Fashion Career Expert: Maria Pesin

Thinking Big Makes For A Big Career

I am reading a book called "The Magic Of Thinking Big" by David J. Schwartz, PhD  I must say I am really enjoying it.  The premise is as the title suggests that there is magic in thinking big.  Dr. Schwartz discusses how expecting the most and believing in yourself can create amazing results.    He states "When you believe, your mind finds a way to do it."  That makes tremendous sense to me.  Think about something you wish to accomplish.  If you decide you are going to do it than your mind starts to come up with strategies to achieve your goals.   If you decide to have big goals than your mind will strategize to reach those big goals. 

Dr. Schwartz also writes about how fear impacts your ability to acheive big results.  If your afraid and have doubts than it is hard to reach your goals.  One way he suggests fighting the fear is throught action. He says "Action cures fear".  Profound words for profound results.

So look for his book and like myself you can learn a lot on Thinking Big!!

Looking For a New Job

It is time to go.  You have achieved all you can achieve.  You are stagnating, not paid enough or maybe just bored. But you know it is time to look for a new job.  Depending on what level you are the search for a job can take a week to 18 months.  You need to plan your campaign.  What steps do you take?  The first one is brushing up your resume.  Your resume is your calling card.  Make sure it is in the best shape possible.  Show it to the professionals in your life and get their opinion.  If you can afford it have one professionally done. 

The next step is to network.  Hopefully you have been doing this all along.  So all you need to do is contact them and put the word out.  Make sure it is to people you trust as you don't want it getting back to your place of employment.

Tell me about your successful job searches and how you went about it and the outcomes.  I would like to hear and publish your stories.

Part 2 on Monday.

 

How To Negotiate For Your Salary At An Interview

Wow!  This is a place where I see many people make mistakes.  The unfortunate thing is you make your best deal going in.  So if  you screw up here you live with the consequences for years.  See the following list for tips.

1. When you are first starting out salary is not important, rather the kind of learning and room for growth the company offers is.  So that is what you negotiate for.
2. Once you have experience and can contribute to a company, continue to negotiate for growth, but now you can also negotiate your salary and benefits.
3. When asking for the salary you want, look the person in the eye and firmly state your price.
4. Never hem and haw,  don't justify it unless they are not in line with the salary you want.  Then you are selling them on why it is to their benefit to hire you and at the salary you want.  Hopefully you have already sold them and the salary is just a detail.
5. Never, never give a range.  Such as $50,000 to $60,000.  Because the person interviewing only hears the $50,000 and the $60,000 is not even on the table.
6. Also now is when you negotiate your benefits.  For example 3 weeks vacation as opposed to 2 weeks.

Work hard to get the salary you want.  However if the job is amazing, then it is always worthwhile to be flexible on the salary.  Amazing jobs are few and far between.