Increase your salary just by asking!

What if you could increase your compensation just by asking? Would you? If you've been in the job market for a while, and you finally get a job offer, your first reaction is likely, "Hooray, an offer!" The last thing you want to do is put it at risk. Isn't that exactly what you'd be doing if you started to negotiate?

What if you countered, "I was hoping the offer would be a little higher in the range for this position? What can we do about that?" You must be practiced and prepared to remind them, in bullet points, all the reasons hiring you is a good investment. Smile, breathe deeply and don't stumble. Keep your voice calm and confident. There is a big difference between begging and negotiating. Be clear which you are engaged in.

Know that 80% of the time, the offer starts low -- in anticipation of negotiation. Failure to negotiate leaves money behind, money the employer was prepared to give. Is this scary? Yes! But what have you got to lose, except thousands of dollars a year?

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A new job search strategy that may work for you

Shifting priorities and streamlining realities have eliminated many salaried positions in today's evolving job market. The unavoidable trend is that companies are using outsourcing, freelancers, temporary and part time job classifications as a more efficient and profitable way to get things done. 42% of companies that have used outsourcing services claim it has benefited them financially. Outsourcing is not going away anytime soon. With that said...

Making a career change can require adapting to temporary job contracts that don't come with a full package of benefits. If you insist on a career position that comes with all the perks, you may already be losing the competitive edge to those who have learned that independent contracting and freelancing strategies can offer viable options that may take you relatively quickly out of the ranks of the unemployed.

The idea is to become the go-to person that companies want to outsource to. Instead of a job hunter, you position yourself as the specialist that companies look for when outsourcing a specific project. Repackaging your existing skills into transferable or "re-purposed" alternative career avenues can prove a valuable strategy for repositioning yourself in today's hyper-competitive job marketplace.

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Correcting the misperception of a normal job market

It would be reassuring to believe that today's job market is just like the ones of the past, only tougher. If that were true, we would at least know the rules of the game. Unfortunately, however, it's not. The rules have changed, and we must adapt if we want to succeed. Historically, the skill set you had in your last job was sufficient to find a new job. All you had to do was update your resume, send it out to a bunch of employers, do a little networking and bitta-bang, bitta-boom, you would land a job!

Today, the opposite is true. If you are in transition, the skills you had to be effective in your last job are not sufficient to find a new one. These days you have to reinvent yourself. Update your skill set and add it to your resume. Such a notation demonstrates that (a) you understand the importance of always getting better in today's workplace and (b) you take personal responsibility for doing so.

Those two attributes will help to set you apart in the job market and restart your career. Looking for a job in the current environment is definitely frustrating. What's happening today is simply proof positive that the rules of the game have changed. If you change with them, you'll have what it takes to turn what used to be called failure into the modern definition of success.

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Resume writing is not a skill but an art

SCOTTSDALE, AZ -- Having spent a the last 6 years in the Staffing, Executive Search industry and a solid 20 years prior to that in the Corporate World - I have developed quite a flair for reading resumes. Here are a few common questions that my candidates ask me:

Should I write my own resume using available templates? Professionally formatted resumes can make the difference between being employed and remaining unemployed. Resume writers can charge between $100 - $500. Templates are also available free or better ones are available from $20 - $50. Remember that the objective of the resume is to get you an interview.

How many pages should my resume be? Resumes are like a calling card or a business card. They should be clear, concise and at the same time be able to tickle the curiosity of the hiring manager. Pages will vary depending on the role and experience of the candidate.

Do I modify my resume for the role I am applying for? Most certainly! You cannot lie or mis-represent yourself in any way but you should highlight certain components of your resume depending on the role requirement and your actual experience.

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