Research can provide salary ranges
I keep seeing ads in the paper asking for my salary requirements. I never know how to answer this correctly. Should I just say I am flexible and let them tell me what they are willing to pay? Provide what I made at my last job? I hate to do this because I was so underpaid. How should I handle this persistent question?
It is interesting that how I advise job seekers today is quite different than how I would have advised candidates 10 years ago. In the past, I might have advised to just say you are flexible and ask the interviewer what the range is for the job. If you could live with that salary, you could say ``perfect. That's well within my range."
Today, interviewers are really looking for you to provide a salary figure, especially if they are human resources personnel conducting a search for one of the company's managers. They have been given a range by the manager or a salary figure has been otherwise established.
They do not want to waste their time or yours. They really want you to provide them with a salary figure. If they are willing to pay in the mid-30s and you are looking for the mid-50s, you are not the right match for this job. If you leave the question blank, you are considered non-responsive and the company will probably eliminate you from the competition.
One thing you can do is conduct some salary research. Talk to people who are doing similar jobs. Ask them what a salary range would be for someone just entering the field. Meet with a job counselor or coach and ask what salary you should ask for. Use the Internet; an excellent resource is rileyguide.com. Click on ``salary guides" and then ``A-Z index" for a list of occupations and salaries. This data gathering will help you respond to this question in an informed way.
The other critical exercise is for you to compute a salary ``floor" that you could not go below and meet your living expenses. It is very important for job seekers to do this. There is no point in pursuing a job that does not cover your living expenses or has no potential in the future to do so.
First job key: Know
what sort you want
I have an MBA which will be two years old come August . While I was completing my degree, I took a teaching job because the local economy didn't seem to support MBAs. Now, I want to use my degree and I'm having a hard time finding a position that will pay me what I'm looking for ($60-70K) or doesn't get scared off by my MBA. I'm looking in both the public and private sector. I've hired a job coach. I'm networking with friends. I've posted my resume to job boards. And I'm checking my school's career services resources. I would like to have a new position before the fall as I would rather not return to the classroom.
You are doing many job search activities well. However, the most important job activity of all is to articulate what kind of work you are looking for. Perhaps there are several jobs that you might be able to do well but you have not stated them in your letter to me. You are letting a degree and a salary requirement drive your search. That is the wrong way to go about a job search.
You need to identify at least a few types of jobs that you are qualified to do and that you would like to pursue. Remember the jobs are where your skill level, interest, and market needs intersect. Do your research to ensure that these jobs will pay or have the potential to pay in the range that you are looking for. Then go after the job.
Craft a resume that will represent your skill level and experience for each type of job that you pursue. Go after the job. Think about how your MBA degree will enhance your performance on the job. Be able to articulate that on job interviews.
Employers are not going to hire you because you have an MBA. They are going to hire you because you are the best candidate for the job. You must convince them that is the case.
Ailments put gaps
on his resume
I keep getting asked about the gaps of unemployment on my resume. I'm afraid if I tell the truth, I would not be considered for employment. The reason is because I went into renal failure. I was on dialysis for 18 months, received a kidney transplant, and went back to work within two months. I went back to work too early, but I thought I was ready. I was fired from a temp job after five months. I continued to temp at different places but now I am ready for full-time employment. How do I handle the gaps and all the temp jobs on my resume?
First of all, congratulations on making such a wonderful recovery! You should be very proud !
My recommendation is always to tell the truth. When asked about the gaps, I would simply say that you were ill, had surgery to correct the problem, and now you feel great and can't wait to get back to work full time.You don't need to elaborate. I would then move on to the next question.
In regards to all the different temp jobs, I would group them together and say ``temp work" on the resume, and provide the dates, for example 2004-2006. Then list the significant temp jobs where you worked for at least three to four months at a time, particularly at well-known employers. This presentation will help the resume look more focused and less busy.
Put a positive spin on these various temp assignments during the interview by saying that you were exposed to different corporate cultures, management styles, and projects and that has given you a lot of depth in your work. You know that you will be able to make a contribution immediately wherever you go.
Prepare for pink slips
before they're dealt
I just got the ol' pink slip at my company. Though I am not particularly surprised, I have to say it still took my breath away. I am a real control freak and absolutely panic at the thought of not having any income coming in. Have you got some tips about what to do financially when you lose your job?
Yes, thanks to Michelle Singletary, author of ``The Color of Money" column and author of ``Spend Well, Live Rich" and ``Your Money and Your Man." Singletary says that when you get a pink slip, you should:
Collect all unemployment and severance benefits you're entitled to.
Maintain cash reserves in a money-market fund. She warns us not to tie up severance pay in long-term investments. This is cash you could need right away, so keep it as liquid as possible.
Maintain health insurance. Though this is a significant expense, especially if you have to pay for it by yourself, it is well worth it. Having a medical emergency and no medical insurance could be financially catastrophic.
Cut expenses.
Make minimum payments on credit cards. As soon as you resume working again, make larger payments to reduce your debt.
If you own a home , arrange for a home-equity line of credit to get you through tough times. Do this only as a last resort, but it could provide you with a cushion if you need it.
Do not tap your retirement plans unless you are desperate. You not only are withdrawing your retirement funds, but you will have to pay a 10 percent penalty for withdrawing them early.
And, once you find work:
Start an emergency fund. Pay yourself first before you pay anyone else each paycheck. This fund is not for vacations or for holiday gifts. It is to meet emergencies. If you could save three to six months of living expenses (more for a mature worker) in case you lose your job, it will take much of the financial pressure off you.
Make sure you have enough life, health, and disability insurance.
Pay off your high-interest consumer debt such as your credit card bills.
Prepare a monthly budget and live by it.
If your company provides a matching contribution to your retirement savings plan, do what you have to do to qualify for all that money.
Invest the rest of your money wisely in savings vehicles that you understand and are comfortable with.
I urge all readers to really think about this advice. I cannot tell you how many job seekers I see who are not prepared for job loss or retirement. In the June 2004 MassInc. report called ``The Graying of Massachusetts," the average savings in 401(k) plans for individuals 55 and older was $55,000. It is never too late to begin to save.
Joan Cirillo is the executive director of Operation A.B.L.E., a nonprofit that provides employment and training opportunities to adults ages 40 and older. E-mail questions to jobdoc@globe.com or mail to Job Doc, Boston Globe, Box 55819, Boston, 02205-5819. 
