So What Are You Worth?

One of the things that my epic job search has thrown up is the salary debate.  What am I worth?  What are others with comparable skills worth? What are those with less skills worth?  And even more importantly what will employers pay?This debate is so wide open as there are so many factors that influence how salaries are determined.
One of my friends has had to recruit a number of junior level staff in the past few months and the types of demands she has been getting are something of an eye opener.  If you want to get rich marketing in professional services firms is not going to make you super rich but they're nothing to be sniffed at either.  As companies are now on the up following the recession many are having to stump up more and more dough to keep people or inflated job titles so that people stay put just that little bit longer.
Lots of people with very little marketing experience (under 3 years) are now so delusional that they think they should command salaries in the mid 30's+ range.  Not being funny but for a junior marketing role where the buck ultimately won't stop with them that is just plain greedy.  What is the world coming too?  I guess some people nowadays have inflated egos and have lost sight of reality - something I think applies to lots of aspects of life not just salaries.
With my job hunt the salary debate has been interesting.  I am happy to drop a few k for the right role but some agents have wanted to me to drop almost £10k which would set me back years in terms of clawing my way back to where I was.  Others have said things like the salary bracket has a 10K variation and if the client offers towards the lower end you would have to take it - never heard such a ridiculous statement in my life.  The interview process is a bit like dating - a two way thing including the negotiation part.  Come to think of it if I see dating like that maybe that's why I'm always the single one :).
Anyway, take a look at some of the salary surveys  to get a view on what is going on out there.  Most of the recruiters do an annual thing each year namely as a way to have more evidence in order to turn up the heat so that people get more and more money and they get more and more commission.

200 NOTW Staff Made Redundant Right or Wrong?

Wow, what a crazy few days.  It has to be said that I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a newsfeed NOTW to close this Sunday.  My Sunday's will change forever. What will now be my newspaper of choice?  I can't become a cardigan wearing middle England type Mail on Sunday reader even if the You supplement is nice.

The thing that has struck me though is not just the appalling activities of a few immoral people but the huge knock-on effect it has had on people who ultimately were not involved. Of course my condolences go to the families whose privacy was so intrusively trampled on. But my sympathy also goes out to those 200 or so NOTW staff who through no fault of their own directly are facing redundancy.

How must they feel as the main person who presided over this era not only has scaled the ranks to the top of the News Corp tree but also is the only one who will remain in place keeping her job. Not only are the soon to be redundant staff in shock at the loss of their job but in a predicament where they probably can't stick their head above the pulpit and voice their anger as it may prove detrimental to any settlement they receive and Rupert M is ruthless enough to take them to the cleaners by hiring the best lawyers  in the land to protect his company.

Being subject to a 90 day consultation period may be a good way for News International to stop any dissent. Also any redundnacy payouts will certainly be clouded in confidentiality agreements in terms of talking outwardly to the public and stifle freedom of speech that the NOTW so staunchly campaigned for.
Will be interesting to see what insider comments surfaces online in the coming weeks.  Anonymous bloggers and tweeters giving an insider scoop - I wonder if any super injunctions will be used to identify them and stop them. In fact in the Independent I have seen a few comments from staff who have been named so hats off to them for doing that. There are times when principles are more important than money.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on this matter but would be great to hear yours as this saga is going to run and run.

Top Ten Things I've Learnt Whilst Being Unemployed

What a beautiful day.  The sun is out, I've had a lie in to get over some bug I seem to have and just had a message on my phone saying that I've been invited to an interview.  The third one that I have in the offing so result. So as my job hunt mood is good today I thought what better time to write the ten things that I have learnt while being under employed

1. Have a routine
My week day routine involves getting up by 8am.  Not too early but early enough for half the day to not suddenly flown by.  Ok today I got up at 10 but I try not to make that the norm.


2. Make friends with your jobcentre adviser
Strangely my job centre adviser has now become my friend and we tend to have fun chats.  Ok he can't actually advise me about my job search but he seems enthralled by the type of marketing that I do. Our past few discussions have been about Government cuts and how their job centre is over budget and cutting back all over the place. Last week their water dispenser was removed in order for candidates to have appointment cards. Things really are getting that bad.  He also said that in terms of people chasing up on things it'll take them six months to a year at the moment as they are so behind.


3. You can't job hunt 24/7
Unlike what the latest Government says whereby they tag all job hunters with the same lazy tag, I firmly believe that you really cannot job hunt 24/7.  A few focused hours each day is more than adequate before you lose the actual will to live.

4. Still lead a normal life
Being unemployed or being made redundant no longer has that stigma.  The days of having a job for life are long gone and now our workforce is having to be more flexible.  Don't hide or be ashamed, loads of fab people have been out of the work in the past few years and with employers still worrying about our economy many more will surely be headed that way. What was it I heard on the news today - four major retailers have gone into administration in a week.

5. Exercise
The one constant that I try to do for a few hours each week.  Exercise is certainly a happy pill and leaves you wanting to take on the world with gusto.  Plus boxing also helps to release anger when people may have annoyed you.


6. Use your own network to hunt for that elusive role
I have got a job through my personal network so don't overlook the power of who you know.  Often jobs aren't advertised or you may have just missed it.  Talk to many and you never know what you may uncover.

7. Seek the advice of a professional
Professional advice can make sure that you are on the right track and that you stay there.  Plus they can give you a bit of a motivational kick too.  In terms of getting you CV up to scratch, talking to you about how the job market now works (it moves just like everything else) and being an understanding ear the right career consultant is worth their weight in gold.


8. Know what it is that you want
Agents bombard you with anything they have; all they want is to place someone and make commission. So have a clear idea in your mind what it is that you are after, salary, location, perks, team structure etc.  I get ones that want to put in roles that effectively take my career back over five years in terms of salary and responsibilities.  I know this would demoralise me and also mean that I would have such a hard slog to get back to where I was. 


9. Recruitment agents can both help and hinder
They certainly can.  Informing you of jobs that they don't have meaning that you may potentially not apply directly and then find out when you speak to the HR person that no agencies are being used for the role. For me that happened recently and the chat with the HR guy is ongoing and I am still in contention for the role. 

10. Smile
Smiling helps to lift the spirits. So chin up, hold your head up high and smile. 

Just Do It!

I can't believe that it's almost the end of June, time is certainly flying.  Well what's been happening with me

Jobhunt stuff - well it's all systems go.  I am still applying for jobs, not just any job but the right job. Being slightly picky makes sense as if the job is not right there is no point in time.  Started to get asked what I have been doing for the past 6 months my fav response has been "sitting on my fat arse all day!" - ok I only say that to agents who I have known for a long time and it is said in a comic manner.  Gotta add some humour to my day or else life would be rather dull.  

Anyway the perseverance seems to be paying off and now have two interviews coming up in the next week or so. Fingers and toes crossed everyone. 

Start Up - being a bit of a procrastinator I am still working on my business plan and have been to a business bootcamp at the British Library.  The British Library IP Centre is brilliant and being the geek I am, heading to conduct market research is pure pleasure.   Zzzzzzzz I'm sure I can hear some of you cry! Well I am getting there, have some useful lists etc. so that I can develop my plan of action and forecasts. My first quote to my first potential client has been sent so I am definitely headed in the right direction.

Had lunch with one of my former bosses today which was good.  He thinks my business idea is a goer and use the immortal line "Just get out there and do it". Fired up, I am now booked into loads of networking events and have my business cards at the ready - I will be heading out and about and selling my wares. 

Poor Kids, Poverty and Recession

This unemployment thing certainly makes me more aware of the people aspect to any story.  Yesterday I read an interesting research report about the recession through a child's eyes - it was enlightening as kids see things in black and white. The other thing I watched was Poor Kids on BBC 1 which showed kids living in poverty. Awful housing and going without meals etc as well as being the subject of constant bullying for being poor.  

Both things really highlighted to me some of the large scale problems that we as a nation face. You don't need to look too far too find it - I think it is just a case that most of us chose not to see it. Even though more often than not it's almost on our doorstep. 

Are All The Unemployed The Same?

Last night, one of the things that I watched was the Panorama programme about the latest Government initiatives to get people back into work.  I have to admit that it wasn't one of those programmes that grabbed my attention but a few interesting things did crop up.

The People On Screen Were Nothing Like Me
Don't get me wrong but the people on screen really didn't have a lot in common with me apart from being out of work.  The lives they lead and how they live.  What struck me was that the struggles that those out of work  are all so different so the Government's one size fits all approach to get people back into work is not going to cut it for so many different types of people.

The New Reassessments For Incapacity Benefit Should Happen But With Care
Ok some of the people on the programme I didn't have sympathy for as they just had no intention of working and had lost any drive (if they had any in the first place) to get a job.  But the other thing that I did notice was that we are also dealing with some extremely vulnerable people. If they are deemed not to be in too bad a state to receive the extra income that income capacity benefit gives them do at least make sure that there is some sort of safety net there to make sure that life doesn't get to much for them and they end up in a far worse predicament than many of us could imagine.

To Those In Work - Remember It Could Happen To You
One of the things that did stand out from the programme was an older gentleman who'd worked for 30 years + never had a day off sick etc.  He very much believed that there is plenty of work etc out there. All I hope is that one day he does not get really ill and end up having to rely on the state or lose his job due to the ongoing rollercoaster ride that is the current UK economy.  No job is for life and we all have to accept that the way world works is changing too through globalisation and interesting inventions such as the internet.  Just beware.

You're Fired - How The Apprentice Shows The Worst of UK Business!!

I have to admit that I am an avid fan of the Apprentice and always have been. The genius that is Stuart Baggs cannot be underestimated and the general cartoonish extreme traits that each candidate displays are always very entertaining.    Although most of the pantomime that features in each episode is down to fantastic casting and great editing, the types of back stabbing and general one-upmanship are things that we have all have encountered at work although to a much lesser degree.

Watching the past few weeks has made me reflect on the world of work and what I want to be a part of next. Having been out of work for a few months now, it has to be said that in many ways I actually am starting to enjoy not having to deal with all the hassle and protocols that you have to follow in an office. Being in control what you do each day and when is actually quite liberating although self-dicipline certainly has to be exercised or before you know it, the day has flown by.

So what next for me? Well still plodding on with applying for jobs but starting to realise that maybe my days working for someone else may have come to an end. So I am looking into setting up on my own working for companies that I actually want to work for so watch this space people. Creating my business plan as we speak so one day I can emulate my hero Stuart Baggs!