Sometimes instead of a pay rise, an employer may offer you one or more benefits as an alternative.  Although initially you may have preferred a pay rise, research shows that benefits and bonuses have a positive effect on a workforce.  Benefits and bonuses can make a real difference to your working life and as a consequence you should always consider trying to incorporate them into any salary negotiations.  Something that can make very little difference to the company economically can make a big difference to you.

Below is a selection of benefits and bonuses and how they can have a positive impact on your working life:

Commission – put simply, the harder you work the more money you earn.  Based on meeting specific targets.

Profit sharing – usually for senior staff or managers.  Extra money based on the companies profit.

Paid Holidays or Sick leave – An extra holiday days are a bonus for both employee and employer.  A well rested employee is bound to work harder for his employee.

Life Insurance – Something many of us don’t want to think about, although knowing your family will be looked after should the worst happen is a comfort worth having.

Company Car – Something offered for workers who travel a lot.  This saves the company travel costs and provides you with a car you can use in your spare time.

Flexible work hours – By organising a suitable structure for your working week, you will become a much more effective member of staff whilst being able to schedule your out of work activities with ease.

Gym Membership – great for your health and your wallet means this is a benefit worth considering.  Exercise is also a proven way to counter stress.
 
Subsidised Food and Drink – If you added up what you spend on this over a year, then any subsidiary is a major way to save money and a really valuable bonus to have.

With the world attempting to reduce global warming and companies under constant carbon footprint analysis.  Here are Coyle’s Top Tips on how to Go Green:

• A rather obvious one to start – turn things off!  Lots of companies insist on leaving the lights on during the night as well as many other electrical devices.  This is a massive waste of energy and will continue to contribute significantly to the environmental problems we face. 
• Increase your use of paperless systems such as emails, PowerPoint and USB sticks.  This helps to keep printing and paper use to a minimum.
• Always shut your PC down fully including the monitor.  Don’t just switch to standby as this still uses electricity.  It is often heat-producing monitors that use the majority of electricity in a busy office.  (Companies end up spending money and using more energy on powerful air conditioners to combat the heat when simply turning off monitors when not in use will cool a room down significantly.)
• However, regularly turning your whole computer off and on at small intervals does actually use more energy than simply turning the monitor off.  Use this technique if you are having small breaks away from your screen such as meetings and lunch breaks. 
• You can reduce your carbon footprint before you even step into the office.  Lift sharing or using public transport are great ways to Go Green.  Walking and cycling to work are even better as these can benefit your health as well.

Oh look…your going green already…

You read the last blog..right?  And those tell-tales signs of overworking seemed a little too familiar?  And now you’ve come back expecting some help with this?

Well, you’ve come to the right place…read on:

• Being first in and/or last out of the office may give the impression that you are working harder than your colleagues, however what it is actually saying is you can’t complete the required work during normal working hours.  Speak to your manager and let them know you’ve got too much on your plate, they’d much rather reduce the workload than have you resigning due to stress!
• Are you being a perfectionist when in reality the job just needs doing quickly?  Spending ages fussing over the presentation of a simple email is just a waste of time, just press send and go home on time!  I’m not advocating carelessness, but distinguish between those situations that require perfection and those that don’t.
• Divide larger tasks into smaller manageable chunks that can be completed individually.  This will allow you to go home at night, satisfied that you haven’t left a task unfinished.
• Always have social events and activities on the calendar.  These can give you a fresh focus, and break the monotony of the working week.
• Recharge your batteries.  The buzzword here is balance – taking time off from work is a crucial factor in maximising your productivity when you are there. 

There you go…problem solved

So far the majority of our blogs have centred on the job application process.  So what about the other end of the scale?  The workaholics, the ones who don’t know when to stop.  Here is the first of a two part blog on how to maintain a healthy work to life balance.

So how do you tell that you are overworking?  Take a deep breath.

Although a fantastic addition to modern life, the mobile phone means that you are permanently contactable.  Are you constantly on the phone talking about work?  Are you unable to switch off?  Be careful, constant working gives your brain little chance to recharge, which in turn will make you less productive…and breathe out.

Other tell-tale signs of overworking include:

• Regularly working more than 10 hours a day – although it may seem like you are working harder, you are probably just being less productive.
• Taking work home at evenings and weekends – this is your vital ‘chill out’ time that ensures you start the next week with a renewed and fresh mindset.  By working, you are simply not allowing this to happen.
• Failing to complete tasks or progress with your workload despite the long working hours – a typical trait of a ‘workaholic’ who isn’t resting his/hers brain sufficiently.
• Dreading Monday morning – this is the last thing anybody needs at the beginning of the working week.
• Increasing your caffeine and/or nicotine levels to help you through the day – it’s never a good idea to become reliant on any kind of stimulant!
• Regularly putting work above your friends and family during evenings and weekends - keeping your spare time relatively active and social gives you events to look forward to, and a reason to work, after all, if you cant enjoy yourself and the money you have earned, then what is the point in earning it?

Check out next week’s blog for some handy stress beating tips to balance your work to life ratio (what ever that means!?)

The current economic climate has had a huge effect on the job market and as a consequence, many people have been left unemployed and struggling to find work.  In these difficult times here are Coyle’s top recession beating tips!

• Check for new jobs everyday.  Despite what is being depicted by the media, the wheels of industry are still turning and jobs are still available.
• Take the opportunity to freshen up your skills.  A break from employment is a chance to improve upon some of your weaknesses and enter the job market as a better qualified individual.  E.g. Brush up on your computer office skills.
• Become a salesman.  In tough times, you quite often have to sell yourself in order to get a job.  Learning basic sales technique will help you ensure your personal pitch is relevant and effective.
• Consider part time or freelance work.  These are vital ways to fill your wallet whilst you continue to search for a permanent position.
• Be patient.  Finding work takes time, especially if you are looking for highly paid positions.  This could take several months, so be prepared!
• And most important of all - Remain positive.  It’s no good giving up or having a negative attitude as no-one will employ you!

Almost everybody in every profession would like to earn more money.  However wanting a salary increase and deserving a salary increase are very different things indeed. 

 Before you approach your manager or supervisor, make sure you have put your professional performance through the following analysis as well as deciding the exact details of your prospective wage rise:

• Are you consistent, responsible and have you met all objectives asked of you?
  (If the answer to this question is no – you might want to stop here!?)
• Have you acquired a new skill, qualification or responsibility that you would like to be recognised in your pay packet?  These are great ways to show you deserve a pay increase!
• Are you going the ‘extra mile’?  Dedication and loyalty to the company are a must if you stand any change of being successful with your salary negotiations.  Are these traits being noticed by those that matter?
• Accept and improve on your weaknesses.  If your manager feels that you need to improve in certain areas in order to deserve a pay rise, then take it on the chin and make the necessary changes. 
• Be honest about your ambitions.  A staff member with high aspirations is exactly the type of personality a manger will appreciate.
• Know how much extra money you want to ask for.  Back up your figures with facts and knowledge of your market value. 
• Finally and most importantly, don’t be greedy!  This could have a seriously negative effect on your working relations.  If you are not prepared to continue with your job on the same salary then a wage rise would merely be delaying the inevitable.  Most people who negotiate wage rises to make their job more bearable end up leaving anyway.

Our blogs so far have been centred around the job application procedure. But what about the other end of the spectrum? Unfortunately employment isn’t always as stable as it could be. Situations may arise where redundancy is offered or forced upon you.

Redundancy is part and parcel of the working world, and although it may seem difficult at the time, it is crucial that you strive to take as many positives from the situation as you can.

Read on….

• Although tempting, try not to take too much time out before you start looking for your next job. Of course redundancy allows you to reassess your goals and aims, but constantly assessing what jobs are currently available is advisable…the perfect role may become available at any time!
• Don’t worry about the impact of your redundancy on your next job application. This is very common occurrence and providing you are honest, it should have no effect on your application.
• Of course you may be questioned about your redundancy, try to explain the situation as simply and quickly as possible. Draw the positives from your experiences at the company. No one is going to employ a bitter and twisted individual!
• Remember…a big advantage you may have over other applicants is your ability to be available to start immediately!

Voluntary Redundancy is another situation you may come across. This is a company’s way of reducing costs without the stigma of enforced redundancy. Usually there is a financial incentive but be wary, this is by no means a guarantee that your offer will be accepted and if unsuccessful it may affect your relationship with your colleagues.

Ok, so we’re halfway through our interview advice…we better finish off.

Read on to discover some of the best questions for YOU to ask, how to conclude your interview effectively and all the important post-interview information.

• There will always be an opportunity for you to ask the interviewer questions towards the end of your interview. It is important to have some potentials up your sleeve: here are some of Coyle’s ideas:

-Will there be any formal training?
-Will there be scope to take on extra work/ overtime or experience working in other parts of the company?
-What are the company’s long term plans? Expansion? How would these affect my role?
-Is there potential to progress within the company?

• Having worked hard to give a good impression throughout your interview, don’t ruin your chances by ending the interview unprofessionally. Thank all the people you spoke to and shake hands with the interviewer(s)….

Oh and don’t forget Sheila on reception…

• Make sure all your contact details are correct.
• Liaise with your recruitment consultant after your interview, remember they will do their best to solve any problems or answer your queries.
• By writing a letter or making a quick call to the relevant company, it will confirm your interest in the job, however be careful not to over do it.

(27 answer phone messages may be keen but it’s a little weird…)

Having impressed with your carefully constructed CV, (see last weeks blog for Top CV Tips), it is highly likely that you will be required to attend an interview. This is your chance to meet your prospective employer and for them to find out more about you. In other words, it’s your big chance to shine and hopefully secure the job.

Here is Coyle’s advice on how to talk the talk:

• Research the company, position and find out as much as you can about what the job involves. If you have a number of interviews for different jobs, try not to mix them up…
• Be at your most courteous from the moment you walk through the door until the moment you leave. Being rude to Sheila on reception is not going to help your cause!
• Make sure you are comfortable in the interview before you start. Whether this be your clothing, or the chair you are sat on. If you are not happy; do something about it before you start, rather than let it affect your interview.
• Remember the names of your interviewer(s) and give them eye contact when you first enter the room. You might have to look at them every day if you get the job so you might as well get used to it!
• Relax, listen and take your time when answering questions. Employers expect you to think carefully before you answer and if this takes a few moments then so be it.

Continuing from last weeks blog on top CV Tips is Coyle’s second instalment of sound advice to keep you ahead of the pack!

• Having created your 5 Star CV, (if yours isn’t – see last week’s blog) its no good letting yourself down with a disappointing covering letter. This is actually the first thing your prospective employer will see and needs to match the quality of your CV
• Although there are various ways to write a good letter, it is important to get straight to the point. A personal but efficient style should be perfect, starting with the name of the job and/or reference number that you are applying for.
• Mention briefly your current job and its roles, however don’t over explain things or they may get bored, stop reading and all your careful CV preparations will have been wasted!
• Drop in a line about the company to show you have researched and investigated their business. For instance, when going for a sales position at a shoe company one could say, “As the creator of the world’s comfiest shoes…” (Most companies have a slogan on their website claiming something to this effect so find it and mention it!)
• Tell them what you want! Do you want to call them in a few days or would you like to be contacted by them? Would you like the opportunity to be invited for interview? Either way tell them your plan, it highlights your enthusiasm.
• If you are applying for a number of jobs, always customise each cover letter to each employer. A generic, unspecific letter is just plain lazy!
• Continuing with this theme, NEVER address the letter to Sir/Madam. Find out the name of the relevant person and address it to them. Doing it shows you’ve bothered to find out about the company, not doing it is just lazy.
• And Finally, Apply the same presentation and proof reading rules as mentioned in last weeks blog. Just imagine if you spelt the company name wrong…