The single most common reason I’ve heard cited for this is that candidates are afraid that negotiating will eliminate them from consideration. Though anything’s possible, this is unlikely to happen when you’re prepared. Consider the following:

Before the interview, know what you need and what you can expect: Since a fear of saying the “wrong” thing often causes anxiety, it helps to do some pre-work. While you may not find the exact dollar amount a company will offer, you can come up with a realistic range through a mix of informational interviews (with people in the industry), job ads, and online sources (i.e. GlassDoor.com, Salary.com, PayScale.com). Along with knowing the going rate for your function/industry/geographic area, determine beforehand your salary needs – the absolute lowest you can accept, that which you can realistically expect, and your dream compensation.

You may not get everything you wanted – but you probably won’t be eliminated for asking: At a recent association industry event, I decided to tackle this question head on. I asked a presenter with years of hiring experience if she had ever taken someone out of the running for a job because they negotiated salary and/or benefits. Her answer – NOT ONCE! She said that she would never eliminate a candidate for what really amounts to just asking questions.

Remember – employers expect negotiations. In fact, the same hiring manager I referenced above shared a trade secret: employers usually low-ball employees on the offer to give themselves wiggle room on salary.

A few common objections—and my answers to them—include:

• I have not been invited to speak. You do not need to wait for an invitation to speak! Consider hosting your own event at a local Chamber of Commerce, library, or other public facility. Many people use webinars to reach audiences in other geographic areas. You can also call business and industry organizations and let them know you are interested in and available to talk about your area of expertise. Many will be delighted to not have to search for their next speaker.
• I don’t know what to talk about. What have you been doing all these years in your career? You have significant experiences and insights that will allow you to be a value creator for your audience. You are passionate about what you do, and when you combine that passion with your experience, your audience will want to know more.
• I am terrified of public speaking. This is a legitimate objection, and there are many resources for those who want to overcome fears of public speaking. One thing I like to remember is that when I am speaking, I am not setting myself up as a perfect model; I am aiming to connect with my audience. Whether it’s through the value I create or the relationship I establish with my audience, this mindset frees me to deliver the value I promised with excellence but without the pressures of perfection.

Once you are ready to use public speaking as a powerful tool to grow your experience and expertise, keep the following tips in mind:

• Create value. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in public speaking isn’t forgetting a portion of your manuscript or even falling off the stage; it’s trying too hard to sell yourself, your business, or your product. Your audience will come to you looking for valuable information on your field of expertise—this is what you should focus on giving them. When they have a taste of the value you create, they will want more.
• Be accessible. Use the time before and after you speak to network. Get to know those who are attending the event and take time to answer their questions. This is the perfect networking opportunity because people want to meet you!
• Have a plan. While focusing on preparing your manuscript is important, be sure you have a plan in place to follow-up with your audience within several days of your event. If your goal is to find new job leads or grow your network, take the time to get contact information from everyone who attends, and make sure you follow-up with a phone call, an email, a card, or a face-to-face meeting if possible.

Start writing down ideas based on your own experiences and passions, and see where that takes you as you plan your own event, host a webinar, or start calling local business and industry organizations.

Articles referenced:

Baldwin-Rhodes, Lynn. Public speaking to build your business: Interview with Pam McAllister.

Brooks, Rich. Generate more leads with public speaking.

• Clean out the jargon. Read over your resume and make sure that it is a good reflection of YOU. While you want to show how well you understand your industry, your resume should be a reflection of what makes you stand above the competition. Replacing overly-used words and unnecessary jargon with phrases that promote your personal brand is an important step to keeping a polished resume.
• Dust off the cover. Take some time to change the colors or font—while keeping it professional—and check for consistency in alignment and spacing. Read over your resume to make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors.
• Fill in the holes. If your resume has been sitting unused for a while, it probably has some holes that need to be filled in. Take some time to revise your skills and accomplishments, add recent volunteer experiences or professional accomplishments, and update your contact information.
• Add some new accessories. While you are cleaning out your resume, take a few minutes to modify your LinkedIn profile. This is becoming an increasingly popular resource for job seekers and hiring managers alike; be sure your profile looks as good as possible! Along with updating the resume portion of your profile, consider adding some new terms into the “Skills and Expertise” section.

Now that you have polished up your resume, consider putting it to use! Let spring become a chance for you to find a new beginning in your career or job search.

Myth #1: Associations pay far less than corporations.
While the average pay is nearly the same, many associations surpass the market in benefits by offering tuition reimbursement, flex time, and continuing education in addition to the health insurance and vacation time offered by corporations. The benefits of working for an association typically rival or even exceed those in the corporate world.

Myth #2: Associations have little to offer in terms of adding meaning to my work.
For those who desire to combine their life’s mission with a successful, well-paying career, the association industry presents that opportunity. The American Lung Association has piloted successful non-smoking campaigns, and the American School Counselor Association leads efforts in helping children during a crisis. Most associations seek to use their profession to work for the greater good.

Myth #3: An association requires experience directly related to the profession it serves.
Sheri Jacobs, who wrote the forward to my book, I Want to Work in an Association—Now What?, said that 100% of the people she polled “fell into” the association industry, which is why it is such a great option for career changers! When I speak with hiring managers, they tell me they are most interested in:

• Job-specific qualifications—The applicant should meet the requirements of an accountant if that is the position being targeted.
• Customer service skills—The number one goal of an association is to keep its members happy; customer service is key.
• Volunteer experience—It shows that someone is altruistic and interested in helping others.

If you have not yet considered the association industry in your job search, I encourage you to listen to the full interview and take advantage of this often overlooked source of well-paying and mission-driven career opportunities!

The good news is that they would be wrong! Between anecdotal evidence and a poll I recently posted on my LinkedIn group (I Want to Work in an Association—Now What???), most association employees work onsite AND telecommute – not exclusively one or the other.

I wasn’t really surprise by these findings. Almost every association career-related event I have attended touts the sector’s benefits when it comes to flexible schedules. Read on for tips on making telecommuting an option for you:

1) Discuss it with your boss: Be prepared to make your case, and explain why this is a good thing for the association. Think about your own unique situation, but one common selling point is that you’ll be more productive. With the many interruptions that come with working at the office, you’ll likely get more done at home.

2) Test the waters: Even if your dream is to telecommute 100% of the time, your supervisor might be more receptive if you start by asking for one or two days. To further sell her or him on the idea, propose a trial period. For example, you might both agree to revisit how the arrangement has been working out in six months. If all goes well, you’ll likely be able to continue working from home, and possibly score another day or two at the same time.

3) Find a new organization: Despite your best efforts, some associations just won’t be open to telecommuting, and it may not be possible for you to change the culture anytime soon. In this case, it may make sense for you to look elsewhere. Find out if a company is work-from-home friendly by asking contacts in your network and researching sites like glassdoor.com.

• Define Yourself – Do you have a personal brand that tells recruiters and head hunters exactly who you are why they should hire you? One of the best ways to get more from your job search in less time is to clearly define your brand. The understanding you will gain from this experience will not only set you above the competition but will also give you the focus needed to keep control of the time you do spend on your job search.
• Strategize – Few executives would argue the necessity of beginning a new project with a solid strategy, but many make a costly mistake by trying to skip this step in the job search. Use a proven goal-setting method to keep you focused and on track with your job search.
• Leverage Online Tools – I recommend tools such as Indeed.com since it aggregates ads from all over the web (which eliminates the need for looking at specialty sites and also maximizes time since the job seeker just needs to go to one site).
• Get Social – Recruiters are increasingly looking to websites like LinkedIn to fill executive level positions. Let this work in your favor and be sure recruiters can find you—and will like what they see—by ensuring your online profiles are up to date and convey your personal brand. Make new connections and get recommendations and endorsements from those you know on LinkedIn.
• Stay Local – Online resources can help you expand your reach, but be sure to use the resources closest to you as well. Commit some of your time to networking and getting the word out about what you have to offer recruiters and companies looking to hire.

“I’m an association executive looking for work in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere. I find there aren’t enough jobs in the Bay Area serving my profession. There are very few people in my expanding Bay Area network who can help me find this kind of work. Most trade associations and professional societies are located in Sacramento or Washington, D.C. The people I network with in Sacramento are not very open or helpful. Washington, D.C. employers don’t seem to take me seriously because I live in Walnut Creek, CA — even though I’m willing to relocate with my family if given an offer.”

Read my response to Ted Pierce on Jason’s blog.

Wondering if the association industry could be a good fit for you? Join me and Jason in a free webinar on Tuesday, March 5^th at 10 a.m. CST/11 a.m. EST.

Motivation. What is your primary motivation for starting down the road of a job transition? Are you running from your current job or are you pursuing something new? If you are running from something, chances are good that you will run right into another job that is mediocre at best. However if you are actively pursuing something you are passionate about, you have much more control over acquiring a position you can thrive in.

Vision. Once you shift your motivation toward your passions, think not only about what you do not want your next position to look like but also what you do want it to look like. Be specific. Do you want greater leadership and influence in the company? Are you looking for more time flexibility, the opportunity to travel, or even a specific corporate culture? What about life outside of work—what do you want that to look like?

Expectations. As you create your vision think through how this affects the job transition to retain clear expectations. It may take a little longer to hold out for something you really want, but expecting to wait will help give you greater patience in the transition.  Being realistic about the challenges of any job transition will transform those challenges from obstacles to part of the journey.

Character. Your own character is key to making your job transition successful. Finishing your old job well and on good standing with your coworkers is essential. Transition into a new job with positive momentum behind you.

Confidence. Know your skills and what you offer potential employers  so you can answer the tough questions from interviewers and yourself. Take the time to build confidence in yourself through reviewing your past experiences and accomplishments, practicing for interviews, and even one on one coaching to help draw out what you might overlook about your skills set and personal brand.

Take the next step as a leader in a new company knowing your motivation, vision, expectations, and character, and be confident in the skills you have and the brand you offer.

1)      Managing former peers (and possibly friends) is one of the biggest challenges that comes along with getting a promotion. Though it’s certainly possible to maintain these relationships, suddenly supervising colleagues can complicate things. Honesty is truly the best policy. Candidly explain that you are aware that your relationship has changed. By laying this out from the very beginning you pave the way for a smooth transition.

2)      No matter how prepared you are for your new role, there will still be a learning curve. If your predecessor had been promoted and is still at your organization, consider yourself lucky! There’s no better person who can provide you with the support and coaching you need to navigate a new position. Considering this person may actually be your boss, you’ll naturally need to go to him/her for advice. Make an effort to cultivate this relationship, so that you’ll have someone on your side during the challenging first few months of a new position.

3)      Finally, remember that managing people, delegating tasks, and overseeing projects are all skills in themselves. If you never have the opportunity to do them before consider taking courses to help you learn and/or enhance your leadership skills.

Challenges and changes are inevitable realities at work but their commonness allows us to grow increasingly adept at navigating the turbulence they create. Though it gets less attention, stagnation is an equally important issue because it becomes a greater obstacle as we progress into our careers. Taking even an hour this month to brainstorm and refocus your professional vision will help you manage well whatever this year may bring. Here are some practical suggestions to avoid stagnation and refresh your work in 2013:

• Self-Assess – You may have recently completed an annual review with your supervisor, but don’t overlook the importance of an in-depth self-assessment. What satisfies you about your work? What frustrates you? Are you heading in the direction you wish to be? What, if anything, is keeping you from achieving your goals? Answering questions like these with complete honesty can be a critical component in your sense of professional satisfaction.
• Stretch Your Mind – Since things are always changing, being both a valuable and happy employee may hinge on knowing what’s trending. Here are some simple ways to keep your head in the game:
  • Attend a professional conference. If your budget doesn’t allow for travel, check out conference literature and websites for podcasts, seminar topics and keynote speakers.
  • Browse the internet for websites and blogs that are relevant to your field. Bookmark the top three sites so you can stop by a few times a month. Check out on-line booksellers monthly for popular authors or new publications.
  • Subscribe to a professional journal or periodical. Consider choosing two with divergent approaches or styles so you can compare how experts tackle similar issues.
• Collaborate – If zest for your work is gone or the well of ideas has run dry, gather a group of colleagues or associates. Whether it’s to brainstorm, discuss trends in your field, problem solve or simply to network, collaboration often clears away the professional cobwebs.
• Plan Getaways – Don’t wait for stress-related illness or fatigue to take time off. Now is the time to schedule getaways that will keep you healthy and recharged. Quarterly long-weekends will give you time and space to slow down and enjoy life. Also plan to work away from the office one afternoon a month, setting aside this time to ‘check-in’ with your professional goals.

Implementing even one of these strategies will help you manage professional stress and keep stagnation at bay. Once these strategies become part of the fabric of your work, you’ll start to see positive changes in both your work and your attitude.