The search for a new job (any job!) can be so all consuming that you forget some of the basics of why you need a job. Income is the #1
reason, but how much money do you want to make? How much money can you expect to make? The following quote from Earl Nightingale has some food for thought about earning potential:
“The amount of money we make will always be in direct ratio to the demand for what we do; our ability to do it; and the difficulty in replacing us.”
When you frame your job search within these three criteria, you get a very interesting perspective. The job market has changed in the last three years. The weak economy makes businesses reluctant to add new employees. Let’s look at the job search in light of the three points from the quote and how you can set your job salary goals.
1. “The demand for what we do.” An article by OPI on high-demand jobs for 2012 lists the top five:
a. Organic Food Industry
b. Computational Biology
c. Parallel Programming
d. Wireless Technology
e. Simulation Engineering
If you’re like me, the first and fourth are somewhat familiar, but the others? The list made me think of all those people who are trying to get jobs just like they lost. Maybe they are gone forever, and instead of chasing the past they should spend their time retraining for jobs of the future. This brings us to the next point.
2. “Our ability to do it.” No matter what job you are going after, you have to be at the top of your game. Your resume should have a list of accomplishments—goals met, awards achieved and
successful projects that show you don’t just show up, you get results. Your references should be able to sing your praises. If you were just cruisin’ at your last job, use the time off to take some classes to brush up you skills or learn new ones.
3. “…and the difficulty in replacing us.” No one wants to go through the job search, get a new job and then get replaced by someone with more talent, skills or flexibility. Think unique skills,
ability to work with all levels of an organization, willingness to learn new things and take onstructive feedback. It is easier to find people with technical skills than the all important “soft
skills” like dependability, oral and written communications, problem solving, negotiating and leadership. You’ll be too valuable to let go if you are at the top of the charts on both types of
skills.
Take a look at your current job search. How do you rank on these three points? What other criteria makes a person employable and indispensable? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for BusinessWorkForce.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah
Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at businessworkforceblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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