Archive for the 'Tristen S.' category

How to Get That Raise

Mar 23 2012 Published by under Tristen S. 

by Tristen S.

Hey everyone, it’s been a while since my last post and I know you missed me ;)

I’m going to delve back into the world of job searching after this post but in the meantime, last week’s #MillennialChat discussion on getting raises/promotions had me thinking…

So it’s your first job, heck maybe even your second job and you don’t know how to ask your boss for some extra moolah but you feel like you deserve it. I was in that same boat last year.

People kept telling me I was doing a kick-ass job but I felt under-compensated for all of the work I was doing. Lucky enough Mika Brzezinski, co-host of my favorite show, Morning Joe, put out a book called “Knowing Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You’re Worth” around the same time that all of those feelings came around. The book made me feel totally empowered and put me on the right course. Pick one up, seriously (even if you’re a dude).

Money, Money, Money

flickr photo by borman818

I felt completely inspired after finishing the book and made a course of action that put me in the right mind-frame towards earning what I felt my value was. Here’s an abridged version of that plan of action which I feel can be transferrable towards most industries:

1) Set Up a Review: It’s always important to know when you’re eligible for a review. This is a good platform for you to present your case as to why you deserve a better (and ehhemm higher) compensation. Get one on the books, and start your groundwork.

2) Prepare Your Boss: I wouldn’t go ahead and completely blind side your boss at your review and demand more money, instead, give them a heads up a week or so before the appointment that this is a topic you want on the table.

3) Advocates: You are of course your own best advocate when it comes to speaking about your work and successes however it’s always beneficial to have more people in your corner who can speak to your awesome job performance. Be able to tap them not only for advice, but also for recommendations as you prepare your case.

4) Prepare Your Case: The budget is tight in most offices, especially if you’re working in the non-profit sector like some of my colleagues in the #MillennialChat. That being said, regardless of your company’s financial state, you need to be fully prepared to discuss why you deserve more moolah. What helped me out mucho was building a Powerpoint presentation charting my big wins for the company. This isn’t something you need to do, but it’s always great to have the information written down in some capacity.

An important lesson that you learn in the marketing and ad world is that every objective needs to be measurable. So if your objective is to get a raise, point that out in the presentation and tell them how much more $$ you’d like to get – whether it’s by a percentage or dollar amount.

Without overtly throwing people under the bus, compare your performance with others around you both people at the same level as and those higher than you. This helps to establish a benchmark of what you’re actually getting done on behalf of your company. I also pointed out some errors that I either made or avoided and the ways I was able to effectively get around those.

Go back to your advocates and ask them to put together a short letter about your overall job performance. This is something that I popped into the end of the Powerpoint presentation with some pictures to try and lighten the mood some more.

5) The Review: I kind of took the reigns of my review and was the one to lead off. That won’t always be the case, I was just really close with my bosses and they knew what was coming their way.

Keep everything light-hearted and fresh – money is a difficult discussion, especially when there isn’t much of it to go around. If your boss is the lead-off, sit patiently, listen intently, heck even take notes of what they’re saying about your performance in case your short term memory is crappy. Of course by this point, being the masterful presenter you are, you’ve already gone through and practiced your delivery of this awesome document numerous times. So now that it’s the big show, be confident, not cocky, and walk through your case. Have hand-outs of the presentation and ease through everything nicely.

Remember, this is all about maintaining positivity and firm preparedness! I presented my case to my bosses and got that sweet raise. If you go through all these motions and don’t end up getting what you asked for, just take a breather and remember that it’s okay! At this point what you should do is set up a list with your supervisor of benchmarks to achieve before the topic of getting paid more is brought up again.

Of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me on Twitter, @Tristens!

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New Year… still looking for a New Gig?

Jan 19 2012 Published by under Tristen S. 

by Tristen S.

So it’s a new year and that means job opportunities are starting to open up! Last we met you were busy cleaning up your online profiles and had your eyes set on finding a sweet new gig.

Here are some more quick tricks to help you land your next (or first) job:

1) Make a business card: There are a bunch of sites out there such as vistaprint.com or moo.com that allow you to make a couple hundred free business cards and you’ll only have to pay for shipping and handling. They’re a minimal investment and will help you out when you’re meeting people in your industry. No need for some weird title like, “CEO, biatch.” Try something along the mature route of “Recent Marketing Grad” or “Young Tech Pro”. I included info like my major, interest, email address, blog link, and social media links.

Having a business card is incredibly beneficial and you’ll have no idea how helpful they really are unless you follow the next steps…

2) Networking: This might seem like the obvious one in the bunch but it’s imperative for someone who is not working to quit sulking, get off their butt, and actually get out there to meet people. Look up different associations in your field such as PRSA (for those out there interested in public relations) or check out sites like Meetup.com where you’re bound to find an event of interest. A lot of networking events provide free or discounted booze as an incentive to attend so don’t feel silly if you spent the night schmoozing with a little extra liquid courage but don’t get completely sloshed.

I recommend having 1-2 drinks – seriously.

3) Follow Ups: So you spent a night passing out your fresh new business cards and collecting a few for yourself. It’s incredibly important that you follow up with everyone that you meet. Send an “it was nice meeting you and talking about ____” email and add the people on LinkedIn. Make sure any messages you send helps you stick out – bring up whatever interesting topics you discussed, even if it’s about your common love of border collies.

Social Media Camp 2009- Social Media for the Job Search

flickr photo by deanmeyersnet

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To learn more from or connect with Tristen, follow her on Twtitter – @TristenS
You can also follow the rest of The Millennial Chat Team here.
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How are you beginning your search for a job this year?
What steps are you taking?
We would like to hear it! Join the discussion on our Facebook page, or tweet at us!

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Looking for a New Gig?

Dec 07 2011 Published by under Tristen S. 

by Tristen S.

Me too and the news is pretty hopeful.

The US Department of Labor reported an increase of 120,000 jobs during the month of November (a New York Times article details it here) and there’s nothing but improvements coming our way. If you’re as impatient as I am, and if I know anything about #millennials it’s our inability to sit idle too well, rest assured that you’re lucky enough to have the right tools with which to amplify your career prospects.

Something I find most interesting about our generation is the ability to make navigating the internet look like child’s play. Members of older generations might consider this skill to be borderline stalkery, but for the incredibly lucky members of our generation who grew up using computers full-time, we know that the only thing holding you back from a role on a CSI show is your overall lack of acting ability. Adversely, this wonderful ability can also be a hindrance to your job searching if you’re not handling yourself properly on the internet.

That being said, it’s best to use your knowledge of the interwebs to enhance your over-all job searching.

Here are three quick tidbits of advice before you start disseminating your resume:

  1. Know Your Footprint: Do an audit of yourself online.
    Perform a quick Google search of your name and be sure to use quotation marks. If you’re unaware, the use of quotation marks in a search makes the query an absolute. If you’re a John Smith type, hold your pre-emptive self-congratulations. You’re no easier to hide on the internet than the rest of the John Smith’s out there after you provide additional details such as where you’re from, or you went to school. Entering “John Smith,” “Stamford, CT,” “U. of Whatever” will tell me a lot in a search engine.
  2. Self-Edit: So you’ve figured out what kind of websites your name is tied to – now what?
    First of all, you need to ask yourself what kind of things would you like associated with your name. It’s probably not pictures of you doing a keg stand, or a link through to an unsavory website. Leave the college years in college. Remove tags and associations with groups that lost their funny-factor, and ask friends (or blurry acquaintances) to remove pieces of content (photos, notes, etc) that may not show you in your best light.
  3. Become an Expert: While the internet has given us things like LOLCat.com…
    it has also given us a stronger ability to self-educate. Figure out who the prominent people in your field of interest are and learn from them. Stay up to date with the latest and greatest in your field and be able to speak to them. Remember folks, a college degree will only get you so far.

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To learn more from and connect with Tristen, follwer here on Twitter – @TristenS
You can also follow the rest of The Millennial Chat Team here.
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How have YOU controlled your presence online?  Do you have a set of personal guidelines when determining what you post and what you don’t post?
Comment below or join the conversation on our Facebook page!

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