Considering job hunting doesn’t happen quickly and it’s a marathon, not a sprint, there are a few ways to keep your eye on the prize.

1. Celebrate mini victories. In job searching, interviewing, negotiating and closing your own deal, we need all the patience we can get. It takes time as well as persistence and in the end the only real tangible thing to hold onto is the job offer. So, how can you hold onto sticktuitiveness for the end goal when that’s the only thing that may seem to matter and it’s nowhere in sight? continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

New research published by Harvard Business Review reveals a link between lunch and profitable negotiations.

Babson professor Lakshmi Balachandra conducted two experiments among MBA students. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Not so fast! Before you accept it point blank, it’s important to negotiate and avoid some major blunders. As pointed out in a piece on US News & World Report, for starters, do some research. Although surfing various salary websites may seem like you’re grasping valuable information, sites may be unreliable. Some job titles they include may represent a large spectrum of responsibilities and not to mention, geographic regions across the country. The best way to know what the going rate is? Talk to people within media.

Next up, be sure to talk about salary within the confines of salary. In the piece, Alison Green writes, “Salary conversations should be solely about your value to the company, not about your own finances. Employers don’t pay people based on financial need, so don’t cite your mortgage or your kid’s college tuition as a reason you’re asking for more money.”

As you evaluate the whole package, don’t overlook other components such as health benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off. Salary alone shouldn’t be the sole determining negotiation factor; although these items may be less negotiable, they factor into the big picture of your offer as a whole. In addition, flexible work arrangements may be key, too and cut down on commuting costs and time.

One often overlooked piece to the job offer is a blatant one: Negotiating. “Whatever you do, negotiate,” writes Green. As soon as you accept the initial offer you’re given, it’s game over. You’ll never know what might have been! Before you begin, the answer’s automatically no so you might as well try to aim a little higher.

Lastly, find out the deadline. Asking for too long of a timeframe is a major faux pas but it’s common to ask for a few days to ponder it or at least think about it over a weekend. Whatever you do, don’t rush it. Ask questions, get answers, and then make an informed decision.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.