Land Your Dream Job (And Your Dream Paycheck)

Victoria Merriman Founding Partner, Digital Loom

What’s scary to you?

Amy Cuddy clip

Power

Power = success in. . .

Sizing up the culture Selling yourself Negotiating your salary Landing your dream job

Sizing up the culture

“Women look for a workplace that appreciates what they bring to the role and demonstrates compatible values.”

Laura HendersonHow Women Lead: The 8 Essential StrategiesSuccessful Women Know

Culture Fit

For employee:second only in importance to salary.

For boss:can be more important than skill set.

Culture Fit Exercise

Interview the Job

Bring your questions Be nosy Ask to meet the team

(A good boss will only think more highly of you.)

Stalk Them!

Glassdoor.com The boss’s Twitter The company Facebook page Employees’ LinkedIn Etc. etc.

Selling Yourself

Character +

Skills

Selling Yourself

Character

Be as authentic as possible

Skills

Selling Yourself

Character

Be as authentic as you can

Skills

Fake it till you make it

Authenticity

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”

Brené BrownThe Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

Authenticity clip

Fake it till you make it

Have a portfolio. Even if it’s a fake one. When asked, say you can do it.

(Assuming you want to learn.) Offer to prove yourself!

Power PosesQuickTime™ and a

decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Power Poses

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Selling yourself =

Listening & Asking

Negotiating salary

"If you think of a $100,000 salary, and one person negotiates and gets $107,000, and the other doesn’t, what is the cost of that? In a simple-minded way, some people say, is $7,000 really worth risking my reputation over? And I agree, $7,000 may not be worth your reputation.

But that’s not the correct analysis, because that $7,000 is compounded. If you and your counterpart who negotiated are treated identically by the company—you are given the same raises and promotions—35 years later, you will have to work eight more years to be as wealthy as your counterpart at retirement. Now, the question is: $7,000 may not be worth the risk, but how about eight years of your life?"

Margaret A. NealeStanford Graduate School of Business

2 Negotiations

Bob 9 months experience

Knew Drupal module development but not theming

Asking salary: $88,000

Expected salary for experience level: <$65,000

2 Negotiations

Linda 8 years’ experience

Connections in our field

Asking salary: $55,000

Expected salary for experience level: >$75,000

What did Linda do wrong?

Gave a number right away.(Never do this, even if asked!)

Made assumptions about what the company can afford.

Got over-excited about the position.

Didn’t go in with a well-researched number in mind.

Researching salaries

Salary reports

Ask others who do your job

Ask owners/managers in similar firms what they pay

Running theme: don’t be shy talking about money!

Salary Calculator

Always. Negotiate.

When we make someone an offer, we always aim low because we are expecting a counteroffer.

A mistake both genders make!

Lifestyle-based negotiation

“I made $X at my last job, so that's what I'd like to make now.”

“I have a mortgage and two kids’ college tuition to pay for.”

“I need 4 weeks' vacation because I go away with my family to Maine every summer.”

Negotiate in the boss’s terms

Company-centered negotiation

“I don’t need training, so I’ll be profitable right away.”

“I do need training, so I’m willing to start at a lower salary assuming we can revisit in 3 months after I’ve proven my value.”

“I can already see places in your process that could be more efficient.”

“Hiring me will save money by _____”

Don’t forget. . .

Time off and benefits have value too.(Ahem. . . Salary Calculator!)

Email is your friend. Temporary discomfort of negotiation is

better than long-term discomfort of a crappy job or low salary.

One last thought

Women are better than men at negotiating on behalf of others.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Thank you!