Tag: Prepare

How To Ask For A Pay Rise

Posted on by Beth Ridley

Talking openly about money has always been a complicated subject that many people shy away from. To some, asking your employer for a pay rise is considered cheeky; the idea is unfathomable; how could you ever ask for MORE money?! Asking for a pay rise is 100% acceptable in most work environments. As an employee, you should be compensated fairly for your hard work, primarily if you have worked the same role for many years without a pay increase.

Be prepared to plead your case.

Before you consider setting up any meeting with your manager or supervisor, you must prepare your reasoning for the pay rise. Think of why you deserve a higher salary. Have you completed a big project? Doing the job of more than one person? or maybe you have done something so well within your role that it has brought more money into the businesses or positively impacted similarly. 

Make sure when you do this that you bring actual evidence of your accomplishments with you, whether it’s data proving you’ve helped the business grow or copies of projects you have completed since your time at the business.

What is considered a reasonable salary increase?

A reasonable salary increase lies at about 10-20% of your current salary; the percentage of increase should reflect the reasonings for your pay rise, as well as how long you have been with the business and your experience within the role. Asking for more than a 20% increase in your current salary can be slightly unrealistic, especially if you’re new to the business/your industry.

Time it right

Don’t ask for a pay rise on a hectic Monday morning when your boss is stressed and in between meetings; the result will more than likely not be positive. Your manager will feel bombarded and pressured, which is not the mood you’re looking for when asking for more money.

Use your initiative and time it right; schedule a formal meeting with your boss. This gives you time to prepare effectively and creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Even if you usually are chatty and informal when talking to your manager, use this time to get your formal head-on. Not only will it be easier to get your points across, but it will also display confidence and seriousness, which will take you seriously.

What if they say no?

Sometimes a pay rise isn’t always possible for justified reasons, such as the business struggling financially; if this is the case, it’s time to explore some other options for the time being. If a pay rise isn’t possible, always ask why and when one may be possible; always ask for a time frame for this, as it lets your employer know that the possibility of a pay rise will still be on your mind.

Alternatively, if a cash pay rise isn’t possible- explore other options and perks your employer might offer you, for example, a few days extra holidays or flexible working options for a greater work/life balance.

If you aren’t satisfied with the outcome of your pay rise meeting, you must think about your career prospects. Maybe a new role may be your only option for you if a salary increase is the only option for you right now.

Even though it’s difficult and a little awkward, asking for a pay rise shouldn’t be shameful; the topic of money should be more transparent within the workplace, especially with the UK’s financial struggle as a result of the pandemic as well as the ongoing energy crisis.

Don’t be hesitant to raise the possibility of a pay rise if you believe your efforts at work warrant one.

 

 

 

How To Prepare For A Job Interview

Posted on by Beth Ridley

Job interviews can be highly nerve-wracking; it’s normal to sit twiddling your thumbs the night before the big day because you imagine where you might slip up, or what if they don’t like you?

‘Just relax’, well, that’s easier said than done. The best thing you can do to calm those pre-interview nerves and come across as your best self is to prepare as much as you can.

Prepare, then prepare again.

Preparing for the interview not only allows your nerves to calm down a little but also helps to build your confidence pre-interview.

Suppose you don’t know what you’re going to say in the interview; jot down a few key points about what you expect to come up with (think classic interview topics),  have a browse of the most common interview topics over at Indeed, 31 Common Interview Questions and Answers | Indeed.com UK. In that case, you can even prepare some questions to ask in the interview beforehand. Check out our blog post about what to ask in an interview: https://www.zenithpeople.com/what-questions-should-you-ask-in-an-interview/

Prepare and take an ‘Interview Cheat Sheet’, AKA your notes. To remind you of some key talking points you think you will forget throughout the interview.

An excellent tip to help build your confidence (especially if you think you may stumble over your words), is to speak these questions aloud, role-play if you will. You could do this online or even ask a friend to help out and conduct a mock interview. Mock interviews are also a good way for you to practice how you naturally display your body language. Positive body language is essential in an interview as sometimes we don’t realise how our body language is being portrayed to others.

Eat, sleep, and…plan your commute?

Try to eat a good breakfast before the interview, as well as a good night’s sleep the night before. Not only will this make you feel more refreshed and less groggy, but it will also help to ease some of those feelings of anxiety, stress, and dread for the next day.

Also, make sure you plan your commute! Work out how you are going to get to the interview, whether you are going to drive, walk, or use public transport. It’s also a good idea to work out how long the commute will take, and allow extra time if the interview location is slightly farther afield than you’re used to.

If you dress the part, you will feel the part, dress accordingly as per the role/business you’re applying for, and wear clothes you feel comfortable in. Take a look at our article about what to wear to a job interview for some helpful tips, https://www.zenithpeople.com/what-to-wear-to-an-interview/

If needs must, picture them naked.

Your interviewers are human; just like you, there is no need to type them up to be these giant, scary monsters that just interviewing you to catch you out somehow. You have landed the interview because you’re qualified, and the employer clearly thinks you and your skills would potentially be a good fit for the role. They just want to get to know you better.

The age-old ‘Picture them naked’ trick seems to work in finding people less intimidating- so it’s worth a shot. Oh, and don’t be scared of other candidates; they’re also human and probably will not give a completely flawless interview.

Building your confidence is one of the best things you can do before a job interview; you may not feel 100% confident (nobody ever is), but you will be able to display enough confidence for the interviewer to pick up on this, furthering your chances of landing the job.