How much am I worth - Getting a better salary

How much am I worth, why isn’t my salary higher?
Simple things you can do to be sure you are worth your salary

Five tactics to get the salary you want
Learn how you can be sure to get the salary you desire

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How much am I worth, why isn’t my salary higher?

Don Straits, CEO and Dragon Slayer, Corporate Warriors

I wish I had a dollar for every time people complained to me that they are not paid what they are worth. I could retire rich. Almost everyone, regardless of income, education or position, believes that he or she should be earning more money. People at minimum wage obviously want to make more, but people at the highest levels also want more.

Professional athletes are a prime example. National Hockey League players make about $1.8 million annually, on average. They recently could not reach agreement with owners on an annual contract, despite the fact that the league is in extreme financial difficulty. As a result, the entire hockey season was cancelled. Hey, it?s tough to feed a family on $1.8 million these days.

On one hand, the belief that we are "entitled" to more compensation speaks well for us as individuals. We possess strong self-worth and self-esteem and believe we should be highly compensated for who we are. On the other hand, too often our expectations are not founded on the realities of the marketplace or on our ability to "earn" our income based on performance.

If you want to maximize your compensation, there are a number of tactics you can use to demonstrate your value. Let?s take a look at some of these tactics. Document Your Accomplishments.

Here is an effective way to do that. Break your accomplishments into three parts. First, define the problem, situation or challenge in about two or three sentences. Second, in a bulleted format, show step-by-step how you solved the problem or accomplished the task. Finally, in a results paragraph, describe how your accomplishment was a benefit to the organization. Use good quantitative results if possible. Otherwise, define it in strong qualitative terms. During your annual performance review, present your written accomplishments to your boss. It is really tough to argue with well-documented performance. Odds are you will get your raise or promotion. Find a Mentor.

It is invaluable to have someone within your organization fighting for your success. It is not as difficult to find a mentor as some people think. It just takes the courage to ask. You might try a simple approach like the following: "I have always admired and respected what you have done for the company and the success you have achieved. As I grow in this job and in my career, I was wondering if, on occasion, you would be willing to give me some advice and guidance on how I might achieve success as well?" It is rare that anyone would say "NO" to such a nice comment and question. Give it a try. The rewards will be immense. Continue Your Education.

You can never have too much education and you are never too old to learn. Invariably education leads to new job opportunities, promotions and pay raises. Get that college degree; and then perhaps a graduate degree. But your education doesn?t have to be in college. Take trade courses, training seminars, or simply conduct independent research and study. You will never regret it. Stay Contemporary.

If you are "out of date" and "out of touch" with what is happening in the world, then your earning power will go "out the door." From technology advances to world news to the latest business, cultural and fashion trends, they are all relevant. By being able to communicate about what is happening all around us, we enhance our value and we become more marketable. Perform Beyond Expectations.

Always do more than you were asked to do. Take initiative to achieve superior results and make unexpected contributions. You will be recognized and rewarded for it. Ask for the Raise or Promotion.

If you have done your "homework," meaning you have followed all the steps above and established your value through exceptional performance, prepare your case and present it to your boss. You will be amazed at how often your initiative will totally launch your career in a new direction.

The opportunities to earn "what you are worth" are out there, but it is up to you to seek them out. Your goals and expectations must be realistic - based on your value and contributions. If you are motivated and dedicated to achieving extraordinary performance, there is no limit to what you can earn.

Don Straits, CEO and Dragon Slayer, Corporate Warriors.com Don is a nationwide authority on contemporary job search strategies. His organization provides world-class outplacement and individual marketing services to senior-level executives. Corporate Warriors has earned industry acclaim for its world-class multimedia resume portfolios. Don can be contacted at don@corporatewarriors.com. Web site: www.corporatewarriors.com.

1. Using an unprofessional e-mail address. Whether it’s the candidate for a management position who lists his e-mail address as cuddlybuns@msn.com or the applicant who writes from worksucks@mail.com, an e-mail address can and will be held against you if it conveys an image contrary to what a company is looking for.

2. Submitting your résumé as an e-mail attachment. E-mail attachments from strangers (or friends who haven’t kept their computer systems up-to-date) are more likely to contain viruses than the résumés, love letters or photos of Paris Hilton promised in the subject line. Instead, send your résumé in the body of an e-mail, unless the employer specifically asks you to send an attachment.

3. Leaving the subject line blank. The subject line helps get your e-mail through to the right person so you can be considered for the right job. If the job listing doesn’t say what to put in the subject line, use the job title with "Experienced" in front of it (e.g. Experienced Brain Surgeon).

4. Using obscure software. If the employer asks you to send an attachment, don’t create it in some little-known program they’ll need a Ph.D. in computer systems to figure out. Instead, attach a Word document or an RTF file that can be read on all types of computer systems.

5. Ignoring instructions. For example, if the employer asks you to fill out an online form … actually fill it out. Don’t paste your entire résumé into the first box on the form then say "see above" in the boxes that follow. The employer may be looking for specific things in each part of the form.

6. Trusting the spell check to catch typos. One applicant who applied to FabJob said "As I would very much like to develop a relationship with Fabio, I am willing to be flexible…" To avoid potential embarrassment, make sure you read twice before hitting send.

Next time you apply online we hope you make such a great impression you end up with that corner office the boss’s nephew wanted.

Tag and Catherine Goulet, "The Breaking In Experts," are co-CEOs of FabJob.com, a leading publisher of career guides offering step-by-step advice for breaking into a variety of dream careers. Visit www.FabJob.com.

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Five Tactics to Get the Salary You Want

From WetFeet.com

When a company starts to consider you seriously, you should begin to think about the negotiation. What do you want? What are you prepared to accept? How badly do you want the job?

Negotiations can conclude in one of four ways:

1. You can negotiate and get everything you want.

2. You can negotiate and get half of what you want.

3. The company can stand firm with its offer and make no effort to negotiate.

4. The company can withdraw its original offer.

Think about which outcomes you are or are not comfortable with. That way when you sit down to talk compensation, you’ll know what you will and will not accept.

What else can you do to ensure the best results? Here are some additional tips: Choose Your Top Offers

If you have more than one or two offers, you may have a few lower-choice offers to turn down. It’s not a good idea to test your negotiating skills with a company you don’t plan to work for, because word could get back to the companies you do want to work for. Instead, practice negotiating with a friend or a colleague. If you need more time to make a decision on an offer, call your prospective employer sooner rather than later and arrange for another week or two to decide. Establish Your Priorities and Walk Away

With the offer letter in hand, you need to evaluate the salary and benefits (plus intangibles) in light of your own needs and market value. What are your fixed expenses? Keep in mind that a job in Portland, Ore. might pay less than one in New York, but you’ll make more once you factor in cost of living. Do Your Research

The more information you have about compensation scales for the job and industry you’re looking into, and the more you know about negotiation, the better off you’ll be in the negotiation. Get your hands on whatever comparative salary data you can find to reinforce your position. Business publications, trade associations and professional organizations publish annual pay surveys and a good college or public librarian should be able to help you find this data. Understand Your Negotiating Position

One headhunter compares the job hunt with dating: "In the course of your interviews, it will become apparent how much they want you. If they are very prompt with the offer letter, call to see whether you received it, offer to fly you out again, offer a high signing bonus and generally lavish attention on you, it means that they want you and your negotiating position is strong. Conversely, you may be a second or third choice if you get the offer letter some time after your interview, it’s obviously a form letter, the signing bonus is low or you have trouble making a follow-up appointment with the hiring manager." The message: Know whether it’s an employers’ or a candidates’ market. Meet Your Hiring Manager in Person

It’s easier to influence the job description and find creative solutions on how to meet your specific needs when you deal with the hiring manager in person. He or she will have more room for flexibility (particularly if the firm really wants you). Besides, this is a person you will be working with later. In the salary negotiation meeting, express your enthusiasm for the job. Then lay out your points (not more than three, unless you have a darned good reason), starting with the most important. Your goal is to present your case for a better package in a rational, non-confrontational way, basing your arguments on industry standards, rather than on your personal needs. If you’re serious about going to work for them, tell them that you’ll sign on if they can clear up this, this and this point — and stand by what you say.