Tips and tools to help you thrive.

At The Salary Coach, we love seeing people do well. That’s why we’ve put together some useful resources to help, inspire and motivate you towards your next career milestone.

Salary Coach Calculator

The Salary Calculator

Turn small change, into big dollars. The Salary Calculator shows how much an increase in salary can add up over your lifetime. If you’ve been wanting to go to ‘that restaurant’ or go on more holidays but can’t quite afford it, your salary could be the thing that’s holding you back. Financial security is an important part of Iife, so check out the Salary Calculator to see what a pay rise could mean for you.

The Negotiation Planner

Asking for a pay rise or trying to negotiate a better deal can be tough. However, when you’re well prepared, it’s a whole lot easier. Our free Negotiation Planner can help get what you’re looking for. 

Getting that promotion

Sometimes, taking that next step up in your career can be difficult. And if you’ve been overlooked a couple of times, you can wonder what’s going on. So, give yourself the inside running with these four tips.

What are people saying about you when you’re not in the room?

If you don’t know, then you aren’t in control of your brand.

Think about what you want to be known for. Of course, you can’t be all things to all people, so pick the things that resonate the most. Perhaps you want to be known as the million-dollar salesperson, or the kaleidoscope advertiser – the person who can turn a campaign into perfection with small changes. You could be the unraveller of business issues, using your analytical and problem-solving capabilities. No matter what it is for you, it must be crisp and clear.

Put simply, when people mention you, think about how they might end this sentence: ‘Oh, they’re the person who ________________’.

The use of a mentor cannot be underestimated. They bring a wealth of knowledge and know-how to help you grow. Actively seek out a mentor or two. Make sure to meet regularly and have specific questions you want answered in the conversation.

You need someone in your camp who understands what you’re going through and can support you through the process. The Salary Coach can help, or point you in the right direction.

Another habit of promotable employees is to have a strong and positive network. Make sure you connect with people who you can give to and vice-versa. It should always be a two-way relationship – trusting, open, honest and supportive.

All jobs have targets. Whatever your targets are, be sure to meet, or even exceed them. And do this consistently. This will support your brand and substantiate of value. I recommend keeping track of those achievements and value statements and being able to articulate them concisely and with clarity.
When it comes time to ask for a promotion, these achievements will come in handy.

How to resign and not burn bridges

First thing’s first, are you sure you want to resign? It’s a big step so you need to make sure it’s the right one and part of your overall career plan.

It’s important that you understand the different styles of resignation, and which one will serve you best. Read on, to make sure you do it right.

There are lots of different ways to resign, which include the following:

  • The straight-forward approach: ‘I’m resigning because…’ 
  • The grateful goodbye: ‘I really appreciate you, this place, the team…’
  • In the loop: ‘I’m thinking of resigning and am looking for something else. I’ll keep you in the loop…’ 
  • By the book: ‘I’d like to speak with you in the office please. I’m resigning, and here is my letter.’ 
  • Impulsive quitting: ‘I’m out of here. I‘ve had enough.‘ 
  • Bridge-burning: I’m resigning, this place stinks. You stink…’
  • The avoidant: Sending an email or placing the resignation letter on the boss’s desk after hours on a Friday. 

Before discussing how to resign, let’s cover off if resigning is the right step. As part of your career planning and development, it’s important to know what’s next. Be sure to have a plan and be clear on your goals.

When resigning, it’s a good idea to make time to speak with your boss, and consider the following:

  • Let your manager know you’re resigning and why.
  • Thank them for whatever you’re grateful for. This could be the experience, the relationships, or opportunities. Now’s the time to reflect on the positive.
  • Mention other people and times that have stood out positively for you.
  • Write a clear and concise letter/email and send it to them after your meeting.
  • Ask if there will be an exit interview.


Ask about the process from here and what to expect.

A common question is ‘how much notice should I give when I resign?’ Well, that depends on the role you perform, what’s in your employment contract, and how much you’d like to offer.

For instance, if your notice period is two weeks, and you want to give them one month, then offer it. It’s all a negotiation.

If a need advice, The Salary Coach can help.

How to handle being performance-managed

Here’s the scenario.

You’ve be invited to a meeting with your manager and they’ve suggested you bring a support person. Your heart is racing. You break into a sweat. What the heck? The meeting time arrives, and you turn up with your support person and you’re sweating bullets.

You’ve heard about these kinds of meetings. It usually means your time is up and they want you out, doesn’t it? The trouble is, you aren’t too sure about what’s going to happen here. What will you say? What will they say? Can the situation be rectified? Read on to find out.

 

The best way is to tackle this scenario is with a pragmatic approach.

  • Select a support person who has some experience with people leadership and management. There’s little space for being emotional in these situations. They need to be calm and level-headed in order to support you well.
  • Brainstorm what you think it will be about, and what is likely to come up. The trick here is to be really honest with yourself and categorise what you think will come up. Workshop approaches for handling any items you think will be discussed with your support person.

Know your rights. In Australia, you can do this by visiting Fair Work Australia

  • Take a pad and pen. Ask your support person to do so as well.
  • Listen carefully. Don’t interrupt. Take notes.
  • Don’t defend or justify your position. There is usually little use in saying things like ‘well x said this and I did that’.
  • Ask if they have any further insights they would like to add.
  • Replay back to them what you understand them to have said, and as you gain agreement tick each off on your notepad.
  • If it’s all a big surprise, you can acknowledge this by saying something like ‘this isn’t what I was expecting. I have been taken by surprise.’
  • Ask questions. If there is something you aren’t sure about, ask more questions for clarity. For instance, if your boss says you’ve been saying inappropriate things at work and this contravenes our workplace policies. If you believe that not to be true, ask for clarification. Ask them to show you where to find policies and interpretation.
  • Be humble and unconfrontational.
  • Focus on the situation and what can be done to rectify it. See your boss as an ally.

What to do after redundancy

If you’ve learned that your role is being made redundant, it can lead to a range of emotions – confusion, fear, anger, sorrow, indignity, and more. It can be stressful and exhausting.

As you come to terms with the changes in your life, having someone on your side is important. Read below for some great tips to help you.

Ask for what you’d like. If you’re offered coaching, do your own research and ask for someone you want to work with. If you’d like to take a particular learning pathway, ask for it. It’s your redundancy, see how much of it you can own.

If you receive an outplacement program, look carefully at what they’re offering you. If they offer different training experiences, make the most of them. There may be some opportunities for you to explore topics that you’ve been curious about and haven’t yet looked into.

Explore different scenarios and imagine yourself working in different places, ways, companies and roles. As you do this think about how you could achieve what you want for yourself. How could you make that a reality?

In Australia, you can do this by visiting Fair Work Australia

If you decide to hunt for a new job, be sure to spend no more than two hours a day doing that. Take time to upskill and pursue your out of work interests – especially if they take you out of your normal environment. Catching up with friends or family, or even meeting new people at your local park or café, can be a great way to refresh and recharge.

About half of jobs on the market are filled through people networking. Choose a few people who you think may help you out. Buy them a coffee or tea and ask for their help. Show interest in their business, what they are doing, and any professional issues they may be facing.

Redundancy can be a horrible experience, but be careful not to blame. It’s okay to be disappointed with your new circumstances. Aim to look at it from a ‘what can I learn?’ perspective. Having a pragmatic approach can be useful. It doesn’t mean you have to like it and be all smiles.

It’s important to have someone in your camp who understands what you’re going through and can support you through the process. Many people who are made redundant find a new role, however, 1 in 3 of those accept less pay, and 1 in 8 move into a role with a lower skill set required. The Salary Coach is here to help.

Stay connected and up-to-date

Get the latest news and useful tools to keep you on top of your career.

Join our community and become part of the conversation by sharing tips, thoughts and successes.

Check out our handy tips on Youtube

Get your free negotiation planner now.

Simply enter your details and we will send you the negotiation planner, which will help you take your first steps towards getting the salary you know you’re worth.