Waiting on that raise that never seems to come… A friend recently told me that he was expecting a raise soon simply because "I haven't gotten one in the last 2 years." There was no direct reason - no one had told him about this supposed upcoming raise, and he hadn't done anything major in the last few months to expect one. He simply expected that one would come, particularly because he hadn't received one in his entire 2 years there. I always wonder about this kind of thinking because, from the way I see it, employers are never lining up to give people more money. If you're waiting around for your boss to give you a raise for no specific reason, you're going to be waiting for a long time. A raise doesn't come simply because you've worked somewhere for a specific amount of time or because you haven't received one - you have to earn a raise and, even when you do, you probably still have to ask for it. It's no secret that an employer is going to try to pay you as little as possible. I don't mean this in a mean way - I'm just saying that they aren't going to go out of their way to pay you more than they have to, simple as that. This especially applies to those of you waiting on that raise you haven't received yet. Think about it - why would your boss give you more money to do the same exact job? What would be in it for them? Whether you're deserving of a raise or not, it's not going to come at the drop of a hat. Employers are not looking to give away money that they don't have to, so if you continue to wait for them to offer you one, you may be waiting a while. If you think you deserve a raise, let your boss know and give your specific reasons. This can include examples where you have increased productivity, saved them money or even how you trained new employees. Providing specific reasons is the key to getting your pay increase. Remember everyone wants more pay and greater benefits. A pay rise is just like a negotiation. You have to provide something in return to receiving something. If you can prove to your employer that you are worthy of a pay increase your employee is more likely to give you one. One last thing. If you feel you deserve a pay rise and have evidence to support your argument, don't be afraid to ask for it. A lot of people sit quietly and say nothing to avoid "rocking the boat," and they have the mindset that a pay rise will eventually happen on its own. Don't let this happen to you. You deserve to get paid as much as you can.

Don't let the media and the news put you down. No matter how bad they say it is companies are always looking to hire the best available staff. If you have the right skills and passion, there will be a job waiting for right around the corner. You just need to remain upbeat and positive. Below is a list of things you need to do in order to help you through the job search process… Keep a routine: Don't get into the bad habits of waking up late, sleeping in the afternoons or procrastinating around the house. Get up at your normal time, eat properly and get some exercise (walking is free)! Volunteering at a church, hospital, homeless shelter or non-profit organization will open your eyes to people who are less off than you and give you a sense of contribution. There is no greater reward than helping people who are less fortunate than us. Stay up to date with what's happening in your industry: Don't let yourself fall behind just because you're not working. The best approach is to learn more about your particular industry. This way you will be ahead of your competition when it comes time to interview. Explore potential new careers: It's never too late to try to learn a foreign language or a new piece of computer software. I remember working with a senior archaeologist of 10 years experience who came to me wanting a change in his life direction. After 6 months of learning Spanish and then travelling through Spain for another 6 months, the senior archaeologist is now a junior English/Spanish translator! Positive Thinking: Do not focus on the negatives - you need to be able to bounce back. Concentrate on the skills and knowledge you have. Sitting around saying "what if" all the time is only going to further depress you. Support Group: You may feel as though you're the only person in your situation without a job, but guess what - you're not. Reach out to people for support. There are many groups that provide excellent assistance in the areas of resume writing, interviewing, and job hunting. Aside from the secular groups, there are also many faith groups ready to offer you a supporting hand. Don't feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. Let people help you change your life. Avoid negative people! Negative thinking is of no value to you. You need to be around positive people and people who can have a positive impact on your life. Network: maintain contacts and stay in touch with people. Make sure you network with positive people!! Again, avoid negativity. Negative thinking does nothing to help your situation. Last but not least - manage your expectations. Not every job you apply for will be a success. Don't be put off by this. Instead, concentrate on the positives and look at what you achieve each day. For example, you could have applied to 3 great jobs, connected with 2 people who are great resources or maybe you found a course or book that will help to improve your skills. Don't give up! Jobs don't find you, you find them!

Before you ask for a raise, the most important thing you need to remember is that you need a reason for asking for one. An employer is not just going to hand out extra money to you because they like you - you need to give them a compelling reason to do so. Basically, you need to give them something that exemplifies your hard work and that shows you are a positive asset to the company. Think of a few ways for doing so - below are just a few examples: Arriving on time on a consistent basis No employer likes workers who show up late - ever. If you consistently come to work early or on time, your boss will definitely take notice of this and will appreciate your punctuality. You've already given yourself a head start. Taking on an extra work load Volunteering to do more than what is expected of you helps to build your reputation within the company. You will be recognized as a leader, as someone willing to help out and as someone who can be counted on. You may also gain some valuable experience within other departments, and extra knowledge never hurts. Employers love this type of employee, and will be more likely to go the extra mile to keep them on board. Keeping track of your performance There is nothing better than being able to show concrete examples of how you have benefited the company. Have sales dramatically increased since you came on board? Do you consistently meet or exceed your targets? Of course, some people argue that taking on an extra work load or working overtime is a negative because you allow the company to take advantage of you. Well, like it or not, this is how the world works. If you want to stay in the same position year after year, do the minimum, but if you want to move up, putting in that extra effort will be required of you. Raises are not free handouts for everyone - they are reserved for the ones who put in the extra effort.

Many times, job applications go entirely unnoticed. A friend of mine recently tried something new because she realized she wasn't getting any interview requests. Like most people, she would search through popular websites and apply for jobs straight away, always including a personalized cover letter and resume. Then she'd wait and "hope for the best". And nothing happened. It was at this point that she started re-applying for the same positions. And guess what? She received a couple of invitations to interview. This is not the first time I've heard of this happening. In this age of emailed applications and very little personal contact, it's hard to figure out why the interview requests are not coming. Of course, this has a lot to do with the quality of your resume and cover letter, but sometimes it can also be just because of plain bad luck. In some cases, your application could have just gone unnoticed through no fault of your own. Below are some of the reasons for this: Bad timing You could have simply applied at the wrong time, literally. A hiring manager could have opened your email while in the middle of something and then simply forgotten about it a minute later. It does happen. Your application was accidentally deleted Do you ever quickly go through your email list and hold your finger down on the delete button? You're not the only one. If a hiring manager is posting advertisements on job websites, the probability of their receiving spam emails is quite high. They could have accidentally deleted your application. Too many applications A lot of times, hiring managers will have a stopping point for accepting applications. They either received too many or they've already narrowed the list down to just a few candidates. Whatever the reason, they won't bother to delete the advertisement, and they might automatically delete your application. It is not uncommon, however, for them to become dissatisfied with their applicant pool. When this happens, they're not likely to review the same applicant pool from before - they'll focus on the new applicants. My advice is to always try again because you never know what may happen. I am not suggesting that these scenarios happen all the time, but they do happen somewhat frequently, so give yourself the benefit of the doubt.

Phone interviews are becoming increasingly popular as a means of narrowing down candidates for a more traditional face to face interview. In the ultra competitive society we now live, a job advertisement can attract hundreds of resumes from candidates with similar set of skills and backgrounds. The recruitment process is all about finding the one perfect candidate among the basket full of candidates. The phone interview has become a popular, flexible, inexpensive and speedy way of finding that one person. Preparing for a phone interview Before you begin your phone interview make sure that you are confident in your understanding of the position you are applying for and the company you are applying with. Do extra homework on the company's history and research recent company news. Preparation is the key and will make a great impression on your interviewers. Prepare your Interview location. Make sure you're in a comfortable place with no distractions. Keep your resume in clear view, have a pen and pad to take notes and a glass of water sitting close by. Minimise any outside distractions that could potentially take your mind off the interview (HOT TIP: Disable call waiting on your phone). Dress the part so you feel and sound professional. The more professional you feel the more professional you will come across on the telephone. Most importantly - Practice Interviewing. Rehearse and Practice. There are many ways to help you prepare for the telephone interview. Have a friend/ family member conduct an interview. Ideally, rehearse with someone from the same industry. The best way to hear how you sound is to tape yourself. Remember the more preparation you put into the interview the better prepared you will be. Preparation is the key! Write down answers to questions you believe are going to be asked. Have questions ready to go so when the interviewer says "Do you have any questions to ask us" you're ready and prepared. What to do during the phone interview Remember to Smile. Experts say that smiling puts you in a better state of mind and will project a positive image to the listener Speak in a steady voice. Don't rush what you're trying to say. Ensure that you sound enthusiastic and passionate. Don't forget to breathe. It will help you stay calm and sound more relaxed. LISTEN - Answer the questions which are being asked. Do not make the mistake of telling the interviewer what you want to tell them. Give them the answers to their questions. Keep a glass of water handy - Nothing is worse than having a dry mouth Address the interviewer in the appropriate way. Do not shorten people's name. They are your potential employer not your "mate" Take your time - Don't rush the interview. This is your time to shine. If your feeling nervous take a moment or two to collect your thoughts "Cheat Notes" Prepare beforehand with notes to help drive you through the interview. If the interview is going to be technical than have notes ready to prompt yourself if needed Don't forget to ask questions. (For tips on the best interview questions to ask go to the "Tips from the Pros" page of www.redstarresume.com) What NOT to do during the interview • Don't eat, drink, chew gum • DO NOT SMOKE • Don't interrupt the interviewer. • Don't answer with just a "yes" and "no"- elaborate your answers, provide examples if applicable • Don't be too Casual/informal • Long winded answers to questions Conclusion The only way to master a phone interview is to practice, be professional, and show your passion for the job role. Remember you have made the phone interview stage so don't blow your interview by not being ready.