Images.