How to Skimm Your Life

by The Skimm

  For when the person at the front desk says “hi”…

  Say “hi” back. One, because it’s weird if you don’t. And two, because feedback about you is likely being sent from everyone you interact with at the company. Seriously.

  Performance: The Interview

  It’s go time.

  For when you tend to ramble…

  Meet the staying a-five list. This is your personal list of five bullet points to always keep in mind as your selling points. Here’s an example of what they might look like at different career stages.

  When you’re starting out

  Scrappy

  Joined an on-campus group that met biweekly and increased membership by 10 percent within my first month as a member.

  Creative

  Put together an interactive presentation for [cough, insert class you took here], going above and beyond the assignment.

  Organized

  Never showed up late. Always completed assignments. Inbox zero is my friend.

  Multitasker

  Double majored and worked nights and weekends at a local restaurant. Can also highlight other extracurriculars here.

  Brand affinity

  I made 20 friends sign up for your service. I’m an early adopter to the product. Note: As an entry-level candidate, it’s imperative to highlight why you’d be an excellent brand advocate and understand the company’s products.

  When you’ve been working for years

  Visionary

  Created a new product that grew company’s revenue by 10 percent.

  Manager

  Grew a team of direct reports from two to four in less than three months. Promoted a direct report after advocating internally for her.

  Communicator

  Conducted weekly one-on-ones with team members and with my boss. Skilled at managing up.

  Organized

  Project-managed and streamlined processes for my team to cut down time dedicated to a project by 20 percent.

  Brand affinity

  I’m an early user of your company’s product. I worked for a similar product [cough, insert your strategy here, cough].

  For when you don’t know how to answer the “greatest weakness” question…

  Yer not a wizard. You can’t use a wand to turn a weakness into a strength. If you try to, your interviewer might call BS. It’s more genuine to use something you’re actually working on, rather than a humblebrag like “working too hard” or “being a perfectionist” that any employer will likely see through. Be honest, but make sure to present your weaknesses strategically. Instead of saying you’re a “bad communicator” or “resistant to criticism,” think about what those weaknesses really mean. They may indicate that you want to work on delegating and separating emotion from work. Presenting your weaknesses in a different light can show how deeply you care about your job, have a lot on your plate, and are working toward improving as a manager.

  Reviews: The Follow-Up

  Send a thank you email on the same day. Just do it. Make sure to mention something specific you discussed in the interview. If you really, really want the job, it doesn’t hurt to also send a handwritten thank-you note. But the email is crucial, since it helps make your case more immediately.

  theSkimm: “Be yourself” is good interview advice with one caveat: Be the version of yourself you’d want to hire.

  Things That Need Talking Out

  theSkimm on Negotiating

  Negotiating is like verbal dancing.

  And you don’t want to end up on your back foot (or looking like your uncle doing the “YMCA”). But if you anticipate your negotiating partner’s needs and don’t fall over, you may end up with a higher paycheck. Here we’ll cover salary negotiations both for jobs you’re interviewing for and when you’ve worked at a company for years.

  How should I negotiate when I’m job searching?

  Wait until an offer’s on the table before you negotiate. And once you get the offer, don’t negotiate on the spot. Ask for one or two days to think through the pros/cons of the job and come up with a strategy to negotiate. More on that strategy later. You should be considering a LOT of things when it comes to deciding whether to take a job. These include salary, title, stock options, moving expenses, 401(k) plans, health benefits, vacation days, and professional development ops.

  For when your potential employer asks about your current salary…

  Depending on where you live, this may be illegal. That’s because of the gender wage gap. The thinking is that forcing candidates to report their salaries unfairly penalizes women, who statistically make less cash money than men. California, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Oregon say nope to the salary question. So do NYC, Philly, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans. If it is legal where you live, it’s a good idea to try to find out the budget for the position first. You can phrase this as “I’d love to first hear about the budget for this role, so I can make sure it’s in line with my salary expectations.” Once you get a sense of that, mention your salary expectations, aka what it would take for you to accept the job.

  For when you get a verbal promise…

  Talk can be cheap. Make sure you get everything in writing—including the job offer and any compensation promises—before updating your LinkedIn profile or counting on that extra cash. For instance, if a company promises an annual bonus, but it’s not part of your offer letter…don’t get too excited for that icing on your end-of-year cake.

  How should I negotiate in general?

  There are a couple of different things to keep in mind.

  For when you’re trying to organize your thoughts…

  Know what’s important to you. Is it cash? Equity? Benefits and perks? You rarely get the ideal in all three, so whether you are negotiating your salary at a current job or at a new one, make it clear to the hiring manager what you care most about. That will make his or her job easier, and the outcome for you even better.

  For when you just need to get it off your chest…

  Much like love, one-liners, and catching a train, timing is everything. Make sure you choose your moment wisely. If you’re asking for a raise at your current company, do not ask right after your boss did something nice for you, right after your boss gave you critical feedback, or when the business appears to be under unusual stress (like during the launch of a new product, closing a sales cycle, or raising money). But if you believe you deserve a raise and you’re happy at your current company, don’t look for a competing offer just to bring a negotiating chip to the table. It creates a contentious environment for the conversation right off the bat.

  For when you’re prepping for the conversation…

  80 percent of the work you do should happen before you walk into the room. Here’s a look at points you should hit on in your prep and pitch. Remember “MINE”—because that cash money will soon be just that.

  Market rates

  Know yours. There is a lot of third-party data you can get from sites like PayScale, Glassdoor, and Salary.com. But be careful. For instance, in the tech industry, these sites don’t take company stage into account and can lead to market confusion. Make sure you are getting your information about positions at similar companies in similar stages. To do this, check things like how much funding and how many employees a company has.

  Illustrate

  Brag about your accomplishments. Break out that brag sheet and treat this like an interview. Then create a 30, 60, and 90-day plan of how you will tackle certain company aims, given new job responsibilities and a raise. Present those plans during your meeting.

  Negotiate

  Be specific. The first number you give is the most important, and it should be on the upper end of your range. Never provide your range, as that’s an invitation to pay you at the lower end.

  Earn

  Get that cash money. But also be willing to walk a
way. If you have another offer on the table, only mention it if you’re willing to take the competing offer.

  What should I avoid doing?

  There are a lot of things you should do when negotiating. But there are also a lot of things you should avoid.

  For when you’re applying for an entry-level position…

  This might not be the right time to ask for more money—unless you have data that indicates that the offer is off-market. To lean in, you have to first have something to lean on. Once you get that first job, then you should negotiate for your next one, or for your next promotion.

  For when you’re worried the salary won’t cover your living expenses…

  Avoid TMI. Do not get into your specific needs with your potential employer. That is, don’t say, “My rent is going up so I need a higher salary” or “I have student loans to pay off so you should pay me more.” They should want to pay you more based on the worth you’ll bring to the company, not only based on your personal needs. Those needs can help inform what you ask for in negotiations, but it’s important to negotiate with your employer in mind as well.

  For when this doesn’t change the fact that your salary doesn’t cover your living expenses…

  Pursuing your passion vs. paying your bills is a real debate, especially when you’re starting out. You may need to pick up a side hustle to cover gaps in that starting salary. Here are some ideas to look into.

  Dog walking

  Apps like Wag are an easy way to get some extra cash and extra time with dogs.

  Babysitting

  Check out sites like Sittercity and Care.com, or go old school and put up a flyer in your building. The neighbors will thank (and pay) you.

  Tutoring

  Through places like Kaplan and TutorMe, you can set up a side hustle teaching kids to read, etc.

  Sell sh*t

  Sell household items on sites like eBay. Sell clothes on places like Poshmark.

  Get cash back

  Shop through places like Ebates to get cash back on things you buy.

  Focus groups

  Get paid for your opinion. Companies like Probe Market Research, Engage, and 20|20 Panel offer money in exchange for your two cents on products. And they pay more than two cents. This will usually get you $50 to $400 depending on the time commitment and product.

  For when you’re tempted to compare yourself while negotiating…

  Don’t do it. It’s not a good look to say “So and so moved up; when is my turn?” or “I know so and so makes more than me.” This ends up doing the exact opposite of your intention. It makes you look small and gossipy, and it does not inspire goodwill.

  theSkimm: A job offer is the start of a conversation. Make sure you’re prepared to get what you want out of it.

  Things That Help You Own It

  theSkimm on Career Pep Talks

  Even the people at the top—your boss’s boss’s boss and the VIPs in your news feed—don’t know what they’re doing a lot of the time.

  Or think they don’t. Imposter syndrome is real. But the syndrome doesn’t need to have noticeable symptoms.

  While being vulnerable and asking questions makes sense in certain situations, there are ways to channel confidence even when you’re not feeling it. Here are some words and phrases to avoid, to make sure you’re presenting the sitting-up-straight version of yourself.

  The P-word: Protective Words

  Just. Just don’t use it. It diminishes the words that follow. Instead of “Just following up,” write “I’m following up.”

  I think or IMO. These are words you might use to try to protect yourself before you wreck yourself, but they actually end up undermining your power.

  Yeah, but comes across as combative and negative.

  The S-word: Superlatives

  The most amazing, the greatest, and even the best sound a liiittle like you’re on uppers. They’re so hyperbolic that they don’t feel genuine.

  Use more precise phrasing. Instead of “This would be the greatest deal” say “This deal would contribute to our mission and bring in enough dollars to meet our Q3 revenue goal.”

  The D-word: Dramatic Words

  Totally, very, absolutely. These types of words can diminish your credibility and make you sound like Cher Horowitz.

  The A-words: Ability and Apology Words

  I’ll try. Trying suggests you’re unsure of your ability to complete the task.

  Sorry. Use it sparingly for situations directly caused by you. Don’t apologize for instances out of your control or for someone else’s actions. Also, never criticize or apologize for your own work while making a presentation (for example, “Sorry if you can’t read this slide well.”) It delegitimizes your work before you get going.

  The F-word: Filler Words

  Like, whatever, etcetera, so on, and so forth. Pause for a moment to collect your thoughts. Then, like, don’t fill the space with fillers.

  The other S-word: Superior Words

  Actually and obviously suggest that people don’t understand the issue or circumstances. They’re condescending.

  Like I said and as I’ve believed all along make you sound defensive.

  That’s not my job makes you sound kind of lazy. Rather than say it explicitly, reroute the task to someone whose job it is.

  For when you want to pick up new business skills…

  Go for it. The easiest way to start is by shadowing people in the department you want to learn more about. If your boss gives you the green light, reach out to someone in that department and see if you can be a fly on the wall. If you want to learn a really specific skill—coding, Excel, or graphic design, for instance—consider taking a course. Places like General Assembly, Coursera, and Codeacademy offer a wide range of options.

  For when you need a pep talk…

  Look to those you admire for a pick-me-up. Here are some favorite quotes from women who’ve made their mark, as told to theSkimm.

  theSkimm: You need to advocate for yourself. No one else is going to do it for you. Breathe, look in the mirror, and say, “Let’s do this.”

  Things That Are Ticking

  theSkimm on Time Management

  Time is the one that got away…or the one you have to learn to tame.

  theSkimm is all about making your time well spent. Most people and self-help books will tell you to carpe diem and make the most of your hours. We will tell you actual ways to squeeze in all the things you have to do.

  How do I get it all done?

  Here are some tricks to feel more on top of those 17-ish hours you’re awake.

  For when your to-do list looks like a sad handwritten book…

  Meet the 1-3-5 list. It’s a way to make your to-do list less scary by checking off one big thing, three medium-sized things, and five small tasks on any given day. Because doing something easy first gives you the confidence to keep going.

  For when your coworker’s ringtone keeps going off…

  Put your own ring on it. As in, timed blocks of work (delineated by an alarm) can help avoid distractions. The Pomodoro technique—named because the guy who invented it had a timer in the shape of a tomato—might be your secret sauce. Here’s how it works: Work without distractions for a timed 25-minute block. Take a five-minute break. Repeat. After four 25-minute working sessions, take a half-hour break to stay creative and move around. Or to watch a YouTube video featuring puppies. Warning: Maybe don’t do this in front of your boss.

  For when you get in the zone…

  You might need more than 25 minutes to focus in. 90-minute blocks have also been proven to help with focus and concentration. Think of this like responsible binge watching—one and a half episodes at a time.