Five things to consider when you receive a counter offer

Five things to consider when you receive a counter offer by Amber Rolfe So you’ve handed in your notice and you’re ready to leave your job… But just as you’re about to clear your desk â€" your boss offers you a surprisingly lucrative counter offer. And whether it’s more money, more responsibility or a promotion, deciding whether to accept or reject a counter offer is never an easy choice.To help you decide whether to stay or go, we spoke to recruitment specialist  Optima, who shared five things to consider when you receive a counter offer:  What are your options? First things first, you need to consider your options.After planning to leave your current position, you may have another job lined up. And if you turn it down in order to accept a counter offer â€" not only will you risk burning bridges at the new organisation, you could also be missing out on a more suitable opportunity.So before rushing into anything, ask yourself why you’re moving on, and what the new job will give you that your old job can’t. More flexib ility? A role change? A new challenge? Then, figure out whether you can achieve of these things staying where you are.If you’re having trouble making a decision, creating a pros and cons list of what each option offers is a great way to put things into perspective.  Will accepting make you happy? The key to deciding whether to accept a counter offer is to think objectively â€" and long term.Although the money might seem like a good reason to stay right now â€" it might not be as appealing after a few months.Because whether its uncooperative colleagues, a lack of career progression opportunities, or an unhappy work environment â€" there are many reasons people may want to leave a job. And it’s not always about the money.If you’re considering a financial investment in the near future (e.g. a mortgage), it’s also worth bearing in mind that a longer period at one employer may help your application get accepted.What will your employer think? After sharing that you’re no longer interested in working for your employer, there’s a chance that your boss may question your loyalty â€" even if you do decide to stay.Aside from putting a potential strain on your working relationship, they may also avoid favouring you above other, seemingly more committed, colleagues.For example, promotion opportunities or big projects may be entrusted with someone else instead of you, and your job might be a little less secure.But remember: they asked you back for a reason. If it is a cause for concern, you can regain their trust and prove your dependability through hard work and commitment.  Do they really want you to stay? If you’ve been feeling underappreciated for a while, a counter offer might come as a bit of a shock.Aside from wondering why it’s taken a resignation letter (and not your consistent hard work) for them to acknowledge your efforts, you may also be questioning their intentions.For example, recruiting can be a long and expensive process â€" meaning a counter offer might not necessarily be a long term solution (for either of you). Instead, some employers might use your extended stay as an opportunity to look for a replacement.So before you turn down another job for a seemingly attractive pay packet and a hope that your current employer will change their ways â€" make sure they’re keeping you for the right reasons.Can you negotiate? If you’re thinking about staying, it’s worth seeing if you can negotiate. But before you do, you may need to consider a few things.Firstly, ask yourself if you’re actually in a position to ask for more money.For example, an employer is far more likely to consider upping their offer if they think the employee is great in their chosen field. On the other hand, if you’ve always received below satisfactory appraisals â€" the negotiation ball probably isn’t in your court.Secondly, you need to figure out what you’re worth. By researching the salaries of similar roles in the same area, you can find out the true market value for the work you’re doing â€" giving you good grounds for negotiation.How to negotiate salary  Will you be motivated enough to deliver? Accepting a counter offer often means you’ll be accepting more responsibility.So before you jump at the opportunity, ask yourself whether you can live up to the potentially higher expectations that come with an increased salary.Not only will you have to work a little harder, you’ll also have to do it in the same work environment you previously wanted to leave, without a promotion.That kind of motivation could be hard to muster, especially if you feel like your boss may be doubting your abilities after you handed in your notice.So make sure you’ve weighed up all the options first â€" and thought about your main motivations â€" before making any formal decisions.Still searching for your perfect position? View all available Optima jobs now.   Optima is an innovative global provider of human resource and business support s ervices. They have over 40 years’ experience of helping companies with their human capital management within Recruitment, Training and Management Development Executive Coaching.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. How to start looking for work

Tips on Your Objective on Resume

Tips on Your Objective on ResumeObjectives on resume are something that you should try to include on your resume, since this is one of the things which are considered to be some of the key elements that can help in gaining a job interview. Since an objective will be considered as an important feature that can greatly help in getting that first contact with a prospective employer. Here are a few tips on how to make this statement as strong as possible.You must include some kind of balance in your statement, since there are a lot of times when employers may wonder whether there is something written about their objective on resume is correct. You must try to address this issue by stating that you would like the employer to understand your vision. This is something which is known as subjective and should not be listed on the resume. You can say that you would like to be hired based on objective but try to stay on the objective in a rather favorable way.On the other hand, you can also men tion that you would like the employer to know your intentions from the beginning state. It is good to mention that you are not looking for a permanent position and that you are only here to apply for a temporary position, which can be required by many employers. In doing so, you should note that you need to be flexible and have other means of support while you are on a temporary job.You should state that you would like to be hired by an employer and that you are also aiming to get a job which is based on the objectives. You should write these objective on resume for a specific reason and even the actual employment status. You can just be here to work part time. This is a good option if you are running short of cash.The objective on resume will be better if you add some details about what you have been working on while working as a part time employee. You should highlight this and say that you have been using your own time to complete assignments which are related to the objective. T his is something which will be considered as a good point by most of the employers. You can say that you are working on some projects related to your objectives, which are connected to the objectives and this is a good option for the employers.You can also take some time to talk about your priorities while working on your objectives on resume. You should explain that you have a very good idea of your priorities and you have studied a lot about what you want to achieve. This can be a good idea if you are already employed and are aware of the priorities. It is also a good idea if you will consider your priorities after you get the job.If you do not have any extra funds, you can mention that you would like to work part time as the basis of your objectives on resume. You should also state that you are in a position where you will be unable to relocate. In doing so, you can highlight that you are not looking for permanent jobs and that you are just here to have a part time job. It will a lso be considered as a good option for those who are just starting out and do not have a lot of money to spare.While working on your objectives on resume, you should also state that you are working with a specific employer. This will be a good option for the employers and they will be able to read about the goals of the company that you are working for. If you state this, you will be able to get an increase in the chances of getting an interview for the position.

5 Reasons Why You Didnt Get the Job

5 Reasons Why You Didnt Get the Job You crafted a great cover letter, made sure everything in your resume was  in order, and landed an interview. Everything seemed to go smoothyl  during the interview and you came out feeling confident. You may have even  decided to put your job search effort on hold because you were pretty sure that you would get this job. A week later, you got an email from your prospective employer telling you that they had chosen another candidate for the position, but they would put your resume on file. What went wrong?! Well, it could be any one of a number of reasons. Here are some of the top ones it could have been. 1) The job description changed Sometimes, after conducting several interviews, the company may decide to revise the job description due to various reasons, including budget issues or changes within the company. As a result, they may alter  the required skills for the position and in some case, may even  scrap the job vacancy  all together. 2) You lost to a current employee You were competing for the position with someone who already worked there and the company ended up making an “internal hire”. This is actually fairly common. Sometimes companies allow existing employees to apply for job postings, and since these candidates are already working in the company, it is low-risk for the company to hire them. 3) You weren’t prepared for the interview You arrived at the interview a couple minutes late, which to you was no big deal. You showed up at the interview in jeans and sneakers, because that was the only clean outfit you had. You woke up late and didn’t have time for breakfast. You grabbed a bagel and a cup of coffee on the way and ate your breakfast during the interview (after all the interviewer told you that it was going to be a casual interview). These things might seem minor to you, but they are deadly mistakes that would cost you a job. 4) The interviewer didn’t think you were interested in the job You may think that everything went smoothly at the interview, but it is possible that the interviewer somehow felt that you were not genuinely interested in the job. This is often the result of not asking the right questions (or any question at all) during the interview or a lack of enthusiasm. To show that you are serious about that particular job it is essential that you demonstrate what you could bring to the company and how much you would appreciate the opportunity.   5) Your references weren’t prepared Employers often ask their candidates to provide references during the hiring process. Your references, if caught unprepared, have the potential to can cost you the  job opportunity. If you havent informed your references that you have included them  and your prospective employer gets in contact, it might have catch them by surprise, which could reflect badly on you. When listing someone as a reference, be sure to let them know and refresh their memory about any achievements you would like them to mention.

3 Office Accessories for Better Productivity

3 Office Accessories for Better Productivity Did you know that office workers can add different items to their office spaces to help them improve their productivity? To help you to understand how to improve your productivity, this article lists a few of the accessories you can add to your office to help you stay active and engaged throughout your workday. You Can Add a Houseplant to Your Office By adding a houseplant to your office, you can help to improve the indoor air quality of your business. When you work in an area with better indoor air quality, youll be able to feel better and be more productive. A better level of indoor air quality in your office can also help you avoid dealing with issues such as headaches. Moreover, clean air can help you to feel mentally better. The smells around you, although you may not notice them, may have a subconscious impact on your productivity. Keep in mind that cleaner air in your working environment can help you to feel better, and this cleaner air can give you a boost to your overall mental health. Office environments may have all types of poor smells, such as formaldehyde from new flooring or chemical odors from the heavy-duty cleaning products used by many professional cleaning companies. By having plants in your work area, youll be able to benefit from a work environment that has a higher level of indoor air quality. Many of the unpleasant chemical smells can get absorbed by plants cleaning up the air around you and replacing polluted air with clean and healthy air for you to breathe. You can find more resources online to help you understand the importance of indoor air quality. Add Some Decor to Your Work Area That Has Colors to Boost Your Mental Health Did you know that blue is a color that is often associated with clearer thoughts? You should be aware that adding some office decor with  the color blue can help you to remain more focused on your work, and, in turn, these accessories can also help you avoid feeling distracted. Something such as a painting on your wall that uses the color blue could help you to feel calmer and more relaxed during a stressful workday. Operate an Air Purifier for Better Indoor Air Quality Many modern offices can be filled with all types of dangerous chemicals. As an illustration, formaldehyde is a chemical that is often found in flooring. Although the research about the dangers presented by formaldehyde is complicated, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers formaldehyde gas to be a carcinogen, which means it is something that is capable of causing cancer. If you get and operate an air purifier, youll be able to eliminate some of these harmful chemicals that can be found in an office setting. Now that you know more about some accessories you can add to your office to help you boost your productivity, you can get started by prioritizing your purchases accordingly.

Resume Writing Services - Finding the Best Resume Writing Service

Resume Writing Services - Finding the Best Resume Writing ServiceResume writing services websites are the most effective marketing and recruitment tool in today's highly competitive job market. These websites are becoming more popular every day as more job seekers turn to them to get professional resume writing done for them. With so many sites available online, how do you know which one is right for you?The best way to determine which sites are best for your job market is to make use of internet forums. Job hunting and job searching forums are a fantastic place to start your search. There you will find an assortment of job-seeking topics that are centered around resume writing services. There you can interact with other job hunters and get unbiased reviews on different resume writing services.To avoid having a hard time deciding on the best resume writing service for you, you can make use of forums that are specifically set up for this purpose. Forums have the power to make or break your career in the very short term, so make sure you use it wisely. Instead of posting links to resume writing services online, you should instead post interesting forums to get ideas and opinion on the matter.Resume writing services websites offer the best of both worlds. You can also look for one that offers custom work on your project by approaching the experts personally and asking for a consultation. In this way, you can enjoy the service of resume writing but you are also able to customize the presentation of your resume.In addition to providing resume writing services, resume writing services websites also provide resume editing services. In this manner, the resume writing services ensures that all the text and formatting are correct and have a professional look. In fact, you can also ask for help from these professionals to prepare the CV.An increasing number of people who are searching for jobs are using resumes in their job market. This is because most employers prefer to see a well-written CV rather than a poorly written CV that do not convince the employer to contact them. This is where the job writing services come in to play, as they are the experts in convincing employers to contact applicants with resumes that are customized to suit their business needs.Resume writing services websites are useful tools as well. These websites offer custom resume editing services to boost the sales of your CV. This is a great way to increase your chances of landing the job and landing the perfect job.It is true that resume writing is something that requires expertise, time and dedication, but if you want to stand out in today's job market, you can look no further than using the internet. Whether you are looking for a freelance resume writer or a resume writing service, the resume writing services websites are great for finding what you are looking for.

Our next Chief Happiness Officer Academy is sold out - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Our next Chief Happiness Officer Academy is sold out - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Our next Chief Happiness Officer Academy in Copenhagen in June is already sold out with 25 participants from 14 countries and a long waiting list. Sign up here, if you want to be notified of future CHO Academies and learn all about the science and practice of creating happier workplaces. But the good news is there are still tickets available for our big International Conference on Happiness at Work in May. Its going to be 2 amazing days with a ton of inspiring speeches and workshops. Read more and see the full program here. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

What It Is Really Like To Interview In The Most Competitive Job Market In the US Silicon Valley

What It Is Really Like To Interview In The Most Competitive Job Market In the US Silicon Valley For most recent college graduates the technology sector is attractive. Silicon Valley seems like a really exciting place. Innovation is happening on a regular basis. Some of the companies those graduates might use every day came from there. The compensation seems really high. And the growth opportunities bountiful. And while all of these things are true, what no one informs you about is the hiring process in Silicon Valley. Because there is more competition entering the area, hiring becomes more strict. There are more “hoops” that you need to jump through in order to secure your role. In this guide I’m going to help you get a better idea of what you might experience when you go to an interview at a technology company in San Francisco and ensure that you are well prepared for what you’ll experience in the sessions themselves. High degrees of competition make the hiring process more important The San Francisco population grew to nearly 884,000 people in 2017, which is a massive sum for the city that is only ~45 square miles. That’s right, only 7 miles wide! The attractive nature of job opportunity has led many seasoned veterans and recent graduates here. And its the smartest and most talented people in the world, arguably. And while there are plenty of available jobs, there is steep competition for being able to secure those jobs. And Companies in San Francisco recognize this. So they’ve decided to spend more time ensuring they are hiring the correct candidates versus hiring any and all candidates. Because of this, Companies have built up a system for vetting their candidates from the phone interview stage to what they expect to hear from you after the interview, to the technical interview stage. For the average person, these interviews can be quite tiring. And what you should expect is a great deal of discussion and mental testing that you might not have had before. What the process is like The process of interviewing at a technology company in San Francisco is like going in a lightning round boxing match. Expect at the end of it, you will be extremely tired. Your eyes will feel as though they are weighing heavy, you will be questioning every piece of communication that you made, every answer that you said and hoping it all works out. You’ll feel as though you want to take a nap right after. While most job interviews have you interviewing with one, maybe two of your colleagues that you’ll work with, technology jobs often have you interview with 5-8 people. Each one of these discussions lasting about 30 minutes in length each. They’re back to back as well, and take up at least half of your day in total. That’s a lot of time spent having someone ask you questions regarding your experience, your process, the way you work, why you like the company and much more. It can be quite stressful. It’s imperative to know that each one of these interviews has a specific goal in mind from the employers standpoint, they are interested in learning about your communication skills, interested in learning how well you’ll work with your team members, and interested in learning if you are passionate about the company and the companies sector. All of which you need to be prepared for in advance of their questioning. Technical interviews are more intense While the process above describes the general nature of what it’s like to interview with companies in Silicon Valley, if you are a programmer or software engineer or IT manager, the process is even worse for you. You may have to sit down with another engineer and whiteboard out equations or solutions to problems that the employed engineer is asking you about. This can feel quite stressful because you are being asked to perform in real-time and you are doing so against a whiteboard versus your computer. Paired-programming sessions is another way this technical aptitude test happens as part of the interview process. This is when an engineer sits down with you and your screen is shared with them. And together you go through a technical problem that you are being asked to solve. The other engineer then gets to see how you work. Meaning they can understand what types of questions you ask to get a better sense of what you’re building. And they can see how you navigate application structures to get started or if you write tests against your code to confirm the functionality. These technical aptitude sessions are on top of the other sessions that you might have. And by the time that you sit down with another engineer to have these sessions, you’ll most likely be quite tired already. Ensure that you are applying to a technology company and position that fits within technical programming languages you are very familiar with. Because you’ll essentially want to be able to “code in your sleep”. Preparation truly is king OK, so every article about preparing for a job interview tells you that you should prepare. Yes, that is true. But what they don’t exactly tell you is how to prepare yourself for the types of qualities you are being tested against for technology companies in particular. In your interview sessions you will tested against these things: Your knowledge of the companyYour communication skillsYour experience in the role you are applying forYour experience working with agile technology companiesYour experience working with teams similar to theirsYour personal career goals That somewhat sums up the area’s you are going to be asked about. The best thing you can do is to try and read through the lines when you are in an interview session and determine which one of the above questions your interviewer is trying to answer. Remember that they’ll have to go back to the other team members you spoke with and relay what they learned. The clearer you can make the statements, the better off you’ll be. But in order to be clear about your statements you have to know what the interviewer is looking to learn. And that they don’t tell you. You’ll need to do your best to figure out what they want to know and try and proactively provide that to them. Come to the interview prepared to speak about yourself in a clear, concise way. Be sure you have a “pitch” ready (a pitch is a short, powerful sentence) regarding your personal value and your background. The shorter and more impactful the statement is, the better you’ll be perceived. Ensure that you know the founders history. Often in technology companies, founders have a vision for the company that they are proactive in sharing. Be sure you are clear on what that vision is, you will be asked. Then be sure that you are prepared to speak about the companies sector, too. That means you’ll have to spend time learning about what category of business they operate in and what conditions their market is in. For example, if they are in the social media business, you’ll need to be able to speak about companies like Medium, Twitter, Facebook and more. Your own perspectives on those businesses will be a powerful statement piece in your desire to be part of the Company. But remember, every other potential candidate is also preparing in this way. So take the time to go above and beyond as it relates to your opinions and how well they align with the companies values. Expect a slightly confusing day but have confidence in your preparation The reason I recommend being extremely prepared is so that you are confident in your performance at the end of the interview session. You may not hear back from your future employer right away, as they often are interviewing multiple candidates and reviewing those candidates as a group. That can take some time to wrap up. While you wait, you’ll be questioning your own performance. Remember that you came prepared and you did your best. Have confidence that the right opportunity will line up. Patrick Algrim is a writer on Algrim.co, a blog dedicated to helping young professionals land the job of their dreams. Specifically, we help recent graduates get jobs in the technology sector. The world is a big place; one step at a time.