Know The Paralegal Average Salary Is Calculated ! by Alex Morgan
The paralegal average salary can be affected by many factors. This can be quite confusing for the individual who is still studying how to become one. Each person's situation will be different and when taken into consideration will ultimately affect the outcome.
A student hoping to land a job for this position, waiting for graduation to foretell a possible law average salary for beginners in the law firm or government halls may be all right. However, some of the paralegals who are already enjoying a manager's average salary in the field (because of the salary increase for the promotion to that higher position) advise hopeful paralegals to initially apply as a legal assistant while still in school.
The wisdom of that advice may be taken with a grain of salt for paralegal aspirants who are merely engaged (as of the moment) in imagining what it would be like to have a good paralegal average salary that would cater to their needs.
It is just common sense that the undergraduate is going to have to possess a full understanding of the ins and outs of the paralegal job. One way to do this is to spend time as an intern or an assistant, which paves the way to a well paid salary.
Knowing what the average salary is for a paralegal is covered during their training courses. They will also be shown how to best negotiate this. Certification programs should provide all the training that the student requires which will ultimately increase their chances of immediate employment.
There is an average range of training salary that is generally paid after a paralegal certification program has been finished. Often this is not that high, however there may be some factors which can be taken into consideration which will increase the average paralegal salary that can be paid.
There are 3 main issues that will affect the paralegal average salary:
1. Experience The paralegal average salary will be greatly affected by the level of experience that a person has. Understandably those who have received good training and have been able to gain some experience will be able to command a higher average salary than inexperienced candidates.
2. Demography The location is a key issue affecting the possible average salary range of a paralegal. There is going to be a difference between the salaries of an employee from a small country law firm compared to one working in one of the large cities such as New York. Large corporations do not have a particularly good average salary for their new paralegal employees.
3. Small or Large Legal Firms Where a paralegal chooses to work is going to dictate to a large extent the nature of their average salary payment. Surveys have shown that the larger the legal establishment then the more the individual is going to be paid. The small firms often pay slightly less for the paralegals working for them.
Paralegal average salary can also be calculated online with various calculators that automatically show the amounts that one should get. And, in taking the usual measures mentioned above in determining the possible fees, learning all these things can be a valuable aid in the negotiations process when one is ready to plunge into the world of paralegals that one is hoping to work in.
About the Author
Question regarding the paralegal average salary has to be answered before following the avenue of paralegal careers. Alex Morgan's website Paralegal-Update.com has timely helpful tips and proven advice.
vendredi 13 juillet 2007
How the Freelancer Can Build a Super Powerful Prospect List
How the Freelancer Can Build a Super Powerful Prospect List by Chris Marlow
Take a look at your prospecting list, if you have one. Where did all those names come from?
Most likely they're a hodge-podge of names from a hodge-podge of sources, with few added to your list solely on the criteria that they're especially good leads.
Now ask yourself how successful your clients would be if their lists were compiled in such an unscientific manner?
When you consider that the single most important element of a direct mail campaign is the list (followed closely by the offer, and THEN the copy), it becomes painfully apparent that a sloppy list is a liability indeed!
So how do you go about creating a solid list of quality prospects that you can mine for years to come?
There are some methods you can use and sources you can tap, and I reveal a few of the best here. However, It always boils down to looking in the right places for your particular specialty.
My Favorite Starting Place
Roughly half of my coaching students are new copywriters and when it's time to share my list building strategies with them, I always introduce them to Who's Mailing What, a rich online archive of more than 130,000 direct mail packages collected from more than 7,000 companies since 1994.
For a reasonable fee, you can go into the archive and literally see "who's been mailing what," which can be a real boon for copywriters who specialize in the dozens of categories (publishing, financial, collectibles, technology, and more), covered by WMW.
For instance, I specialize in software. And while there are tens of thousands of software companies, I need only 300 to keep busy. So which 300 should they be? Well, the BEST 300 of course: the 300 I know are direct mailers, the 300 that I know are financially stable, the 300 I know are well-respected and trustworthy.
When I started compiling my list, I mined Who's Mailing What to discover the names of software companies that had mailed over the past two years. As "sure mailers," these companies became the richest names on my list, and remain so today.
Other Great Places To Look
Nearly every large industry has an association, and most associations have member lists. To get your hands on the list you often need to join the association, but unless the price is really exorbitant, it's usually worth it. Remember, time is money in the freelancer's world, so the faster you can put together your list, the faster you can market to it.
The library is another place to look for lists. In addition to my "sure mailers," I added the world's most profitable software companies to my list, tracked down at the local library in the Computer and Software section of the Dunn and Bradstreet Gale Industries Handbook.
I completed my goal of assembling 300 strong names by surfing the Internet in search of newsletters, Web sites, and publications that serve the software market. There I found lists like "The Top 50 Software Venture Capital Investments," which listed software companies that had recently been infused with millions of dollars each, in venture capital.
Some Strong Sources For Generalists
Although I believe that every business freelancer should carve out a niche for him or herself, many start out as generalists. If you fit this category, you'll find some excellent list-building sources at the library.
Chuck Thompson, one of my early coaching students, discovered the "Mail Order Business Directory" at his Chicago-area library. It lists over 5,000 names, addresses, and basic facts about U.S. firms doing business by mail.
Library sources I used in my early days of freelancing included the "Standard Directory of Advertisers" and "Standard Directory of Advertising Agencies." Also known as "the red books" by industry insiders, you should be able to find them at any main library; I've had less luck finding them at the local level (and they're too expensive for most freelancers to buy).
The "Standard Directory of Advertisers" contains information on over 24,000 U.S. and international advertisers who each spend more than $200,000 annually on advertising. Each listing includes advertising expenditures by media, contact information, address, and more.
The "Standard Directory of Advertising Agencies" contains detailed profiles of nearly 13,500 U.S. and international advertising agencies, including accounts represented by each agency, fields of specialization, contact information, and much more. These directories are truly exciting sources of information for the freelancer who recognizes the value of smart targeting.
Finally, you never know what you'll come up with while searching the Internet. After helping dozens of coaching students build their niche market list, I have a folder full of rich places to look for high quality names.
Compiling your own personal prospect list is never fast or easy, but there is a silver lining. And that is that no other freelancer will be marketing to the same exact list that you are. So do your homework and make your list as strong as it can be. Because most of your success will flow from your list, it pays to be extremely picky about who you put on it.
About the Author
Get your FREE copy of Chris Marlow's "10 Steps to Landing the High-quality, High-paying Corporate Clients!" Visit:
© Chris Marlow, all rights reserved
Take a look at your prospecting list, if you have one. Where did all those names come from?
Most likely they're a hodge-podge of names from a hodge-podge of sources, with few added to your list solely on the criteria that they're especially good leads.
Now ask yourself how successful your clients would be if their lists were compiled in such an unscientific manner?
When you consider that the single most important element of a direct mail campaign is the list (followed closely by the offer, and THEN the copy), it becomes painfully apparent that a sloppy list is a liability indeed!
So how do you go about creating a solid list of quality prospects that you can mine for years to come?
There are some methods you can use and sources you can tap, and I reveal a few of the best here. However, It always boils down to looking in the right places for your particular specialty.
My Favorite Starting Place
Roughly half of my coaching students are new copywriters and when it's time to share my list building strategies with them, I always introduce them to Who's Mailing What, a rich online archive of more than 130,000 direct mail packages collected from more than 7,000 companies since 1994.
For a reasonable fee, you can go into the archive and literally see "who's been mailing what," which can be a real boon for copywriters who specialize in the dozens of categories (publishing, financial, collectibles, technology, and more), covered by WMW.
For instance, I specialize in software. And while there are tens of thousands of software companies, I need only 300 to keep busy. So which 300 should they be? Well, the BEST 300 of course: the 300 I know are direct mailers, the 300 that I know are financially stable, the 300 I know are well-respected and trustworthy.
When I started compiling my list, I mined Who's Mailing What to discover the names of software companies that had mailed over the past two years. As "sure mailers," these companies became the richest names on my list, and remain so today.
Other Great Places To Look
Nearly every large industry has an association, and most associations have member lists. To get your hands on the list you often need to join the association, but unless the price is really exorbitant, it's usually worth it. Remember, time is money in the freelancer's world, so the faster you can put together your list, the faster you can market to it.
The library is another place to look for lists. In addition to my "sure mailers," I added the world's most profitable software companies to my list, tracked down at the local library in the Computer and Software section of the Dunn and Bradstreet Gale Industries Handbook.
I completed my goal of assembling 300 strong names by surfing the Internet in search of newsletters, Web sites, and publications that serve the software market. There I found lists like "The Top 50 Software Venture Capital Investments," which listed software companies that had recently been infused with millions of dollars each, in venture capital.
Some Strong Sources For Generalists
Although I believe that every business freelancer should carve out a niche for him or herself, many start out as generalists. If you fit this category, you'll find some excellent list-building sources at the library.
Chuck Thompson, one of my early coaching students, discovered the "Mail Order Business Directory" at his Chicago-area library. It lists over 5,000 names, addresses, and basic facts about U.S. firms doing business by mail.
Library sources I used in my early days of freelancing included the "Standard Directory of Advertisers" and "Standard Directory of Advertising Agencies." Also known as "the red books" by industry insiders, you should be able to find them at any main library; I've had less luck finding them at the local level (and they're too expensive for most freelancers to buy).
The "Standard Directory of Advertisers" contains information on over 24,000 U.S. and international advertisers who each spend more than $200,000 annually on advertising. Each listing includes advertising expenditures by media, contact information, address, and more.
The "Standard Directory of Advertising Agencies" contains detailed profiles of nearly 13,500 U.S. and international advertising agencies, including accounts represented by each agency, fields of specialization, contact information, and much more. These directories are truly exciting sources of information for the freelancer who recognizes the value of smart targeting.
Finally, you never know what you'll come up with while searching the Internet. After helping dozens of coaching students build their niche market list, I have a folder full of rich places to look for high quality names.
Compiling your own personal prospect list is never fast or easy, but there is a silver lining. And that is that no other freelancer will be marketing to the same exact list that you are. So do your homework and make your list as strong as it can be. Because most of your success will flow from your list, it pays to be extremely picky about who you put on it.
About the Author
Get your FREE copy of Chris Marlow's "10 Steps to Landing the High-quality, High-paying Corporate Clients!" Visit:
© Chris Marlow, all rights reserved
How to Sell Yourself to an Employer
How to Sell Yourself to an Employer by Mary Waldron
Have you ever seen a couple and thought, "How did he get her?" or vice versa? Obviously, the person deemed less physically attractive knew how to sell his/her other great qualities to compensate for what he/she lacked in the looks department. You've also probably known someone who seems to have it all--good looks, charm, intelligence, etc.--yet sits at home dateless on Saturday nights. Clearly, that person is lacking when it comes to self-promotion.
If there were strict rules about dating, the "tall, dark, and handsome" guy would always get the girl, and the "nice" guy would always be left out in the cold. Likewise, if there were strict rules about how your credentials must be presented, then the same people (those with great credentials) would always get the good jobs, and the others (those with less than great credentials) would be forever stuck in bad jobs.
Self-marketing is what makes the difference. Your resume and cover letter give you an opportunity to level the playing field. The worst thing you can do is to take someone else's resume and simply fill in the blanks with your information. Not only that, it's bound to backfire on you! Your friend might have a 3.9 GPA and therefore doesn't need to flesh out his/her work experience quite so much. A colleague might have been promoted to a high-ranking position and therefore doesn't need to do as much selling of his/her experience. You need to view your resume and cover letter as an opportunity to show what you DO have that your competitors DO NOT.
Learn How to Think Like an Employer
The best way to get a good idea of what makes an effective resume and cover letter is to be on the other side of the hiring process. When you are in the position of hiring someone, you will see firsthand what employers like and dislike in applicants.
When Resume Apple goes through the process of hiring professional resume writers, we learn even more about what should and should not be in a resume and cover letter. Even among the pros--the people who write resumes for a living--there are resumes that stand out and those that are mediocre. We hire only the cream of the crop to join our team and learn more from them about how to write truly exceptional resumes.
If you are beginning a job search, try to put yourself in either a real hiring situation (for instance, volunteer to participate in interviewing/screening candidates at your current job) or a virtual hiring process in which you should try to imagine a scenario in which you would need to hire someone. Think of your ideal intern, colleague, or manager. Jot down a brief job description. Then think of what you would want to see in that person's resume and cover letter.
You will find that there are a few key qualities you are looking for in your employee. Say those things are: (1) a degree from a reputable school in a particular subject; (2) strong organizational skills; (3) experience in a particular part of your industry; and (4) evidence of strong writing skills. If you find candidates with these credentials, you will look more closely at their resumes. If they have few or none of these qualities, you will toss their resumes.
After basic credentials have been met, you will consider "other" factors. Read through resumes wherever samples are offered (this site, online, career services offices), and find some that strike you as impressive. Once you have compiled a few, start to look for common themes. What language is used? What is/is not included? How is the material presented? What catches your attention?
Then look at the cover letters. Did you read them or did you go straight to the resume? Which letters did you find appealing? Were they short? Long? Aggressive? Laid back? Make a pile of the ones you like most, and see what they have in common.
This process will help give you proper perspective. You may realize after analyzing the resumes of others that some of the items in your own resume are not of any relevance, while other aspects should be given more prominence. Developing the mind of an employer is a critical first step in creating a masterpiece of a resume.
Learn How to Think Like a Salesperson
Once you have put yourself into the mindset of an employer, it is time to step into the shoes of a salesperson. Many people balk at the concept of "self-marketing." But it is not as scary or as unflattering as it may seem. In fact, it is expected that you will "brag" about yourself in a resume and cover letter. If not you, how will they know how perfect you are for the job?
Every day we are bombarded with marketing in many forms: television and print ads, people on the street handing out fliers for restaurants, billboards, radio spots, etc. Spend a few days paying close attention to the marketing that surrounds you. Which pitches do you ignore, and which ones do you pay attention to? Why? What are the concepts involved?
Just as you'll notice with the hiring exercise, a few key things will probably emerge. You'll see that certain pitches capture and hold your attention better than others-namely, those that market to your particular need. The aim of a marketing campaign is threefold: (1) to capture a person's attention; (2) to hold the person's attention, and (3) to convince the person that he/she needs what you have to offer.
A lot of people get caught up in number one and neglect numbers two and three. Capturing someone's attention is the easiest part. Of course, people wearing jumbo hot dog uniforms on the street are going to stand out. But are they going to make you actually purchase a hot dog or just make you point and laugh?
Your primary objective should be to develop an effective "pitch" that will mirror the needs of the employer. Pretend you are an employer thinking, "I could really use a competent assistant who has experience in construction environments, writes effective memoranda, and deals well with frustrated callers." If a letter comes across your desk that meets those qualifications exactly, you're going to think the person is perfect for your company.
Of course, another aspect of effective marketing is convincing someone that they need what you have to offer, even if they do not know it yet. Have you ever watched a particularly tempting food commercial and suddenly had an immense craving for that food? That ad did exactly what it was supposed to do. You probably were not even hungry before you saw this commercial, but suddenly you are racing to your car with nothing but drumsticks on your mind.
This type of marketing is most effective when you are approaching employers in an unsolicited fashion. Maybe you are an expert in a certain field or want to provide a certain service on a contract basis. If so, your marketing materials need to convince an employer your services are valuable and illustrate how you can add value. Here is an example of how that can be achieved:
"Dear Hiring Manager,
In today's economic climate, many companies needing additional manpower are unable to take on a full-time market researcher. If your firm is in this situation, I can provide a solution."
The first two sentences of this letter attempt to identify a need and offer a solution. Or consider the following:
"Could your company use a proven salesperson with the ability to increase your bottom line?"
What employer would not want to say yes to such a question?
This all boils down to a phrase you will see often in these articles: know your audience. An effective resume and cover letter takes account of an employer's needs. If you are responding to a job vacancy or posting, think of it as the employer asking, "Is there anyone out there who can help me?" You want your resume and cover letter to provide the solution. If, of the other hand, you are writing to employers on an unsolicited basis, do some research and brainstorming to figure out what you offer that would be appealing to an employer. By proactively stating how you can be of service, you will have a better chance of creating a need for your role.
+ Read More
Resume Writing Services
Professional Resume Writers
About the Author
Mary Waldron, Editorial Coordinator Resume Apple 175 S. Lake Avenue Suite 200 Pasadena, CA 91101 800-680-7214
Have you ever seen a couple and thought, "How did he get her?" or vice versa? Obviously, the person deemed less physically attractive knew how to sell his/her other great qualities to compensate for what he/she lacked in the looks department. You've also probably known someone who seems to have it all--good looks, charm, intelligence, etc.--yet sits at home dateless on Saturday nights. Clearly, that person is lacking when it comes to self-promotion.
If there were strict rules about dating, the "tall, dark, and handsome" guy would always get the girl, and the "nice" guy would always be left out in the cold. Likewise, if there were strict rules about how your credentials must be presented, then the same people (those with great credentials) would always get the good jobs, and the others (those with less than great credentials) would be forever stuck in bad jobs.
Self-marketing is what makes the difference. Your resume and cover letter give you an opportunity to level the playing field. The worst thing you can do is to take someone else's resume and simply fill in the blanks with your information. Not only that, it's bound to backfire on you! Your friend might have a 3.9 GPA and therefore doesn't need to flesh out his/her work experience quite so much. A colleague might have been promoted to a high-ranking position and therefore doesn't need to do as much selling of his/her experience. You need to view your resume and cover letter as an opportunity to show what you DO have that your competitors DO NOT.
Learn How to Think Like an Employer
The best way to get a good idea of what makes an effective resume and cover letter is to be on the other side of the hiring process. When you are in the position of hiring someone, you will see firsthand what employers like and dislike in applicants.
When Resume Apple goes through the process of hiring professional resume writers, we learn even more about what should and should not be in a resume and cover letter. Even among the pros--the people who write resumes for a living--there are resumes that stand out and those that are mediocre. We hire only the cream of the crop to join our team and learn more from them about how to write truly exceptional resumes.
If you are beginning a job search, try to put yourself in either a real hiring situation (for instance, volunteer to participate in interviewing/screening candidates at your current job) or a virtual hiring process in which you should try to imagine a scenario in which you would need to hire someone. Think of your ideal intern, colleague, or manager. Jot down a brief job description. Then think of what you would want to see in that person's resume and cover letter.
You will find that there are a few key qualities you are looking for in your employee. Say those things are: (1) a degree from a reputable school in a particular subject; (2) strong organizational skills; (3) experience in a particular part of your industry; and (4) evidence of strong writing skills. If you find candidates with these credentials, you will look more closely at their resumes. If they have few or none of these qualities, you will toss their resumes.
After basic credentials have been met, you will consider "other" factors. Read through resumes wherever samples are offered (this site, online, career services offices), and find some that strike you as impressive. Once you have compiled a few, start to look for common themes. What language is used? What is/is not included? How is the material presented? What catches your attention?
Then look at the cover letters. Did you read them or did you go straight to the resume? Which letters did you find appealing? Were they short? Long? Aggressive? Laid back? Make a pile of the ones you like most, and see what they have in common.
This process will help give you proper perspective. You may realize after analyzing the resumes of others that some of the items in your own resume are not of any relevance, while other aspects should be given more prominence. Developing the mind of an employer is a critical first step in creating a masterpiece of a resume.
Learn How to Think Like a Salesperson
Once you have put yourself into the mindset of an employer, it is time to step into the shoes of a salesperson. Many people balk at the concept of "self-marketing." But it is not as scary or as unflattering as it may seem. In fact, it is expected that you will "brag" about yourself in a resume and cover letter. If not you, how will they know how perfect you are for the job?
Every day we are bombarded with marketing in many forms: television and print ads, people on the street handing out fliers for restaurants, billboards, radio spots, etc. Spend a few days paying close attention to the marketing that surrounds you. Which pitches do you ignore, and which ones do you pay attention to? Why? What are the concepts involved?
Just as you'll notice with the hiring exercise, a few key things will probably emerge. You'll see that certain pitches capture and hold your attention better than others-namely, those that market to your particular need. The aim of a marketing campaign is threefold: (1) to capture a person's attention; (2) to hold the person's attention, and (3) to convince the person that he/she needs what you have to offer.
A lot of people get caught up in number one and neglect numbers two and three. Capturing someone's attention is the easiest part. Of course, people wearing jumbo hot dog uniforms on the street are going to stand out. But are they going to make you actually purchase a hot dog or just make you point and laugh?
Your primary objective should be to develop an effective "pitch" that will mirror the needs of the employer. Pretend you are an employer thinking, "I could really use a competent assistant who has experience in construction environments, writes effective memoranda, and deals well with frustrated callers." If a letter comes across your desk that meets those qualifications exactly, you're going to think the person is perfect for your company.
Of course, another aspect of effective marketing is convincing someone that they need what you have to offer, even if they do not know it yet. Have you ever watched a particularly tempting food commercial and suddenly had an immense craving for that food? That ad did exactly what it was supposed to do. You probably were not even hungry before you saw this commercial, but suddenly you are racing to your car with nothing but drumsticks on your mind.
This type of marketing is most effective when you are approaching employers in an unsolicited fashion. Maybe you are an expert in a certain field or want to provide a certain service on a contract basis. If so, your marketing materials need to convince an employer your services are valuable and illustrate how you can add value. Here is an example of how that can be achieved:
"Dear Hiring Manager,
In today's economic climate, many companies needing additional manpower are unable to take on a full-time market researcher. If your firm is in this situation, I can provide a solution."
The first two sentences of this letter attempt to identify a need and offer a solution. Or consider the following:
"Could your company use a proven salesperson with the ability to increase your bottom line?"
What employer would not want to say yes to such a question?
This all boils down to a phrase you will see often in these articles: know your audience. An effective resume and cover letter takes account of an employer's needs. If you are responding to a job vacancy or posting, think of it as the employer asking, "Is there anyone out there who can help me?" You want your resume and cover letter to provide the solution. If, of the other hand, you are writing to employers on an unsolicited basis, do some research and brainstorming to figure out what you offer that would be appealing to an employer. By proactively stating how you can be of service, you will have a better chance of creating a need for your role.
+ Read More
Resume Writing Services
Professional Resume Writers
About the Author
Mary Waldron, Editorial Coordinator Resume Apple 175 S. Lake Avenue Suite 200 Pasadena, CA 91101 800-680-7214
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