The Loop 21 - You're Hired: 3 Tips for Getting the Salary & Benefits You Deserve

My expertise is about the student lending crisis, and how it intersects with other significant issues. Speaking of which, I had the opportunity this past weekend to talk about all of these things at the recent Young Democratic Socialist's conference in Brooklyn, NY - I was a guest speaker, and it went really well. It's always exhilarating to speak to an audience of college students. Not only were they receptive, but they know far more about the dangers of student loan debt than those of us who are now struggling.

I also write extensively about Occupy and poverty, income inequality and unemployment. When it comes to unemployment, there are - according to Robert Reich - 25 million people who are unemployed. If individuals aren't unemployed, they find themselves underemployed. It doesn't take stats coming from think tanks and economists to tell us that things are tough. Most of us are living it.

While so many struggle, there are a few who are finding work, and not just at bad jobs. Moreover, several of you have told me about job offers that you have received - when you share this news with me, it makes my day. No matter how I might be feeling or how poorly my day might be going, when I find out that a reader - especially the ones I know well - has landed a great job, I am overjoyed. I thank you for letting me share in the joy of that moment. It means a lot to me.

On that note, I recently wrote an article about how to negotiate salary and benefits once you have been hired. Here's a snippet at Loop21:

Seize the moment!

It’s been a long journey. You did everything right: you dressed impeccably, you gave great answers during your interview, and you wrote the necessary Thank You notes that set you apart from all the other candidates. Everything came together and you were offered the job. But don’t assume it is easy sailing now. In fact, if you are to ensure you receive exactly what you what when it comes to salary and benefits, you must seize the moment. In doing so, you will prove to your new employer that you are not only the best choice, but a savvy go-getter who possesses the highest level of professionalism.

 Read the 3 tips I suggest here.