How to Get A Raise

Know Company Policies
Understand your company’s policy on sala-
ries and raises. You may have to be with the
company a specified length of time to get a
raise. Find out how long and act at the right
time. If you are getting the maximum salary
for your position, you may ask for a promo-
tion or a re-classification. Do everything you
can after studying the company policy book.

Know The Decision-Maker
You have to convince the person who has
the authority to give raises that you deserve
one. If that person is above your boss, pre-
pare to convince your boss and his superi-
ors that you deserve a raise.

Do You Deserve A Raise?
You must find out if you deserve a raise. Only after you are sure you deserve
one will others be sure you do. Rate yourself. Try to look at yourself through
your boss’s and your fellow workers’ eyes. Do they think you deserve a raise?

How To Justify A Raise?
Tell them about your accomplishments that helped the company. Show them
how much you saved the company through your actions. Get to know what
your skills are worth for another company in the same area. Present your com-
pany with that information. Present it to them in a very non-agressive manner.
tell the company what you will be able to do for them in the future. Tell them
how you will benefit the company with your new raise. tell them how your value

has increased since you have been with the company. Don’t mention anything about your
personal needs for the money.
Be Able To Handle Rejection
If you are rejected for a raise, be able to cope with it. Deal with the rejection before you
ask your boss for a raise so you will know how to handle the situation. Remember, expect
the best prepare for the worst.
Know What You Want
Before you speak to your boss know exactly how much more money you expect, both in
terms of dollars and percentage. If you know your boss will negotiate with you, ask for
more than you actually want. In this way you will get what you want or more.
When Should You Ask For A Raise?
Make an appointment with your boss. Don’t ask him for a raise as he is passing in the
hallway. Don’t ask to see your boss on busy Mondays or Fridays.
Be Prepared For Criticism
You may be criticized for not performing “up to par” now. Don’t let this criticism upset you,
let it help you. You can learn from this criticism by asking for more feedback from your
boss. Ask your boss how you can improve yourself. Ask him for suggestions. Always be
willing to negotiate with your boss. He may only give you a bonus instead of a raise. Take
it and ask for a raise later.
Handling Your Boss’s feedback
Get an immediate answer from your boss if he has the power to give you the raise. If he
can’t give the answer to you now, ask him when he can. If he tells you he can’t give you
a raise ask him why. Ask him what he would require from you before you got a raise, his
suggestions, what needs improvement, etc. Do what he tells you to do for a raise and,
when you have satisfied his needs, ask him again. If you plan to quit if you don’t get a
raise, don’t threaten your boss. You want your boss’s good reference later if and when
you do quit.

How to Deal With Useless Criticism

Some criticism you get is in poor taste. We
must know how to deal with criticism such as:
“You look terrible today” or, “You left this in my
way, you idiot.” Make sure this kind of criticism
useless, follow these steps.

Agree With The Facts

Agree with the facts the other person presents.
For example, in response to “You look terrible
today,” say, “I haven’t been feeling too well
lately”; in response to “You left this in my way
you idiot,” say, “Yes, I did leave it in your way.”
Answer only what was actually said, not what
was implied.

How To Answer

Stay calm and collected during the whole conservation. Don’t lose your temper.
The only way a person will make you feel degraded is if you degrade yourself.
You don’t want to waste your time which this type of person, so don’t defend your-
self or attack him.

If You Made A Mistake

If you made a mistake, accept that fact. Don’t accept the quilt for the mistake. If
you were in error, then apologize. If you apologize, don’t make a big thing out of
it. Don’t tell them how dreadfully sorry you are, etc. Just give them a plain “I’m
sorry.”

How to Deal With Important Criticsm

When you get important criticism, you want
to know how to get the best out of it. Use-
ful criticism is one of the best ways to make
yourself into a better person. Follow these
steps to get the most out of useful criticism.

Ask For Feedback

Find out exactly what others object to about
you. If someone tells you “You are bad,”
that’s not good enough. Find out exactly
why that person thinks that way. Be very
persisent--find out why the other person
feels the way he does. Vague criticism is
worthless to you.

Guess At Reason
If a person refuses to give you reasons for criticizing you, keep guessing at
your faults until you get the right one. This may be the only way to find out
what displeases the other person.

Don’t Be Defensive
If you act defensively, you may not be able to benefit from useful criticism.
Don’t be sarcastic or intimidate the other person. You want to learn how to
become a better person from the criticism.
Ask the person how you can change your objectionable behavior; be open to
reasonable suggestions.

Great Words To Describe Your Skills

Use these verbs and adjectives and really sell yourself. You only have a few
minutes to show how good you really are. By using this precise vocabulary
and being confident can help you make the best impression possible.

accurate
active
adaptable
adept
broad-minded
competent
conscientious
creative
dependable
determined
diplomatic
discreet
efficient
energetic
enterprising
enthusiastic
experienced
fair
firm
genuine
honest
innovative
logical
loyal
mature
methodical
motivated
objective
outgoing
personable
pleasant
positive
practical
productive
reliable
resourceful
self disciplined
sense of humor
sensitive sincere
successful
tactful
trustworthy

GENERAL INTERVIEWING TIPS

The job interview is usually the most
anxiety-producing aspect of the job
search process. No two interviews are
alike. They vary in style and format de-
pending upon the interviewer and the ap-
plicant. The content, however, typically
centers on two issues: what you can of-
fer the employer and what the employer
can offer you. Careful preparation will
enable you to be more confident and to
present yourself as an attractive poten-
tial employee. You should remember that
successful interviewing takes practice,
patience, feedback, and good humor.

Research the employer: Only request interviews with employers in which you
have a genuine interest. Review all available information on the employer and
formulate intelligent questions to ask during the interview. Demonstrate that
you’ve done your homework and you’ll make a strong impression. The Internet is
a great research tool as many employers have their own Web sites.

Review your resume:Be prepared to discuss anything included on your re-
sume, such as schools attended, courses taken, experiences, activities, and
interests. Bring extra copies of your resume, transcript, references, and writing
sample in case the interviewer asks for these.

Dress professionally:Arrive 5-10 minutes in advance of your interview. Take a
few minutes to freshen up, compose yourself, and gather your thoughts.

Be conscious of body language: Begin the interview with a solid handshake.
Sit tall with your shoulders back, not stiff, and head erect. Sitting up properly
makes you appear visually strong and interested in what’s going on. Avoid
intimidating gestures such as stabbing with a finger or winking. Maintain
eye contact and don’t take notes during the interview. Also, don’t forget to
smile.

Speak clearly:Enunciating and putting forth the best possible image is
important. Avoid fillers such as “um” and “you know.” Use your voice effec-
tively and positively. Answer questions with confidence and clarity. Make a
conscious effort to slow down your speaking tempo. Speak in declarative
sentences and be as direct as possible.

Listen to the questions:Answer questions directly and take time to think
before answering, but do not digress or talk too long. If an interviewer asks
a vague question, do not struggle and make a lame attempt to provide an
answer. Rather, ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify the question. If it still
isn’t clear, don’t be afraid to say you don’t understand what is being asked.

Ask intelligent, pertinent questions: Always have questions prepared.
These should relate to the employer, the interviewer, and the position for
which you are applying. You can avoid painful silences by being prepared
with questions and having done your research on the employer.

Remember that it is not generally a good idea to ask about salary or ben-
efits during an initial interview.

Be prepared to talk about grades: Discuss them honestly and realistically.
Highlight qualities that may not be reflected in your GPA. Mention specific
accomplishments that demonstrate your skills. If appropriate, talk about
circumstances that might have contributed to a lower grade point in a given
semester.

Be yourself: Personality is important. Relax and try to convey confi-
dence, sincerity, and maturity. Inject any relevant information about yourself
that has not been covered, but which you feel is important to mention. If
a potential employer has agreed to interview you, you have already im-
pressed that employer with your credentials. You must then establish a
personal rapport with the interviewer. Show some life and enthusiasm.

QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED

You may want to prepare for job interviews by reviewing the following
typical interview questions and formulating concise, intelligent, yet unre-
hearsed, answers. You should always answer an interviewer’s question
with more than a simple “yes” or “no.” You might want to offer concrete
examples to support your points. Every interview question gives you the
opportunity to present additional information that you want the interviewer
to have. In this way, you can focus on your greatest strengths.

•What are your short- and long-term goals?

•What are your strengths and weaknesses?

•What motivates you?

•What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?

•What courses did you like best and least? Why?

•Are your grades a good indication of your academic achievement?

•Who else are you interviewing with?

•Why are you interviewing with us?

•What can I tell you about our organization?

•How can you contribute to our organization?

•What two or three things are most important to you in a job?

•What have you learned from your work experiences?

•Describe the ideal job for you.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER

Solid preparation for any interview also dictates that you formulate some
questions for the interviewer. You should ask these with honesty and sin-
cerity and show real interest in hearing the answers.

General Questions

•Why did you choose the type of work that you do?

•What is the growth plans for the firm, company or agency?

•How and when are the hiring decisions made?

•When can I expect to hear back from you?

•What do you see as the benefits/drawbacks of working at a firm your size?

•What type of client base does the firm have? Does it rely heavily on one client?

•How would you describe the firm culture?

•How are promotions made? What will a typical career pattern look like?

•How common are transfers?

•What type of evaluation process do you have?

•If I accept the offer, will I have a voice in choosing the kind of work I do?

DISCRIMINATORY QUESTIONS

The single most important guideline for lawful interviewing is for interviewers
to focus on job - related questions that can be asked of all applicants. Inter-
viewers should take steps to avoid any questions that would be asked of only
one group of applicants.

Generally, employers are not trying to be discriminatory; sometimes they ask
inappropriate questions out of ignorance or to promote conversation. If you
are having a good interview and are asked an inappropriate question, answer
it only if you feel comfortable. You should never, however, feel pressured to
answer an illegal question. If you feel an employer is deliberately asking dis-
criminatory questions, you have every right to confront him or her about it. Al-
ways try to understand the interviewer’s motivation. If you choose to respond
to an offensive question, answer positively and focus on your professionalism
and job ability. Your demeanor and handling of an offensive question could
work in your favor and let the employer know why you are such a good candi-
date.

Ergonomics: Standing On The Job

If you are a store cashier, assembly-line worker or road construction signaler,
there is a good chance you stand for long periods on the same spot. Of course,
many other occupations require workers to work from a standing position with
little opportunity to walk or move about.

Most people have experienced the feelings of fatigue associated with stand-
ing to wait in long lines. Constant standing is tiring for the body. For workers
who do this on a daily basis, problems such as aching feet, swollen ankles and
calves, varicose veins, leg, hip and/or low-back pain are often reported.

What can be done to reduce fatigue and improve comfort for workers who
stand on the job?

Our bodies are designed to work most efficiently and comfortably when we are
able to change position on a regular basis. This can mean moving our whole
body or large parts of it as when we walk, bend, and use our arms. To improve
circulation in the lower part of the body, tiny movements within the leg muscles
are also important. These aims can be achieved in the following ways.

1. Determine whether it is feasible to provide a sit-stand arrangement at the
workstation. Depending upon how and where the hands are used within the
workstation, and upon other movement requirements, it may be possible
to add a chair to allow the worker to alternate between sitting and standing
throughout the workday or night. A mix of sitting and standing is less fatiguing
for the body than full-time sitting, or standing.
2. Install a foot bar under the workstation to allow the person to rest a foot on
it, thereby varying his/her low back posture over the course of time. Ideally,
the bar would be easily adjustable to accommodate people of different height
- three positions at 8”, 10” and 12” above the standing surface would suffice.
3. Provide anti-fatigue matting for workers to stand on. Standing on concrete or
other hard flooring is tiring. However, with the correct thickness of matting (e.g.
half an inch), the leg muscles work lightly and imperceptibly to maintain balance,
thereby improving circulation in the lower extremities. If you plan to purchase this
specialized type of matting, consider the following points:
. Thickness: Thicker matting is not necessarily better - too much need for balanc-
ing will add to fatigue.
. Replacement: The cushioning effects diminish over time, meaning that the
matting must be replaced on a regular basis. The frequency of replacement will
depend on many factors including mat quality, type and how heavily it is used.
Workers can provide feedback about when it’s time to replace the matting.
. Other workplace factors: Consider other constraints and conditions that may
also have to be satisfied, such as: < hygiene requirements (e.g. in food process-
ing locations) < cleaning requirements - does debris fall to the floor? < is it a wet
or dry environment? Are chemicals used that may damage the matting? Is slip-
ping a safety concern? < do carts or other wheeled equipment have to be ma-
neuvered over the area?
. Cost: Prices vary widely by type and supplier. Note that everyday door or en-
trance rubber mats are much less expensive, but will not provide the anti-fatigue
benefits afforded by specially designed matting.
4. Ensure that there is toe clearance at the base of the workstation wherever
people will have to stand. This allows the person to stand close to the counter
or workstation, thereby reducing the potential for leaning forward while working.
Provide at least 4” of clearance both vertically and forward to accommodate large
feet.
5. Avoid use of foot pedals. Provide hand-activated switches, or devices that are
actuated by some other means. If foot pedal operations are required, ensure the
pedal is low-profile such that the worker’s heel maintains contact with the floor
while activating the pedal. Also, provide a pedal that allows operation by either
foot. A wide pedal, or one that can be moved in front of either foot, will afford this
opportunity.
6. Consider implementing work rotations so that periods of standing are short-
ened and are shared by more than one worker. Note that if you choose to rotate
workers, periods of standing must be broken by periods of sitting or other task
requiring movement. Simply rotating through several standing workstations will
not provide the physical benefit you’re hoping to achieve.
7. Enlarge a job by adding other necessary work tasks, such as workstation
clean-up, planning, or other administrative work that provides a change in
body position.
8. Individual workers can do a couple of things to improve their comfort if
prolonged standing is part of the job. Do “toe raises” (rise up onto the balls
of the feet, then place heels back down; repeat) to increase circulation to the
lower legs. Take advantage of any pauses in work to do some mild stretching,
to squat or bend to change body position. If anti-fatigue matting is not avail-
able, workers can try wearing cushioning shoe inserts (ideally in comfortable
shoes). Note that you may need a half size larger shoe to accommodate a
shoe insert.

Dressing ForThe Interview

Many employers are relatively conservative,
but there are exceptions. In any case, each
employer treats the interview process very
seriously. Keep this in mind when thinking
about what to wear for your initial interview
or subsequent callback interview. You only
get one chance to make a first impression,
so give careful thought to your appearance.

The best way to dress for the first meet-
ing is clean-cut and professional. In other
words, dress “like an attorney.” It is better
to be over-dressed, rather than too casual.
Remember that your appearance makes a
statement. If you look neat and professional,
you project an impression that you take
pride in yourself and your work. Appearance

has little to do with the brand labels of your clothes or good looks.

Rather, some-one with a nice appearance looks neat, self-confident, and professional.It is safer to err on the side of conservative dress. For women, this generally
means a suit or other similarly professional attire. Depending on the nature of the
employer, you may also choose to wear a dress or pants. For men, conservative
dress generally means a navy, gray, or other dark-colored suit, coordinated shirt,
and a tie. Here are some additional tips:

• You can never go wrong with conservative colors such as gray, navy, taupe, and
black. Coordinate colors and patterns. Women can accessorize a conservative
suit with a nice scarf or pin.

• Some fabrics are more appropriate for interviews than others. Try natural fiber

blends of wool, silk, or cotton over polyester or linen, which wrinkle easily. Your clothes
should be fresh, neat, and pressed.

• Your hair should also be neat and combed, and your fingernails should be clean and
trimmed. Check your appearance in a mirror before entering the interview.

• Keep jewelry to a minimum.

• Avoid too much cologne or perfume.

• Get a good night’s sleep the night before the interview.

• Shine your shoes.

• Don’t smoke, drink liquor, or eat foods that will leave an odor on your breath before an
interview. If you have bad breath, eat a breath mint, but don’t chew gum!

• Pack an extra pair of hose or an extra tie. Carry your luggage on the plane. Accidents
can happen!

OTHER FACTORS

An equally important part of your professional appearance is the way you carry your-
self, the gestures you use, and your body language. You should be self-confident and
comfortable with the way you look. So, choose styles, colors, fabrics, and patterns that
make you look good. The better you feel about yourself, the better you will come across
in an interview. Also, arrive 5-10 minutes in advance of your interview. Take a few min-
utes to freshen up, compose yourself, and gather your thoughts.
Greet your interviewer(s) by introducing yourself with a firm handshake. Sit tall with
your shoulders back, not stiff, and head erect. Sitting up properly makes you appear
visually strong and interested in what’s going on. Avoid intimidating gestures such as
stabbing with a finger or winking. Maintain eye contact and don’t take notes during the
interview. Be sure to smile.

RECEPTIONS, COCKTAIL PARTIES AND DINNERS

Some employers will invite you to a reception, party or dinner as a part of the interview.
Consider the event an extension of your interview even though it may take place in a
relaxed setting. Wear attire appropriate to the setting and time of day. For example, if a
firm is having a dinner that night at a nice restaurant, chances are it will be more formal.
If they are having appetizers and margaritas at a more casual location, then chances
are you will not be expected to wear business attire. Often, employers state that an
event is “business casual.” For men, this generally means khaki pants and a button-
down or short-sleeved shirt with a collar. For women, this means a casual pantsuit or
modest sundress or skirt.