Pay Raises Ahead in 2015!

This Christmas season, I bring you good tidings of great joy! No, not the ones proclaimed by the Angelic Host in Matthew, but ones from a recruiting leader on the front lines of the technical job market. I believe that we are at the beginnings of an uptick in salaries for IT and Engineering Professionals.

For purposes of my thoughts here, I am talking about pay raises in excess of 5%. According to the HR consulting firm, Mercer, the average pay increase for employees in 2015 will be 3%. For top performers, it will be close to 5%.

Here are 3 reasons why I believe more significant pay raises will be coming for Technical Workers in 2015 and beyond:

• Improving Economy-While the economy isn’t growing at a record breaking pace, it is much better than it was 2 or 3 years ago. Keep in mind, that we had 5% growth in GDP in Q3 of 2014. The economy is also seeing positive trends in the areas of housing, job creation, gas prices and consumer sentiment.
• Demographic Changes-An improving economy has led to an increased stock market. As I write this, the Dow Jones broke the 18,000 market for the first time. Many people who had put off retiring 5 years are ago are now financially able to do so. This shortage of talent has been particularly painful in the manufacturing sector where an aging workforce exists. There simply aren’t enough young people that choose the manufacturing field as a profession. I recently had one client tell me, that they anticipated losing nearly 40% of their Engineering workforce over the next decade due to retirements.
• Supply and Demand-Employers are hiring again. In the recruiting world, we are now in what is known as a “candidate market.” This manifests itself in our world by counteroffers from current employers and candidates with multiple offers. Employers need to expedite the hiring process or risk losing top talent.

Pay raises are the primary “arrow in the quiver” of employers in the retaining key workers. Employees that recognize this early will be on the front lines of hiring and attracting the best talent.

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

How to Strategically End Your Workday

Did you know that how you leave the office at the end of the day has a drastic impact on tomorrow’s agenda? So, if you are that person that calls it quits right before five o’clock, you might need to start rethinking your end of the day ritual.

By making a few adjustments, and checking out our tips, your next workday morning might be a little easier on you:

1. Review Tomorrow’s “To-Do’s”: This is the most important tip to implement and in most cases, the most effective. Right before the end of the day, look at your calendar for the following day so you know what lies ahead.  Then, make a quick to-do list of what you need to accomplish the next day. That way you can leave work with a clear mind and be able to sleep better at night knowing what the next day holds!
2. Reflection: Once you have completed the items mentioned above, go ahead and review the day’s objectives. Did you accomplish everything you wanted to? Are there any pending items or ongoing projects that requires more time? If so make sure to be a note of this as well. If needed, keep your manager in the loop so he or she is aware and knows you are on top of it.
3. Follow Through with Obligations: If you have promised someone that you would get back with them by a certain day or time, make sure you provide a response. If it is necessary to follow up in the morning, be courteous and let him or her know so they are not waiting around for your answers.
4. Avoid a Messy Desk: Once steps 1-3 are complete, go ahead and tidy up your desk. It will not do you any good to come into work the next morning surrounded by clutter. Come in feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day’s tasks5
5. Don’t Be Sneaky: Even if you feel as if you completed the day’s goals, go above and beyond by putting in more than what is required. Do not sneak out at 4:45, tell your team members good bye at the end of the day! That way, they know you are a team player and you are not waiting until the clock strikes at 5:00 to run out the door!

By tweaking your afternoon ritual, you will not only get noticed by your manager, but other team members as well, which demonstrates you are willing to go above and beyond in your current role. This will make you more likely to earn that promotion you have been aiming for. If you have any suggestions of how to strategically end your workday, let us know…