Q: How do I answer when I’m asked about my salary preferences?

A: This question is tricky because answer too high and you’ll seem too expensive of a candidate. Answer too low and you’re effectively selling yourself short.

Before you go into any interview, whether it be through phone or in person, make sure you perform a quick research of the position you’re interviewing for. Check your salary estimates using sites such as glassdoor.com, salary.com or payscale.com. Unfortunately, not all of these are accurate based on the level of experience you have and the importance of your skills relative to that company, so be sure not to base your salary entirely on these estimates. However, definitely use these sites as a good reference point.

Next, always answer this question as a range. For example, saying that your salary expectations are 40,000 to 50,000 broadens your chances of answering within the range that the employer is willing to offer. Be prepared to receive an offer towards the lower side of your range. If this is not something you’re willing to accept, don’t say that lower range just for the purpose of having a range.

If possible, deflect the question if you are at an early stage of the interview. Put the focus on understanding the job requirements instead by saying, I’d love to learn more about this job’s requirements and how well I meet these needs before discussing salary. Another approach is to try and ask them what kind of range they’re offering instead. Say, I’m sure you’ve budgeted a salary range for this position and I’m certain we’ll reach an agreement if I am your preferred candidate. What is this budgeted range?

Finally, make sure you practice answering this question. Money talks are always sensitive subjects, so to prevent yourself from choking up during the interview, practice before hand.

To brush up on other interview related skills, read on for some more interviewing tips!

Q: How can I figure out the company culture and whether it’s a right fit for me?

A: To best tell a company’s culture, ask questions. During the interview, play detective and search for attributes that would be a good cultural fit for you.

First, figure out the elements that would help you succeed in a company. Do you prefer a culture that is highly social where co-workers spend time together inside and outside of the office? Or do you perform better in an environment where there is quiet space for you to focus entirely on work? Do you like working in a highly individualistic and competitive environment or do you prefer one that is more collaborative with group decisions? Understanding what you prefer is the first step to identifying a specific company’s unique culture.

Once you understand your side of the equation, start to investigate your prospective company’s with questions that help uncover culture:

1) How often are decisions made in group settings?

2) How often do people collaborate in team projects?/ How often does the staff meet?

3) What attributes would make me successful in this work environment?

4) How would you describe your company culture in 3 words?

5) Who are your mentors?

6) What ways do employers achieve work life balance?

7) What activities or sponsorships do the company hold?

8) How is performance feedback given to employees?

 Make simple observations of your setting during the interview as well. Take a look at your surroundings and observe the dress code. Are people dressed in business professional attire or casual clothing? Do you see any family photos? Take a look at the makeup of your co-workers. Does your employer value diversity?

Other ways to discover a company’s culture is through social media! Take a look at the company’s Facebook or Twitter pages. There might be pictures posted about social events or casual Fridays.

Have more questions? Read on for tips on how to answer the salary question during an interview, best times of day to schedule an interview, and more.

The gig economy is defining jobs today.

The gig economy–if you’ve had your ear to the ground s at any point in the past few years, you may have heard the term bandied about. Those in consulting or creative fields may be nodding your heads, but the concept is still new to many.

“Now,” say the non-musicians among you, “why would I be interested in gigs?”

In many cases, the gig economy is mediated by mobile technology, especially smartphone apps and intelligent websites that match you to gigs based on your preferences. Freelancing is the name of the game–for example, an Uber driver is an independent contractor using the app.

What Does it Mean for You?

Freelancers are nothing new, but the gig economy makes it easier than ever to be one yourself. The gig economy allows you to be flexible. Whether you want to supplement your income or tide yourself over while continuing your search for more stable employment, there’s something for everyone. A key feature of a gig job is the ability to define your own hours. An Uber driver picks up fares until they’re satisfied, which allows them to slot it in to any busy schedule.

Some people take so well to the gig economy that it ends up becoming their primary source of income. For self-starters and independent spirits, it’s a godsend. These people have diverse streams of income and have wide skill sets. Some apps, like the Bay Area-based Josephine, are for those with a passion about the gig. Josephine is for your inner chef, allowing you to share your passion with others.

For those who are between traditional employment, the gig economy presents a safety cushion that has not been available in the past. With the overall higher quality of the gigs, and the flexibility described above, it can make the time between jobs a little less stressful.

Still others add to their existing income with gigs, keeping their streams of income flowing from many different rivers. Even if you’re employed already, the opt-in nature of gigs can add to income from traditional sources. There’s no wrong way to take advantage of the gig economy!

Some noteworthy examples of the gig economy:

AirBnb

Caviar

Fiverr

Luxe

Lyft

Swifto

Uber

Upwork

The first week of the new year has come and gone! StartWire wishes health, happiness, and success to jobseekers and employers alike. Here’s to a great year.

My mother once related to me a story of a Yankee swap gone awry: having gone first and at the mercy of her coworkers, she ended up with a first aid kit from the Ted, the weird guy in accounting.

Whether you’re stressing about the company party’s Yankee swap or still searching for a job, Christmas gifts are always a challenge to select. Never fear, for StartWire and friends have some ideas to help stoke the holiday cheer!

Jobs2Careers recently published a list of 25 sure-fire hits for when you’re stumped. You may even be tempted to get yourself a little something off this list!

If you’re of a more surreal bent, check out CareerBuilder’s list of some of the weirdest gifts exchanged at the workplace. Ceramic dress-up sheep for everyone!

Above all, a Christmas gift should be memorable. ThinkGeek is a great place for gifts to capture your nerdy fancy. A deep delve into the recesses of Amazon can also reveal some truly unusual Secret Santa presents.

A happy holidays from all here at StartWire, and don’t be like Ted (unless it’s hilarious)!

What do a nurse, developer and truck driver have in common?

No, it’s not the setup to a corny punchline–they have the most in demand jobs of 2016.

According to a recent report by Fast Company, these three very different fields will be looking to hire in 2016. Healthcare workers, software developers, and truck drivers will be areas where industry trends could contribute to a hunger for more candidates.

Looking to make a career change in 2016? This new trend bodes well for those looking to change careers–a work history different than the requirements will make less of a difference.

This also is a positive development for job seekers new to the economy, who may find that the stringent requirements of job listings in recent memory will relax in their favor.

Read the full report for details, as well as the top 10 growing occupations for 2016.

Ready to organize your job search in 20016? Then we recommend checking out StartWire.

With Thanksgiving approaching and heralding the holiday season, many job seekers grow discouraged and put their search on hold until the New Year. It makes sense at first–with people getting ready for the holidays, job seekers conclude that it’s nigh impossible to get in front of a hiring manager.

What if instead of putting your search on hold, you changed your tactics a bit?

The holidays are a fabulous time to network. With food and cheer aplenty, take advantage of the good feeling and tap into your personal and extended networks. Relatives, friends, and friends of friends can all be good sources of leads in this time. Who knows, a casual chat at Thanksgiving could blossom into a referral.

The relaxing of businesses’ schedules can also be used to your advantage. Now is a great time to set up an informal meeting or tour around a workplace. A recruiter’s slower inbox can mean your follow-up email is more likely to stick–and get a response. Even reaching out with a season’s greeting is a great move!

Above all, have a great Thanksgiving–eat some good food, spend some time with the family, and don’t go too crazy on Black Friday.

StartWire thanks our veterans for their service!

Whether you’ve recently been discharged or last served years ago, looking for employment as a veteran is different than as a civilian. Companies are taking notice of the unique skills and battle-tested talent of veterans, and many seek to recruit our nation’s protectors after their service is done.

On April 13th, 2015, the Military Times released their ranking of the best employers for veterans. Major companies like Verizon, BAE, and Lockheed Martin all have sterling policies when it comes to recruiting and hiring veterans.

The whole list comprises a variety of fields and industries, including telecommunications, defense, energy, and even banking

No matter with what branch you served or your plans for civilian life, the perfect job is out there waiting for you!

The Application Black Hole

If you’re like most job seekers, as soon as you hit the apply button on a job, your brain is flooded with questions. “Did they get my resume?” “Where do I stand?” “Am I still in the running?”

This is the Application Black Hole – the bane of online job search.

Happily, StartWire can help.

We connect with the recruiting systems used by more than 12,000 companies we can let you know if they got your resume, if you are still in the running, or even if they want to chat about an interview.. We are adding more ‘supported’ companies every day.

Here’s how it works

Tell us where you have applied. If you’ve applied to company that is in our ‘blackhole’ network, we will let you know.  Just follow the online instructions and we’ll provide you with updates via email or text message.

All your information is safely organized at your StartWire account where you can also track applications on your own, and quickly print out your Job Search History Report with just a few clicks.

If you need help, reach out to us by clicking on Feedback and Support.

It’s time for you to conquer the Application Black Hole so get tracking!

If you don’t already have an account, head over to StartWire for your free account.

Get your resume out there

We know resumes. In fact, the team at StartWire has been in then recruiting and job search space for decades….literally decades. And there is nothing we love more than giving folks who join our Job Search community some insider knowledge to help you find a job faster.

Here’s one of those secrets: Recruiters search resume databases looking for candidates…everyday. Sometimes they don’t even post jobs…they just check the databases of large job sites looking for a candidate they can call immediately.

If you are not in these databases, you are missing out on opportunities! The problem is, there are just too many databases and each one can take forever to setup.

StartWire has the solution.

Once you upload your resume to StartWire, we will suggest verified sites. Choose the ones you want and we will take care of the rest.

It saves you time and gets your resume in front of recruiters faster. It is the quickest and simplest way to get hired. And it’s totally free.

If you need help, reach out to us by clicking on Feedback and Support.

So upload your resume today and increase your chances of being found!

To learn more about StartWire register today at www.startwire.com