We all know the job interview basics: arrive on time, dress professionally, and be prepared for the questions they might ask. These days, however, employers are judging you on other things that you might not even be aware of. Here are some important things to keep in mind when you’re interviewing for any job.

Your Facebook is Not So Secret

The information age has given us unprecedented access to, well, information. The Internet provides us with insane amounts of knowledge, which is generally considered a good thing. There is such a thing as too much information, however. Personal online presence has exploded with the rise of Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter, meaning that most people today have some sort of online identity that represents their real life identity. We post pictures and updates of our vacations, day-to-day activities, families, friends, parties—everything. Many people don’t realize that what they’re posting online is often not only visible to their selected friends; unless you’re really careful, it’s visible to pretty much anyone. If you posted pictures of that crazy night out with all those tequila body shots, keep in mind that your future employer might see them one day.

Say you only exchange private messages with people and adjust your settings so that only a few select people can see your pictures and info—you’re safe, right? Wrong. These days, some employers actually have the gall to ask for the Facebook passwords of potential hires. If you really want the job, you might end up handing it over, but keep this in mind: do you want to be working for a company that would be so disrespectful of your privacy? Sometimes you might not have a choice. Regardless, always remember that your online presence is anything but private.

Own the Room

Even if you’re the most qualified and talented applicant, you still should make a striking impression on the interviewer in order to really stand out. The human brain is a complex beast, and we’re influenced by the even the most subtle of stimuli. For example, say you’re 100% confident that your past experience, references, and education are more than enough to land you a job. If you walk into that room, however, and the interviewer is not impressed by your demeanor, your chances could be doomed.

So how can you make a good impression? Eye contact is absolutely essential, as it conveys confidence and shows that you’re fully engaged. A smile is another great way to show your enthusiasm, and serves to break the initial tension. Also, remember to stand up straight! This increases your physical presence and makes you appear more confident. If you walk in with a great resume and an impressive physical demeanor, you may have everything you need to land your dream job.

Your Time Off

Like so many in this economy, chances are you’ve been struggling to find a job for some time. You might not have considered that employers don’t just look at your employment history—they want to know what you’ve been doing with all your time off. If you’ve mostly been playing video games and eating Cheetos during your unemployment, find a way to spin it. You could talk about how you’ve had time to really reflect on who you want to be, spend quality time with your family, and set goals for yourself. Even better, though, is if you’re proactive during your unemployment phase. Get out there and do something! You could try volunteering, which shows depth of character. Maybe you could go back to school and take classes in your particular area of interest. You could even earn a degree to make yourself more hire-able; for example, if you’re in the business world, an online business degree may really give you a leg up.

David Price, a freelance writer from San Jose, is primarily focused on writing about career development and business growth. Some of the more recent posts David has written have been focused on online business degree programs and networking tips.

If you don’t fancy life as an office-based slave to a computer, and you want to have some adventures without breaking the bank, then jobs that include an element of travel are a fantastic idea. No matter what your skills and experience there’s a whole range of roles out there to suit all sorts, offering the chance to work in all kind of destinations from St Tropez to the Seychelles. Check out the jobs below and see if any of them might suit you.

Air hostess

The job of an air hostess has long been considered a traditional way to get out and see the world. From the old days of PanAm when it was one of the most coveted and hard to obtain positions, to the kind of roles you can get today which range from hosting on a value flight carrying package holidaymakers to being a hostess on a private plane owned a sheikh, the only limit to the number of destinations you can visit as an air hostess is where your airline flies to! If you fancy a job like this then be prepared to work some long and unusual hours, cultivate a perma-smile in the face of even the most drunken passenger and make sure there’s plenty of room in your passport!

Cruise ship worker

Although some cruise companies have recently not had the best reputation for the way they treat their workers, if you choose both the company and the job carefully then this can be a fantastic way to see the world. There’s such a wide range of roles available on a cruise ship – from working in the restaurant to singing in the bar – that most people can find something to do on these huge floating hotels. With this option you’re looking at destinations like Alaska and the Caribbean, which makes working on a cruise ship one of the best ways to see parts of the world you might not otherwise reach.

International courier

If you prefer the kinds of jobs that are not so customer facing but still have all the travel opportunities then an international courier is ideal. Couriers are usually given a specific pick up and drop off time and required to take an item from A to B, with payment usually in the form of a free air ticket. International couriers deliver parcels and letters all over the world so one week you could find yourself in Italy, the next North America.  As an international courier you would usually be restricted to hand luggage only, so you need to be able to travel light, and expect your first few jobs to be shorter, less exotic flights, until you have built up some trust with the agency or person employing you.

A holiday rep

The job of a holiday rep is very varied and the kinds of destinations on offer in the role are essentially anywhere in the world that people go on holiday. Package holiday reps in countries like Ibiza and Mallorca rave about the opportunities for partying and tend to get moved around very regularly within Europe. However, rep jobs come in all shapes and sizes, not just the more traditional package reps. How about working as a campsite rep in the South of France? Or maybe you’d prefer to work for a safari company in deepest Africa? Or perhaps you’re more suited to the high end of the market where you have just a couple of holidaymakers to look after and you’re organising dinners on private islands or exclusive spa services.

Personal assistant

Doesn’t sound so glamorous? Well did you know that PA’s to Chief Executives at top firms are not just very well paid but also often get the opportunity to travel the world business class? Of course getting to the top won’t happen overnight but young, ambitious personal assistants can progress very quickly through the corporate ranks as their performance is linked closely to that of the companies top exec’s.

These are just a few of the jobs out there that offer the kinds of genuine travel opportunities you rarely come across in an office based role. The best way to find a job that suits you is to start by listing your skills, the different parts of the world you want to visit, the kinds of opportunities in those destinations (i.e. holiday travel, hospitality, delivery services etc) and then compare what you can offer to the experience and qualifications those roles need (if any). After that you just need to pack your case and hit the road – bon voyage!

John is a UK based blogger specializing in travel and business writing.

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We all know the age old cliché of ‘nothing personal; it’s just business.’  And while it can often be incredibly disillusioning and disappointing to be told this, whether we like it or not, it is the unavoidable reality of many professional relationships.  So if you want to succeed in the professional world, it is best to always keep this axiom in mind when making important decisions about your career––especially when they involve leaving your job.

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People decide to quit their jobs for many reasons.  Perhaps you hate your boss and are unhappy with the working environment.  Maybe you have been offered a better position elsewhere.  Or maybe it just seems like the perfect time to finally take that extended trip you have been fantasizing about for years.  Whatever the reason––personal or otherwise––it is always best to handle the situation in the most dispassionate and businesslike manner possible, no matter how disgruntled or upset you may be.  You never know what might happen in the future, and it is important not to destroy opportunities that you may some day unexpectedly need.

This means taking measures to ensure that the company you leave is not negatively impacted by your departure.   Here’s how:

Give Plenty of Notice

Depending on your particular position, the amount of advance warning you will need to give will vary.  But consider how long it will likely take to find and train a replacement, and you should have a fairly good idea.  On the other hand, it is always possible that your boss will tell you to just pack up your office by the end of the day, so be sure to also take into account your standing at the company.  The minimum is 2 weeks, but for most high-level positions, it is best to give several months notice.

Tie Up Loose Ends

While the repercussions of leaving unfinished projects may not seem to be your problem, they will undoubtedly become problems for the company you leave.  So if you want to depart on a positive note and keep doors open for the future, be sure to attend to all of your responsibilities before taking off.  Even if this involves extra work and hassle, it will be well worth the effort for maintaining your reputation as a responsible employee.

Be Available to Train Your Replacement

Make the transition as smooth and painless as possible for your coworkers and bosses.  Teach your replacement what they will need to know, and be sure that they are adequately prepared to fill your shoes.

As much as you may want to tell your reviled employer where he can go and what sorts of unpleasant things he should eat as you head for the door on your last day, DON’T.  You never know what connections he may have nor what firms he might some day work for.  It pays to avoid making enemies and to always maintain a respectable reputation in your field.  So be considerate when you leave your next job.  You will be making a valuable investment for your future.

Leaving your job can be tough for a number of reasons.

Thanks to Legalweekjobs for sending us these tips.

Some people seem to be born for the spotlight with attention following them around regardless of what company they work for. For others however, it seems like no matter how hard they work, they remain in the shadows, completely invisible to upper management. And as you are likely aware, invisible people rarely get promoted.

Unfortunately, it does not matter how hard you work, if said efforts are going unnoticed in the eyes of the people that matter. It’s therefore essential to both raise your profile and to get your name out there. Here are ten tips that should help you to do just that.

Dress Sharp

Although, fancy clothes alone is going to do very little for you, people rarely notice the guy that looks like a mess all the time. Many people that work in a casual work environment seem to get it into their heads that this rule doesn’t apply to them but that is simply not the case. Regardless of what the dress code is, it’s important to look your best. You should smell good and your clothes should be ironed.

Speak Up in Meetings

Meetings are an excellent time to get noticed. If you have difficulty speaking up, it’s important that you try to get past it. You don’t need to be an extrovert, you simply need to make contributions even if they are small to begin with. Many people think that provided they don’t say anything, they can’t say anything wrong but this is a terrible attitude to have. When you keep silent during meetings, you can easily come across as being clueless about the topic being discussed, or worse, like you don’t care enough to contribute

Volunteer for High Profile Projects

You’re hand should be the first one that goes up when an important project comes up. It’s important to be aware that those that get noticed aren’t always the hardest workers. Some projects are simply more high profile than others and getting involved in such projects is one of the easiest and fastest ways of making your presence known in a company.

Pay Attention to Your Body Language

If you want to get noticed by those that matter, you need to keep an eye on the signals that you are giving out about yourself. Do you walk with confidence? Are you assertive? Unfortunately, if you walk around the office with your shoulders slumped and you have a habit of avoiding eye contact with people, you are giving out very poor signals. While you might think that nobody is noticing, subconsciously they are.

Don’t Keep Your Ideas to Yourself

When you have a good idea about something, you should share it. If somebody else is working on something, don’t be afraid to offer advice. Provided you do so with tact and without acting superior, most people will respond to your help positively. And while such ideas may not lead to you getting any immediate credit, over time you will build a reputation as somebody that is both helpful and on the ball.

Network More

Most people are aware of the importance of networking when it comes to landing a new job, many people fail to realize however that the same thing applies to getting noticed in a company. You should aim to know people throughout the building, not just those in your department and certainly not just those to your immediate left and right. Simply being a more social person can help you to make more contacts in your own department but when it comes to people in other departments, you need to be more proactive. Join social groups, get involved in team sports, volunteer for hosting events.

Contribute Wherever Possible

Some people like to talk about the importance of looking busy but when it comes to getting noticed, it’s contributions that matter, not how busy you look. When you know the agenda of a meeting, you should research the topic before hand and ask sensible questions. When you’re co workers are discussing something, give your opinion. When your boss says something, don’t be afraid to disagree. You need to make your presence known.

Know About Your Company and It’s Industry

Regardless of whether or not such knowledge is required for you to do your job, you should know all about the industry in which your company operates. You should be aware of any major innovations and you should know how it has been affected by the recession. You should understand where your company fit’s into that industry and who it’s major competitors are.

Too many people assume that all they need to know about is how to do their job. While such knowledge might be all that’s required to perform your daily tasks, getting noticed requires that you take an interest in the company as a whole.

Take Credit for What You Do

When you do something right, make sure that you take credit for it. Don’t ever assume that anybody else is going to throw credit your way. If you contribute something to a project, make sure that your name is written on that contribution. The same applies to every report that you write. Many people make the mistake of thinking that everyone knows who did what but this is actually rarely the case. The further up a report goes, the less likely it is that anybody is going to have a clue who wrote it unless there is, literally, a name attached.

Be a Team Player

Finally, don’t confuse trying to get noticed with acting like a lone wolf. Being a team player is an incredibly attractive characteristic and you should do your best to demonstrate said characteristic whenever possible. When you are taking on a project, don’t be afraid to get other people involved. Doing so not only increases your profile, it also demonstrates that you care about the company and not just yourself.

The author of this post, Nik Lemmens, is a career counsellor who has been giving tips to business and education job seekers for years. He owns a website click here, where you can get all the necessary information that can help build your career.

If you are like me you will want to make the most of possible training opportunities. You can find that there are plenty of employers out there who are willing to give you training if you ask for it. I have managed to become a supervisor on my site thanks to extensive training and a good few years of experience behind me.  If you are heading out in the construction industry for the first time I can’t recommend getting some kind of qualifications under your belt.  This will increase the chances of being employed, but even more importantly it will help to make you aware of legislations and regulations that not all employers will make you aware of.

Many Employers Ignore the Health and Safety Laws

It might be shocking to hear but there are plenty of construction firms who are putting the lives of their employees at risks, knowingly or unknowingly.  There is no excuse not to know the laws surrounding site safety but many employers either choose to ignore those laws, or they simply don’t realise how important it is, until something happens.

If you spend some time looking at the number of accidents which happen in this industry you may be slightly concerned. Deaths from falls from height are surprisingly high, despite all the attention it gets in the press. The Health and Safety Executive have guidelines that are easy to follow, and consultants are able to help any firm sort out their policies and procedures, but even with the help available you are still at risk from complacent employees.

Put Yourself through Health and Safety Training

Therefore I recommend all people entering the construction industry take at least one health and safety course. There are plenty to get started with, and they are surprisingly affordable. There are some brilliant courses which will give you an ID card that you can use to persuade employers to give you the job as they know you have already received a certain level of skills which will benefit them as employers.  If you know about managing your own safety at least you may not contribute to increasing the risks.

One of the best places to start is by training and sitting a test for CSCS cards.  These are available for construction workers at all levels, and can be found easily by looking online. The basic card is designed for first time construction workers with little to no knowledge about site safety.  This is called the Green card which shows you have the basic skills. You will need to have completed an NVQ level one to take the test however.  There are other cards too which are suited to the qualifications and the skills you may hold. There is even a card which is ideal for anyone who isn’t able to meet the other categories of cards, which will basically consist of a health and safety test.

Finding a Good Employer

There are plenty of employers out there who do respect the laws and will take your safety extremely seriously. Although you may feel they are being strict and harsh their commitment to site safety means you are in good hands. By training their staff and working to constantly reduce the risks faced everyday by construction workers those employers are helping to reduce the numbers of accidents and deaths within their organisation.

If you find a good employer you will probably be given a lot of opportunities to learn new skills and enhance your career.  If you are given the opportunity to learn more about safety in the construction industry I highly recommend you jump at the chance.

This article was written by CSCS cards. There are a number of CSCS cards which can be used to help you gain employment, and teach you basic health and safety skills.

Job relocation can be exciting an invigorating experience…or at least it should be. If your spouse is less than thrilled with the idea of moving, relocation can instead be difficult, stressful, and sometimes even damaging to your relationship.

After all, while you get to enjoy a new career opportunity and all the excitement that comes along with it, your spouse is being asked to turn his or her life completely upside down. It’s not easy to accept change, even if the opportunity is ultimately worth the effort.

If you’re considering relocation and your spouse is reluctant to move, here are some things you can discuss:

Discuss Their Concerns, No Matter How Small

When you discover that your spouse is reluctant to relocate, it’s a good idea to talk about why. Is it the fear of something new? Concerns about finances, distance from family, loss of a favorite activity or hobby, or a change in lifestyle? Talking through your spouse’s concerns about relocation – even the most trivial concerns – is a great way to make your spouse more comfortable with the idea.

For example, losing the NFL package might not seem like a big deal to you, but your husband might be genuinely upset about that loss. Talking about it out loud is a great way to find a compromise.

Recognize that Change is Hard and Sometimes Even Scary

At some level, all humans have difficulty with change. We are creatures of habit, and we can become set in our ways so much that the thought of uprooting our lives is very upsetting. Some of us suffer from substantial anxiety when we’re asked to move, and it’s important for you to recognize that natural human feeling in your spouse.

Put another way, moving is tough on almost everyone. The great unknowns of moving include:

• What the new city is like
• How the move will happen
• How often you will be able to see your friends and/or family that live nearby
• What new schools will be like for kids
• How you will adjust to a new climate

These concerns can quickly compound and create an overwhelming level of stress that can paralyze your spouse. Therefore, it’s essential that you treat your spouse’s feelings with respect and compassion. Your job isn’t just to help them deal with the actual details of moving – you also have to help them overcome their natural anxieties and fears.

If Necessary, Slow Down the Process

When you’re offered a new position and a relocation package, your excitement can make it seem like relocation can’t happen soon enough. However, for your spouse, the relocation process may feel like it’s progressing at warp speed.

If this is the case, you need to try to slow down the process. Sometimes this is just as simple as taking a few days off to help your spouse with moving and arrangements, but other times it might be a good idea to arrange for temporary housing for a few weeks or months while your spouse gets to a place where they’re ready to move. (Your company relocation policy, though, will likely encourage (and incentivize) you to complete the move as quickly as possible, so as to get you in place and focused on your new job).

Take Advantage of The Resources Your Company Offers

Most companies now outsource their relocation function to third-party relocation companies. You will typically have a dedicated counselor who will walk you through your relocation benefits and help you through every step of the process; for example, by coordinating the movement of your household goods or your homefinding trip. Your counselor is also there to simply listen to your concerns and to help allay any fears or reservations you might have.

Create a Positive Experience

Before you make the big move, visit the city once or several times with your spouse. Try to create positive experiences by:

• Visit cultural places like museums
• Go out for a special dinner
• Spend time walking/driving around the city
• Have a picnic in the park near your new home
• Find a festival or sporting event that your spouse enjoys

By following these tips, you can help reduce your spouse’s fears and anxiety and help prepare him or her for what lies ahead. Remember that while a new job might be exciting for you, your spouse might be anxious, nervous, and stressed out about your move. You’ve got to work all of that out together.

After two cross-country job relocations, author Jason Lancaster understands how stressful a relocation can be. Jason also writes for TRC Global Solutions, an international employee relocation service that offers free sample corporate relocation policy documents.

If you are wondering how to make the most of the professional networking event you are about to attend in a few weeks, the following tips can help you become more effective.

Research Rigorously

The very first step of ensuring that your trip to a professional networking event is successful is to prepare yourself for it around a week prior to the event. Find out who is attending the event. Which companies are being represented? What is the ratio of employers and those who are searching for jobs? How many CEOs and upper management professionals are expected? How long is the event expected to last?

Also, you may contact these people a week or so prior to the event. Ask them questions you think are appropriate – these questions may or may not be related to the upcoming event. Once you reach the venue, you will already know people there and this will make it easier for you to introduce yourself to people you want to talk to. This will give you an edge over those who don’t know anyone and will help you build networks faster and more easily.

Prepare Perfectly

You have to set certain things in order before leaving for the event. First comes clothing. The research you’ve done about the people attending the event and other details will help you decide the level of formality your attire must exhibit. When in doubt, it is preferable to be on the formal side than casual.

Carry items such as notepads, pens or electronic devices that will help you note down points between or after conversations with important people. Receptions at events often give out material to be used by the attendees, but they can’t be trusted so keep your own stuff.

Keep Company

The ability of starting a conversation comes very naturally to some people while others have to go through quite a struggle (much of it internal). If you consider yourself part of the former category, you must go alone to a professional networking event. Your company would do nothing but become an excuse for you to not interact with people at certain times. However, if you are part of the latter category, it would be better for you to take someone with you who gives you company at the event in a way that attracts more people to talk to you. People prefer talking to someone who they think is social rather than someone whose sociability they have no idea about.

Communicate Creatively

Creativity is one value that is always appreciated.

Use the nametags given out to you at the reception in a way that attracts positive attention. Present creative ideas to get people you talk to. Give them ideas related to whatever they are up to. This will show how you can be of use to them. However, beware of appearing as too pushy. If creativity doesn’t come to you naturally, converse in a conventional way.

Follow Up Faithfully

If you fail to follow up with the people you met at the event, consider all your efforts washed down the drain. Since you are the one in need of contacts, you must consistently make an effort to keep in touch with those who you think are relevant to whatever you are looking for.

Paul Cook writes for Masters in Accounting, a career resource for individuals interested in getting started in the accounting industry.

Whether you’re a contractor, a business owner or a virtual employee, working from home may be one of the best things happening for you. You can work at your own pace, your own hours. You can work in your PJ’s and no one will really care. You can set standards for yourself and be your own boss. But, while working at home can be fun, it may also drain you out or make you feel lazy especially with all the distractions surrounding you. Here are some simple ways of getting you back to your work mode.

Clear the clutter

Whether the clutter is in front of you or inside of you. Clear your mind. Visualize the task on hand. Make mental notes and tackle the day’s work. But before doing that, make sure that you have a clean, wide space to work on. Don’t let yesterday’s trash settle on your table. Throw old papers, finished documents, soda bottles from yesterday’s break and other clutter. Be sure that only work-related things are on your desk to keep you focused.

Prepare as if you are going to work

Sure it’s nice to work in your PJ’s or loungewear but making the extra preparation will make you feel more motivated and more professional. Simple things like taking a bath, fixing your hair and changing clothes will make a world of difference to your work attitude for the day.

Organize

Whatever organization method that works for you, do it. Make a list, keep a journal or make an online organizer. It’s fun to tick off tasks as you finish them. You’ll have a sense of pride and accomplishment at the end of the day when you see that you finished everything on your list.

Stop when you’re in a rut

Stand up, walk around, get something to drink when you feel stuck. Can’t solve a problem? Look out the window and watch nature or watch the people on the street going about their day. Then go back to your desk and you will be able to see your task in a different perspective.

Give yourself frequent breaks

Just like in a normal office, have coffee or tea breaks, bathroom breaks, 15-minute breaks or whatever break it is that you fancy. Take a power lunch if you have flexible working hours. You will feel refreshed and ready for action after each break.

Don’t get distracted

Just because you’re working at home means that you can sneak a TV show or two or check Facebook every 5 minutes. You have to be responsible enough to finish your tasks for the day at the given time. Don’t let friends and family distract you while you’re in your “work hours”. Inform everyone to treat you as if you are in the office during these times.

Start and finish your work on time

If you need to start working at 9 am, be at your desk at 9 am. If your work day ends at 5 pm then finish at 5 pm. Do not extend your working hours if you don’t need to. Many employers think that because their employees are working from home that they get cheated on the work hours. This is commonly not the case as people who work from home tend to work longer. This is because (most of the time) they don’t need to go out to eat, they don’t need to commute, they don’t need to catch a bus or a train to go home or they want to hurry home to spend more time with their family. All these things are no longer a problem when working from home so an employee tends to do over time work. Stick to your schedule. Don’t be tempted to go back to your work after you feel rested. This kills your creativity and can lead to burning out.

Reward yourself

At the end of the day, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. You can do small things for yourself like having an ice cream or watching TV (because you’ve been deprived all day). You can also go out to get some air and do a little socializing. Take your family to dinner or watch a movie with a friend. This is good for you as it gets you out of your work environment.

Working from home is very rewarding. You just need to have enough discipline, focus and motivation to keep you going.

If you are a contractor and looking for a contractor mortgage be sure to check out the best rates with Contractor money.

One rather delicate aspect of career advancement is having to request a raise every now and then. Unfortunately, there are many managers out there that have no intention of ever offering their employees more money, regardless of how hard they work. Should you find yourself working under such a manager, you are going to have to take the matter into your own hands.

You are going to have to come up with the right things to say, you are going to have to get the timing right and then you are going to have to pounce. Regardless of whether you like the idea or not, under some managers, doing so is the only way that you are ever going to get more money for your hard work.

If you are currently in the process of building up the courage to make your move, there are a few important questions to ask yourself first. If you can come up with the right answers, your chances of success will be greatly increased.

Do You Deserve a Raise?

First off, why the hell should they give you a raise? If your performance in recent months has been questionable to say the least, you are not going to be getting a raise regardless of how eloquently you request one. Therefore before attempting to negotiate a raise, you need to do two things. You need to make sure that your recent job performance indicates that you deserve one and you need to be able to prove it. General adjectives such as hard working and effective are not going to cut it, you need a list of specific accomplishments that you’ve made.

Will You Deserve a Higher Raise Next Month?

The best time to ask for a raise is often after you have completed a particularly long project or a particularly difficult task. It is of course during these times, when your value to the company is most apparent. Therefore if you are expecting to achieve something significant within the next few weeks or months, it is probably a good idea to hold off until that time.

Is Your Boss in a Good Mood?

Remember that when you are negotiating a raise, you are not going to be speaking to a robot. The person that you are negotiating with is going to be a human being just like you, one that has good days and bad. You don’t want to ask for a raise from someone who is having a bad day. Don’t put off the task for weeks on end but you should choose your time carefully. You will want to avoid asking him when he is busy with something, is stressed out about something or is simply in a bad mood.

Can Your Company Afford to Give You a Raise?

It’s important to remember that at times there is more at play than just your performance and your bosses mood. It doesn’t matter if you are the perfect employee and you absolutely deserve a raise, if the company you are working for is having financial problems, chances are you are not going to be successful. This point has never been more important than now as more and more businesses are facing an uncertain future. Should your company be experiencing such problems, you should probably put off requesting a raise until things are a little sunnier.

What’s Your Market Value?

It’s important to remember that you’re highly unlikely to be offered a raise significantly above what the market average is for somebody with your skills. You should therefore do your research and understand just what most people with your skills are getting paid. Check out nationwide salary statistics and ask anyone you know that does the same job as you what they are getting paid. Whenever you negotiate for a raise, you need to understand what sort of figure is a reasonable request. Asking for too little is pointless and asking for too much is likely to be just as counterproductive.

Are You Prepared for a Counter Offer?

Although you certainly don’t need to be an expert negotiator, you do need to be somewhat strategic. While your aim will be to get the largest raise possible, your boss will want to do the opposite. If you have been doing a good job, he will of course want to keep you around, but he will want to pay the lowest price possible for the privilege. You should therefore expect a counter offer. You can best prepare for it by asking for more than you are actually expecting to get. If you want a twenty percent raise, ask for thirty percent.

What do You Really Want?

Although the most common type of counter offer to receive when asking for a raise is a smaller salary increase, counter offers come in many shapes and sizes. Perhaps, you will be offered a more flexible schedule, the option to telecommute, or maybe even some more vacation time. You should prepare for these possible offers by deciding whether they are acceptable to you, before you are offered them. For some people, the only raise they are after is the financial kind, for others, a few weeks off would be very difficult to turn down.

Are You Going to Lose Your Temper?

Finally, when you have built yourself up to ask for a raise and you finally do so only to be turned down, it’s very easy to take the news rather badly. It’s important to remember however that just because you are turned down now, that doesn’t mean you won’t get a raise in the future. There is no reason why you cannot regroup, change your strategy and broach the subject again within a matter of weeks. If you lose your temper however, the game is very much over.

Sebastian is a financial advisor who gives information on how you can make your boss give you a raise as well as offers fundraising jobs on his website.

How does one go about starting up projects in today’s unpredictable environment—in an era in which information overload renders an objective and decisive analysis an impossibility, in a point in history where economic unease stifles companies’ willingness to invest in frontier innovation?  We have spent years’ worth of effort toward studying career entrepreneurs and the reasoning behind their capacity to generate new products, services, and business models where outmoded and ineffective methods of analysis, forecasting, modeling, planning, and allocating.

Some of the most intriguing and groundbreaking research is that of Saras D. Sarasvathy, an associate professor of business dministration of the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, whose in-depth study follows 27 career entrepreneurs, revealing numerous commonalities in behavior between them.  For example, instead of setting out with a goal already formulated, the ntrepreneurs stayed vigilant for opportunities that would emerge.  Instead of focusing on optimizing returns, they committed more energy toward determining acceptable personal loss.  And finally, instead of searching for perfect solutions, they were searching for solutions that work.

In short, successful entrepreneurs don’t simply have a different mindset, but rather they act immediately and often without regard for analysis.  In other words, they don’t rely on predicted outcomes—they create them.

Reasonably, this technique should not apply only to entrepreneurs with careers outside of traditional organizations.  We believe that any manager can, and should, use the same approach when confronted with the unknown.  The process requires only a few steps in reasoning, and is a low-risk approach to launching new projects.  These steps include:

Action, taking an informed step towards your goal

Learn, evaluating the outcome thus far

Build, repeat the previous steps until you’ve reached your goal and evaluate in terms of whether you can or should change your previous course of action.

We understand that acting before analysis—learning through experience rather than prediction—can be unpredictable and often messy, and of course, in opposition with most organizations’ strategies.  However, many small steps is proven to reduce risk in the long-term, making this strategy ideal for launching fledgling initiatives—a necessity for both companies trying to stay competitive and enterprising employees seeking fulfillment in their work.

Research indicates that entrepreneurs predict, plan, and model only when necessary.   In 2008, a survey suggested that only 12% of the company founders of the Inc. 500 underwent formal market research prior to launching.  Nonetheless, they didn’t succeed via reckless leaps of faith, either.  These successful entrepreneurs all tended to operate through small, easy, inexpensive steps that follow a certain strategy—a safe, low-risk approach.  The strategy is, as adapted for managers within organizations:

1. Use the means at hand—successful entrepreneurs gather resources prior to acting upon a new venture.  The initial, exploratory steps are informed by personal skills, background, and expertise, as well as any useful resources provided by personal and professional contacts at little to no cost.
2. Stay within acceptable loss—the act-learn-build action steps collectively are inherently low-risk, but not entirely risk-free.  So, designate beforehand how much time and money is an acceptable amount of loss in the case of failure.  Additionally, factor in the cost of passing up other work opportunities for the sake of the project, as well as the impact it will have on you and your firm’s professional reputation.  Verify that everything at risk could be lost without significant consequent.
3. Secure only the commitments necessary for the next step—in this process, you will encounter four types of people: those who want to see the project’s success, those willing to aid in the project’s success, those that will passively allow the project’s success, and those that wish to stymy the project’s success.  Don’t put effort into convincing the latter two to buy-in.  Instead of asking yourself how to get everyone committed to the project, ask yourself the least amount of commitment necessary.
4. Enlist only volunteers—If you’re moving forward, invest only in “make it happen” and “help it happen” people.  Those that will make it happen should be comprised only of volunteers that share your objectives.  Ensure they are committed to the project’s process.  Individuals will enlist when you prove you yourself are engaged with your work, are transparent, and have shown a collaborative spirit.
5. Identify your step as a business imperative, and ensure it will generate quick results—This will create a sense of quick momentum, and win over “help it happen” people (particularly, your employer).  Prove that even the first step has vital consequences, and build from there.  If your employer feels the proposed step exceeds acceptable loss, suggest a smaller step.
6. Manage expectations—don’t promise too great of outcomes, or make any big announcements at the time of launching.  Suggest that you are only take an exploratory step to generate evidence that will inform the next one.
7. Build momentum—as far as building action, career entrepreneurs have several successful tendencies: they act quickly upon positive results (in other words, if a step succeeds, they immediately execute the next according to our rules); they embrace negative results, obstacles, and disappointments as an impetus to alter a product, service, business, or objective before too many resources have been invested; they know when and how to use predictive analysis, even though most of their learning is through action.  As you require increasing numbers of organizational resources, you must predict and plan when possible, using evidence you have and will continue to generate through action.  Finally, savvy entrepreneurs know when to cut their losses: when their initiative is impossible, or when the risk of falling beyond acceptable loss is too high.

The act-learn-build strategy should be used employees from traditional workspaces, as well as entrepreneurs—it requires just one smart step. Managers can encourage entrepreneurial thinking by challenging team members to apply the aforementioned strategy to current projects, and draw attention and support to the results.  Share these results with other leaders within the company, and encourage their support as well, keeping in mind that opportunity costs should never exceed the organization’s acceptable loss.

About the Author: Sergeo is a published playwright and film producer who writes about filmmaking at Edictive, the film production application.