Calculating salary range before a job interview can help you boost your negotiating power when you are applying for a new job. However, setting your salary range can be harder than it looks because people are reluctant to share their salary information, and salaries vary depending on the location of the job. Here are tips on finding out what you should be paid:
Go to Web sites with salary calculators. Check out glassdoor.com, payscale.com or salary.com. But don't take any numbers as gospel without taking where you live into account.
Do not discuss the subject with coworkers. You cannot ask your coworkers, unless you are willing to suffer some serious workplace strife. Also, you might not like what you hear if you discover that they make more than you. Instead, ask peers who work elsewhere about their salary range, which is a different matter from discussing a specific number.
Consider your education and your training. If you have an advanced degree or certificate in your field, then it should be reflected in your pay.
Focus on the job duties. Even if you need a higher salary to pay off debts, your personal history has no bearing on the salary range. If you are a career changer, what you made in a previous job that is unrelated to the job you want will also not matter. Your salary range must apply to the job you want, not the job you had.
Keep the employer's perspective in mind. The employer knows what he would like to pay you, but you might want more. So you need to be careful about showing your hand in case the employer is hoping to start you at a lower salary.
Never, ever inflate a past salary. You may want to make sure that you will earn more, but a company can always call your past employer or employers, and, if they find out you lied, you may lose the job before you even start it.
 | Before you approach your boss, make sure you understand how to ask for a raise. Know how the company's doing and your direct contributions to its successes and be prepared to sell yourself. |
 | Considering asking for a raise? Before you decide to take a drastic step because you aren't earning enough money, learn the basics on how to ask for a raise. Sometimes you can talk your present employer into recognizing that you're a valuable corporate asset who deserves recognition. |
 | Before you sign your salary negotiation letter, you need to understand the art of negotiating your way to receiving a salary you are happy with. |
Salary negotiation begins as soon as you hear about a job and decide whether or not it is for you. As you get interviews, watch out for blunders that could doom you to the lower end of the pay scale. |
Knowing how to negotiate salary increase can greatly increase your chances of success. Before planning strategy, you need to be sure that you actually deserve more money before bringing the issue up with the boss. |
