Leveling the Playing Field - Copeland Coaching

Leveling the Playing Field My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Leveling the Playing Field.” In it, I discuss how you can use the internet to level the playing field in your job search. One of the biggest struggles many job seekers face is gathering enough information. It’s important to understand how much a company pays, if the environment is healthy, and how the interview process works. In the past, the only way to learn this was to talk to friends and family. Stories were anecdotal and typically based on one person’s experience. The growth of the Internet over the past 20 years has not only changed this process but has empowered the job seeker. Employment statistics tell us every day that various demographic factors can influence how much we make over our lifetime. For example, women are reported to make 77 cents per dollar as compared to men, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Similar statistics are available for other groups. The Journal of Applied Psychology even found that when it comes to height, for every inch above average you are, you may make $789 more per year. These small differences can really add up over the course of our careers. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Scott Dobroski, Career Trends Analyst at Glassdoor.com. During our discussion, one point was crystal clear: The Internet provides the opportunity to level the playing field. No longer do you have to know someone to get the inside scoop. Websites make average salary data available to anyone for free. You can also research employee satisfaction and common interview questions. If youre struggling with your search, learn how to level your playing field by reading the entire column on the Memphis Daily News site here.