The Write Resume Career Strategies Weblog

Barry Bonds King of Home Runs. But, at what price?

On Tuesday, August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants became the Home Run King, surpassing the record of the famed Hank Aaron with a  shot to the deepest part of his home ballpark.

However, at what price?

He has been swirling in controversy over his "unknown" use of steroids and performance enhancers. His record will be forever tainted with questions surrounding whether he earned that record the "legal" way. While no one can say whether he "knowingly" took those drugs or not, it doesn't matter. The perception in the public eye is that he did. It is a shame he will not be able to truly enjoy the success he has achieved.

So, what does this have to do with job search? Plenty.

Think about the reputation you have in your workplace. Is it one of controversy or honesty? How are you going to be remembered at your current or former places of employment? Will everyone miss you and speak highly of you? Or will your name be forever linked with controversy?

My father always told me that you have only one thing in this world that is truly your own: your reputation. How you craft that reputation is up to you.

So, how do you craft a good reputation?

Deal with every situation in a fair and honest manner. Do your job to the best of your ability. Be a pleasure to work with - a person that everyone seeks out for assistance or wants on their team. Be a person of integrity - do what you say you're going to do when you say you're going to do it.

Not only will you be thought highly of, your chances for promotion will increase, headhunters and recruiters will seek you out for new positions based on your stellar reputation, and when you decide to move on to another position, bosses and supervisors will be happy to write a glowing recommendation.

Killed for asking for a raise?

I was shocked to read about the car dealer in Atlanta who shot and killed two of his employees because they were continually asking for a raise. Rolandas Milinavicius, the car dealership owner, told police he was having financial troubles, and shot the two employees on July 26, 2007 after they kept asking for a raise in their pay. Apparently, he got extremely angry and ended their lives. What this employer did not understand is his employees could have been the key to helping him resolve his financial troubles.

I cannot recall ever hearing of an incident like this. While I am not certain as to how these two employees approached their boss about the pay increases, I thought I would provide some guidelines on the best ways to ask for a raise.

Have your facts and figures ready

Before approaching your boss for a raise, ensure you have lined up the "facts and figures" regarding your contributions to the company. If you can directly point to increases in sales or business, decreases in costs, launching a procedure that streamlined a process, etc., make sure you detail that in your "presentation" to your boss.

You can also make a list of goals you have accomplished with the company. Perhaps the goals were ones accomplished on your own or with a team. Either of those types of goals are valid. Include them both in your performance notes.

Make a list of responsibilities that were added to your position since your last raise. Whether it is actual work duties or supervision / training of more employees, these extra responsibilities can be worth more money to you.

Research the market pay rates for your job

When searching for pay rates for your particular position, make sure you are comparing apples with apples. For instance, if you live in Iowa, do not use pay rates for New York. You can use websites, such as www.salary.com to get an idea of pay rates for your position.

Know your employers process for granting raises

It is important for you to read your employee handbook regarding the process by which raises are granted. If they are granted only once a year, you will most likely not receive a raise until your annual performance review. However, follow the guidelines above to be prepared for that annual review.

Armed with these simple guidelines, the salary increase process should go more smoothly.