Comments on: What Color Is Your Parachute? The Mechanics of the Job Hunt http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: miguel http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130903 miguel Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:11:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130903 I switched jobs a little while ago, and even though the offer was less than I expected. I didn’t even bother to counter offer, I just took it because. 1) The position has a huge potential for growth. It’s at a company that is an industry leader and is growing, while my old company was effectively dieing a slow death. 2) I’d save about 200 a month on gas, and parking compared to my old job. So I’d have lower costs just getting to work.

After making the change, I find myself much much happier and having more cash in my pockets.

]]> By: Chad http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130316 Chad Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:47:35 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130316 I think there are a couple of key questions about the 20k less.
how frugal are you living?
How quickly/ slowly will this get you to be financial independent?

I find that if you don’t have a long term plan, getting the 20k more per year will just turn into expenses as your standard of living grows (with new cars/clothes/eating out) until it meets that 20k extra.

Again if you are struggling to meet ends then salary negotiation is always the sticky point in the job interview since doing it well means that you have breathing room while just saying ok means you have to keep struggling.

On the plus side as long as your job is in somewhat of a demand you can get a good jump in pay by switching locations and using your experience as a plus. Just be careful about getting into golden handcuffs. (the case where you are paid more than the average for your skills since if you get laid off you are looking at a drop in pay and lifestyle)

]]> By: rebecca http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130182 rebecca Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:55:48 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130182 I suppose this advice is okay for the corporate world.
All my jobs have been in government positions (schools/libraries) where there is no salary negotiation — all salaries on an a set scale that is public record.
Also the advice on asking questions at the interview/engaging in conversation wouldn’t work either if you want a government job. The interview panel (I currently work for a city dept.) has a set of questions they must ask each candidate, and they are not allowed to deviate from their script.
It’s all in the name of accountability and making sure there is no evidence of favoritism or discrimination, but it makes for some pretty dull interviews.

]]> By: Amy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130103 Amy Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:49:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130103 I strongly disagree with your advice to be humble. Sure, don’t be arrogant or rude, but I think it’s really important to remember that you’re essentially offering something that you’re asking an employer to pay five figures or more for over the course of a year. I think the best way to look at the first interview is a conversation where the two of you will mutually discover whether or not there’s a potential fit between their needs and your skills.

So far as salary goes, I think the best way to look at things is to consider total compensation. What are you getting out of the job? Are the benefits stellar? Are the hours flexible? Has the company invested significant resources in making the work environment comfortable and welcoming? (I once made a pro/con chart where I valued the presence of huge windows with a fantastic view in the office at $1000/year in salary.) Are there strong opportunities for on-the-job learning or upward mobility? Are the hours shorter?

Bottom line is that your total compensation should reflect your value to the company. A lesser compensation package suggests that you’re not as valuable to them as you might be to another employer, and that’s not a recipe for happiness in a job.

]]> By: Debbie M http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130089 Debbie M Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:28:55 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130089 I’m jealous of people with good contacts. Except for my first job working with my dad and years 2-4 of working at summer camp, I’ve never gotten a job via contacts. This means I mostly get jobs where they need a lot of people all at once, where there’s very high turnover, or where virtually no one has done that exact job before so they have to settle for someone with potential.

Most of my friends are programmers, and I would hate that job. Some are engineers, and my mom’s a nurse. I like academia, especially the social and natural sciences and education.

I’ve started joining professional societies and going to conferences to make myself known, but so far when people find out I’m still looking for a job in their field, their eyes glaze over because I am not someone they can talk to already to get new perspectives on their concerns.

I need to volunteer more, so they can see me in action, but I’m still looking for a local organization. So far I’ve only found national and state-wide organizations with very few members from my area. And I don’t want to move away to get my next job.

]]> By: sunshine http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130069 sunshine Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:55:17 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-130069 I have found that money does make certain things better. My current position is a second run for me and I’m getting almost double my salary (60K vs. 37K) and the $ makes a good amount of strees bearable. I will admit that I’ve matured a good deal (I was fresh out of college when I started a mangerial position). I initially turned this job re-offer down at 52K (when I was making 27K at the time) because I didn’t want to deal with the imagined hassles. I did some serious soul-searching and had to determine what I could and could not put up with and also how much my increased levels of stress would be worth financially.

60K sealed the deal and I am so happy I made the decision. I am very happy with my job. Would I work here if I was financially independent? No, but I’m not FI yet, so that’s not an issue.

I guess what I am incogently (real word?) trying
to say is that the money may be worth it, at least for a short amount of time.

]]> By: Double Journey http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129766 Double Journey Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:32:24 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129766 SJean,

I comment on the Monster Boards a lot, and I agree with you that they give out some pretty generic advice which I generally disagree with. Most of the people there seem to think you should be begging for a job. I on the other hand believe the exact opposite, employers should be happy to get you. Just depends on your perspective I guess.

I would be careful of taking significantly less money for any job. It’s not a a greed or materialistic thing. It’s the fact that similar jobs should pay similarly. I’m well into six figures, and would probably never take a 20K pay cut to go somewhere. Reason being, employers need to pay industry standard for a job. If they aren’t it probably means the job isn’t what you think it is, or that the position isn’t valued like you want it to be.

If I could be SURE that the work place was better and the job was the same, then sure, I would make the sacrifice. But it is next to impossible to know those things before working somewhere.

]]> By: SJean http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129606 SJean Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:16:56 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129606 I don’t know, 20k a year is a LOT to me and would mean saving significantly less for retirement. The quality of the job would have to be dramatically different.

Also, i agree that a more middle ground salary negotiation might be better, but I’ve asked for negotiation advice over on the monster.com boards and have been appalled at the standard advice that was given. The regular posters seemed most interested in putting younger employees in their place rather than encouraging them to ask for more. I was told that I was interchangable and shouldn’t negotiate at all, but was able to get 2k more than offered plus a 3k signing bonus. Because, you know, I’m not interchanable.

Sorry for the rant, pet peeve of mine.

]]> By: Laura http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129598 Laura Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:04:14 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129598 I also have trouble agreeing with the more assertive salary negotiation strategy presented. Especially when one is attempting to get that first job out of college it’s harder to position oneself as the “solution” to an employer’s challenges, and thus make salary demands. Even stellar candidates, as in your example, can negotiate their way out of a job by demanding too high a salary.

]]> By: plonkee http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129586 plonkee Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:38:44 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129586 It took me ages to figure out what you meant. I guess you lot say ‘raise’ instead. ;) .

]]> By: Minimum Wage http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129567 Minimum Wage Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:13:12 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129567 I have to admit that I sometimes get a “rise” out of reading (or hearing) UK-speak. Now I can show my folks how listening to Pink Floyd really DOES have socially redeeming value.(

]]> By: plonkee http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129557 plonkee Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:50:18 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/12/10/what-color-is-your-parachute-the-mechanics-of-the-job-hunt/#comment-129557 The thing that struck me initially, was that you might earn a great deal more than me. $20K would be a huge paycut for me. Although I guess we’re talking about whether you’re trying to get a $5K rise or a $25K rise.

When I got my first job out of University, my job application forms and my CV were pretty good. I didn’t find it hard to get first interviews. Getting past that point was much more difficult. I sometimes wonder whether I tried to oversell myself.

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