How can I work out my value in the job market?
Different jobs and industries have vastly different pay scales. As you work out
your real worth in the job you are in now or hope to move into, do everything
you can to research the market.
Understanding the relationship
Just like many areas of business, employment is a deal done on the basis of
supply and demand. The workers with the skills and experience influence supply
in the job market, and the companies currently hiring for certain positions
influence the demand. How rare you and your skills are and how much your
employer needs you is the fundamental basis for calculating your worth in salary
and benefits.
One example of this in practice is within popular industries such as journalism.
There are many talented writers around and a finite amount of jobs which means
newspapers can offer very low pay rates to entry-level employees. The
combination of few opportunities and the fact that people after these roles
often do it for the love, not the money, puts the employer in a very strong
bargaining position.
Finding the going rate
The Internet is a priceless tool for salary research. Using an online salary
calculator will give you a rough idea of what you can expect in your particular
role, industry and location. They are however limited in the amount of
information they can provide as everyone's skills, experience and situation is
unique.
Search through various job descriptions to benchmark your role against. It will
give you a good idea of the key attributes companies are looking for in certain
jobs, which means you can emphasise these in your CV to make yourself a more
attractive prospect. If you are lacking in any important areas, make an effort
to brush up on your skills to maximise your value.
An individual's salary is not something that is generally discussed in the open,
even within close groups of friends so try and steer away from asking people
outright what they earn. Online it is a different matter as you have a certain
level of anonymity. Ask a question such as “Is £25k a good salary for a
Marketing Manager in Newcastle in the telecoms industry?” in a forum and see
what your peers have to say.
This isn't an exact science as all companies use various bonuses and benefits to
bolster their employee's salary packages, but it should give you a good idea of
what to expect.
Using your findings
If you're approaching your boss for a pay increase in your current role, you can
expect some scepticism when you present your results, so be ready to back them
up with specific examples. Make sure that any job description comparisons you
make are fair, and that you are not exaggerating your own importance or
qualifications.
Work with your manager to examine your role in detail. There may be things you
are doing that your boss is not actively aware of, such as working unpaid
overtime at home or skills you have developed, which are a real benefit to the
business. All these can be used as extra leverage when you get down to the
actual numbers.
If you're discussing the possible salary for a new job, your potential employer
will usually have a salary range in mind set by their management team. When
you're made a job offer, you're immediately in a good position to negotiate as
they obviously think you're the right fit for the job. Consider the offer and
match it up with your research to see if it's fair. As you will probably be
unaware of their other options, you shouldn't get too over enthusiastic and go
back to them with an unrealistic number, but if you think the offer could be
topped up a little, there's no harm in asking.
However strong your case, an employer simply may not be able to pay the figure
you're asking for. Budget constraints operate in every business and it's
impossible to accommodate every pay demand from every employee. If money really
does end up as a stumbling block, consider using transferable skills to move
into a more profitable and high-paying industry or job.
Choosing the right company to work for is an important decision at every step of
your career, and if one doesn't appreciate your value in the market, there will
be another out there that does.
