Saturday, January 7, 2012

Salary Info

By Steven Atkil


You've managed to receive a meeting towards the exciting new job ... the interview has gone well, and you've established a great rapport with all the hiring managers ... only a few more minutes to go ... Uh oh! They just inquired about salary expectations!

That's where you're going to be glad that you just did that research early in advance. If you didn't, and are certainly not sure the place to begin, below are great tips.

Analyzing Salaries

Whether or not the salary is not really stated in the job description, you will have to evaluate what the career is definitely worth. Sometimes you can be asked to provide your expectations in your employment cover letter, sometimes it will come up in an interview. But the key is to be prepared for this question, given that it usually pops up.

There is no one magic figure when trying to determine salary for any particular position. It depends on size of the city, market conditions, the company, geographical locaion alongside your own skills and experience as compared with other applicants. So how should you uncover what a job is really worth? Try to employ a combination of approaches to get as best a range as is possible. These can sometimes include:

discover similar advertised positions which do state an income range

research salaries around the internet, using career websites, skilled professional association web pages and search engines (we've provided some beginning points by the end of this article) - is there a interest in your skills?

search for a local Human Resource Centre of Canada office

talk with people in similar careers

What direction to go if you are asked to provide salary expectations in your cover letter?

Many companies ask applicants to provide salary expectations inside their cover letter. This is usually carried out to screen out job seekers who expect a higher salary than the employer is prepared to offer. Try to respond by having a neutral statement, emphasizing that the opportunity is the most important consideration within your decision and you would give thought to any reasonable offer. If needed, give a range of what you are willing to accept instead of a fixed dollar amount.

Salary discussions during the interview

Never raise up salary during interviews. Always allow the employer bring it up. The same principles apply as above for resume cover letters. Having said that, try to postpone salary discussions until after a proposal is done. Indicate that you'll be open for negotiation but would rather wait until after the hiring decision has been given. Again, if you believe that possibly they are really pushing for a figure, be sure to give a range, not just a specific dollar amount and inform them it depends on the entire package along with benefits.

Don't fret if salary isn't discussed throughout the first interview. It likely will be in your second or at the very latest, once you get an offer! Actually, salary is usually best left for discussion until after the employer has decided that they want to hire you. By this approach, you minimize the chance of taking yourself out from the running.

When a deal is made - Negotiating Salary

Employers can often provide you with a salary amount when an offer is made. Take some time to think over it; a day or two is usually acceptable. Because they have decided they want to hire you, you may be allowed to negotiate a little. But you need to decide what you're prepared to accept, taking into account the possibilities of receiving other offers, etc. Take all factors into consideration when making your choice, such as the level of responsibility, working conditions, opportunities for further education, salary, type of work, etc. Ask about education and re-imbursement plans, vacation, extended health and dental insurance, etc.

Consider negotiating in some perks instead if the organization provides a rigid salary structure. Depending in the level of the job and current economic conditions, consider asking about a signing bonus, paid professional development, having access to your working computer for personal use and/or stock options. A flexible work schedule and operating from home occasionally can even be possible. Note: if the economy is in a downturn, several of these perks will not be available (eg. signing bonuses) so make use of your judgement and good sense when deciding just how much room you have to negotiate.

Everybody is apprehensive (in other words, scared!) about negotiating for benefits and salaries. You shouldn't be... it is extremely common. But do remember to remain professional about it! No matter what, don't be rude or arrogant. Think carefully about what makes you worth a better salary than the one they've offered, and be in a position to articulate this towards the employer. It's during this time that you will be glad you did your thorough research.




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