On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the College of Business and Technology hosted a panel discussing salary negotiations in the job market. Panelists included Heather Edens, the Executive Vice President of Foust Bros, Barry Wolfe, a retired attorney and former director of Labor & Employee Relations at Dean’s Foods and Dairy Farmers of America and Dr. Aric Wilhau, an assistant professor of management at GCSU.
The panel began with a brief introduction of the members on the panelist and an overview of what will be discussed. Subjects include current trends in entry-level jobs, salary expectations, and tips on negotiating salaries in the job market.
Dr. Scott Manley, professor of management and chair of the Department of Management, Marketing and Logistics, hosted and mediated the panel. He emphasized the importance of these panels and the positive impact they can have on students and future graduates.
“Panels like this are important because we can bring together experts from academia and business & industry experts,” Manley said. “This one was unique in that also that it also included someone [Wolfe] who has experience advocating for both labor and management. Because of that, he can give a broader perspective of the job market.”
The panelists also emphasized the importance of having a minor, a great option being management.
The next question included group explored topics such as remote work, salary expectations and negotiations, and whether or not there are regional or global salary disparities. The panelists and Manley went on to talk about the importance of financial literacy, followed by discussions about remote work. Heather Edens highlighted the pros and cons of remote work when joining the workforce.
“You want them to know who you are, you want to get advice from them, you want them to see what you’re capable of,” Edens said.
Most employers are not looking to hire for remote jobs. Although it is something that can be negotiated, being able to be in person and hands-on when starting a new job can be beneficial not only to yourself but to your coworkers and higher-ups as well.
Wolfe emphasizes the importance of connections. One of the best ways you can research for a position, look for a job, or get advice, is through word of mouth. People such as family, sorority sisters, and fraternity brothers are great resources for students and alumni to use when job-seeking. He also highlighted a great resource we have here on campus, the cCareer cCenter.
When it comes down to negotiating salaries, there are other negotiations to be considered. Aspects such as quality of life, job perks, a hiring bonus, vacation time or tuition assistance, can usually be negotiated.
After some productive and insightful discussions, the panel concluded with advice from the successful panelists.
“Have reasonable expectations and be willing to learn as much as possible,” Wilhau said.
In addition to advice about salary expectations, advice was also given about job interviews and how to stand out as opposed to your competition.
“Be early, make eye contact and dress like you want the job,” Edens said.
Panels like these are meant to help the students in the job market after college so they can be as successful as possible. GCSU hosts discussions and seminars outside the classroom to make sure their graduates are ready for what’s to come.
“I hope that students learned that they must develop a personal brand if they want to effectively negotiate in an entry-level position,” Manely said. “It is no longer enough to have ‘just a degree,’ because employers want to know how the potential employee will bring value to the company.”
As graduates prepare to enter a competitive workforce, the lessons learned from this event will undoubtedly help them advocate effectively for their value and succeed in their professional journeys.
The panel at the College of Business and Technology provided invaluable insights into salary negotiations and the evolving job market, by blending expert perspectives from both academia and industry. The discussion gave students practical strategies and knowledge to navigate their future careers.
