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Happygrrls' How-To:

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Exel in the workplace...

Don't let the pointy-haired boss do this to you! Control your professional destiny with these tips.

Congratulations! Maybe you’re a bushy-tailed and wide-eyed recent graduate ready to enter the work force, or someone who’s made a drastic career change without a parachute. Whatever your position may be, you’ve just landed a job interview and are revving to go. But acing that interview is only the beginning of your journey – there are many hurdles and roadblocks on the road to employed happiness. Here are some tips to help you overcome these obstacles and make you a work force superstar.

Salary Negotiations
Ah, the allure of a steady paycheck and all of its endless possibilities. But before you sign that contract, there are some things to consider, like the fact that you might be worth more than you think. Your previous salary is irrelevant; think of it as the shackles that once bound you. Break free of these oppressive chains and base your earning potential on demonstrable experiences, abilities, job training, and relevant education, as well as going rates in your desired position. A potential employer may post a wide salary range in the job application, and also ask you what you are expecting to be paid. This is where the negotiations come in, and with a little sass and know-how, you can come out on top.

• Be prepared to have a salary range in mind, with a low figure (your least accepted rate) to a high figure (your most desired rate). Whatever you do, be realistic, lest you enjoy awkward silence after you speak. This salary range approach gives you wiggle room should you need it during your interview.
• Don’t post your desired salary range in your resume or job application. Use “Negotiable” if it is required.
• If an employer asks you for a salary range over the phone, put on your paparazzi face and decline to comment. Simply state that you’d rather discuss it during the interview.
• Never initiate the salary discussion during your interview – wait for the interviewer to do so. If the wait becomes excruciating, bring it up in a roundabout way. If the interviewer asks you first, defer from commenting and switch gears by asking about the position in more detail. It’s always good to know how much leeway the company has before submitting your figures, and if the company knows you are unknowingly offering to take less than they initially intended to give you, they will probably go with your figure. If, for whatever reason, you are forced to state your salary expectations, try something like, ”Considering my past work accomplishments and talents, I feel a compensation level of (salary range) would be appropriate.”
• If push comes to shove, never fib about your past salary. This can be easily verified, and you’ll be back to pounding the pavement if prospective employers know that you’ve lied.
• Don’t let your past salary interfere with your present salary expectation. If you feel that the interviewer is going that route, steer the conversation back to what kind of strengths you can bring to the new position.
• Once the numbers are hashed out, it’s time for you to bring it. Expect to back up your salary request with concrete facts, which you’ve hopefully prepared ahead of time. After all, insisting on a higher salary than offered and then staring blankly at the wall will rarely get a desirable response.
• Discuss salary independent of benefits. Even though the offered salary may not be to your exact liking, benefits – which can include commissions, bonuses, profit sharing, pension, medical insurance, paid sick days, vacation time, stock options, expense accounts, perks like gym memberships or travel coverage, and school reimbursements – might.
• Don’t feel like you have to keep talking. The more you babble on, the more you might give up in the long run. Never outright refuse an offer for being too low. Mull it over, and ask the interviewer if you can get back to them at a reasonable time. Also ask that the interviewer put the job offer in writing, including the job title, position duties, base salary, predetermined performance reviews, and starting date.
• Be flexible, but also be prepared to walk away.

Dealing With Co-Workers
Great! Now you’ve got the job, and there’s a coffee mug in the break room with your name on it. Still, learning how you take the office’s coffee is just one aspect of your adaptation into this new environment. You’ll also need to learn how to deal with your co-workers, some of which you’d swear have been spawned from the fires of hell.

• Keep the communication lines open, but don’t divulge too much or share secrets with people you’ve just met. You never know who the gossips in the office are, and having your wild night in Acapulco spread around the office doesn’t bode well for your first week.
• Be friendly and jovial; ask about weekends or vacations. Don’t be afraid to get to know the people that spend forty hours a week with you.
• Sometimes airing out your feelings to a sympathetic co-worker can do wonders, but don’t complain to everyone in sight, especially if that someone happens to be a supervisor or manager.
• Keep people informed. There’s nothing worse than someone on your project or team being kept out of the loop, and it reflects badly on everyone involved. Every once in a while, drop by their office or workspace, and tell them personally. Interpersonal messages will keep the lines of communication open. If you’re working at a large company, this will be sure to make you memorable.
• Being wild and crazy with your friends is one thing, but when you’re going out with co-workers, try to keep your personality consistent. Suddenly dancing on the tables, taking shots with the bartender, or loudly cursing your boss might scare off your co-workers, who are used to seeing you quietly typing at your desk. They may end up not trusting or respecting you in the long run.
• Before flirting with the cute guy in HR, familiarize yourself with company policies on office relationships, and think about how they can affect the work environment.
• Always compliment good work.
• If a chatty co-worker has got you cornered every morning for half an hour to discuss the newest addition to her Beanie Baby collection, it’s time to do a little redirect. Let her know that you are busy and will speak to her during a break or lunch. Every time she passes by your desk, look busy, even if you’re just copying an expense report you filled out a month ago. Approach her desk whenever you initiate conversation – that way, you can be the one to leave. And when she goes off on a tangent, never ask open-ended questions that can lead to more discussion. Acknowledge everything with a “yes” or “no,” and the conversation should end itself.
• If a co-worker isn’t pulling their weight or is constantly late with time-sensitive projects, let them know how it’s affecting you. Don’t be confrontational – instead of saying, “You need to get it to me,” you can try, “Reports have to be turned in by Tuesday.”
• If a co-worker deals with conflict by screaming or deflecting blame, calm them down by keeping your voice level. Avoid name-calling or outright accusations. Even though it might be tempting to bring up how they acted during the last project, stick to the topic at hand during the conversation, and steer them in that direction if they start complaining about something else.

Dealing with Bosses
Now that you’ve got a good rapport with your work mates, it’s time to tackle the boss. While no one likes a sycophant like Waylon Smithers, everyone does like to be appreciated for their hard work. And here’s how to leave a lasting impression of your professional fabulousness.

• When starting a position, be sure to ask for clarifications during the training period. It’s always better to ask than to make mistakes.
• Don’t tell your boss personal secrets or compromising information.
• Communicate your needs and wants. This does not mean telling your boss what you will and will not do, but if you feel there’s a better way to get along and work successfully together, do voice your ideas. Also let your boss know about your career plans, what you would like to accomplish, and what you need to accomplish your goals. A good boss will be your biggest supporter.
• Don’t be a doormat. There’s nothing worse than compromising your integrity because you fear that you will lose your job. If you feel that way, then maybe your boss isn’t a very effective leader.
• Think like your boss – in attitude, dress, and work ethic. If you find that you are often leaving before your boss, consider staying later and starting the next day’s work or helping with your co-workers’ workloads.
• Keep in touch with your boss, especially if you don’t work closely. What are you working on? What have you finished and what are the results? If you are in a transition period and surfing the Internet has lost its allure, you might want to ask your boss if you can volunteer your services around the office.
• If your boss makes a business decision that you don’t agree with, let him/her know. Be direct, and suggest running the idea through other supervisors or higher-ups to gather some feedback. This may not always end on a good note, but at least you’ve been upfront and honest.
• If your boss is secretly the Prince of Darkness, keep sane. Have a talk with your boss and try to come to a resolution. Stay calm, and don’t react with emotion. Try asking what you could have improved – oftentimes, disagreements are borne out of miscommunications. If your boss is defensive or doesn’t acknowledge that there is a problem, it may be time to take the case to someone in human resources, or your boss’ boss. Let your boss know what you intend to do before you file a complaint, and be sure to document everything in order to present your case. Unfortunately, you should also have a backup plan just in case things don’t work in your favour. But then again, you may not want to work with a difficult boss anyway.

[ Raises, ruts, and quitting. Part II of the article. ]