More jobs, more money, more fun

May 24, 2005 —

Salaries are going up - did you get yours yet? More companies are hiring - anyone courting you?

Those are the words from a Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal.com release, and from Computerworld. CareerJournal says salaries are up for the second year in a row after three years of backsliding. Not up enough, of course, just 3.7 percent this year after a rise of 3.6 percent in 2004, but at least the trend finally points in the right direction.

Computerworld says turnover increases now make tech executives nervous, and they're starting to make plans to replace all the baby boomers heading to retirement. I always thought part of the plan included outsourcing to Asia, but that trend seems to be running into it's own set of problems. But CIOs now must consider employment details like recruiting and hiring that they haven't worried about for four years as everyone hung around grateful for the check.

Perhaps the CIOs think you're hanging around grateful, but I bet those of you abused by management in the past really plan rather than hang. Now your plan to get more money or a new job should launch forthwith and heretofore and tallyho.

What should you do? Update your plan by listing accomplishments, awards, added education hours, new certifications, and recommendations from users. You do ask users for a letter when you do them a favor, right? If not, start.

Your plan for a raise turns into a resume with a few heading changes on your annual compensation meeting worksheet. The standard way to get more money, leaving, costs your company quite a bit in replacement costs, especially if they use an outside firm for placement help. You will be thrilled with a raise only half the size of the money they save by keeping you.

If not, contact those placement firms yourself. Take your summer vacation and use part of the time to research your market value, and part of the time to find some market openings. All you can do is make more money and get away from the pain in your current workplace.

Indicators point to continued good news in the salary and jobs area, but don't let hopes for next year keep your underpaid or underemployed this year. Climbing always beats hanging.

ITworld.com, Enterprise Networking