You’ve Survived the Recession – Now How Do You Get Your Income Back on Track?

It’s not easy, but it can be done, says MRINetwork®

PHILADELPHIA--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The difficult job market has forced millions of workers to take a salary cut to keep their jobs or to downgrade into positions they're overqualified for after a layoff. Now that the economy is starting to show signs of recovery, workers are looking to regain the salary levels, the benefits and even the positions they lost. It can take a long time for earnings to bounce back, say recruiters at MRINetwork®, one of the world’s largest search and recruitment organizations, but there are steps that employees can take to help speed up the process.

“So clearly it’s the area where cuts are made when things get tough. In today’s employer-driven job market, it can be very difficult to return to pre-recession salaries, particularly in the case of layoffs.”

“Typically two-thirds of a company’s overhead is concentrated on personnel costs,” says Tony McKinnon, president of MRINetwork. “So clearly it’s the area where cuts are made when things get tough. In today’s employer-driven job market, it can be very difficult to return to pre-recession salaries, particularly in the case of layoffs.”

For workers who have kept their jobs while sacrificing some salary or benefits, McKinnon suggests that an assessment is in order. “Look first at your company’s performance. Is business steadily improving? Are profits increasing? Is market share being gained? If not, there’s probably little hope of a salary increase at this time,” he says. “In fact, you’ll be perceived as looking out only for yourself if you ask for a raise at a time when the company is struggling.”

On the other hand, McKinnon, advises, if you are fortunate to be working in an industry and for a company that is on the forefront of the recovery, you can take a positive approach:

• Do your homework – Investigate what other companies are paying employees in similar positions. Talk to recruiters, review job boards and salary surveys.
• Assess your true value – Look at your skills, talents and contributions to the job. Have you saved your company money? Improved procedures? Reached a sales goal?

For more tips, visit: http://www.mrinetwork.com/cms/press/article_release.aspx?id=750

About MRINetwork®:

Management Recruiters International, Inc., branded as MRINetwork®, is one of the largest executive search and recruitment organizations in the world. A subsidiary of CDI Corp. (NYSE:CDI), a global provider of engineering & information technology outsourcing solutions and professional staffing, the MRINetwork has 950 franchised offices in 35 countries. Visit MRINetwork at www.mrinetwork.com.