springraise is coming...

Get a Job - Even in This Economy

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:47:00 +0000

The Secret to Success

When you start looking for jobs, what’s the most natural thing to do? Look in your industry. Industry experience matters to employers so when you’re in job search mode, you go for low-hanging fruit. We definitely recommend you do that as part of your search—but what if you’re in one of the industries I mentioned above? There might not be an option in that industry. Don’t despair. I’m going to hook you up with secrets to manage that situation.

The Secret: Think Functionally

What does that mean? Every job is categorized by both industry and function. For example, an industry is pharmaceuticals, but the function is sales. Your potential to get an interview is based not only on the industry experience, but also on your functional experience. And guess what? Functions go across industries! That’s right. You have gained transferable functional skills that apply not only to your industry, but to others as well. Things should start coming into focus for you now….

Your job is to begin thinking functionally right now. Don’t think about the industries in which you’ve worked, start thinking of the different functions that you have experience with. Here are some functions to get your mind working:

• Marketing
• Sales
• Operations
• Recruiting
• Consulting
• Market Research
• Information Technology (networks, hardware, software, development)
• Strategy
• Research
• Project management

What about skilled trades?

• Truck Driving
• Painting
• Auto Work
• Hotel Room Service
• General Hospitality

Think about the projects that you’ve worked on within your job. Did you lead a team, do budgeting, perform custom analyses, business plan, or mentor others? Do you have a skill or trade that can be used anywhere? It’s extremely important to know what you have done when in job search mode. Cater your resume to your function and you'll be ahead of the competition. Best of luck!

533,000 (net!) Jobs Lost in November

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Wow. So much for mixed results! Yesterday's post had a silver lining. Today the cloudy day turned into a tornado-ridden thunderstorm with a path of destruction leaving no industry immune.

CNN reports on the story:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The economy shed 533,000 jobs in November, according to a government report Friday - bringing the year's total job losses to 1.9 million.
November had the largest monthly job loss total since December 1974.
According to the Labor Department's monthly jobs report, the unemployment rate rose to 6.7% from 6.5% in October. Though lower than economists' forecast of 6.8%, it was the highest unemployment rate since October 1993.
Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast a loss of 325,000 jobs in the month. November's monthly job loss total was greater than October's revised loss of 320,000. Payroll cuts in September were revised up to 403,000.
The revisios brought the 3-month job loss total to 1.3 million. That's equal to two-thirds of this year's total job losses and the third highest three-month job loss total since World War II.
November's report provided the first glimpse at how employers reacted after the peak of the credit crisis, reached in mid-October. With credit largely unavailable and expensive, consumers scaled back their spending, dragging down manufacturing and construction businesses.

If you're one of millions of people who have lost a job this year, don't fall prey to the doom and gloom. There are ways to position yourself to get a new job even in this economy. Sometimes it's better to turn off the television.

We talk about the economy to raise people's awareness of the issues, but we encourage people to look at the small picture. Your life and career changes with getting one job. The headline says 533,000 jobs lost, but it's a net number. There were jobs that were gained and that's the focus we all should have.

Mixed Results: Better Unemployment vs. ATT

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:42:00 +0000

The confusion of our economy continues. With somewhat brighter news, the Labor Department reported that the number of newly laid-off people signing up for unemployment benefits last week dropped by 21,000 to 509,000.

What was the next story? Venerable AT&T is laying off 12,000 people, or 4% of its workforce. Combine that with the press-friendly road trip that the auto execs took to Washington DC and you have a veritable blend of hope, despair, and confusion.

Many pundits believe that the holiday shopping season will be full of "re-gifting" (get ready to see lots of bottles of wine and old toys re-wrapped). Dollars won't be flowing the way they were in past years.

2009 will be a make or break year. With Barack Obama assuming the presidency, the spotlight will be on how the economy performs. In the meantime, it makes sense to work with your employers to see how you can improve job security as well as get the annual bonuses and raises that should come to companies that are still doing well. There are many.

That's why these are mixed results. Ah the ups and downs of economics. I like the ups better.

4 Reasons Why You SHOULD Discuss Salary In An Interview

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:54:00 +0000

I have heard many so-called experts say that you should not discuss salary in an interview. The rationale is that you're not in a strong enough negotiating position in that setting. In fact, here's a recent article endorsing just that practice.

Well, I'm here to tell you that all those "experts" are wrong--especially in this tightening economy. That's right, you SHOULD talk salary in an interview! Here are four reasons why:

1. If they're talking salary, they want to hire you.
You've just gone through a series of great interviews. Do you want to derail the momentum by putting off arguably the most important part? I don't think so. You want to engage in that conversation and be ready for it before going in.

2. You're instantly in a strong position when they bring up salary in the interview.
The interviewer is tipping her hand if she starts talking salary. It means you now have the opportunity to start defining terms. They're asking you what YOU require in order to come work for them. That sounds like a strong position to me.

3. You're on your game. Don't second guess.
You know how you've prepared for the interview. You've just nailed it. This is the time when you're at your highest personal confidence level. You've received validation that you're a star. Capture that moment of personal strength!

4. If you're unemployed, recently laid off, or need to change jobs quickly, you need to close the deal.
In this economy, getting the job you want--at least the offer--is paramount. Do you want to leave your offer up to chance? Time is your enemy. Get the deal closed and be ready to move into your new position.

The absolute KEY in all of this, is to be prepared to have that conversation in the interview. You have to set a salary goal before you even walk in the door. Interviewers will often ask, "how much are you making now?" When you're prepared for the question, you're poised, confident, and ready to give the answer that maximizes your compensation for the position. Your calm, cool demeanor will signal to the interviewer that you are ready. That shows you're ready to tackle the challenges of your new position because you're calm under pressure.

Here's even more content on the subject. Check out this (less than 3 minute) video that shows a situation where I was prepared with my data and ended up getting a 35% salary increase switching jobs just by being prepared to negotiate in the interview!

You also don't want to let time change your position in the minds of the company. You know how slowly companies move on offers when there's a delay. It could be a month before you here from them again. Discussing salary in the interview is a MUST these days if you have the opportunity. They could offer other candidates in the time between your interview and when you hear from them. You would never know that someone took your job.

And you can always talk benefits and other particulars later. The point is to come to an agreement quickly so you can secure your economic viability and start the new job you want.

Check out more salary negotiation advice at SpringRaise Salary Negotiation.

Think this is good advice? Bad advice? Let us know! Leave a comment.

5 Steps to Get a New Job in this Economy

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:03:00 +0000

The list of layoffs and company bailouts has been so exhausting as of late, it made no sense to publish their results. Finding meaning in all of this is the best use of time.

Yahoo's announcement that they are laying off 1500 people is a clear indication that the real-estate initiated bubble is reaching into the tech sector. Sure, Yahoo's had it's problems anyway, but seeing them lead the way generally means there will be more like this.

The startup world is also in a shambles. Raising venture funding is extremely tight. Many angels and VC firms (like Sequoia) have been advising tight control of cash to ride this wave out. Companies with prominent ad models are becoming extinct (see Revolution Health).

The key thing to remember at this time is the doom and gloom is news. Companies are still hiring for needed positions. It's important for people to recognize that there are still opportunities. Now is the time to find the right position for you!

How do you find the right job? What if you worked for one of the investment banks that now has a bad reputation? Remember, things go in cycles. Back in 2000, the dotcom bubble burst and many people had to find new jobs. And remember Enron? Venerable financial accounting firms were under siege with Arthur Andersen closing its doors. These times brought lessons on how to survive tough times within an industry.

Here are the 5 steps to getting a new job in this economy:

1. Think outside your industry
Industry can be a limiting factor these days. If you worked at an i-bank or commercial bank, your resume shouldn't fall as a result of the company that employed you. It's time to look outside your industry for areas where you can apply your experience.

2. Think functionally
What were the things that you did functionally that were impressive? Did you do marketing, operations, sales, strategy, or other function over the course of your time at your previous job? Get detailed about what you have done. Make a list and see all the different functions you've performed. Be generous, but not superfluous.

3. Dig deep into your background
Your background is not just your previous job. Think about what you've done at all your previous positions. Think about your schooling and how that has potential to help you. You are a collection of all of your experiences. You don't have to be defined by just your previous position and company.

4. Create multiple resumes
Once you have completed steps two and three, you will see that you have performed many functions. Now it's your job to create resumes that are aligned with those functions. Doing so will allow you to tell a customized story to any employer of how you were able to perform that function as part of your work over time. Doing this along multiple functional lines will increase your chances of getting an interview. There have been times when I had seven concurrent resumes working for me across 14 companies. I got four offers.

5. Warm up your network
This is extremely important. Networking your way into jobs is the quickest, most effective way to get an interview. Your friends know if their companies are hiring or not and likely have access to seeing job descriptions that may not be published outside of their company yet. That's an advantage for you. Take friends out for coffee, or even Pinkberry as I was recently invited. Those people are like your Sarah Palin lifeline, except it actually exists.

5a. Join career oriented social networks
If you haven't done so already, joining social networks can help you achieve #5. You may find people who can help you that you haven't talked to in a while. Get back in touch. LinkedIn is the best out there to do this. Our own network, Springraise, is great for assessing your market value based on your background, but isn't built for people getting back in touch as it is more anonymous than other sites. We still encourage you to join just to get a checkup on your market position as part of this process.

Best of luck, and let us know how your searches go. We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a comment and tell us what you think or what you're seeing out there.

What you need to know about new job salary negotiation

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:39:00 +0000

In today's economy, people looking for jobs are at the point where every cent counts. When engaging in new job salary negotiation, you MUST keep four things in mind:

1. You might be working for the person you're interviewing/negotiating with

The last thing your new "boss" is going to want is to feel burned by you in a salary negotiation. The key to appropriately winning a new job salary negotiation is to make it seem like a win-win for both your new company and for you. Whether it's your educational background, work experience, or network, each of these can be used to make your new manager look good. Offer that up in your negotiation and you'll find you've created an ally rather than an adversary.

2. The only insight they have into your success at previous jobs is what you tell them, so make it GREAT

You are GREAT! So let everyone know it. You don't have to embellish your experience to be the exact person that a company needs. Just match your background with their job needs AND preferences. Communicate your greatness through your cover letter, resume, interview, and negotiation by staying on your story. Know what you want to say backwards and forwards so that nothing is off message. Once you have done that, you've ensured that you'll be in a strong negotiating position.

See the other two new job salary negotiation points and a video example.

Need Some Salary Negotiation Techniques?

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:21:00 +0000

When you want to maximize your take-home cash, it pays to have solid salary negotiation techniques in your arsenal. The key to winning in any negotiation? Information. You have to arm yourself with more information than the person you're dealing with because most often that person holds the keys to your salary increase.

Let's be clear. Most employers don't like you using these tried and true techniques. Why? Because it increases your chances of getting a higher salary than they want you to have. Their business is to get the most out of you for the least amount of money.

Here are just two techniques that can help.

Think of salary negotiation as a process

When coming up on a career event (raise, promotion, new job, etc.), prepare for it like you would any event or meeting. You wouldn't go into a big meeting with a client or partner unprepared, would you? Do the same for yourself! It's time for you to get paid first. Our Springraise Salary Negotiation ebook takes you step-by-step through the process. It details the information you need to WIN your negotiation. It provides real-world examples of how these techniques have led to double-digit, even TRIPLE-digit compensation increases! You've got to check it out.

Set a goal

Every time you declare that you want something, you tend to get it, don't you? That's the power of setting goals. When you set it, you get it. The same is in salary negotiation. Set that goal and prepare relentlessly to get it. See yourself winning in that salary negotiation and you increase your chances of making it happen.

See four more salary negotiation techniques.

Springraise Salary Negotiation is HERE!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:38:00 +0000

Yes everyone, it's true. Springraise Salary Negotiation has launched its beta site! Are you looking for the most comprehensive, authoritative information on salary negotiation in one place? Then SSN is the place for you.

Salary negotiation is one of the main keys to maximizing your career compensation over time. You can’t leave it to chance. You can’t let your boss dictate to you how much you should be paid. Information is power and Springraise Salary Negotiation is here to help you make the highest salary you can—not just now, but over the life of your career. Don’t take a chance, take the lead in your salary negotiations now! There's nothing to join and it's free!

Labor Day 2008

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:39:00 +0000

It's Labor Day 2008, a day of rest for all of us. We here at Springraise wish everyone a restful, relaxing Labor Day. We hope Hurricane Gustav stays clear of your family as it has caused some of ours to evacuate.

Time for a teaser...Springraise has some major development upcoming. Stay tuned for more! In the meantime, find us on Facebook and become a Fan!

Salary Negotiation Tactics

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:17:00 +0000

Recently I posted a question on LinkedIn Answers asking what different tactics people have used to negotiate salary. Here are some of the shocking answers:

As I have a tendancy to quit jobs in the middle of recessions with no other job-in hand, my "negotiation" technique is usually a step before begging. Other than that, I make sure during the interview process that they know that I'm open, but give them an idea of what I'm thinking about ($ range). The difficulty is that you don't really know what the job will entail before hand nor how much interest there is in the job.

OMG, I am horrible at this! I am consistently not getting my due when it comes to salary and packages. :( I think I am going to sit this blog out, but then totally read up on others' advice!!!

I've heard that one tactic when you're actually first talking with a potential employer is to make them say a number first. You're not supposed to even talk numbers until you know they want you (ie. have offered you the position). Once you have that established, and they ask you what you need, you retort with "What do you expect to pay for this role?" or something along those lines. I've tried it. I haven't always been successful with it because I'm just too darn accommodating in these situations.

We weren't expecting these types of answers! "...negotiation is a step below begging", "OMG, I am horrible at this!" "...I'm just too darn accommodating..." And there were more like these! People seem to be genuinely afraid to negotiate salary, or don't have a clue as to how to do it effectively. Well, that's what we're here for at springraise.

So I decided to answer this one myself. True story below and a great tactic:

One trick I always used was to time my job searches during the performance management cycle, so when I'd get my raise from my current employer, I could use that number when asked by a new potential employer how much I made. That practice led to extraordinary compensation increases (35% and 51% the two times I used it).

This is a real tactic. If you're interested in more, go to our Salary Negotiation Series and sign up to hear seven more real-world tactics that can land you more money when you change jobs or even at performance review time. Good luck!

GMA and the Salary Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:19:00 +0000

It took me a full day to process what I saw. Yesterday on Good Morning America, Diane Sawyer interviewed the CEO of a career website and were discussing the use of salary data to help careers through salary negotiation.

Why did it take me a day to process? Essentially the positioning of the segment was that sharing salary information among colleagues was seen as "office gossip", thus discouraging the practice. Knowing what your peers earn is a fundamental way to ensure "equal pay for equal work". If that's now seen as un-American then so is feminism.

Diane Sawyer is one of the best in the business, but that piece took the perspective that an employer wants to portray. Employers want you to think:

Salary websites are merely gossip sites that have invalid information
Using information from the internet doesn't take performance into account so it can't be used for negotiation purposes
Having conversations regarding salary among peers is akin to corporate espionage--or worse, the equivalent of The Enquirer.

At Springraise, it's our belief that this attitude stunts career progression and compensation. Having an open dialog about compensation among peers is a good thing and can lead to higher motivation and healthy competition among peers. Sure, bitterness could result if one person resents being paid less than another, but that's not the peer's fault. It's the fault of the hiring manager and the company guidelines.

Each of us has to measure success in ways we feel comfortable. Blatantly discouraging discussions about how compensation and performance are correlated, however, is nothing more than self-serving to the employer. It is our policy at Springraise for all employees to know exactly how others are compensated. We live what we profess.

If you saw the segment, tell us what you thought!

How Much is Your Bachelor's Degree Worth?

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:01:00 +0000

I always wonder about articles like this one from the Wall Street Journal's Career Journal section entitled, The Declining Value of Your College Degree. What are they trying to say? That your college degree isn't worth getting anymore? Don't worry, just get your high school diploma, right?

Here's the reality that is buried deep down in the piece:

To be sure, the average American with a college diploma still earns about 75% more than a worker with a high-school diploma and is less likely to be unemployed.

The reason I think these articles are written is because they are controversial. It's almost always a ploy to get people to read more rather than a true treatise on the state of compensation. The anecdotal stories don't necessarily roll up into the experience of everyone.

Springraise is built to answer many of these questions. This is precisely why we collect the education and compensation information that we do. As we scale to collect millions of profiles, we'll be able to tell you the value of a bachelor's degree, but YOUR bachelor's degree. We'll tell you how much a BA degree from the University of Michigan is worth versus one from Harvard. We'll tell you how much a person who works in pharma sales should make with a particular background.

The great news? You have the power to make this all possible. Just add your profile to Springraise and immediately you can see how your career progression stacks up to others with our background. The more people we have, the better the data. It's in your hands.

And by the way, if you are in college right now and read that article, think twice before dropping out.

SpringRaise covered by KillerStartups!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Today, springraise was covered by KillerStartups.com! We're honored to be found by their team. In their words:

Why [springraise] might be killer

SpringRaise is a good way to see where you've been and chart where you're going as far as a career. It lets users get a fresh look on their experience and career path while providing tools for them to succeed.

We couldn't agree more. Check out the coverage and then check out springraise (or SpringRaise as they call us).

Springraise Video Series - 35% raise!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:53:00 +0000

Here's a sneak peek at how I negotiated my salary to get a 35% raise while switching jobs!

Want to see more? Just go to the Springraise Video Series and sign up to see all 9 videos.

Join a Startup? When To Keep Your Day Job

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:23:00 +0000

Many people ask me when should they leave their corporate jobs. I respond, "if you have to ask, then you need to stay." Becoming an entrepreneur is incredibly rewarding, but you have to be ready. The pressure is immense, and the accountability stares you right in the face everyday.

There are two levels of readiness:

1. Commitment

2. Experience

Commitment

Commitment is the utter will of wanting to be an entrepreneur, having a passion-driven mission that no one, not even your mother, can talk you out of. You know what you want. You know it will work. You know it HAS to be done. Bill Gates had that commitment. How many people do you know who would drop out of Harvard? That kind of motivation can overcome any lack in #2.

Experience

Experience counts for quite a bit. It builds confidence, a track record of success that you can always lean on in lean times. Knowing that you've been stretched beyond your limits and still succeeded makes the approach to entrepreneurship real. It's not the kind of experience of telling others what to do without getting your hands dirty. It's the kind of experience that comes with having to be accountable for results when you have no help. When the task is so daunting that you have absolutely no idea how you'll complete it at the outset. But you come through. You know you can. You've done it before. That's experience.

So when should you stay at your corporate job? When you don't have the above two items. Some people believe in getting a job in an entrepreneurial organization to get exposure. If that's your transition step, then fine, but it's not necessary. You can get the experience you need at your corporate job.

When you have both experience and commitment, jump ship. Don't wait. Don't over think it. You'll save yourself the aggravation of regret later in life. Ask yourself this question: what's the bigger risk, depending on yourself, or some dim-witted supervisor whose whim drives your day? Know when--then take that leap of faith. You'll find, win or lose, it's worth it.

Negotiate a Higher Salary: 3 Ways to Make More Money

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:17:00 +0000

Let's face it. We all want to get paid the highest amount possible for doing our jobs. The jobs we do help our companies make a lot of money and without employees many of the great products wouldn't come to market. How many of you feel like you're adequately paid for the value you provide to your company? I didn't think so. How then can you earn more money for doing what you're doing?

1. Get in a hot industry - easier said than done right? Well you know what the hot industries are , and if you don't there are websites than can tell you. How do you get into that industry? We all have transferable skills. Map out your experience in what I call an "experience matrix". Want a surefire way to know if you're in a slow industry? Figure out if your raise was lower than the national rate of inflation. If you're an above average employee and your raise was that low, then you're in a slow industry.

2. Work smarter AND harder -when you work smarter at your job you become highly productive at doing what you have to do....but this frees up time...for pet projects that are risk free and may actually bring value. Doing things differently is what makes you stand out above your peers and bring more value to the company. Most companies actually do reward creativity and dedication.

3. Know your market value - keeping an eye on what your peers make can let you know if you're underpaid for your job. The best way to do this is to ask your peers (or use springraise.com, of course!). True, most managers don't like their employees comparing salary notes, but that's self serving. It's a manager's job to keep payroll as low as possible. It's your job to get paid as much as possible, and knowing how much people make around you can help you. At my first job out of college after I'd been there a year, I learned that newly hired undergrads were getting paid more than I was-and that's with the promotion I had just received! I used that knowledge to go to my manager to request more money. And I got it-a 16% raise.

These methods not only work separately, but also in combination. Think about if you're in a hot industry, you're outperforming your peers, and you know you could get paid more, then all of those things can work for you to get extraordinary salary increases. I was a management consultant in the mid 90s heyday and had worked smarter and harder than my peers. I also knew that I joined my company making slightly less than the average person at my level. Therefore, I got an 18% raise since I was seen as a top performer. Those kinds of raises only occur in hot industries where profits are strong and companies have to reward top talent in order to keep them happy and not look to jump ship.

To get those high raises, follow these techniques, and combine them when possible. You'll find your compensation will explode and you'll attain all of your career goals.

IndieStartups Blog Features Springraise

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:53:00 +0000

On May 15, IndieStartups featured Springraise in its blog prior to its launch on May 21. We appreciate their finding us as an interesting self-funded startup as is their focus.

IndieStartups is a blog that covers ambitious self-funded or smaller scale startups. We're not all about venture funding and million dollar investments. We're about how others have done it and how to do it yourself.

The author notes that he "can't wait to see [springraise] in action." Well you can see it now! Check us out at Springraise.com!

Springraise Video Series on YouTube!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:37:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

Due to great demand to see the Springraise Video Series, we have launched our channel on YouTube!

All eight videos, plus the summary and comprehensive demo are loaded up on the Springraise Channel. That's right, nine short videos full of content on how you can increase your salary at your job or while switching jobs.

These techniques aren't theoretical. They're actual cases that illustrate directly how you can "springraise" your career.

Once you see these videos, you'll know why membership on Springraise.com has exploded in the first weeks since launch. We have to keep telling people we're in beta and getting some kinks out, but people have been impressed and happy thus far!

Summary and Another Peek...

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Wed, 21 May 2008 04:58:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who watched the Springraise Video Series. We had overwhelming response! Much better than we had anticipated. As promised here's the summary of the case videos with an added twist..a sneak peek at the springraise app.

The launch of springraise is only hours away. Springraise has (finally) come....

All 8 Videos are Live!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:34:00 +0000

It's time to go to springraise.com to see all eight of the video series. Learn these techniques to maximize your compensation at every step of your career!

Here are the case summaries. You can see that we're talking about extraordinary compensation increases here.

Case 1: My first jump - a 16% increase in salary...not bad

Case 2: 35% salary increase…we’re movin’

Case 3: 19% salary increase…still rising!

Case 4: 80% increase that could’ve been more!

Case 5: 28% total compensation increase!

Case 6: My first (and only) pay cut…for strategic reasons

Case 7: A 123% total compensation increase? Wow!!

Case 8: 51% increase after all…

We've gotten incredible feedback from viewers of the videos so we know you're going to love them. It's time for you to take control of your career compensation. Check out springraise.com.

Springraise Video Series Case 7 Live!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:47:00 +0000

This is the one everyone's been waiting for. How did I get a 123% increase in total compensation? You'll only find out if you go to springraise.com to see the case video.

You've got to see the video to believe how the events played out. I'll take you step by step through the process in under 5 minutes!

These cases will only be up for a few more days, so this is your chance to learn how to get HUGE pay raises whether at your job or while changing jobs.

Springraise Video Series Cases 1-6 Live!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:10:00 +0000

The Springraise Video Series is in full swing. For each of the past six days we have released a new video detailing techniques of how to maximize compensation by obtaining extraordinary salary increases. Each unique case takes a chapter our of my career to show how I've moved rapidly up the career compensation chain.

To get access to the cases, go to springraise.com. Want to preview another case? Here's Case 2 where I was able to get a 35% salary increase!

If you haven't seen any of this series, you better hurry! There are only two more cases and a summary before Wednesday when they're gone. Why will they be gone?

Because springraise is coming on May 21. Are you ready?

Springraise Video Series on Now!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:23:00 +0000

The Springraise Video series has started. Just go to Springraise.com to see how I was able to get extraordinary salary increases throughout my career. Each video details a situation where I was able to "springraise" my compensation.

Here are the video cases you'll get to see...

Case 1: My first jump - a 16% increase in salary...not bad

Go to Springraise to see the rest!

Case 2: 35% salary increase…we’re movin’
Case 3: 19% salary increase…still rising!
Case 4: 80% increase that could’ve been more!
Case 5: 28% total compensation increase!
Case 6: My first (and only) pay cut…for strategic reasons
Case 7: A 123% total compensation increase? Wow!!
Case 8: 51% increase after all…
Summary: Lessons learned and more...

We will release a new video each day leading up to the launch of Springraise. Enjoy!

Springraise launching May 21st!

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:30:00 +0000

Yes it has finally happened. After a year of work, springraise is now here! In just 8 days springraise.com will launch its beta product. It's not a finished and polished version just yet, but our closed beta testers liked it so much, they told us to launch it anyway.

How Springraise Works

1. Enter your full background and employment information (past and present)
2. View your career over time to see how you compare to others like you
3. See the careers of others like you (in one click) and compare your career to theirs
4. Perform scenarios to see your career prospects
5. Discuss with others to learn how they made their career decisions
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Why Big Pharma should lose 100,000 jobs

noreply@blogger.com (springraise) — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:12:00 +0000

With Merck's announcement today that it will cut 1,200 US-based pharma reps by the end of July, the total layoffs in the pharma industry since November 2006 exceeds 80,000. This is certainly not good news for employees in the industry. Jobs are there to be lost as the repetition of jobs within each company is appalling. We at springraise believe that 100,000 jobs lost isn't out of the question.

Big Pharma isn't called "big" for nothing. These companies employ massive numbers of people and often boast about their cushy working conditions. Those days are coming to an end. Most pharma execs haven't seen the writing on the wall, however, and haven't prepared their companies--which is 90% why we're seeing the carnage of job losses we see today. If the industry were to lose another 20,000 jobs over the next 12 months, it wouldn't be a surprise, or a bad thing for the industry. The employees, we're sure, have a different take.

Careers should be based on the longevity of companies as well as the overall transferability of employees' skills to other industries. The people who are best positioned to succeed overall are those who invested in the great training programs the pharma industry affords its employees. With everything from sales to branding scientific data interpretation, pharma companies invest heavily in their employee training programs. Some people take little advantage of these resources whether by their own choice or the short-sidedness of their managers. Regardless of reason, those people have lost a golden opportunity for free education.

These people will likely have to take pay cuts in order to secure other jobs, thus adding insult to the injury of being laid off. The comps for people like themselves getting new jobs will show this trend almost certainly--if big pharma selects the right people to cut. If they don't, they'll see further depressed returns, with continued lag vs. all major market indexes. If you're in the pharma industry at the moment, take a training course. It will help your marketability should the worst happen.

So while we never advocate laying off employees, we predict that the pharma chopping block is still in use. Expect further regulation by the FDA to curb approvals, while the likely transition to Democratically controlled executive and legislative branches will forecast the last rites of the pharma "good ol' days." It's time for Big Pharma to take its bitter pill.