😀 How to find a job you’ll actually like

by Alex Funkhouser

Finding happiness at work is complex, but flexibility, decent pay, and a good company culture are essential elements. Here’s how to find them.

I’ve worked at Fast Company for more than a decade. My colleague Lydia Dishman, one of the other authors of Work Smarter, has been here for more than 15 years. In a career landscape where many switch jobs every few years, clearly we’ve found something about our jobs that has made us stay.

If, like me, freelance isn’t for you, but—also like me—you value flexibility, a large part of being happy at work will be finding a job that doesn’t require you to be in the office eight to nine hours a day, five days a week. Writer Michael Grothaus collected the best flexible jobs in America right now that both let you work remotely (at least some of the time) and still pay well. 

For many of us, finding a “good job” can be a lifelong pursuit. At its most basic level, a good job should provide economic security, economic mobility, and equity, respect, and voice. But dig a little deeper and what those things mean for individuals can be different depending on your circumstances and personality.

Read the complete Fast Company article BY KATHLEEN DAVIS: https://www.fastcompany.com/91020019/how-to-find-a-job-youll-actually-like

🧠 How Do I Negotiate My Salary When I Get a Job Offer?

by Alex Funkhouser

The first step in any negotiation is to approach the conversation as a collaboration instead of a power struggle.

Q: How do I negotiate salary when I get a job offer?

A:  It took me an embarrassingly long time to even realize that I could and should ask for more money when accepting a new job. But, as awkward as it can feel, you don’t get what you don’t ask for. 

Knowing whether the company is a lead payer or a mid-market or low payer also can inform how much you’re likely to get.

The first step in any negotiation is to approach the conversation as a collaboration instead of a power struggle. Try statements like “I would love to understand what the opportunity is to get closer to this salary,” or “What is the flexibility in your salary range for this role?”

Those statements open up the conversation rather than shutting it down with a simple yes or no.

Read the complete Fast Company article BY KATHLEEN DAVIS: https://www.fastcompany.com/91015069/how-do-i-negotiate-salary-when-i-get-a-job-offer

💵 How to negotiate your salary for any job – even if you don’t have a lot of experience

by Alex Funkhouser

During the interview process, it’s important to not only negotiate your salary but your benefits.

Salary negotiation is a crucial step in the interview process. You risk losing a lot when you don’t ask for more. And yes, even if you do not think you have the leverage, you should still do it. Here is a complete guide to negotiating, especially if it is your first job

How to negotiate when you don’t have much experience

If there’s one thing that’s arguably more nerve-racking than a job interview, it’s negotiating your salary. And if you’re a recent graduate or someone who wants to change careers, the stakes can feel even higher. How are you supposed to convince someone you’re worth more when you have next to no experience?

“I tell people to speak with someone in professional associations. Those folks normally have their ear to the ground,” she says. Instead of asking “how much do you make?,” however, Twillie suggests that job seekers should frame their question in the following way: “I’m considering this position in this city, and I’m thinking my value is $86,500, what do you think?”

When you’re just starting out, you might feel like you have to accept the first offer, but if you do, you’re doing yourself a massive financial disservice. As Fast Company‘s Lydia Dishman reports, not negotiating your starting salary can set you back more than $500,000 by the time you reach 60. It’s also common practice for companies to low ball initial offers because they expect that job seekers will negotiate.

Read the complete Fast Company Article BY SABINE CHERENFANT: https://www.fastcompany.com/90749904/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-for-any-job

🚚 5 ways to decide if you should change jobs in 2024

by Alex Funkhouser

Are you just frustrated with your work environment? Or is the problem the actual work you’re doing?

It’s been one of those days. You’ve been toiling away on a project you don’t care about for weeks when your coworker dismisses everything you did in front of your boss. This, after they refused to help, lounging at their desk, shopping on Amazon. You tally the satisfaction that work provides you, and it scores zero. You want to quit, but it’s hard to discern if you want to abandon your job or the field entirely. 

Before leaving a job or field, ask yourself why you want to leave and why now, advises career expert at LinkedIn Catherine Fisher. “No one loves their job every single moment of every single day, but if you feel like you’re struggling more days than not, it could be time to switch things up. Ask yourself if there are ways to improve areas of dissatisfaction, and what would make you happier.”

This feeling of wanting to run can be common. In 2021, the United States had the highest quit rates in 20 years. Employees cited crappy pay, no opportunities for advancement, and overall disrespect as reasons for their leaving. A 2022 study performed by Gallup found that worldwide, 60% of folks were emotionally detached from their jobs. Nineteen percent reported being outright miserable.

While job dissatisfaction can be fleeting, many of us can remain at a job we despise for years without making a move, especially when we can’t figure out if we just dislike the gig or the entire occupation. 

Read the complete Fast Company article BY JAY DEITCHER: