Employment & Career Advice For Graduates
When you first start working after finishing formal education, things can sometimes be difficult and not how you would expect or like them to be. To start with, westernized countries have been slowly shifting towards a service based economy, which means that many ex-graduates are being forced into taking low paying jobs just so that they can get some money coming in.
In addition to this, there is also the state of the global economy, which itself is on the decline. As a result, unemployment rates are rapidly starting to rise, and this makes finding a job even more difficult. To make matters worse, the economy is also causing many large companies to downsize and lay off workers. So even if you do manage to get a job, you then have to worry about how long you will be able to keep it for.
Those who are lucky enough to find employment are likely to start on a fairly low wage, such as around $27,000, which, as you might expect, then makes living by yourself quite a challenging experience especially once you factor in the rising cost of living.
So in this article, we are going to try to give you a helping hand by looking at some ways in which you can get paid more and improve your overall career prospects. It won’t be easy, but the more knowledge that you can arm yourself with the better your chances of making it will be.
Should Your Job Be Paying You More?
Now that the economy is forcing many companies to downsize, there are fewer and fewer entry-level positions available for people to fill.
If you are currently in a job that is starting to feel the effects of the economy, and you are a good worker, then this might actually be a good opportunity for you to get some more money from your employer or advance to a higher position.
Even if your company is not able to offer you anything better than what you are currently getting, at least you will know that you have made the effort to find out. And, if you find that you are still not satisfied with your current conditions, then you might decide that it’s time to start looking for another job elsewhere.
So lets look at some quick tips on how you can possibly get some more money by asking your boss for a raise.
Do You Really Deserve A Pay Rise?
If you plan on asking your boss for a raise, you first need to honestly assess your performance and value within that company. If you have only been working there for a few weeks or months and don’t seem to get along with the management very well, then obviously your chances of getting a raise are going to be fairly slim.
If however, you have been at your position for a year or longer and are performing well, then asking for a raise might just get you one.
How Much Money Are You Worth?
An easy way to determine whether you qualify for a raise, is to look at what other jobs are paying for the job that you are currently doing.
If, for example, you find that you are taking on lots of extra responsibilities which, strictly speaking, are not in your job description, then you would be perfectly justified in asking for a raise in line with the market value of that position.
Often, you will find that workers are given lots of extra duties by their superiors, but remain on the wage that they originally signed up for because they never asked to be paid more for doing more. For the vast majority of these people, simply asking for a raise would get them one.
The important word to emphasize here is “ask”, because if you don’t ask, a manager will assume that you are happy with your salary and your responsibilities even though that may not be the case. From the manager’s perspective, they will also be happy because it means that they can then get away with paying you less than what you are actually worth.
Asking For A Pay Rise
Once you have determined that you are in a good position to ask for a raise, then it’s time to go ahead and ask for one.
When asking for a pay rise, you need to appear confident and be able to defend yourself when questioned as to why you deserve one. If however, you go into the manager’s office looking at the floor and feeling uncertain of yourself, then you are likely to get shot down very quickly and your request for a pay rise will probably be rejected. So pay close attention to the type of body language that you bring into the office, as it could make the difference between getting a pay rise or not.
Some managers may quickly agree to give you a pay rise and won’t question you much as to why you deserve one. This is an ideal scenario, and usually occurs when a manager has been expecting you to ask for a raise or is afraid of losing you. But, this is a fairly rare occurrence, so don’t expect all managers to give in so easily.
What is far more likely is that your boss may initially decline your request, but only to see how much you really want a pay rise or how much you are willing to fight for one.
If you can then present a convincing argument as to why you deserve a raise, for example, your good performance or increased responsibilities, then they are far more likely to agree to your request if you can prove that you are of real value to the company.
Negotiating With Your Salary
If your salary is less than what other people make in similar jobs, then make sure you use that to argue your case. But, don’t make the mistake of comparing your salary to another co-worker within the same company.
This is because most managers don’t like their workers to discuss salaries, because if everyone talks about how much they earn, some workers may begin to resent those on higher salaries or ask for a raise themselves.
Be Polite No Matter What Happens
Always make sure that you are polite and respectful towards your boss, even if they say no to your request. Remember, asking for a pay rise doesn’t guarantee that you will get one, even if you think that you should. So try not to be too disappointed if you get turned down.
On the bright side, if you do perform well at your job, then your boss may instead be able to offer you some sort of bonus like a company car or offer to raise your salary when the economy improves. So even though you may not benefit from your actions immediately, you may very well do so later on.
Bluff Yourself A Higher Wage
As a last resort, if your boss declines your request for a pay rise and you are unhappy working under your present condition and wage, then you can tell your boss that you will quit and find another job elsewhere. However, be careful because this is a very dangerous tactic to use. It could get you a large raise, or your boss might call your bluff and say that they expect your resignation tomorrow.
So use this tactic with extreme caution and only if you know that you are invaluable to the company and that they would struggle to replace you.
You can strengthen your case if you have other job offers elsewhere, but if you don’t, you may want to avoid using this strategy because it could leave you in a very difficult financial position if you suddenly find yourself out of work and with no source of income.
Again, when you talk with your boss, always make sure that you are polite and respectful to them and don’t become angry or threatening. If you do leave the company you will need a reference from your boss, so try to keep yourself in their good books!
Why There Is More To A Job Than Money
Whether or not you realize it, there is much more to a job than simply money as they can offer you many opportunities which you probably didn’t even know existed. Those who are aware of these opportunities are likely to take advantage of them when they appear, and so will be able to progress much more rapidly within their career by doing so.
So let’s now look at some of the ways in which you can get the most out of your job, and later, why you could actually be worth a lot more than what your salary pays you.
Contacts To Help You Find A Job
Regardless of the type of job you have, you will always be working with people. This means that there is always the opportunity for you to make contacts that could help you to advance within your current position or find a new job somewhere else.
The key is to take advantage of these opportunities as they appear. For example, if you come into contact with a senior manager, then why not start up a conversation with them and tell them what you do? Perhaps they are looking for someone just like you?
So always make the effort to speak with as many people as possible, and try to get on a friendly basis with them. They might not be looking for someone right now, but they could be in the future. If they know you, they may then call you. But if they don’t know you, there will be no chance of them calling you.
Work Experience
One of the most frustrating things about getting a job is the requirement for prior experience within that field. So even if you are in a low paying job right now, the fact that you are gaining experience should be seen as a big advantage as it will allow you to get a better paying job later on.
You should therefore make the most of such opportunities when they appear by gaining as much work experience as you can, even if that work is voluntary. When you apply for your next job, you can then include that experience on your résumé so that any prospective employer can see that you are well qualified for the position which you have applied for.
However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that all you need are good qualifications, as nowadays most employers look at the qualifications you have in addition to your previous work experience.
Financial Benefits
Depending on what sort of job you have and what country you live in, you may receive various benefits such as a company car, a pension or health insurance. So even though you may think that your salary is low, these benefits can help make up for that.
This is especially true if your country does not have a national health service (NHS). In this case, getting health insurance can save you a lot of money compared to if you had to pay for health care yourself. The same applies to company cars. The fact that you don’t have to buy a car is in itself a major saving. Some people don’t even have to pay for petrol, and so can save even more money.
So when looking at your salary, it is important to realize that you are probably earning more than just what it says on your pay check. It’s just that you are getting paid in a way that doesn’t involve giving you money directly.
If you receive no benefits from your job, then perhaps there are certain indirect benefits that you receive from it? For example, flexible hours to suit your busy schedule, work that you enjoy and find rewarding, company discounts or being close to where you live which saves you money on transportation costs.
Assessing Your Assets
Although your paycheck is likely to make up the bulk of your income, when it comes to your financial situation, there is more to how much you are worth than just the money you earn from your job.
For example, if you add together all your sources of income and all the money you have saved up minus your expenses, then you can calculate something known as your net worth. This figure is how much money you really have, and may be a lot more than you think.
So take the time to think about any money which you may have forgotten about, because you can include this in your net worth. Of course, depending on how old you are and how long you have been working, you may or may not have money stashed away. But you never know, so here are some places that you can look:
Bank Accounts
Most parents set up some sort of savings account for their child when they are born. This account is meant to provide their child with money for when they grow older. But sometimes, this account is forgotten about, or for whatever reason the child is not told about it.
So if you are unsure of whether you have such an account saved up for you, ask your parents or a family relative and you might just be in for a pleasant surprise!
Mutual Funds
Mutual funds can also be included in your net worth, so if you do have any, then make sure you know exactly what you have and how much they are worth.
Stocks
Some families buy shares of stocks for their children as an investment for the future, which can again be included in your net worth.
Bonds
Bonds are something that many parents take out for their children. These however, are usually set up so that the money only becomes available at a certain age, such as 18 or 21.
Other
Other things which you can include in your net worth include any businesses you own, cars, properties, pensions, personal savings, jewelry or anything else of monetary value.
Expenses
Just like how you will have money coming in, you will also have money going out. These are known as your expenses, and must be calculated to determine your net worth. Examples of expenses include regular bills you have to pay such as living expenses or credit cards, loan repayments and taxes.
When you have calculated all your expenses, subtract them from your total income and assets to determine your true net worth. If you find that your net worth is greater than what you expected, then this may be a good opportunity for you to use what you do have to make yourself more money.
If however, you find that you have less than what you thought or have a negative net worth (i.e., are heavily in debt), then use this as a wake call to start taking proactive steps to get yourself out debt and learn how to better manage your money so that you don’t get further into debt.
Looking At Growth Industries For A New Job
If you are unhappy with your current job and there is no prospect of you getting a raise anytime soon, then you might decide that it’s time to start looking for a new job. However, before you do, you need to know what sort of job to look for.
If you are a graduate who is highly skilled, well qualified and have some experience in your field, then you will probably find it easier than most to get a new job with a similar or better salary. But if you aren’t so well qualified, don’t assume that no one will want you.
Employers are increasingly looking for skilled, hard-working and experienced individuals rather than at just what sort of degree a person has.
Likewise, this means that if you do have a degree in a certain field, don’t feel that there’s only one type of job you can get as there are many graduates who end up working in fields completely unrelated to their degree.
Is Your Field A Growth Industry?
Depending on the type of job you get, there are some areas of employment which are known as growth industries. This means that they are likely to grow and expand because there is an increasing demand for their services. For you as an employee, this is good news, because not only will your job be relatively secure, but it should also be quite well paid.
The reverse of a growth industry is one that is in decline, an industry in which employment is predicted to gradually dry up. So there is no point in going into a declining industry if you can avoid it.
Below are some of the industries which are expected to grow (growth industries).
Jobs In Health Care
As the western population begins to age, there will be an increasing demand for workers in the health care sector. Since this sector is so large, you can get a foothold in it relatively easily and then work your way up.
Another advantage of working in the health care sector, is that your skills may enable you to seek employment in other countries should you decide to move abroad.
Robotics Careers
Although this may seem like science fiction today, the speed at which technology is progressing means that the area of robotics is predicted to be a big growth industry.
So whether you are designing, building or repairing robots, getting into this field now might very well turn out to be a very good bet for the future.
Computer Graphics Work
The area of computer graphics is already a very big industry, and one that is likely to continue growing. The main growth will be in the entertainment industry, such as in movies and video games.
Employment In Information Technology
The more we rely on computers for our everyday life, the more people that will be needed to maintain this technology. So whether you are a web site designer, a telecommunications engineer or a computer programmer, if you have the skills then you should be able to find a job quite easily.
Biotechnology Jobs
Genetic engineering is likely to be a growth industry in the future, as companies look for ways in which they can increase food production to feed the increasing global population. In addition to this, disease research will also continue to increase, as will the hunt for cures to these diseases such as through vaccines.
Working In Entertainment
Entertainment is big business, and if you can make it as a movie or music star then you will be set for life. However, most people who work in the entertainment industry do so behind the scenes, such as on make up and on special effects. So you don’t have to be a star to make a living in this industry.
A relatively new branch of the entertainment industry is the video game industry, which has become almost as big as the film industry. If you are able to get a job creating games for a large games studio, then you are likely to find yourself in a very well-paying job. The same also applies to the adult entertainment industry.
Energy Efficiency
Most industrialized countries are now moving towards increased energy efficiency and cleaner ways of producing energy. This is predicted to be a very big industry in the future, and because it is still a relatively young industry, the chances of getting employment within this field are excellent providing that you have the right qualifications and skills.
Other Industries For Future Careers
The suggestions given above are just some of the industries which are predicted to grow in the long-term future, but there are also lots of other areas that will need workers too. Some of these include:
• Chefs & kitchen workers
• Carers for the elderly
• Cashiers*
• Waiters
• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Military
• Computer scientists
• Truck drivers• Lawyers
• Farmers**
• Educational workers
• Sales people
• General assistants
* Technology may make cashiers obsolete in the future.
** Some experts believe agriculture will be big business in the future.
Of course, not all of these jobs are high paying, but it is worth knowing what is available to you and what you are most likely to find stable employment in for the future.
In addition to this, you also want to ensure that when you do go into some form of employment, that it is something which interests you and that you enjoy. Otherwise, if you go into something just because it offers a good salary, you won’t enjoy it very much which means that your performance will likely be poor and so you won’t last very long in it anyway.
Set Up Your Own Business
If none of the above mentioned jobs interests you, then you can always set up your own business. This is something which a lot of young people are doing nowadays, especially on the internet.
So if you are able to provide people with a well priced quality product or service that they want, you can avoid the worries which come with regular employment as you will be entirely responsible for the level of success that you achieve.
This however, takes a lot of time, effort and hard work. Setting up your own business is therefore not something that will make you rich overnight, and you will most likely have to work on setting up your business alongside a regular full or part-time job until your business starts making enough money for you to live on.
Prepare Ahead By Learning A New Language
To help give you the best chance of finding a job that is right for you, your chances of employment can be greatly enhanced if you are able to speak a foreign language.
For example, since the western economy is now beginning to slow down and is heavily in debt, some people believe that currencies such as the US dollar or British pound have no long-term future and are likely to collapse in 10 or 20 years.
If that happens, there could be massive unemployment and a decline in your standard of living, both of which will make finding a job extremely difficult. To help protect yourself against this possible future, take the time to start learning a new language now. Since the balance of power is shifting from west to east, a good language to learn would be Chinese.
So even though you may not be able to find a job in your country, your chances of finding one in a rapidly growing country like China will be relatively good providing that you are skilled and well qualified.
To find out more about the future of the western economy and whether or not the east will be the dominant power in the coming decades, search for Jim Rogers on YouTube and listen to what he has to say on the matter.
The Importance Of Career Planning
One of the most challenging aspects of career planning is defining exactly what you want to achieve. But even if you do know what you want, you may then start to have doubts as to whether or not you have chosen the right career path.
Being clear on these issues is one of the most important things that you can do when it comes to career planning and setting career goals, because if you are unclear and make the wrong choice, you could then end up in a job you hate and spend the rest of your life regretting it.
Unfortunately, this scenario is much more common than you might imagine, as studies show that the large majority of people are unhappy with the direction of their chosen career path. As a result, they spend most of the working day trying to distract themselves from their job, or wishing that they were somewhere else.
The only way to avoid ending up in a job you hate is by knowing exactly what sort of job you would like to have. In order to do this however, you need to do some career planning.
So now, we are going to be looking at the process of career planning and how to set career goals. But to start with, let’s quickly define what we mean by a “job”, “career” and “career planning”. Then later, we will look at how to determine whether or not you have chosen the right career path.
What Is A Job?
A job is defined as a paid occupation. A job is therefore something that you do regularly for pay.
e.g. Working at McDonald’s.
What Is A Career?
A career is a long-term or lifetime job. It is a profession that you choose to spend the rest, or most, of your life in.
e.g. Being a teacher or a nurse.
What Is Career Planning?
Career planning means to plan what job you would like to do for most, or the rest, of your life.
The main difference between a job and a career is that with a job, you can normally leave it and find another quickly and easily.
With a career however, it is much more difficult to do this, because careers usually require some form of specialist training, skills or knowledge. A career also tends to be focused on one particular area, whereas a job can be in many different things.
Do You Hate Your Job?
Even the most successful people have times in their life when they become unsure of their chosen career path. These thoughts usually come as a result of some difficulty or challenge they face, which then makes them question whether or not they have made the right choice.
If you have had such feelings about your job, you can quickly find out if you are in the right career by asking yourself the following question:
“Do my doubts fade away after challenges or obstacles are overcome?”
If the answer is yes, then you are probably in the right career and should stay there. This is because regardless of the job you are in, there will always be times when you question whether you are doing the right thing or not.
That’s just a natural part of any career, and is more of a test of your perseverance than anything else. When those difficulties pass, you then become motivated to keep going by remembering why you initially chose your career and what you enjoy about it.
If you answered no, then you may need to seriously consider the possibility that you are in the wrong job and so would benefit from taking the time to do some career planning. If your doubts don’t fade after overcoming obstacles or challenges, then it is most likely because you chose your job for the wrong reason.
For example, perhaps you chose a certain career path because it would make your parents happy or because it paid well? But now, after being in the same job for some time, you find that you don’t enjoy it anymore and don’t get any satisfaction from it.
As a result, these doubts will continue to linger in your mind throughout the rest of your life unless you do something about it. The effects of this doubt are probably already very evident to you, as people who think that they are in the wrong job often feel as though their life is boring and that it lacks any real meaning or purpose.
Instead of enjoying what they do, they just go through the motions of doing only what is required, constantly looking at the clock to see when their day ends and at the calendar to see how close they are to the weekend or a vacation. It’s times like this which signal that you need to carefully look at your job and do some career planning to determine your overall goals and objectives.
How To Do Career Planning
To begin the process of planning your career, ask yourself the following questions to determine exactly what you want and why you want it:
• Are you happy with the amount of money that you are making in your chosen career?
• Would you like to make more money?
• Is the amount of money that you make important to you?
• Are you doing what you would like to do?
• Are you passionate about what you are doing?
• What are you passionate about?
• What could you do to make yourself happier than you now are?
• Would getting promoted or changing career make you happy?
• Why are you still working in your current job?
• Is there anything stopping you from leaving your job or getting promoted?
Please take the time to honestly answer these questions, because they should help to give you a clearer idea of whether you are currently happy in your job or if you would be happier doing something else.
These questions will also help to reveal your motives for staying at your current job. Analyze these motives carefully, because if you are staying in a job for the wrong reasons, you may find it very difficult to ever enjoy it or be fulfilled doing what you do.
Your Financial & Work Related Goals
Career planning has many advantages, one of which is that it allows you to determine what you would like to achieve in your career and how you will get there. To help you with this process, use the format given below to come up with specific career goals:
Career Goals
In this category, write down all your career goals. These should be all the things that you would like achieve, have or do.
When this list has been completed, organize your goals in order of importance. Which goal if completed would have the most beneficial impact on your life?
What Are The Benefits?
You are most likely to achieve the goals that you strongly desire. All of your career goals should therefore have clearly defined benefits/advantages so that you will become motivated to achieve them.
The more benefits that you can come up with, the stronger your motivation will be to achieve those goals.
Create A Plan Of Action
In this section, write down all the steps that you will need to take in order to achieve your goals. This can be done by first thinking about the big things that need to be done such as over a year or month, and then breaking those down into smaller sub-goals such as daily, weekly or monthly goals.
What Support Or Resources Will You Need?
Write down all the things that you will need to achieve your goals. What information will you have to learn? Will you need help from anyone?
Reviewing Your Career Plan
This section can only be filled in once your career goals have been accomplished, or when you have obtained the end result of your efforts.
Here, you should write down whether or not you have achieved your goal and the things that went right or wrong. The purpose is to use this information so that you can do more effective career planning the next time.
Get Organised
Once you have decided upon your career goals, you can then organize them in a chart in order of importance. A good way to do this is by using the who, what, where, when and how approach.
Below you will find an example of how you can use this approach:
How
How will you achieve your goal?
What
What do you have to do to achieve your goal? What steps do you have to take?
Why
Why do you want to achieve your goal?
When
When do you want to achieve your goal by?
Where
Where will you work to achieve your goal? Do you have to travel? Or can it all be done from home?
Focus on your most important goals first, because they are likely to have the biggest positive impact on your life and the direction that it is heading. As you complete one goal, your confidence will grow which will then make it easier for you to achieve the future goals which you have set for yourself.
Earning Extra Qualifications While You Work
There will come a point in your career when you have advanced as far as you can go based upon your current qualifications and skill set. In order to advance further, you will most likely need to undergo further training, and for some people, this will mean going back into formal education and studying for a degree or a specific type of qualification.
If this is the case for you, or may be the case shortly in the future, then it is a good idea to start your study as early as possible so that you can increase your chances of advancing sooner and earning more money before you retire.
Finding The Time To Study
When you decide to pursue extra qualifications, you need to take into account your current and future schedule.
For example, if you are single and have lots of free time on your hands, then now is an excellent time to take up those extra studies. But once you get married and have children you will have a lot less time, which will then make it more difficult for you to earn the qualifications that you need.
If you are already married and have children, then going to university to study full-time for a degree may not be an option for you. This however, doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t study for a degree, as many universities cater for people who have busy schedules by offering part-time courses, such as those which are scheduled at night or on weekends.
These allow you to work your 9-5 job, and then study for your degree in your spare time. In addition to this, there are also part-time courses that allow you to study whenever you have the time, but still give you a full degree when you finish.
These are usually signed up for by people who are already in full-time employment, and want to expand their knowledge of a subject which they have been interested in but have never studied before.
Online Distance Learning
Another way to earn extra qualifications while you work is to study online, something that is commonly referred to as distance learning.
Courses can be taken over the internet, by email, by regular mail or even by video conferencing, thereby allowing you to stay at home and study at the same time.
This is something which has become increasingly popular with stay at home moms who have young children to look after, but who would also like to earn a particular qualification so that they can get a job when their children leave home.
Studying online also has the advantage of being cheaper than going to study at university full-time, as you won’t have to worry about extra costs such as those associated with accommodation or travel.
Free Courses
If you are looking to earn some extra qualifications just to bump up your CV, it is worth bearing in mind that there are many qualifications which you can obtain entirely without cost.
For example, some universities offer courses on life coaching, first aid, basic literacy and numeracy all completely for free. These are certainly worth doing if you have the time, but don’t necessarily have the money to shell out on a full-fledged degree.
Choose A Degree That Will Benefit You
Whatever qualification that you decide to go for, it should be related to your career or future career in some way. Although there may be lots of interesting degrees that you would like to take, if they are not going to be of direct benefit to you then there is little point in devoting your time to them.
In addition to this, if you are studying with the intention of pursuing a career which is different to the one that you are currently in, it is very important that you also gain some relevant work experience. Most employers nowadays look for qualifications and experience, so don’t think that you can get by just with a degree alone.
Financial Aid
When studying for an extra qualification, it is always worth checking to see if there is any financial aid that could be available to you.
Some universities or learning programs for example, offer bursaries to select students which can significantly reduce the amount that a qualification will cost to obtain.
So if you are not in the best place financially, be sure to enquire about such things especially if money is currently acting as a barrier to you progressing within your chosen career path.
The Stay At Home Grad
One of the biggest transitions that a person can make in life is finishing formal education, getting a full-time job and surviving independently in the world. For many people, this is a very exciting period. However, it can also be a very daunting and challenging one, especially when it comes to financial matters.
To complicate things further, not all students who finish formal education get a job that is directly relevant to the qualifications they have obtained. This can then result in a delay before they are able to find an appropriate job, which means that for a period of time, they may not be earning very much money.
Without money, trying to survive independently by yourself becomes even more difficult, and for some people, impossible.
The Graduate Without A Job
As a result of the difficulty in finding employment, an increasingly large number of young people are moving back home to live with their parents after graduating from college or university.
Some will continue to stay with their parents for many years, enjoying the security and comfort that it provides. Of course, this ultimately results in a prolonged dependency on their parents, something which many had hoped their hard-earned qualifications would help them to escape.
However, for those who do choose to stay at home with their parents after graduating, most of them will be in an extremely advantageous financial position as they will not have to pay rent. Or if they do, it will be a minimal amount in comparison to the rent they would pay elsewhere.
As a result of this extra money, many of these stay at home grads will spend their cash on the latest electronic equipment, clothes or perhaps a new car. Whilst others may attempt to pay back any loans which they took out to fund their education, or save their money for a down payment to purchase a house with.
If this situation applies to you, where you have just finished some sort of formal education and are now living either rent free or virtually rent free with your parents, and you have a part or full-time job, it is extremely important to recognize the advantageous financial position you are in.
This is a position that you may never be in again, so it is in your best interest to ensure that you make the most of this opportunity for your sake and the sake of your future. So be careful how you choose to use money, and avoid needlessly wasting it whenever possible so that you can start working towards building yourself a financially secure future rather than one of poverty and debt.
