ShareThisBy EDWARD M. MAZZE
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Q: I have the opportunity to return to a place where I worked several years ago. Is there any harm in going back to work for a previous employer?
A: You must have been a good employee for them to ask you to come back. If the position is in management, put aside your past dealings with employees so that they do not affect your future interactions, particularly if you are going to be their supervisor. They want you back because the company knows you have the skills, personality and work ethic to get the job done. Often companies let good employees leave their organization because they do not have an immediate opening for an individual who may be on a fast track. You become valuable to a previous employer if you bring back your new experiences, such as skills or knowledge from your current position or any other position you held after leaving your previous employer. Once a critical opening occurs, it is not unusual for a company to bring back a former employee. The "callback" means you have a champion in the organization. This situation gives you an opportunity to negotiate a better offer.
Q: In considering a job offer, should compensation be the major consideration?
A: This is a difficult question to answer because it all depends on each individual and each job. For example, if the job is a minimum-wage job or a job with a printed compensation scale (such as a state or union job), then compensation may be the major consideration. However, the greatest number of jobs are not in this category. Management positions have room for negotiation. At the same time, you also need to consider other factors when evaluating a job offer. Such as:
_ Is the job challenging and interesting?
_ Is there an opportunity for advancement?
_ What is the organization's long-term prospects?
_ What are the fringe benefits?
_ Is there job security?
You also need to look at factors in your life that are important, such as geography, commuting distance, your lifestyle, how job requirements match your strengths and weaknesses, your current financial situation and personal goals. Quality-of-life issues are important to consider before accepting a job offer.
Q: How do I learn to negotiate?
A: There is no one best way to negotiate _ negotiation is learned through experience.
Negotiation is an art and a science. The best way to enter a negotiation session is to understand what is being negotiated. The best-prepared negotiators make the most gains. Negotiation requires you to use your communication skills: talking, questioning, reading, counting, observing and listening.
Understand whether you are in a win-win or a win-lose situation. Negotiation is not persuading others to accept your point of view, but to find an agreement beneficial to both parties. Be aware of what will happen if you cannot reach a negotiated agreement. Good listening skills are important. You need to focus on what the other person is saying so that you will pick up nonverbal messages.
Vocal changes also give you an idea of what is important to the other party. Listen carefully to what is said, what is not said and what is meant. Never assume that what is important to you will be important to the employer. You need to do as much research as you can before negotiating. For a negotiation to be successful, both sides have to win.
Q: When do you quit a job if you are unhappy with your current position?
A: The best advice is not to quit a job unless you have accepted another job. Even under the best of situations, finding a new job is a job in itself. There are situations where you cannot wait for a new job since the current job is affecting your health and wellness. There are work-environment factors such as harassment, discrimination, safety considerations, ethical behavior and poor management that make it difficult to go to work every day. These are serious issues that should not be ignored and brought to the attention of the human-resources department in the company. Sometimes there are factors such as salary, benefits, career advancement and growth, and work conditions that may be resolved if discussed with your boss. You want to leave a job in a positive way because your employer may be needed as a reference for a future employer.
(Edward Mazze is former dean of the University of Rhode Island Business School. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com.)
