How To Talk About Money in An Interview:
What To Do Before The Meeting
Last Updated: 4/24/2024
We're taking a deep dive into the topic of money, specifically in relation to your professional growth and career development. This comes as part of our open-door series for The Move Up Mindset Career Community we’re doing in January and February. Normally, these sessions are exclusive to our premiere members, but we've opened up the doors a bit this month for everyone interested.
As a hiring expert with over two decades of experience in talent acquisition, recruitment, and sourcing, I've seen and learned a lot when it comes to discussion about money, which is always among the most popular topics asked by professionals and job seekers.
Here is a recap of the three things you need to do BEFORE you start talking about salaries, money in an interview setting:
1. Do Your Due Diligence
It's crucial to do your due diligence before these discussions. When I talk about research, I don't mean just scouring a couple of popular websites. The research should be multifaceted, encompassing different data points and perspectives. It also involves having open conversations about salary expectations with various people in your professional circle. Interestingly, I've observed a shift over the past decade or so, where people are more candid about their earnings and financial expectations, which I think is great.
However, while talking to friends and peers is good, it's also crucial to get informed perspectives from mentors, previous managers, or third-party recruiters who have an intimate understanding of salary ranges. It's also worth checking out online courses on money and interview preparation like the one in the Move Up Mindset career community.
2. The Need for Holistic Research
As you research, ensure you're using both anonymized and verified sources of information. Websites such as Glassdoor and Indeed which provide anonymized information are handy, but remember to corroborate this information with verified sources. Utilize websites that give verified data points from wage surveys across industries and public sources for federal and academic institutions.
3. Self-Reflection and Practice: The Two Hidden Keys
Another crucial aspect of preparation is self-reflection. Understand what you value in terms of compensation. Consider not just the monetary aspect, but also other attributes like time off, job satisfaction, learning opportunities, and more.
Lastly, practice the conversation. This is an overlooked part of the process, but it can make all the difference. Try a mock interview with someone who can give you informed feedback. This could be a mentor, an HR specialist, or even a coach.
The Art of Advocacy
Negotiations can be tricky and often people feel sheepish about asking for more. However, you should always advocate for yourself. Remember, no one else will look out for your interests like you will. It's better to get it right upfront rather than trying to course-correct later.
As we wrap up, remember, you don't have to do this alone. Leverage the resources available to you, both within The Move Up Mindset Career Community (click to learn more here & sign up for our premiere Membership) and beyond. And as always, feel free to ask questions, share your experiences, and let's navigate this journey together.
Written by Mary Despe
Identifying Your Personal Board of Advisors: An In-depth Exploration
Last Updated: 1/31/2024
Hello there! We're going to delve deeper into the concept of a personal board of advisors. We're going to take a closer look at our board, understanding the importance of alignment with who we are, our personal brand, and how we can effectively engage with our advisors. So buckle up and let's dive right in!
After identifying your preliminary list of advisors, it's crucial to scrutinize this list and ensure that the beliefs and interactions of your advisors align with your personal brand. Your personal brand is more than just your skills and job title; it embodies your values, experiences, reputation, and interactions, among other facets.
Your advisors should understand your brand because they play a significant role in your life—they're not just cheerleaders, but gatekeepers to opportunities and introductions that can help you flourish. Now, let's look at the five areas where your advisors should align with you: authenticity, credibility, visibility, service, and social proof.
Authenticity is crucial. Your advisors should know and understand your work, your values, your stand, and your true work style. They should accurately represent you when they introduce you to other people.
Credibility is another critical trait. Your advisors should be knowledgeable about your work and appreciated in their own fields. Their insight and advice should be valuable and helpful.
The visibility factor is equally essential. Your advisors should help expand your network and influence. They should introduce you to others, suggest opportunities and put you in high-profile meetings.
Service refers to your advisors' role in communicating your value to others and furthering your cause. They should be proactive in their approach and willing to extend themselves beyond offering their expertise.
Lastly, social proof. Your advisors should be aware of your achievements and willing to commend you publicly, thus enhancing your reputation.
In conclusion, when finalizing your personal board of advisors, consider people you trust, people who genuinely support you, advocate for you, help you grow, and align with your brand. Remember, it's not a one-way street; while they add value to you, you should also bring something to the table to create a reciprocal relationship. So, keep these points in mind, and you'll be on your way to constructing an effective personal board of advisors.
Written by Mary Despe
Nailing Your Job Interview: The Y3P Career Blueprint Approach
Last Updated: 1/24/2024
Hello again, we’re sharing some content that we’ve developed for The Move Up Mindset Career Blueprint course, out on Teachable, focusing on performance, specifically as it relates to interviews.
Our philosophy is that career advancement is a journey. We call this the Y3P Career Blueprint—Y representing You or your personal brand, and P standing for Portfolio. In this course, we're looking at performance and later cover another crucial area: People. We know that there are many dimensions to performance as you navigate your career, but in this foundational course, we'll focus on preparing for interviews.
If you've taken other classes with us, you'll know we're big into reflection and preparation. This course is no exception. Before launching into your interview preparation, it's essential to understand your current interview performance. It's always beneficial to evaluate how you fare in these types of situations.
We'll be guiding you through aspects to consider as part of your routine, before, during, and after the interview. One tool that can be immensely helpful is conducting a SWOT analysis on yourself. If you're unfamiliar, a SWOT analysis is a framework that evaluates the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats related to an idea or opportunity we hope to bring to market. In this case, we're applying it to your candidacy for job opportunities. For many, the concept of comparing their background with others in the open market or candidate pool might seem uncomfortable.
However, this comparative analysis can provide valuable insights into how your profile aligns with what a company might be looking for. This process might reveal areas of improvement or uncover attributes that you can highlight during the interview. In addition to SWOT analysis, it's crucial to continually review your accomplishments, receive and reflect on feedback, and keep your professional reputation at the forefront of your mind during your interview preparation.
Some candidates have found it helpful to journal their interview experiences, noting reactions to their responses, body language, and the types of follow-up questions asked. This course aims to provide comprehensive support and guidance as you prepare for job interviews. We want to hear from you! What has worked well for you in interviews? What areas do you feel need improvement? Please feel free to share your experiences and thoughts either in the comments below or via direct message. Happy learning!
Written by Mary Despe
Mastering the Interview: Decoding Interview Frameworks
Last Updated: 1/19/2024
We’re sharing some lessons about popular interview frameworks shared within our 'Move Up Mindset Career Blueprint’ online course, available on Teachable. Today, we're diving deep into the world of interview frameworks. As a job seeker, understanding interview frameworks is a game-changer that could significantly increase your chances of landing that dream job.
An interview framework is essentially a structured format that helps you organize your responses to questions asked by a potential employer. When used effectively, these frameworks can help ensure your responses are concise, relevant, and impactful. They can help you deliver your responses in an organized and succinct manner, ensuring you communicate your experiences and skills effectively without going off on a tangent. Let's explore three different interview frameworks that you might find handy in your job search journey.
1. The STAR Method
The first method is the familiar STAR method, a widely taught interview framework in the United States. STAR is an acronym, with each letter representing a specific point to touch upon in your response: Situation (S), Task (T), Action (A), and Result (R). Your goal is to describe a situation you were in, detail the tasks involved, elaborate on the actions you took, and highlight the results you achieved. This method is great for showcasing specific examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles.
2. The PSIL Method
The next method is the PSIL (Problem, Solution, Insights, and Learnings) method. This framework is particularly useful when asked to reflect on past experiences or to discuss how you might approach a situation differently. Start by describing a problem (situation) you faced and the solution (actions) you applied. Then delve into the insights you gained and the lessons you learned from the experience. This method shows potential employers your ability to learn and adapt from past situations.
3. Smart Stories
Our final framework is 'Smart Stories,' an approach advocated by the global staffing and outplacement company Randstad Risesmart. The acronym 'SMART' stands for Situation, Metrics/More, Action, Results, and Tie-in. This method is particularly useful when employers are seeking detailed responses with specific examples and data points.
By understanding these frameworks and practicing your responses within them, you can walk into your job interviews with confidence, knowing you have a clear and structured approach to articulate your experiences and skills. So, get practicing, and we talk about this topic in future articles.
Written by Mary Despe
The Do's and Don'ts of Job Interviewing: Insights from Mary
Last Updated: 1/10/2024
Hey everybody! Mary here and I'm excited to share some valuable tips about what to avoid when interviewing. Drawing on years of experience, I've identified key areas that can significantly impact the final impression you leave with a potential employer.
1. Avoid Badmouthing Past Employers or Colleagues
It's essential to keep conversations about previous workplaces or colleagues professional. Discussing challenges you've faced is fine, but remember to do so in a logical and professional manner without resorting to excessive negative emotion. Instead of focusing on individuals who may have wronged you, try to frame the conversations around the conflicts or the behaviors that were in conflict with your expectations. This will show your ability to navigate challenging situations without seeming overly negative.
2. Always Have Questions Ready
It's essential to keep conversations about previous workplaces or colleagues professional. Discussing challenges you've faced is fine, but remember to do so in a logical and professional manner without resorting to excessive negative
emotion. Instead of focusing on individuals who may have wronged you,
try to frame the conversations around the conflicts or the behaviors that
were in conflict with your expectations. This will show your ability to
navigate challenging situations without seeming overly negative.
3. Be Mindful of the Questions You Ask
Avoid leading with questions about the company perks or benefits. Instead, focus your questions on the work, the team, potential projects, and expectations for the role. Questions about benefits are not off-limits, but they should not dominate your query list.
4. Be Conscious of How Your Questions May Be Perceived
Be careful to avoid questions that may suggest you're not fully committed to the role or the company. It's important not to seem overly eager for promotion or greater compensation before you've even started the role. It’s good to ask about progression opportunities, but don’t make this the focus of your questions.
5. Avoid Filler Questions
Finally, avoid asking questions just for the sake of it. A common mistake is asking if there's anything on your resume that would prevent you from getting the job. Not only does this provide little valuable information, it can also come across as a roundabout way of asking if you're about to be offered the job.
In conclusion, the key to successful interviewing is to demonstrate your professionalism, ask meaningful questions, and leave a positive impression that aligns with the role you're excited to take on.
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts or any go-to questions you might have. Thanks so much for tuning in!
Written by Mary Despe
Unveiling the Y3P Career Blueprint:
Your Pathway to Success
Last Updated: 1/3/2024
Picture this – a blueprint for your career, a strategic plan that highlights the key areas that will propel you towards professional growth and success. Sounds intriguing, right? Welcome to the Y3P Career Blueprint, a concept that we've developed and refined within The Move Up Mindset Career Community. This framework focuses on four critical aspects that contribute substantially towards career advancement and professional development. So, let's dive in and explore these components in depth.
You: The Foundation of Your Career
The letter 'Y' in our Y3P blueprint stands for 'You'. You are the central piece in this puzzle, the core of this blueprint. It primarily represents your professional image, your reputation, and your personal brand. It's about what you project to the world and how you want to be perceived. We delve deep into understanding and unleashing your personal brand's potential, examining the elements that shape your beliefs, behaviors, and actions within the professional sphere.
Portfolio: Documenting Your Expertise
The first 'P' of the Y3P model signifies 'Portfolio'. This component encompasses the tangible proof of your skills and experience - your resume, your LinkedIn profile, your personal website, and other representations of your expertise. Your portfolio is like a visual storybook, showcasing your professional journey and demonstrating the depth of your knowledge and abilities.
Performance: The Proof of Your Professionalism
The second 'P' stands for 'Performance'. This measure stretches beyond your job performance and includes your conduct in various scenarios like job interviews, contributing to teams, participating in community groups, or speaking at industry conferences. Your performance is a multi-faceted element, reflecting not only your primary technical skills but also your ‘soft skills’ like interpersonal communication and your ability to function within a team dynamic.
People: Building Your Professional Network
The final 'P' in the Y3P blueprint represents 'People', denoting the relationships and connections within your professional network. The company you keep can significantly influence your career trajectory, so we emphasize the importance of nurturing these relationships. This part of the blueprint covers networking strategies, both offline and online, and the importance of maintaining long-term relationships. We also discuss the idea of a 'personal board of advisors', a network of individuals who can provide diverse perspectives and guidance for your career progression.
The Y3P Career Blueprint is flexible and adaptable to all stages of your career. Whether you're a fresh graduate or a seasoned professional, these four components remain essential, though the challenges within each area may differ. Striving to achieve a balance in all these areas will surely set you on the path to success in your professional journey.
Written by Mary Despe
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