Austin Belcak

You should have 3 plans when negotiating compensation / benefits. First, you want to identify your "ideal" package. This is your ideal setup for salary and benefits, with the right proportions of each. When you have that, you have Plan A. Next, you want to create Plan B. You shouldn't drop the overarching value here. Instead, you find other ways to get there (e.g. they won't budget on base? Make up for it in bonus or equity.). Finally, you want to create a Plan C with the same principles outlined in Plan B. Now, whenever you hit a roadblock with the employer, you can offer an alternative solution that doesn't decrease the overall value of your offer!

Anyone who says that Thank You notes are a waste of time are flat out wrong. Thank You notes have 3 distinct benefits: 1. According to industry data, 80% of employers appreciate thank you notes but only 24% of candidates send them. Sending a thank you note sets you apart. 2. Thank You notes let you add more value to the process. You can use your Thank You to build on and add new information to the conversation you had in your interview. Most of your competition isn't doing this. 3. Thank You notes are an act of kindness and respect. Regardless of the outcome, someone took the time to sit down and learn about you and your background. Thanking them for that time is a kind thing to do and a respectful thing to do.

My entire job search from healthcare to Microsoft was driven by analytics. My primary focus was on networking and referrals so I had a Google Sheet with two tabs: Tab 1: - Messages Sent - Replies Received - Coffee Chats Booked - Referrals - Phone Screens - Offers Tab #2: A list of the 10-15 networking strategies I was testing along with the above metrics. Every week, I put my data into the sheet. This data showed me two things: 1. Where is my search getting bottlenecked? 2. What networking strategies are working best for me? That allowed me to focus all my energy on the bottleneck in front of me. It also drastically improved my networking results because I had identified the strategies that actually worked!

First and foremost, when asked about salary, your immediate strategy should be to ask about budget. Ask the employer if they're willing to share the range they have budgeted for the role. You'll be surprised at how many do! But if they don't, and they ask you again? This is my favorite reply: "I'm currently being considered for roles in the range of $X - $Y, but my top priority is finding a role at a company that's a great fit." To identify $X and $Y: 1. Research salaries for your target role across at least 3 sites 2. Identify the bottom, top, and middle of the range. 3. Set your $X - $Y range somewhere in the 55%-90%, where you are also getting a raise.

Society has created an unfortunate stigma around job searching. We're made to feel that if we're not job searching with every free moment of our time, we're not doing it right or that we don't care enough. Neither of those things are true! Job searching is a marathon, not a sprint. Like any marathon, you need to pace yourself and stop at the water stations along the way. Here are the best ways I've found to do this: 1. Set Limits On Your Job Search Time You should only need 4-5 hours max / day. 2. Find Support Therapy, peer groups, or friends are great options. 3. Do Activities For You Take a cooking class, read a book, play video games, do things that are just for you. You can't pour from an empty cup.

Before your video interview, you should check your tech setup multiple times. You can also use this to practice! Here's how: 1. Set Up Your Tech Start by setting up everything you'll be using on interview day, in the exact places they'll be on interview day. This includes your computer, camera, mic, etc. 2. Test & Rehearse Before interview day, fire up a solo Zoom meeting and begin rehearsing your answers as if you were on a live call. Record the meeting. Afterwards, watch the recording to see what needs to be adjusted. 3. Repeat Step #2 On The Day Of You Interview Double check just in case :) 4. Have A Plan B Ready Have another computer or your phone set up to be able to immediately join the meeting if something goes wrong!