Talent Tips
Talent Tip #27: Talking Turkey: Determining an Appropriate Salary Range
November 15, 2011
Whew! Last month’s tip about providing requested salary information inspired a lot of great feedback! It’s going to take several months to get to all the great ideas, but let me start with the most common question I received: how does one determine an appropriate salary range?
Yikes. That’s like answering, how do you fall in love? Hell, if I know!
I jest. However, determining one’s salary isn’t something you can easily calculate with a simple formula. Rather, it’s a very subjective, imperfect…
Read MoreTalent Tip #26: Show me the Money! (Or I’ll Keep Quoting Overused Movie Lines)
October 18, 2011
Job hunters, huddle up.
I care about you guys. So, it pains me when I see you do things to shoot yourself in the foot. Namely, when you don’t provide salary information when requested in job postings.
Let’s first think about the main reason nonprofits want your salary requirements up front: they need to know whether you’re in the range they have budgeted for the role. It’s just that simple. There’s no evil conspiracy to tell your ex-wife how much you…
Read MoreTalent Tip #22: You Can’t Always Get What You Want: Advanced Degrees, Higher Salaries, and Marrying Orthopedic Surgeons
June 14, 2011
As a follow-up to last month’s tip about graduate degrees, I wanted to tackle the topic of how advanced schooling affects salaries in the free-market nonprofit community.
When I inquire about desired salary, here are two common responses I get:
“I am currently at 50k, but I’ll be finishing up my master’s degree next month. Therefore, I’d like to earn 70k in my next position.” “I understand the pay range for this role is 50-60k. However, since I have a… Read MoreTalent Tip #21: What Do Lady Gaga and a Graduate Degree Have in Common?
May 17, 2011
Both have values that have been overinflated by society.
Oh, I jest. Well, a little. I’m not saying graduate degrees aren’t valuable; they are often quite useful, depending on the career field. But what I see all too often are folks heading back to school without a solid reason for attaining more education.
For those considering graduate school, my advice is to think critically about why you want an advanced degree. Hint: “Because my dad got one.” and “Since the economy is bad, I think I’ll go…
Read MoreTalent Tip #20: Take Rejection Like a Champ
April 12, 2011
Anyone who has ever dated knows a little something about rejection. The same can be said for anyone who has interviewed for a job. No matter how devastatingly beautiful or talented you are, you will eventually meet with a stinging, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
When it happens, we’re often tempted to bite back. We say or do things that leave us sounding bitter and not in control of our emotions; and in doing so, we burn bridges for future interaction.
… Read MoreTalent Tip #19: Free-Market Karma: A Lesson in Retaining (or Losing) Talent
March 15, 2011
A friend of mine who used to work for a prominent free-market nonprofit recently told me a disturbing story. After he was laid off, he worked diligently to find another job in the liberty movement. During his search, he was shocked by how he was treated by many of our own organizations. Two examples he cited:
He often never heard back from hiring managers after engaging in lengthy interview processes. Even after his own follow-up, he rarely got responses. He received… Read More
Talent Tip #18: We Need More Lloyd Doblers
February 15, 2011
Do you remember Say Anything? (Note to Millennials: it’s a classic. If you haven’t seen it, do so immediately if not sooner.) The main character – Lloyd Dobler – has passion. And he makes his passion known to those who matter. Ultimately, it is his passion that lands him the girl.
As I review dozens of cover letters and introductory emails each day, I long for more Lloyds. Candidates’ banal letters leave me wondering if they are truly passionate about…
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