Jezebel 
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New York, 7:01 AM
Mon Nov 9
19 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/01/09
And my company keeps pulling this, "we know you deserve a big, HUGE raise... but we can't afffoooorrrrrdddd it right now." Meanwhile they're hiring positions below me and often paying them more (my company is pretty gossipy about salaries).
I think "Pitch Like a Girl" would be a good investment...
09/01/09
I am happy to have some resources to help me figure this out.
08/31/09
I believe office work robbed me of a great deal of my dignity and I have been screwed over by both female and male bosses. But my most recent position, before being let go, was shocking to me how inconsistent a company could be with their treatment of employees. I spoke my mind, fought for things and basically made it known that I didnt agree with my boss on numerous occasions. I was hired for one position and with cut backs, took on another, one with vast amounts of numbers and the like, which IS NOT MY FORTE. I complained repeatedly, and finally was informed someone would be doing all the statistics. Then my boss quit, got a better job, somrthing I still cant understand how he scored and while he hid this for a month, I DID MY ENTIRE DEPTs work. He quit, they promoted someone else and I was given the ol heave ho. I complained , I got upset and NOTHING. I have yet to even begin the trek back into the trenches because I detest most office settings and this previous experience soured me completely. So I have began to look at other avenues, other environments and hopefully something will work out, but I will not allow myself to be devalued again.
08/31/09
I'm emailing a good friend of a good friend, though I don't actually know this guy. Honestly I'm surprised we haven't met at some family event of our mutual friend so far, but we just haven't. This email is more of a networking one, though with a hint of "and if you have a job for me, I'd love it" in there (obv not like that). The start of the email is "[mutual friend] mentioned that she spoke with you concerning my job search and suggested I contact you." I'm attaching my resume, but not a separate cover letter, because the email content reads like a cover letter (and I'm not really applying to a particular job).
So questions--
1. is it ok that I'm letting the email content be the cover letter even though I have our mutual friend as part of the initial sentence? and
2. how should I address this guy? I feel weird saying Dear Mr. Friend-of-friend, since we're being introduced informally (mutual friend knows both of us only personally, no professional relationship). But just using his first name is obv not professional.
Thoughts?
08/31/09
Make sure you ask something specific. You could ask for a phone call or a to meet for coffee (not lunch or a drink) or you could just ask very specific questions (like "I was hoping you could give me an idea what sales reps such as yourself look for in an sales assistant. Are there any skills or experiences I should highlight?).
I would also go with first name. This is a social contact first, then a job contact.
09/01/09
@clevernamehere: Perfect. I sent it off with "Dear firstname" No, I know that generally the cover letter is the email (and definitely, unfortunately, not just out of college--I just switched careers so I am just out of law school, though). That's what I was going with anyway. It was just weird to have in a cover letter a comment about our mutual friend, knowing that cover letters can get passed around along with the resume.
And thanks for the coffee mention--when it's more informal, I could only think of lunch but don't want to pay for it (and obv wouldn't be asking the reverse). I don't know why coffee didn't occur to me. I'm horrible at the whole social contact idea. I hate networking. (I know, I'm far from alone in that hatred.)
Another Q, while we're at it, though... attaching a resume... .doc format or .pdf? I have been told both, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why they'd prefer .doc.
08/31/09
08/31/09
I wish I could network on Jezebel.
Anyone have a job for me? I know I'd like working with you.
08/31/09
I got FIRED from my last job for a combination of speaking up for myself and then refusing to suck up to the boss to make up for it (no, I'm not making excuses; other executives at my former workplace all but confirmed this, but unfortunately were powerless to do anything, as this guy was incredibly powerful and the economy was tanking). For the couple of years I worked for this guy, he loooooooooooved my work. Like, other people would come up to me and give me this really serious look and say "you know he REALLY speaks highly of you" in a way that made it clear They Meant It. But one day I made the mistake of speaking up for myself (basically, he was giving me shit work and giving my male juniors better work, and I found out he had lied to me about a project he had promised me, so I confronted him and told him, professionally but firmly, that this was unacceptable) and got myself fired.
If I hear another person tell me the reason I took a 1/3 pay cut (yup, ONE THIRD -- you try getting fired during a recession and do better) is because I don't have the guts to stick up for my own value, they can go fuck themselves on a splintery tree branch. I'm making less money PRECISELY because I had the audacity to ask for basic respect and professionalism in the workplace. And, frankly, I'm lucky to be making even that.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go hit some things.
08/31/09
Unfortunately, the recession made it even harder for me to find a new job and all the asshats I used to work with have moved on.
08/31/09
I have a very ambivalent reaction to career posts, because I love reading them but I always cringe a little because I'm one of those chronic underachievers/bad negotiators/too shy to network people. And I always feel that I'm subpar at the game.
Anyway, knowing that I'm going absolutely nowhere in my current workplace, which I currently hate, has given me some impulse, so I'll try and see how it goes. The thing about job hunting, is that it takes a lot of self-examination that isn't always pleasant. Some of us, because of upbringing, social environment or temper, have difficulties outlining goals and being assertive about them, so it takes a lot of effort to actually think about and determine what you truly want and devise a strategy to pursue it without feeling weird, embarrassed or out of place. Culture definitely has a lot to do with it, not to mention personality, and certain expectations that sometimes need to be shaken off.
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08/31/09
I would get fired for that one. It's in our contract - no salary discussion. I'm not even allowed to know what labor grade my coworkers are at.
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08/31/09
So my question is: how do I handle the "expected salary" query in the application materials? Writing "negotiable" is not possible because of the company's online application template, nor is writing down a range. If I'm offered the job, I feel comfortable making the argument for more money. But I don't want to be dismissed because my salary request is way too low or too high. I am afraid of looking either over demanding or as though I don't know my own value, before I even get the chance to interview. Does anyone have experience or inside knowledge on this issue?
08/31/09
You have a job. If it takes you 9 months to switch industries at a similar pay level, so what? Its worth it in the long haul income wise.
I think it is different if you are unemployed or just finished college. A job can be better than no job. Do not give a number below your current salary unless you are a little desperate.
08/31/09
A friend of mine recently quit her job at my office. She did almost nothing all day except email friends and in fact I had to explain to her I couldnt keep emailing as I am actually more swamped then ever since I handle claims in a shitty recession. She had busy periods that were few and far in between. As person in charge of supplies she could be found counting coffee cup lids to ward off boredum. But the male VP openly liked staring at her ass and flirting with her so no one complained. When she quit, her job had to be given to others as we have a hiring freeze. Her job was split between three girls in two different departments. Two of the three who work for the male VP asked for a raise and mentioned it to the third who works for the female VP. When the third tried bringing up needing money to her boss she was told they weren't getting anything and no no we all need to pitch in here. But her two friends suddenly clammed up about their request. Long story short their male boss negotiated and although they have to put in a very small amount of extra hours....they got more money. The third girl has recieved nothing and her boss (the female) has not brought up anything in her defense to try and help her out. In fact since no one will tell this third girl whats going on she starting asking around. The female boss, also mine, told my co-worker the above mentioned deal for the others and that HER boss has told her if the third doenst stop talking and asking she will be fired! Bosses are usually the biggest problems. The third has two kids and could not possibly work longer hours, she'd probably drop it if she knew.
However it is interesting to me that those that work for the male boss are often defended staunchly and rarely given more work. Those of us that work for the female might as well speak to a wall. She will not stand up for us, she piles more and more work on us, and to add insult to injury insists on joining in on our converstaions when its bill time and we all bitch and moan. She has the money to go to Paris twice a year purely for a shopping trip, has so many credit card purchases that she complains she can't tell her daughter is using her card unless she finds the boxes, and goes out on her boat almost every weekend. And she loves to state she doesnt know how I do it at such a young age, living by myself with no man to pay for me, and having to handle all my bills on my salary.
/head desk and sorry needed to vent
08/31/09
wow and I thought my (males) bosses sucked!
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