💼 Job Secrets: What Your Employer Isn't Telling YOU with Shannon Bowen, the Salary Whisperer

How do you navigate a strange job market where positions are being pulled mid-interview process? It's frustrating to say the least. Shannon, a fundraising professional turned career coach, shares insider perspectives on employer behaviors during hiring, strategies for protecting your current position, and techniques for effective salary negotiation.

 

💬 "Everybody, you should be making more money and you're worth more. That's my last note. Rachel will teach you how to keep it. I'll tell you how to make it." - Shannon Bowen

 

5-Point Checklist for Job Seekers (Based on Shannon's Advice)

1. Update Your Professional Presence

1. Refresh your LinkedIn profile with a compelling headline and "About" section

2. Request recommendations from managers, peers, and people you've mentored

3. Document your achievements with specific data points and metrics

4. Tell your unique story - what approach or "secret sauce" do you bring everywhere?

5. text your friends to ask: what 5 adjectives describe me? Pepper them into your resume and/or cover letter!

2. Prepare for Salary Negotiations

1. Research market rates for your position and skills

2. Practice saying your desired salary out loud until comfortable (Don't burp your salary requirement)

3. Remember: negotiation is a normal conversation, not a confrontation

3. Apply Strategically

1. Don't self-select out of positions you don't meet 100% of requirements for

2. Understand job descriptions are often poorly written and outdated

3. Focus on the interview process as a two-way relationship-building exercise

4. Get everything in writing, especially promises about compensation

4. Protect Your Current Position

1. Regularly communicate your achievements to leadership with concrete metrics

2. Make your work visible - don't assume people notice your contributions

3. Connect your daily work to larger organizational outcomes

4. Post about professional accomplishments on LinkedIn to build your reputation

5. Activate and Warm Your Network

1. Engage with connections regularly before you need their help

2. Join professional organizations in your field for extended networking

3. Tell everyone when you're job searching, including people outside your industry

4. Consider volunteering or side projects to expand your connections

5. Remember there's no shame in job loss - people want to help

Guest Info

Shannon Bowen is a career advancement coach + salary whisperer who coaches professionals on how to ace their job search and step into a higher salary band. She is also a nonprofit executive leader, fundraiser, and job search expert. Currently, she is the Chief Advancement Officer for Pacific Northwest Research Institute, is the Co-President for AFP Advancement Northwest Board of Directors, and is the CEO of Monsoon Leadership, which trains nonprofit professionals how to land their dream job and get paid what they deserve. Shannon also teaches ballroom dance, DIY designs her house, cooks gourmet meals, and plans her next foodie vacay.

 

⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN

1. [00:03:00] the current job market and employer dishonesty

2. [00:09:00] Strategies for protecting your current position through self-self-promotion

3. [00:14:00] Create a compelling LinkedIn profile that tells your unique story

4. [00:22:00] negotiate your salary from your very first job

📚 Resources Mentioned

1. .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}