If you're happy with your current salary, it would be easy to just sit back and enjoy it. But if you want to make sure your earnings keep rising over the long term, you need a strategy to protect against salary plateaus and unemployment.
如果你对目前薪水满意的话,那么放松享受是件容易的事。但是,如果你想确保收入长期上升,你就需要一个策略,保护自己免遭“薪水天花板”和失业。
Experts offer the following tips for maximizing your earnings over the course of your career.
以下就是专家们提供的建议,帮你达到职业生涯内收入最大化。
* Watch industry trends carefully.
仔细关注行业潮流
"If your professional area is vulnerable to economic shifts, don't cling to it just because it is familiar and comfortable," said Libby Pannwitt, principal of the Work Life Design Group, in San Carlos, California. Take a class or even get an advanced degree to arm yourself with skills that are more enduring.
加州San Carlos的Work Life Design 集团主席Libby Pannwitt说:“如果你从事的行业容易受到经济转型的影响,就不要因为你熟悉这个行业、感到舒适而死守着不放。”参加培训或取得更高的学历,用那些更经得起时间考验的技能来武装自己吧。
For example, Marianne Adoradio, a recruiter and career counselor in Silicon Valley, said she sees otherwise excellent candidates for human resources positions who don't have global experience -- something that is a requirement for more and more positions. She advises people in the field -- even if they aren't currently job-hunting -- to make sure they're working on projects with a global component. If they aren't, they need to ask their boss how they can gain this experience.
例如,硅谷的招聘人员、职业顾问Marianne Adoradio说她遇到过一些非常优秀的人来应聘人力资源职位,但他们没有国际经验——这一越来越多职位要求的必备条件。她建议这一行业的人们一定要让自己的工作项目中含有“国际成份”。如果没有,他们就得问问老板如何才能获得这方面的经验。
* If you reach a salary plateau, understand the reason.
遇到薪水瓶颈,要寻找原因
In many fields, people start out their careers with a succession of rapid salary increases. These increases taper off after a time, though, unless they enter management. Some companies have career paths for non-managers with highly specialized skills, so if you're not interested in management, you may want to pursue one of those.
在许多行业,薪水开始会有一系列的迅速增长。过了一段时间后加薪会逐渐减少,除非进入管理层。有些企业为那些非管理人员、但有高级专业技能者也提供了不断发展的职业道路,所以如果你对管理不感兴趣,也许会希望追求一份这样的工作。
If the problem is that your field of expertise is no longer in as much demand as it used to be, then you may need to look at a move to a related field.
如果在你从事的行业中,对专业技术的需求已不如以往,那你也许需要考虑换到相关行业。
* Make yourself marketable outside your company as well as inside.
让自己在公司内外都“吃香”
"The most successful people develop themselves to add a lot of value to any company in the industry, not just their company alone," said Steve Levin, principal of Leading Change Consulting & Coaching, in Portola Valley, California. This will give you more leverage in internal negotiations -- and more options if you decide to leave your current company.
Leading Change Consulting & Coaching的主席Steve Levin说:“最成功的人是那些将自己打造为对该行业的任何一家公司都有很大价值的人,而不仅仅是他们所在的公司。”这会让你在同公司谈判待遇时拥有更多砝码,也会让你在决定辞职时有更多选择。
One tip for being marketable across an industry: Try to work for "name-brand companies," Adoradio said. Recruiters often prefer candidates who have worked for industry-leading companies. Having one on your resume will help your long-term career prospects.
Adoradio提供的一个在行业内“吃香”的技巧是:为“名企”工作。招聘人员往往偏爱那些曾在行业内领先企业工作过的员工。在简历上有这么一家公司会对你长期职业发展有帮助。
* Consider multiple income streams.
拥有多份收入
Some people branch out from their main job to take on consulting work or teach a course in their field. This may help advance your primary career if the work helps you stay current or showcases your expertise. If your second job is in a different field, the second income will increase your earnings and help shield you from the downturns in your main industry.
有些人扩展了工作范围,也从事行业内的咨询或培训工作。如果这份工作能让你走在行业潮流前端或是展现你的专长,那就能促进你的本职工作。如果你的副业属于一个不同的行业,第二份收入会增加你的个人收入,并可在你的第一行业低迷时,保护你不受影响。
* Don't focus too narrowly on money.
不要眼界狭窄,太关注于钱
"Raises and promotions are given to people who generate trust and demonstrate competence to handle more complexity," Levin said. Focus on this, and the money will likely follow.
Levin说:“加薪和晋升是给那些值得信任并表现出有能力处理更复杂问题的人员的。”关注这一点,收入也就可能自然而然的增加。
And remember that learning new skills in a job can be just as important as the money.
还要记住在工作中学习新技能和获得加薪一样重要。
"When that learning stops, when that development stops, it's time to move," said Leslie G. Griffen, managing partner of Career Management Associates, in Overland Park, Kansas.
来自堪萨斯Overland Park职业管理联盟的管理人员Leslie G. Griffen说:“当学习停止、发展停止,就是跳槽的时间了。”