A new survey from human resources company Hewitt Associates found that millions of Americans will receive the lowest pay increases in three decades, as companies continue to control overhead costs in response to the economic crisis. However, while salary increases are expected to continue to decline, companies remain focused on rewarding key employees by providing variable-pay and performance based rewards – which must be re-earned each year.

These conclusions are based on a survey of 640 large companies, which represent 13.5 million US workers. Specifically, they reported that salaried exempt employees will see an average salary increase of 2.5% in 2009; executive pay increases will be 2.2%, and salaried nonexempt workers will see pay increases of 2.6%.

As might be expected, the lowest pay increases were found in industries that had suffered the most economically. The auto industry had pay raises average 1.4% for salaried exempt and salaried nonexempt employees, and 1.3% for auto industry executives (down from 4% last year). Industries with above-average salary increases included construction/engineering (4.5%), research and development (4%), and pharmaceutical (3.9%).

Many companies use phone conferences to initially screen qualified individuals who have applied for a particular job. Phone interviews can be just as if not more daunting than face-to-face interviews; it is important to remember that they are just as significant and must be equally prepared for. You may be thinking, “It’s just the phone interview, it doesn’t really matter.” But I’m here to tell you it does matter and if you don’t take it seriously, you could disqualify yourself from getting your foot in the door. Here are some key areas to focus on before and during your meeting:

Job Knowledge
During this time of economic crisis and unexpected layoffs, you may have applied for hundreds or thousands of jobs without fully understanding what the job is about.  You’ve done this with the hope that just one will click so you have enough money to pay your bills. While this is certainly understandable, you must keep in mind, things may actually “click” and you do get the interview. You want to go in with a clear view of the role and responsibilities of the position and how they relate to the experience you currently have. Having the ability to quickly make and relay the connection between what the company is looking for and what you have to offer is extremely crucial in making it to the next round of interviews.

Tone/Speed
It’s unfortunate but true that many people are silently judged by their looks when they first walk into a face-to-face interview.  With a phone interview, you don’t have the luxury of astounding the interviewer with your good looks. Your voice will be the first thing “seen”. The key is to just be you. Don’t focus so much on making sure you are articulate that you change the way you would normally talk. Just ensure your tone and speed are at levels that can be easily understood. 

Manners
Unlike a face-to-face, you can’t look at the interviewer and know whether or not he or she has finished a question or statement or if they are going to suddenly say something else. So, you have to listen for verbal cues. You don’t want to find yourself continually excusing yourself for interrupting while he/she speaks. So, count three seconds after he/she has stopped speaking, then speak. This way you don’t appear hasty or as one who is not a good listener.

External Environment
No distractions! Whether it is a dog, person or the television, you want absolutely no distractions. If possible, find a room with a lock so you can better control the commotion. If this is not feasible, use the mute button on your phone so you can silence the noise when the interviewer is speaking. 
You also want to be careful of rustling papers. It’s okay to have notes about the position in front of you, but try not to make it obvious.

When applying for a job as a stockbroker, it is imperative that you format your résumé in a way that makes you stand out above the crowd of applicants. Like you, the other applicants will bring their licensing, education, and work experience to the table. It is up to you to add some spice that will make your dish “tastier” than the others.

Licensing

In order to be a stockbroker, you must pass the Series 7 and 63 exams. These securities licenses allow you to trade stocks and bonds. If you already have these licenses, be sure to list that in your Summary of Qualifications. If not, emphasize your commitment and willingness to obtain the licenses within a specified amount of time set by your potential employer.

Education

You should list any postsecondary education on your résumé. This is especially important if you have a degree in Finance, Economics or Business Management. If you have obtained other certifications as the result of completing additional training courses, list those as well.

You should also consider listing the kind of education that is attained outside of the classroom. Are you a member of an investment club that meets on a regular basis to discuss different investment topics? Do you meet with a mentor on a regular basis to get tips on working as a stockbroker? Meeting with others that are in the business is a great way to learn and network. In other words, you should tailor the education section of your résumé to portray yourself as a person with a dynamic personality, one who is ever willing to learn and can easily adapt to the ongoing changes in the financial services industry.

Work Experience

The best kind of education is most often obtained “on the job.” Having the necessary securities licenses and a college degree will certainly set you apart from others who do not have these certifications. However, firms want to see what you can and will do with the tools that you have. Highlight the following when drafting your résumé:

• Your track record –Which firms have you worked with? What is your sales experience? What was your sales volume?  What kind of revenue did you generate? Remember, this job is mostly about numbers.
• Your customer service skills – It is vital that you are able to connect and develop relationships with your clients. This connection will facilitate gaining the clients’ trust and locking in sales.
• Your systems knowledge – List all systems experiences. An employer is more likely to hire someone who does not need extensive training on their systems as this translates to a quicker transition in getting you “on the floor” to generate sales.

As a stockbroker, you will be required to have a vibrant sales “mentality” and be a person of quick decisions and action. Therefore, you should use action verbs when listing your work experience. If you do not yet have experience as a stockbroker, highlight transferable skills from other jobs you have had or volunteer work you have performed. The ultimate goal is to sell yourself to your potential employer. If you can do that, there is a greater chance that you will be allowed to sell their products.

In a world where Millennials are taught that “everyone’s a winner” and no one loses, instant gratification in information and entertainment is provided via the Internet, and students learn to work on homework while listening to their iPod and gossiping on Facebook Chat, it’s no wonder why Generation Y is facing strife in the workplace. It’s time to wake up and smell the Starbucks, Gen Y, because with the current jobless rate hovering around 10%, we need to change some of our attitudes or we might find ourselves throwing a pity pink slip party or not getting a job at all.

Even as I write this, the Gen Y in me is creeping up and saying, “I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings!” and I’m tempted to reassure myself and my Gen Y readers how awesome we still are. But we may have to let go some of the need for constant reassurance. In this blog, I will focus on what Gen Y can do to improve work performance while relying on our inherent traits and actions, but stepping outside of our comfort zones and adopting some other generation-approved behaviors.

In many job settings, Gen Y is working side-by-side with Gen X peers and Baby Boomers. We might encounter Gen Xers who prefer an independent work approach and Baby Boomers who value face-time. I will discuss some of the other ways we can adapt to our generational differences in the workplace in a later blog; but for now, realize that some of your workplace peers might view you as a stereotypical Millennial. Many workplace environments value your technological savvy, your teamwork skills, and your desire to be personally connected to your job, but some work peers might find you scattered, needy, and lacking loyalty. Balance your behavior to find success in the workplace.

So, what is the unemployment rate in the United States? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS – part of the US Department of Labor), the official unemployment rate is 9.5%. This is a very high number. In fact, the cumulative loss of jobs over the past 6 months has been worse than for any similar period going back to World War II, and the current recession is the longest since the Great Depression. However, the BLS calculation does not count millions of people, including those who have given up looking for a job.

• The government estimate of those employed assumes many people are at work who probably are not.
• Employees who take unpaid leave are not counted as unemployed.
• As many as 2 million people who were looking for work were not counted, because they didn’t look for work in the 4-week period proceeding the BLS survey of employment.

In addition, it should be noted that the unemployment rate generated by the BLS is not an actual number, but an estimate based on a survey of 60,000 households. Using information from various sources, others have estimated that the actual unemployment figure may be 15.6%, 16.8%, or even 18.7%. Whichever number is correct, all of these figures indicates a large number of people who are competing against each other looking for work.

When applying for any job, the short term goal is to grab the attention of the employer. Using a canned cover letter or traditional resume may not allow you to accomplish that. It is crucial to your success that you take the time to make sure your cover letter and resume specifically highlight your experience that relates to the role. To highlight your qualifications when applying for writing jobs, keep in mind the following considerations for your writing experiences.

Volunteer Writing

Never underestimate the effect of describing your volunteer experience as a writer. Many people don’t consider mentioning their volunteer work when applying for a job because they don’t think it’s worth it. But remember, the employer wants to know that you are an effective writer, not if you made money doing it. Noting your volunteer experience serves two purposes. It shows that you can write well and that you are passionate about a given cause.

Freelance Writing

Many freelance writers deal with a great dilemma when deciding to abandon the life of a freelancer and embark on the journey of a full time staff writer. Some freelance writers work from home, while some full time staff writers work in the company’s office. This in itself can be quite an adjustment. But more than that, many freelance writers stumbled upon the profession because they have a natural love of writing, not years of formal training or knowledge as a staff writer, and so their resumes may reflect this. Keep in mind, most employers don’t read every line of every resume they receive. They quickly scan them to make sure you have the skills they are looking for. If you find yourself in the category of one who has served as a freelance writer, and the rest of your employment history in a field or industry that has no relation to writing, consider creating a “writing credentials” section and list it before the “employment history”. You have a better chance of “standing out” in the mind of the employer.

Full Time Writing

It goes without saying that you want to list your previous full time writing experience when applying for a job as a full time writer. But, don’t assume the experience will speak for itself. You have to make it “speak”, make it colorful, wow the employer with your writing style, clarity, and effective vocabulary when describing your role at your previous company (ies). Going the extra mile when writing your resume is another way of showing the potential employer that you have the skills to go beyond the call of duty, which can be an asset to any company.
When writing your resume to apply for a job as a staff writer, be sure to include all of your experience that relates to what the company is looking for. No matter how minor you think it may be, include it. Who knows, that little blurb about you “volunteering at a summer writing camp for 3rd graders” could be just what you need to get to the top.