How to Make Sure Your Boss Knows How Hard You Work -The Muse

How to Make Sure Yur Boss Knows How Hard You Work -The MuseHow to Make Sure Your Boss Knows How Hard You Work Signed a huge client? Check. Trained six new employees? Check. Hit your monthly schlussverkauf quota in a week? Done and done.You might have a list of career accomplishments a mile long. But if youre the only one with access to that list- and no one else understands the extent of your contributions or the impact theyre having on the organization- youll be standing behind the door when the raises are handed out.Thats because when organizations assess talent and make decisions about raises, promotions, and plum projects, the people making the decisions are going through a mental highlight reel of your career- and what counts isnt necessarily what youve done its what they know about what youve done.So if youre watching otzu sichs get the promotions, assignments, or recognition you believe you deserve, it might be because youre not making your accomplishments known. To make koran vers your manager and the rest of the organization is well aware of your contributions, here are five tips for getting credit for your work.1. Keep Your Manager InformedMany of the clients I coach rarely speak with their managers. Sometimes, that avoidance stems from a strained employee-boss relationship others, because full calendars dont allow for easily coordinated conversations.No matter your reason, this is a major career oversight. You cant assume your manager knows what youre doing, the great progress youve made, or the obstacles youve overcome unless you make it your mission to provide that information.But if you wait until your annual review, most of your accomplishments will be old news. And, youll be competing to stand out among all the other reviews that are being conducted- and the co-workers who are pushing their own accomplishments.Your Go-To StrategyGet on your managers calendar bi-weekly (at least), and use that time to make sure he or she knows the status of each o f your major projects. Also highlight how youre leveraging relationships with other teams or colleagues and making him or her look good in the process (e.g., Jack in marketing was confused about the pricing strategy, so I brought him up to speed based on the guidance you laid out. Were both on track with the goals you set for margin).By having regular conversations, youll remind your manager of your value- and keep it in the front of his or her mind on an ongoing basis, instead of just once a year.2. Focus on Results, Not Just Your ActivitiesAs a manager, I found that during regular update meetings with my employees, they tended to focus on a list of activities theyd completed throughout the week, from making phone calls to holding meetings to creating slide decks.However, while those types of activities are certainly necessary, and it probably feels good to validate the time and energy you spent on them, what your manager really wants to know is the impact those activities had on t he organization.Your Go-To StrategyInstead of giving your manager a list of tasks youve accomplished, explain what those tasks mean in the bigger picture.So, rather than Last week I met with 10 of our suppliers on rebidding the widget production, and then I had a conference call with the team to share our progress.Try this I met with 10 suppliers last week. Three are seriously hungry for the business, and I suspect well be able to increase our projected savings by at least 5% based on those conversations. Thatll be worth $1.5 million in our run rate. Ill get you the final number once we wrap up negotiations.3. Get Social ProofWhen you do something awesome and your colleagues express appreciation, ask them to speak up on your behalf. (And if you work with customers, ask them to do the same. Managers love hearing from satisfied customers, and this is a great way to collect feedback on your performance)A brief note to your manager or team lead outlining how you helped get a desired res ult, overcome an obstacle, or move the project forward will generate visibility, reminding those higher-ups of your ability to achieve great things.Your Go-To StrategyWhen someone acknowledges your work, ask him or her to make it official Thanks for recognizing me in the project wrap-up meeting this morning. The results we got together were over the top. Would you be willing to send a note to my manager about my contributions to the project? She holds you in high regard, and it would be a tremendous professional validation coming from you.4. Get in Front of Decision MakersThe power of presenting your ideas and results well- and in front of the right audience- carries just as much sway in your career as actually doing the work When you have the opportunity to present, for example, to your boss boss, youll boost your visibility and, when done right, create a memorable impression. Soon, that manager will know your name, which will give you a boost when it comes to performance reviews a nd special projects.So if youre offered the opportunity to present an update on your project, make a recommendation for a specific decision, or provide commentary on the impact of your work, go for it.Your Go-To StrategyFirst, identify one of your strongest projects- one that you feel confident talking about this will help you work from a position of strength. Then, tell your manager youd like the chance to present the progress of the project to higher-ups. Suggest it as a good opportunity for you to stretch your speaking abilities and learn how to present to upper-level managers.Then, work with your manager to make sure you know whats important to that audience and how to present information in the most effective way, so that the presentation showcases you as a confident, decision-capable up-and-comer. Assure your manager you want to make her look great in the process. Then, do so5. Take Your Stolen Ideas BackThere will undoubtedly be a time in your career when you run an idea by s omeone to get some feedback, and hell love it Hell love it so much, in fact, that hell turn around and present it as his own idea.This can be extremely frustrating, but you do have some options.Your Go-To StrategyNow, youre not going to interrupt the meeting where the topic is being discussed and say, Hey, that was my idea But you can present mora details, numbers, and data to support your suggestion. In other words, take control of the conversation to direct the spotlight back to you.For example, say youre in a meeting and your co-worker, Gary, goes on and on about your idea of expanding in the nonprofit sector, as if he originated it. You can jump in and share the evidence that inspired you originally- which Gary doesnt have Yes, the numbers show that sector is projected to grow by 12% next year. Also, I talked with the logistics team a couple of weeks ago about this, and they are ready to build more capacity into the system. Competitors havent ventured out there yet, so well be a head of the game.Boom. You now own it again. By supporting and expanding on the idea, its likely your original idea will emerge in bigger and better form- and youll end up with the credit.Yes, we all need to be good team players. The old adage Its amazing what can be accomplished when it doesnt matter who gets the credit is a powerfully true statement on how work is done in organizations.Also remember, however, that teams arent promoted individuals are. So, your mission is to be a great team player, but to have a firm grasp of the impact you made and smart strategies to share it with those who need to know.

How to Negotiate a Severance Package

How to Negotiate a Severance PackageHow to Negotiate a Severance PackageAs companies downsize, you may feel you are walking a tightrope at work. For every employee you see being laid off, you wonder if you might be next. Just getting called into the bosss office leads to thoughts of employment termination and getting a severance package. A severance package is defined as pay and benefits an employee can receive when her employment is terminated at a company or when she is forced to retire. Some items included in severance packages may include, but are not limited to Additional weeks of salary, sometimes based on your tenure at the employerPayment for unused vacation and sick daysA lump sum payment to account for lack of notice of employment terminationMedical or dental benefits or life insuranceRetirement or 401k benefitsStock optionsHelp to find a new job within or outside the company If you think your job may be in jeopardy, its wise to have a plan to properly negotiate aseverance package. Coming up with a Plan Ask yourself the following questions to come up with a severance package proposal that would be fair to both yourself and your employer. Have I been employed with the company for more than five, 10, or 20 years?What is my value to the company? If youre in a revenue-generating role, you should be able to put a number to your quarterly and annual contributions.If Im laid off, will they terminate my position or hire someone for a lower pay rate?How long will it take me to get a new job in this economic climate within my industry? Next, take the answers you came up with and create a severance package proposal. For example, if youve been at the company for 18 years and have been an integral member of the management team, your value to the company is high. In this case, youve put your time in at the company and you may want to propose at least a year-long severance package that allows you to collect your salary during this time while you find a new job. Formulating a Proposal Once you have an idea of how long it will take you to find a new job in the current economy, you can determine the length of time you need to collect severance pay. Some companies will pay you your full pay for a set period of time. Other severance packages will only allow for you to receive a percentage of your pay for a period of time. Some severance packages offer a lump sum of money when you leave a job. Obviously, its wise to ask for more weeks of severance pay rather than less. In some offices, you will be offered a particular type of severance package dictated by company policy. However, if you can document the reasons you deserve more financial cushion, you may be able to negotiate for a package with a longer length of time, or for full pay and benefits. Negotiating to Get the Best Severance Package If your employer proposes a severance package that is inferior to your proposal, take steps to negotiate a better deal. If your employer is offerin g fewer weeks than you desire, ask if it can be changed. If the number of weeks is based on your years of employment with the company and cant be changed, then try to negotiate a substitute like additional weeks for paid benefits before you are forced to go on COBRA. Another negotiating tactic is to make it appealing for your employer to give you the best severance package available at the company. For example, if you offer to come back to do per diem, freelance or outside consulting work, where it will save the company money in the transitional period, this could help your case for a better severance package.

Ten Steps Workshop for Unemployed Veterans Lessons Learned

Ten Steps Workshop for Unemployed Veterans Lessons LearnedTen Steps Workshop for Unemployed Veterans Lessons LearnedTen Steps Workshop for Unemployed Veterans Lessons LearnedKathryn Troutman, Federal Resume Guru, presented a two-hour program to ten anxious veterans who have been seeking a federal position for a couple of years.Below, Kathryn shares her experience We were at a conference table and the veterans all got to share their objectives and past federal job search experiences, since it welches a small group.Everyone in the class received a free copy of the Jobseekers Guide 7th Edition so that they could refer to the keyword lessons and Outline Format as they were working on their resumes.Problems and Myths Keeping Veterans from Landing Federal JobsEveryone got their resume out and showed me what they were using in their job search.Problems I saw with the resumes in the roomToo short (1 page)Too long (I saw a 14-page resume)Every job listed- even those that were short-term and i rrelevantShort sentences with bulletsAll resumes were NOT targeted with keywordsAll resumes did NOT include accomplishmentsfruchtwein of the resumes went back too far with the datesCritical resume myths we debunked during the classIts okay if resumes are 10 to 14 pages longIts okay if the resume is 1 pageIts okay to upload the resumeIts okay NOT include accomplishmentsIts okay to apply to ANY position in Baltimore just in caseStep 6 The Best Federal Resume Format, the Outline FormatI started the class with Step 6, to show the attendees the longer format with ALL CAP KEYWORDS and short paragraphs. They learned how to write a few more sentences about specific skills that are needed for the position.We shared accomplishments in the room, so that each veteran could add accomplishments to his or her resume.Alford A Future Success Story in the MakingAlford (in the photo above) is ready to go to work now. Alford was the first person in the classroom He brought his laptop and he pulled out his worn-out copy of the 5th edition of the Federal Resume Guidebook. That was a HUGE surprise since I was teaching- and I am the author of that book We both feel that this workshop will bring him luck- and maybe help from VRA, Schedule A, 30% or more Disabled hiring programs to help him work again. One of the main success factors for landing a federal job is PERSEVERANCE- and he showed that just by walking in the doorHe has been looking for positions that will use his administrative skills. When he was working, he owned and managed a successful construction business until the real estate downfall in 2008. And after that, he worked in a transportation firm until he needed to get full-time medical care. He is back on his feet and ready for work. His favorite part of the Ten Step class was Step 6 The Outline Format. He will be changing his short bullet format into the Outline Format with small paragraphs and keywords right away. Free Ebook OfferJobseekers Guide, 7th Editionby Kathryn TroutmanTen Steps to a Federal Job for Transitioning Military, Veterans and Military SpousesFREE PDF of the award-winning best seller is available toveterans, transitioning military, spouses . and career and employment counselors who advise these federal jobseekersAvailable Veterans daythrough Sunday November 13 at midnight.Request Your Copy HereVeterans Career Counselors and CentersBulk buchung Sale on Jobseekers Guide until November 21, 2016More Info and Ordering Kathryn Kraemer Troutmanis the founder and president of The Resume Place, Inc., a service business located in Baltimore, MD, specializing in writing and designing professional federal and private-sector resumes, as well as coaching and education in the federal hiring process. For the past 30 years, Troutman has managed her Professional Writing and Consulting Practice, Publishing and Federal Career Training business, and with her team of 20 Certified Federal Resume Writers, The Resume Place advises and writes more than 300 federal resumes per month for military, private industry and federal clients world-wide.