Yes, the truth is more amazing than the words you’ve just read above in the title to this post. Came upon the following tried and tested solutions and methodologies. Hope these steps, listed below, will lead you in the right direction tailor-made for your abilities and talents. Cheerio!

[Bankrate.com
17 steps to a bigger paycheck
Wednesday November 29, 6:00 am ET
Dana Dratch

1. Network, network, network. The old adage is true. It's not just what you know, it's who you know. "Networking never fails," says Lena Bottos, director of compensation for Salary.com. "It's knowing who are the other people in your industry." And when the time comes that you want to make a change, "You have people you can go to," she says. It's also practical. "The people in your profession will give you the most leads," says Martin Yate, author of "Knock 'Em Dead 2007: The Ultimate Job Search Guide."

2. Expand your circle beyond the people who are most like you. Get to know everyone. You never know who might have that golden Rolodex.

3. Realize that your new part-time job is looking for your next job. Like exercise, you do a little regularly and you'll get the best results, says Debbie Ellis, president of Phoenix Career Group. Join one or two industry organizations. Cultivate a few favorite career Web sites (including industry association sites) and have potential opportunities e-mailed to you. (If nothing else, this gives you a "job map" of what people in your industry need, says Yate.) Analyze the gaps between what these jobs require and the skills and experience you have, then plot the steps you need to take to become a top contender. "You can't just follow the opportunities that present themselves," says Ellis.

4. Think globally. "In the next 10 years, we will triple the goods sent 'round the world," says Yate. As a result, languages and supply-chain management skills will be in high demand.

5. Trash your old-fashioned resume. When people start looking for jobs, the first thing they do is update their resumes, usually by adding a few lines to include the latest job, says Yate. Too old school. Today, resumes are kept in databases and searched with certain keywords. So your old-style format won't cut it, says Yate. "Instead, turn your resume on its head: Show them your skills," he says. To go along with the resume, consider a "leadership addendum," says Ellis. Basically, this is a list of achievements "that focuses on skills and situations," she says.

6. Take the initiative. When you notice changes at one of your target companies, (it's going after a niche market, opening a new division, launching a new product), send them a proposal telling them what you could do to make it happen. "It's a much more proactive introduction," says Ellis.

7. Keep up. Every field is changing constantly, from the terminology to the technology. While it's tempting to cut corners and stick with what you know, it can hurt you in the long run. "It's hard," says Ellis. "No one has enough time." Budget some time to stay current and don't be afraid to ask yourself if there is something (a degree, language, skill or computer program), that could make you more efficient or effective. "Just a little bit will go a long way," she says.

8. Seek advancement at your current job. "The easiest way to move up is in your current organization," says Ellis.

9. Stand out. One reason it can help to have an MBA? "You differentiate yourself," says Yate. "It's a badge that says, 'I can do new things.'" A big plus in big business: languages. "People who have experience in language and culture are very much in demand," says Ellis.

10. Keep ahead of the game. If you think you (or your job) will be eliminated, laid off or outsourced, get moving now. Waiting will not make it better. Launch a job search "from a cold start, and it takes seven or eight weeks to get up to speed," says Yate.

11. Become an expert. It's old advice, but it's more relevant than ever, say career coaches. Whether it's a critical language, new regulations or a complicated computer program, find an area in your company or industry where there is a knowledge gap and become the expert on that topic.

12. Look for career opportunities that can't be outsourced. What do chefs, hair dressers, plumbers, carpenters and electricians have in common? We'll always need those professionals locally, says Yate.

13. Realize that the only constant is change. Gone are the days when you worked for one company for 50 years, climbed the ladder and received a gold watch at retirement. Today people change jobs every four to five years and have several careers during their lifetimes. Gear up for a career change a year or two in advance. That gives you time to get any needed training or education and supplement any skills or experience you might need.

14. Have a life beyond the job. Get involved in community sports, hobbies and charity activities. "Not only is it good for you professionally, it's good for you as a human being," says Yate. Too many people allow themselves to become isolated by long hours at work. "That's not healthy," he says.

15. Stay plugged in at work. Once you've decided to leave a job, it's easy to just check out mentally. Mistake. Instead, this is when you want to be at your best. Stay on top of industry developments, news and trends. Network with your contacts. Keep your skills sharp with continuing education or additional certification. Continue adding to the skills that will make you valuable at your job and in the job market.

16. Those who can, teach. No matter what your field, your resume is stronger if you can also teach or train others, says Yate. In addition, teaching offers steady income and flexibility for executives who want to take a breather, are facing layoffs or are between jobs, he says.

17. Be an entrepreneur. The two big concerns as baby boomers near retirement are outsourcing and age discrimination, says Yate. Whether you're facing layoffs, playing "beat the clock" or are just sick of your commute and the 9-to-5 grind, look for opportunities to work independently. You can view these projects as extra income, turn them into a steady sideline or even use them to create your own golden parachute. Says Yate, "Whatever your profession, treat every job as on-the-job training for your own business someday."]


SOURCE: http://yahoo-email.com/a/hBFbzhRAadOLLA0TXJaAn5jHHzU/yhj72

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