6 Unconventional Tips That Can Help You Land Your Dream Job

6 Unconventional Tips That Can Help You Land Your Dream Job6 Unconventional Tips That Can Help You Land Your Dream JobSecuring your dream job may require going the extra mile, but career satisfaction is worth the effort Out-of-the-ordinary ideas can provide the edge needed to further your aspirations.Here are six unconventional tips to assist with turning your dream job into reality1. Get out there.Put yourself in situations with high potential for meeting prospective employers in your area of interest. Go to all the openings at the art gallery at which youd love to work. Attend that major tech conference. Volunteer at that prized companys charity golf outing. Youll likely find such actions energizing, and who knows where the connections and information gained may lead?2. Offer your services.Regular paid employment may be your ultimate goal, but that doesnt mean you cant utilize your skills in other ways in the meantime. Take on a freelance gig. Design your condo associations website just for the experience. Think of yourself as a consultant- someone who provides professional advice and services- who may or may not receive financial compensation at a given time.3. Take a foot-in-the-door position.Working part-time at a company you really admire, taking a role in a department different from your ultimate desire, or even interning (no, youre not too old) enables you to show anemployer your dedication and productivity. Think of it as a chance to meet people, learn about opportunities, and prove yourself.4. Go back to school.Furthering your education demonstrates seriousness. Plus, keeping current and adding skills impresses hiring managers. But beyond beefing up a resume, the setting itself may prove beneficial. Professors and fellow students can be great sources of information and motivation. And dont forget to stop in the colleges career center5. Announce your dream.Does anyone besides you know the type of job youd really love to hold? People sometimes keep such thoughts private for fear of being laughed at or judged. But how can others help you achieve what you desire if they dont have a clue? Inform your friends, family, and network connections. Discuss your dream job on social media. Prepare a strong elevator pitch for encounters with strangers. You might be surprised at their willingness to play a part in your success.6. Take a chance.Finally, when progress through networking and other means is slow, a blind application might be worth a shot. Positions often go unadvertised, and your material may fall into the right hands at an appropriate time.Display your passion for the company and the role you want to take on. Aspire to be noticeable without coming off as neurotic or needy. Instead of stunts, try creative ways of presenting yourself. Writing an engaging story about your talents or filming a short video that brings your enthusiasm to life may spark interest in setting up an interview to get to know you betterStart Searching for Your Dream Job

3 Things Your Boss is Worried About During Your First Week

3 Things Your Boss is Worried About During Your First Week3 Things Your Boss is Worried About During Your First WeekThe first day of a new job is nerve-wracking.Especially for your anfhrer.It may be natural to focus solely on yourself during the first few weeks of a new job (Am I going to get along with my new team? Will I be overwhelmed with my new workload? Will I be able to learn everything I need to know?), but the truth is, your anfhrer has some worries of his or her own during your first few weeks on the job. Hiring you- as it is with hiring anyone- is a risk. Are you going to live up to expectations? Be as good of a fit as you seemed during your two short, 30-minute interviews? Until he or she knows your communication style, working preferences, and personality- and, above all that, is able to trust you- he or she is going to be a little wary.But expecting those common worries makes it easier for you to make it crystal clear to your boss that you are meeting expectations, doin g what youre supposed to be doing, and proceeding at the right pace. To help put your boss mind at ease, here are a few of the things your manager is worrying about during your first few weeks, and what you can do to put those concerns to rest. Worry 1 Are You Fitting in With the Team?Managers want teams that gel. They want a group of employees who work well together, who ask each other questions, and who give each other help when needed. And the one thing that can ruin that is a team member who doesnt fit- who doesnt get along with the rest of the group or, worse, who doesnt care about forming relationships and is only there for the paycheck. So, during your first few weeks on the job, your manager is going to be wondering if youre a good fit for the team- if youre getting along with the rest of the department staff, if youre making an effort to get to know your team members, and if youre actively forming relationships that will foster collaboration. Preempt That WorryTheres no nee d to announce to your boss, Look at me, Im really connecting with the team Just do it. Reach out to your team, ask them questions, make time to grab coffee or lunch with them, and offer your help where you can. You see, as you connect with your department, word will get around to your boss. Your new teammates will be the ones telling your boss that youre a great addition to the team, that youve been so helpful already, and that everyone thinks you were a good choice. And thats going to be a powerful testament to your boss. Worry 2 Are You Catching On?Your boss knows youre competent- at least, according to your resume and the brief time he or she spent with you during the interview process. But now that youre officially a part of the team, he or she is wondering if youre responding well to the training youre receiving and catching on to your daily responsibilities. Are you picking up the work quickly, or are you struggling to grasp the basic concepts? Are you already taking initiativ e to tackle your new tasks on your own, or are you holding back and continually waiting for someone to walk you through, step by step? Your manager is wondering whether he or she needs to provide you with extra training and attention- but even more so, he or she wants confirmation that you were the right choice.Preempt That WorryYou dont want your boss to doubt for a second that he or she made the right selection when picking you for this role. So, be upfront if you dont understand something or need a little extra training. Your manager will appreciate that you gave him or her the chance to connect you with more training- rather than hoping that no one notices you struggling. But you want to show your strengths, too. So, ask for lots of feedback during your first few weeks on the job. Schedule a recurring meeting with your manager to go over some of your recent work. Youll have the opportunity to show that youre grasping your new assignments, youre exceeding expectations- and you we re the absolute best choice for this role.Worry 3 Do You Have the Right Amount of Work?Managers want their new employees to feel challenged and to have enough work to fill their days- but not enough to scare them away or make them think theyll need to put in 15-hour days to stay on top of it all. But your boss doesnt yet know how you work, how to tell if youre stressed, or how to recognize that youre bored. Often, new employees smile and nod no matter how much work is on their plates, wanting to appear agreeable and hardworking. But underneath that, they can easily be completely bored or absolutely overwhelmed. Knowing this, your manager is going to wonder if you truly have the right balance of work. He or she is constantly thinking about whether you have too much or too little. Preempt That WorryKeep the lines of communication open with your manager. If youre overwhelmed, ask your boss to help you clarify your priorities. Without explicitly saying, Help Im overwhelmed youll convey that you have a lot on your plate- and need to know what should get done first. If youre feeling a little bored, dont be afraid to pop in your boss office and ask if theres something else you can help with. He or she will appreciate that youre taking initiative, rather than staring blankly at your computer screen for half the day. Either way, its important to keep your boss in the loop about what youre working on and how youre feeling workload-wise. Your manager doesnt always know every task thats on your plate, so by keeping him or her in the know, youll be able to confirm that youre working on the right tasks that are going to put you on the road to success.Photo of boss courtesy of Shutterstock.

2016 Salary Trends in Finance

2016 Salary Trends in Finance2016 Salary Trends in Finance2016 Salary Trends in Finance ConlanHow are 2016 salary trends likely to impact jobs in the finance industry?Most employees in the financial sector will see a salary increase in 2016, with middle managers expected to experience the most significant bump in pay, experts say. Finance executives and lower-level workers in the financial industry are projected to see salary growth in the coming year as well, though at a slightly slower rate.There are several economic factors that have been increasing demand for financial skills that could continue to drive salary growth in the industry through 2016.Improved Economy for Finance JobsAs with many industries, the stronger economy has helped the finance industry see some gains, says Mariam Lamech, manager of research at the Association For Financial Professionals. Salary and hiring freezes left over from the recession have been melting, and organizations have been making up for lost tim e with salary increases.In particular, this has meant good news for the middle management tier of finance employees, says Lamech, which according to AFP research saw an average salary increase of 4.6% in the past year, compared with 3.5% for executives and 3.4% for staff positions.The Irvine, California-based Economic Research Institute is projecting similar numbers, although it expects a slowing of salary increases for lower positions in finance (2.7% in 2016, down from 3% in 2015). It also projects growth for middle positions (3% in 2016, up from 2.6% in 2015) and executive salaries (3.5% in 2016, up from 3.1% in 2015.)The unemployment rate for positions such as accountants is about half of the national unemployment rate, so financial professionals are in high demand, says Dallas-based compensation consultant Dindy Robinson. Top performers in particular may see salary increases of up to 10%.Advanced Degrees Pushing Up SalariesLamech says employees advanced degrees are pushing up s alaries as well. Those with MBAs and higher degrees are earning mora than $9,000 more than those who just have bachelors degrees or high school educations, she says. Education is playing a big role.Professional certifications come into play as well on the treasurer/finance side as more people get their CPAs and CPCs. In the middle level and lower level, those who have certifications will benefit from a higher salary, Lamech says.The Growth of Specialty NichesLamech says compensation for finance positions varies considerably by industry, a trend that is expected to continue through next year. In the past three years, energy and utilities have commanded the highest average salaryand technology job salariescame in second.The average financial salary in the energy sector is $120,000 a year, Lamech says it was $116,000 in tech. Continued growth in these industries could keep trends high.The push for a higher 2016 minimum wage isnt affecting financial salaries directly, says Jonas Johnson , senior researcher at ERI. However, a higher minimum wage does have an indirect effect on how all salaries are calculated, he says.If the lower end ratchets up, a lower level job might suddenly make more than the one above it, and so the salary increases up the scale, he says. People who platzdeckchen compensation need to keep an eye on so-called wage compression as a higher minimum wage pushes up from the bottom.A higher minimum wage would have the biggest effect on the lower two levels at an organization, he says. Once you get into higher levels, the effects fall off.