What are you worth?

Five ways to demonstrate your value at work

Struggling to land that promotion? Negotiating a pay rise? If you can’t articulate your value, it’ll make it challenging to land the job or pay rise of your dreams.

1. Know what ‘bucket’ you sit in

The value of all tasks can be put into one of four buckets: commercial (it either makes or saves money), service (it provides a service or product to your customers or clients and thereby creates commercial or reputational value), growth (opportunities which can lead to new business) or reputational (it supports the positioning of the company).

Identify what ‘bucket’ your skills fit in. For example:

1. Commercial: do you save or make money for the company / agency?
2. Growth: do you create opportunities for the company to grow?
3. Reputational: do your skills add value to the perception of the company or its clients?

Use your ‘bucket’ to understand how to articulate your value and thereby measure it.

2. Measure your unique value

Once you are clear on the value you bring the company, measure it. As author Cal Newport relays to FastCompany, “Once you find activities that are clearly valuable, ‘measure them constantly and pursue them deliberately in the same way a professional chess player would pursue raising his or her tournament rank score.’”

If you sit in the commercial bucket, measure how much you are making, or saving the firm. If you are responsible for the growth of the company, how much value are your opportunities delivering? If you work in the reputational bucket, has the sentiment of clients or customers evolved over time? What would the reputational risk to the company be if you weren’t in the role?

The data you gather by measuring the impact of your skills will be the most important element you use to illustrate your worth.

3. Create a forwardable portfolio

A summary presentation is a reminder why you’re a great return on investment. Demonstrate value by showcasing tangible outcomes as a direct result of your talents.

At the completion of any major milestone or project, create a summary of the successful project, your role in it, in a visually engaging way and forward this to your manager and team.

Consider this your forwardable portfolio. Over time, your manager will likely forward these reports to their bosses, making it much easier to illustrate the value of your skills come pay negotiation.

Any project that goes well is a case study for you, your boss, their manager and future clients of the company. Use this to your advantage.

4. Ace the three-sentence pitch

It’s also important to be able to demonstrate your value at work informally. If you’re unable to articulate your strengths in three sentences it will be challenging for colleagues to grasp the value of what you do.

Make sure you can confidently articulate what you do, how this benefits the company and (most importantly), a ‘proof point’ which illustrates this, in a few sentences. Here’s an example:

“I am a front end developer. I was responsible for bringing the X project to life, which resulted in the business saving X% on internal programmes. I also implemented the X programme, which has saved the company 30% in resource costs.”

If your work mates understand the value you bring, they are more likely to sing your praises to colleagues and the wider team, leading to wider opportunities over time.

As writer and web designer Paul Jarvis brilliantly articulates: ‘Don’t expect people to see your talent … you’ve got to show them why you’re an expert by teaching or showing them what goes into making what you make and why it would benefit someone like them.”

5. Think outside the KPI

Innovative employees routinely step into the shoes of their employer to understand the challenges the business faces.

Make a real impact by adding value outside of your immediate role. Are there opportunities to add value outside of your KPI’s? Do you have skills you’ve yet to flex in your current role?

If your company is growing quickly, are there opportunities to implement new systems to save everyone time? Do new technologies exist which may benefit the organisation and assist with streamlining processes?

Have industry changes impacted the way the organisation needs to be competitive? Could you suggest or create internal learning programmes to upskill and help the firm remain competitive?

Use your own informed insights to propose new initiatives that may benefit the company. Here you are showcasing initiative, creative thinking and leadership abilities – and that is hugely valuable to any employer.

Redwolf is a Melbourne based recruitment agency, bringing you the latest digital, development and design roles. Join us on LinkedIn for updates and job opportunities.

Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

LinkedIn: https://goo.gl/G4KzBm

This is an inspiring article for those of us who want to have a rich and fulfilling life.

credit for this article: @davekerpen

You’d like to be successful in everything you do, of course. Here’s how to make it happen.

Getting what you want in your career and in life isn’t as difficult as it may seem. I mean it.

Listen First and Never Stop Listening
Listening is the single-most important skill in professional and personal relationships. Ernest Hemingway said, “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” It’s sad, but true: Most people have their own agenda and are too busy talking (or waiting to talk) to listen to you. So here’s the paradox: If you, unlike most people, can truly listen with empathy, then people will like you–and eventually help you get what you want.

Help Others
It’s perhaps another paradox, but it works: When you want something from someone, instead of asking for it, help that person get what he or she wants. If you don’t know what he or she wants, then simply ask, “How can I help you?” Since so many people are out to only help themselves, when you genuinely seek to help others succeed in their goals and dreams, you’ll stand out. And those people you genuinely help will in turn fight to help you succeed and give you everything you want. Help others first, without expecting anything–and the returns will be enormous.

Be Yourself: Authentic, Transparent, and Vulnerable
Oprah Winfrey stated, “I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I’ve become. If I had, I’d have done it a lot earlier.” Professionals, especially of an older generation, tend to have a tough time with authenticity and transparency in the workplace. People, especially men, tend to have a tough time being vulnerable, especially with people they don’t know well. Many also aren’t sure how much to reveal online, or at work, or to people they’ve just met. But, hard as these choices may be, authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability all breed trust. And when people trust you, they’ll do anything for you. Open up to people, and take a chance, and you’ll be rewarded.

Tell, Don’t Sell
As important as it is to listen and help others, in order to get what you want, eventually you’ve got to tell people what that is. But nobody wants to be sold to. So whether it’s a product, service, idea, or yourself that you’re trying to sell–give up on “selling.” Instead, focus on telling a great story–captivating your audience, bringing to life what the future will bring, and painting a great picture of what will happen if you get what you want. When you get good at storytelling, people want to be part of that story–and they want to help others become part of that story too.

Inject Passion Into Every Interaction
Passion is contagious, but so is lack of passion. If you’re not passionate about what you’re talking about, why should someone else care? If you want something, you must be more excited and dedicated to it than anyone else. If you’re not passionate about it, maybe it’s not really that important to you. Not everyone is super high-energy and extraverted, though these qualities can help convey passion in many cases. Passion and energy alone put me through college with my first job. But ultimately, you don’t need to be bouncing off the walls to convince someone of something. You just need to reveal your true passion, in the way that’s genuine for you.

Surprise and Delight Others
You know how when you walk into a casino, there’s always a slot machine going off somewhere in the background, telling the world that another person just hit a jackpot? This is what social psychologists call variable rewards. You don’t know when you’re going to win; you just have enough positive experiences that you feel excited, even when you’re not winning. When you surprise and delight others, not only do you make them happy–you remind them that you’re the type of person who might surprise and delight them soon again. Some classic examples: bringing home flowers to your wife for “no reason”; telling a customer his order will arrive next week but then overnighting it; and now, tweeting to a random prospect that she’s won a free prize. If you go out of your way to make an experience with you special, especially when people least expect it, you will get huge results over time.

Use The Four Most Important Words in Business and Life
Say “I’m sorry” when you make a mistake and “thank you” as much as you can. These words are so simple, yet so often people overlook the importance of saying them. Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone knows that. It’s not when you make a mistake that’s a problem; it’s when you make a mistake and are too proud or embarrassed to be vulnerable, fess up, and apologize. Just say “I’m sorry” and let another person forgive you, so you can move on, and eventually get what you want. Conversely, sincere gratitude to people is a powerful emotion to convey, and opens up many doors. I send three hand-written thank you cards every morning. I send them to staff, customers, vendors, the media, and friends, and not only do I find people love receiving cards, but writing “thank you” puts me in an incredible mindset to start my day. This is not just about sending cards, though. It’s about having a deep appreciation for and wonder about the people and world around you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’d love to know what you think of these seven ideas. Let me know using our CONTACT form… we’d love to hear from you!

Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

Lindsey Pollak, March 19, 2013

You’ve probably heard the saying that it’s easier to get a job when you have a job. Well, what if you don’t currently have a job? What if you haven’t had a job for a long period of time?

Don’t despair. It may take some extra effort to land a job after a long period of unemployment, but it is absolutely possible. Here are five Es to guide you:

 1. Explanation

First and foremost, it is a mistake to hope that employers won’t notice that you are currently out of work. A gap in your LinkedIn profile or your resume is certain to raise a red flag. You need to address it directly.

Depending on the reason for your time away and your personal comfort level, you can either explain the gap at the beginning of your LinkedIn profile Summary or in your InMail correspondence or cover letters to recruiters when you apply for positions. In whichever place you choose to give your explanation, do it quickly, honestly and positively.

Here’s an example if you stopped working because of a layoff:

I am a creative, client-focused public relations professional with deep experience in the financial services industry. Since ABC Public Relations closed its financial services practice in June 2012, I am currently seeking a new opportunity to join a large agency.

Here’s an example if you stopped working for personal reasons, such as childcare:

I am a corporate generalist attorney with substantial in-house legal experience. For the past three years, I have focused on raising my family and I am now eager to commit my substantial energy to a full-time position as an in-house counsel for a small- to medium-sized company.

2. Experience

Next, describe any professional endeavors you have pursued during your time away. This might include volunteer work, part-time work, freelancing, temping or helping out in a family business. When possible, demonstrate how this work is related to your desired career path.

Here’s an example of what the laid-off PR professional might say:

I am currently providing pro bono communications support to three nonprofits, one of which specializes in financial education. In these roles, I have further sharpened my skills in social media strategy and event promotion.

3. Education

One of the fears an employer might have about a candidate who is not currently working is that his or her skills are outdated. You can counter this fear by showing that you have maintained — or, ideally, increased — your knowledge during your time away.

Be sure to completely fill out the Education, Courses, Skills & Expertise and Certifications sections of your LinkedIn profile. If you are currently enrolled in a class or recently updated a skill or certification, then it’s worth mentioning that directly in your Summary.

For example, in the case of the lawyer returning to work after time off with her family, she might highlight the fact that she recently completed her mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) requirement. The PR executive might include some of his most cutting-edge skills — perhaps some that he developed recently in his volunteer work — in his Skills & Expertise list and invite his connections to endorse them.

If you know that your skills are rusty or that a mandatory professional certification has expired, don’t wait for a recruiter to notice. Do your best to get up to speed now, and include your current training or skill building in your LinkedIn profile to show that you are being proactive.

4. Endorsement 

It is one thing to promote yourself as a safe bet despite your time away; it is another thing for someone else to say it for you. You can use LinkedIn recommendations and endorsements as strategic tools to address any concerns you believe an employer might have about your particular situation.

In the case of the PR executive, he might worry that an employer thinks he was laid off because he failed in his previous job. To counter this impression, he can request a recommendation from a previous boss, client or colleague to praise his successful results or mention that he survived three previous rounds of layoffs during the depths of the recession.

In the case of the attorney, she might fear that recruiters will assume her skills are rusty, so she can list her most cutting-edge skills in her profile’s Skills & Expertise section, which her contacts can then endorse.

5. Engagement

Finally, it is crucial for unemployed job seekers to network extensively. Your best-case scenario occurs when a recruiter or hiring manager meets you or learns about you through a trusted contact before knowing that you have been away from the workforce for an extended period. The more impressed they are by you in real life, the less important the details and length of your unemployment will be.

Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.