Tips to Finding the Job and Salary You Deserve

Are you working for less than your worth? Perhaps it’s time to find out.

A growing number of American professionals say they struggle to gain hold of salary discussions against the much bigger corporations cutting pay left and right to stay profitable.

And while it might not be easy to associate a solid dollar amount to your skills, it is important to be aware of your worth whatever the economic conditions.

Many qualified applicants are caught in a Catch-22. After being offered a minimum wage, or survival job, many will forgo their job search until they ultimately sacrifice or lose touch of the education and experience that enabled them to grow in the first place.

So perhaps it’s time for the unemployed to consider what their skills should fetch in the job market. They’ll need to facing the economic issues head on as they begin to rebuild and look toward the opportunities of 2012.

Research Average Salaries by Field

Prospective pay isn’t just about recruitment and monthly security. It’s a testament of one’s professional pedigree, culture and education. For these statistics alone, it is important to first research the salary statistics of your professional field. Discover other companies similar to the ones you are interested in working for. Note the average salary offered to first-time employees in a similar position. Determining if this competitive market is the best place to start when preparing a personal salary stance.

Salary.com, TrueCareers, and many other sites are great resources listing income information and going rates for jobs in thousands of different fields. While these resources were originally created for employers to compare applicants amongst each other, they can just as equally work to the advantage of the applicants themselves. The salary market is proving just as volatile as the stock market, and these resources are some of the country’s most important future indicators of what salary ranges are worth fighting for. While emotions or politics sometimes win out, salary discussions can be substantially enriched by proper research. In almost every case, it’s best to know what financial range you are dealing with. No need to set the wrong precedent.

Determine How You Bring Value

When asking ourselves, this may be an easy question to answer. After all, who’s more awesome than me. Excuse me, I mean you. Right? However, more likely than not, it will be a much harder one to prove to an employer. When it comes to determining salary levels, there are factors you can influence and others you can’t. Establishing your worth is one you can. After all, no one but you is best fit to sell your unique abilities.

Search for jobs that you securely feel will benefit from your education and personal skills. Go in an interview preparing to be hired. Though pay can be unjust or unfair, no employer can take your education, personality, or other unique abilities away from you. That is - if they are considered with a realistic and honest heart. There is a concrete difference between confidence and arrogance. While remaining proactive in building your confidence, remain grounded amongst the application chaos. However frustrating it might be, always make sure to take a dose of humility along with that important pat on the back.

Explore your options

It’s best to explore all your options whether you’re just beginning the job application process, or contemplating throwing it against the wall in a frustrating last attempt. You don’t have to work for a huge corporation, but you do need to look for a company who offers room to breathe and grow. Never underestimate the power of a “reconsider” after a job interview or offer. Even if you’re currently working, remain motivated in seeking out new skills and abilities. You never know when experience gained in a previous job or internship will be transferable to other platforms. Focus on maximum learning and creativity while maintaining a realistic sense of your financial obligations. Probe whatever you think demands your creative and professional time.

Establish Your Financial Goals

According to a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, most Americans do not possess a clear understanding of their current financial reality. And how can anyone expect to make progress if they have no idea where they stand? If you’re unhappy with your financial situation and want to take steps to change it, it helps to start by understanding where it is you’re leaving from.

While there’s no real average length for a job search, the general rule is about one month for each $10,000 in salary. Though this is a good reference point to keep in mind, solely focusing on money may lead to missing the mark: thus the infamous battle between head and heart. While your heart may be crying out to resign and begin searching for another job, your head might likely prefer the safer route of maintaining your current job. While there is a happy medium in this analogy somewhere, advancing your career will need to come in a time of change. You must be motivated by money enough to create the life you want. But unless you face eviction, don’t ever lower your expectations and risk losing professional fulfillment.

Maintain a Plan

Where do you see yourself in 5 Years? 10 Years? Though for many of us, thinking to the future can be intimidating, you must start thinking both short and long term if you are to accomplish any sort of personal goal. Answering these questions will be the first step in determining the course of your employment search. Gone are the days when good jobs with great benefits grew on trees and employers offered a Christmas bonus and dental insurance just to be nice. Now, professionals must be prepared to fight for their financial destiny. Armed with a positive attitude and secure sense of self worth, there is no reason to be afraid.

It’s not uncommon for many people to negotiate for a salary or apply for a job without any clear idea of what they want. Ideally, you should be able to think past next month’s electric bill and project how much you will be able to save and spend by year’s end. Your chances of actually getting the job you want are greatly improved if you come in with a realistic goal and arsenal of negotiation ammunition.

It is possible to find professional happiness in a generally unhappy professional world. You deserve it. Hopefully these steps can act as a source of inspiration. We have all had lousy interviews, or tedious days of filling out applications. And sometimes, these moments seem to be consistent. However, finding a career we love is a decision, not the result of external circumstances.

About the Blogger

George Gallagher is a financial and education blogger and speaker. He also helps students fulfill their needs for private student loans and other education funding options.