Olga writes:
How much money do I ask for my first job? I am applying for a job in the printing business in computer graphics or desktop publishing. I have a professional certificate.
You ask a great question, and it’s one where many job-seekers fall short. Before applying for any job — and most certainly before any job interview for the position — job-seekers must conduct a little research in salary and other benefits and compensation.
And there is no reason not to do conduct research — because there is so much information available.
For general salary information, often the best source is one of your industry’s professional organizations — because many of these groups conduct salary surveys regularly. Another source is your network within the industry; conduct your own informal survey of professionals you know to gain knowledge about salaries, job titles, career tracks, etc. Your school’s placement office (and teachers/professors) should also have some basic salary information. And, of course, there are multiple sources online (such as salary.com) that provide salary information by job title AND location (factoring in cost of living).
For company-specific information, you may need to do a little more digging and use a bit more finesse. Interestingly, some companies are putting salary information on their corporate career centers. For other companies, you may need to have an inside contact to get you the information.
Please remember two things, though. First, even though you are armed with all this great salary information, you always want to push salary discussions to later job interviews — and certainly not on your first interview. You will lose negotiating power if you disclose your requirements too soon. Second, always look beyond salary to some of the other benefits (“perks”) that the company offers, including things such as vacation days, personal days, health insurance, life insurance, education reimbursement, profit-sharing, retirement savings, etc.
One final piece of advice — especially for first-time job-seekers — never sound too desperate and never accept just any job offer.
Take a spin on the Salary Negotiation Tutorial found on Quintessential Careers — as well as all the other Salary Negotiation and Job Offer Tools and Resources.
Gabriel writes:
I am a graphic artist just starting out. I have been asked to give a salary history but really do not have a salary history in my field. How can I get around this and still prove I am very able candidate for the job?
Getting asked by a prospective employer for a salary history — especially when you are a new graduate or new to the career field — is not that big a deal. Employers often want this information for a variety of reasons, such as to evaluate your salary progression through a series of jobs and employers, to evaluate whether you have been underpaid or overpaid, and to gain power in the salary negotiation phase.
A salary history for you seems kind of moot since you don’t have any salary history in your field. Still, if you want the job, it makes sense to comply with the request.
When writing your salary history, use the same letterhead as for your cover letter and references list. Simply list job titles, employers (including location), dates of employment, and starting and ending salaries — in reverse chronological order (with most recent job first).
You could also include a short paragraph on your salary history sheet and/or on the cover letter with which you send the salary history that explains why you feel these salaries are not important — and that makes a case for a better salary in your new career field.
And whatever you do, never lie about your salary history.
Read more — and see some sample salary histories — in this article published on Quintessential Careers: Responding to Requests for Salary Requirements or Salary Histories: Strategies and Suggestions.
Rebecca writes:
I just received an amazing offer letter from the company I would like to now work with, and I am in need of some advice. Regarding salary negotiation, what is the best way to try to get some of the other things you want from your future employer? The offer is good, but there are some other things that I would like to ask for. Is it OK to ask and not have the employer think you are being petty, picky or too high-maintenance? Or would it be best to take the offer as it is and then see at a 6-month review where you stand, what you’ve done for the revenue growth, etc.
Timing and finesse are everything in salary negotiation. Job-seekers should always try to hold off salary negotiation to the very end — once you have convinced the employer you are the one candidate who can fill the position. Ideally, negotiation should begin before an offer letter is sent, though I know any number of employers that don’t believe in negotiating until they send the letter or contract.
That said, and assuming no other negotiation has taken place and that you have not accepted the offer, you are certainly in your right to make a counter proposal to your prospective employer — however, you must be prepared for any number of responses, including a retraction of the entire offer.
The key to a counter proposal, just as with salary negotiation, is research. Since you seem okay with the salary, but want to add/adjust some of the benefits, research comparable benefits within your industry at your level. Many employers are more willing to renegotiate benefits — bonuses, vacation time, moving expenses, timing of performance reviews, stock options, and the like — than salary.
Remember that you only have one shot at a counter proposal. You can’t do a second one after the employer reacts to this one — so make sure you have everything you want in this first counter proposal. If you’re comfortable, make the counter proposal in a follow-up interview; otherwise, put the proposal in writing in the form of a letter.
And yes, you could certainly wait for your first review — especially if it is in six months — a much safer route, but you will still have less negotiating power than you do right now.
Read many more strategies — and review a sample counter proposal letter — in this article published on Quintessential Careers: Job Offer Too Low? Use These Key Salary Negotiation Techniques to Write a Counter Proposal Letter.
And you can find many other resources and tools in the salary negotiation resources section of Quintessential Careers.
Louis writes:
I am 31 years old and have just completed an associate’s degree in computer networking and then went on to complete a B.S. degree in computer science. I am now studying for a B.S. in business administration. Then I will be continuing on for my MBA. I am currently working as a computer analyst making only $30,000 a year. What types of salaries should I expect after completing all four of these degrees? I intend on being a project manager. Am I wasting my time and money on education? Or will I be able to command salaries of over $60K to $70K because of the education that I intend to complete. What is a good career progression? And how should I go about progressing to that upper salaried positions.
I think far too many job-seekers put too much emphasis on salary when researching careers or conducting career planning. Yes, what we earn is important to our feelings of self-worth and self-esteem, but let’s not overlook the importance of the intrinsic value of enjoying what you do. So, if project management really excites you — and you can make a good living doing it — then that’s a good match for you. Please do be careful of picking careers or jobs simply based on how much you’ll be able to make. And in this job market, many job-seekers would love a job where they are making only $30,000 a year.
I do want to congratulate you on the ability to balance working and attending classes at the same time, because not everyone can do that, and while it will take you longer to reach your educational and career goals, you’ll be a more experienced and well-rounded job-seeker.
How can you best determine if project management is a good match for you — both in terms of your interests, skills, and education — as well as your salary requirements? Hit the online job boards and examine as many project management positions as you can find. Not only will this research help with your career goals, but you’ll be able to compile a list of keywords and phrases that employers use when seeking project managers. Once you have those keywords, you should be sure that you use them in your resumes and cover letters.
You should also consider conducting a few informational interviews with people who are currently involved in project management. Not only will these interviews help build your network, you’ll also learn a great deal about the skills, experience, and education valued in that profession.
Go to this section of Quintessential Careers to find job sites where you can conduct research: Best Job Sites for Job-Seekers.
Learn more about informational interviewing by using the Informational Interviewing Tutorial found at Quintessential Careers.
Wendy writes:
I have to write a letter asking for a raise. This is our company policy. I have been trying to find some examples because no one I have talked to has ever had to write a letter for a raise. I was wondering if you knew of any books or journals containing any examples of such letters.
I think it’s great you have to write a letter because doing so will force you to document all your accomplishments — which should not only help you with the raise, but will help you with updating your resume when it’s time to start job-hunting. More and more, you need to think of raise meetings in the same vein as salary negotiation; thus, the more ammunition you have, the more likely you’ll get the raise you wish.
You have two strategies for writing what basically boils down to a salary increase proposal. If you have an annual goal-setting or MBO (management-by-objective) meeting, then your raise letter should be written in two columns, with the first column stating each task/objective/goal and the second column highlighting your accomplishments/achievements. You could use the same format with your job responsibilities in one column and your job accomplishments in the other, but if you don’t have a set of annual objectives, I would favor an opening paragraph that summarizes your accomplishments to the department/company and then a detailed bulleted list of those accomplishments.
Don’t ever include personal reasons for a raise — always keep the focus on your importance to the department/company and your key accomplishments. And keep it professional at all times.
And for you folks not as lucky as Wendy, who are working at companies that are giving little or no raises for the foreseeable future, don’t forget that while a raise might be out of the question, you may be able to negotiate a better benefits package or other perks (such as more vacation time, flexible working hours, more telecommuting, etc.) in lieu of a raise.
Read my article published on Quintessential Careers: Getting the Raise You Deserve. And be sure you understand the Do’s and Don’ts of Requesting a Raise.
Another good source for you to review is this useful tool published on Quintessential Careers: Job-Seeker Accomplishments Worksheet.
Finally, check out this sample letter requesting a raise.
Wendy writes:
I recently sent a resume/cover letter for a management position in a state I would like to re-locate to. Unfortunately, I read your do’s and don’ts list after I had my initial phone interview. I had no idea what salary range they were offering and was afraid I might be looking for more than what they were offering (the cost of living is less there). I told them how much I make now and said I was willing to accept 25 percent less due to the difference in the cost of living (I made an error there too — I would the figure is actually 15 percent less).
There was no job offer made, but I am flying there again this week for a second in-person interview. If they do offer me the job, how can I negotiate after I’ve already given them this range of 25 percent less-present salary? I also did not take into consideration the fact that my husband doesn’t have a job there yet either, so I really need to make at least what I am now or 10 percent more. I looked at salary ranges and I would be within reason in asking for this. Is there anyway to take my foot out of my mouth now? Is there any hope? Please advise.
The Career Doctor responds:
You’ve definitely made a salary negotiation blunder, but it’s not a lost cause — yet. Not only did you make a mistake in divulging salary information, and not only did you make a mistake in your calculations, but by doing what you did, you also made it seem as though you are a bit desperate for the job — so you should be VERY pleased you are going for another interview.
Your key at this next interview, if a job offer is extended, is to make a strong case for a reasonable salary — given your experience level, given the job itself, given the cost of living, etc. Do NOT bring your husband or any other personal needs into the equation. To persuade an employer about salary, you need to use legitimate business reasons for a higher salary — not personal reasons.
Be sure and review the salary negotiation tutorial and other salary negotiation resources published on Quintessential Careers before making the trip.
Best of luck.
J. H. writes:
I’ve been offered a job at a hospital pending criminal check. I had a conviction in 2002 and was done with parole at the end of 2005. I didn’t answer the “ever been convicted of a crime” question on the job application. What should I do? Thank you in advance.
I’m really afraid you are out of luck for this job with this employer. You can certainly try and salvage your application, but my sense is once the employer knows you omitted the truth on your application — no matter what your reasons — that employer will not trust anything else on your application. But go ahead and contact the employer and say you need to amend your application.
Now, not all employers conduct background checks — even for something such as a criminal record — but the trend since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, is an increasing number of employers now conducting background checks — or at least, saying they are conducting more background checks. So, you need to be prepared to face the issue of the conviction and parole in future job interviews. Be sure to spin it in a positive way — how you paid your debt and learned from your mistakes.
Remember that your resume and the job application are seen by employers as statements of facts about your qualifications, education, and background. Any “stretching” of the truth or omissions of key information is going to result in the very abrupt ending of your status as an applicant.
On the other hand, do not offer negative information if the employer does not ask for it. While you do not ever want to lie, you also do not need to destroy your chances before you’ve had a chance to sell the employer on your fit for the job.
Victoria writes:
Dear Dr. Hansen: The scenario is this. If I have a job interview on a Wednesday, and another (more preferred) interview on a Thursday, how should I handle it if the Wednesday interview results in a job offer on the spot? Should I accept the first offer and then decline it if the second one becomes available, or do I level with them that I have other interviews and would like a couple of days to mull it over? Would this put the first offer in jeopardy? I certainly wouldn’t want to insult anyone and appear to be hedging my bets (even though that’s what I would be doing). Any suggestions for proper direction? Thanks.
In any kind of job-hunting situation where a job-seeker is facing a tough choice, the solution is always to determine which alternative is the least offensive to the prospective employer(s). In your scenario, it would be much worse to accept the first offer, only to rescind the acceptance the next day.
The even better news for you is that there is much precedence in a job-seeker asking for time to consider an offer. In fact, my advice for all job-seekers would be to ask for time to consider the offer — if only to give you some time to think about it with a clear head. The stress of job interviews is enough to push some of us over the edge, but combine that with the excitement over getting the offer, and you have a job-seeker’s brain which is not functioning at peak capacity.
And if the employer did question your motives for not accepting the job on the spot, that might be a sign that you really would not want to work there anyway.
But all this advice might be moot, because as my mother says, while it’s good to think of all possible scenarios, you may be putting the cart before the horse. I continue to hear more and more of employers extending the typical job-search — where a search may have been completed in several weeks, now they are taking several months.
So, if you do not immediately get an offer from either employer, do not panic. Be sure to write your thank you letters to all your interviewers and be sure to follow-up with both companies.
For other interviewing tips and advice, go to the Interviewing Resources section of Quintessential Careers.
Ginny writes:
I graduated from graduate school 9 months ago and have been looking for a good career supporting job since that time. I interviewed with Company A last week and it went very well. This is my first choice for employment, and I am almost certain that I will be offered a position. I will find out in 2 weeks. If they do offer me a position, it will be conditional based upon passing a security clearance (which shouldn’t be a problem) but will take a minimum of 6 months.
Three days after my interview with Company A, I was offered a position at Company B to start immediately. This isn’t my top choice of job for my career but it is with a good stable company with good benefits and salary.
My dilemma is this: Do I accept company B’s offer and then resign if Company A’s offer comes through in 6 months? Personally, I believe this to be ethically reprehensible. But Company A’s offer isn’t in stone, and I don’t want to be left unemployed for potentially another year.
My mother taught me to believe that the bird in the hand is worth two in the bush… meaning that the job offer in hand is a lot more valuable than one that may come down the road some time — especially one six months away. So, if I had no further information, I would accept the offer from Company B.
That said, of course, I think you have some alternatives. I would inform my contact at Company A that I had another job offer and while I preferred to work for Company A, I could not afford to wait six months for a job offer. Perhaps there is room for a compromise, such as conditional employment, pending the final background screening. If Company A is not willing to work with you on a compromise, I would accept Company B’s offer and see what happens. In six months, you might find you really enjoy the work at Company B. And if Company A does decide to hire you conditionally, be sure to politely decline the offer from Company B so as not to burn any bridges there.
Learn more about negotiating job offers in the Salary Negotiation Tools section of Quintessential Careers.
Anonymous writes:
I accepted a job offer over the phone and now, a week later, I have decided that I do not want this position after all. I am supposed to start next Tuesday, a week from now. How do I go about declining this offer now?
The most important rule is to tell the employer as soon as possible. Don’t fret over the change too much. Just as with buying an expensive product, we often experience cognitive dissonance — sometimes referred to as buyer’s remorse — where we will uneasy about whether we made the right choice. And if you feel that strongly about the job or the employer not being a good fit for you, then you need to unaccept the offer.
The fastest way, of course, is to simply call the person who made you the offer and tell him/her you had a change in heart and cannot now accept the offer. For cowards like me, I would write a polite letter (or email) to the hiring manager, expressing my appreciation in the job offer and in the confidence the company saw in me, thanking him/her personally for the time spent with me, and then informing him/her that I have to rescind my acceptance and decline the offer.
Whatever communications method you use, you want to be sure to express your appreciation and offer apologies for changing your mind. You can’t rebuild the lost trust — at least not in the short-term — but taking this approach you are also not completing blowing up the bridge.
Job-hunting is a small world and you just never know when someone from your past is going to resurface with a later opportunity. So, be gracious and be quick. The sooner you can let the employer know of your new decision, the better.
Finally, just be certain that declining the offer is what you really want to do — because once you reverse your decision you will not be able to go back and accept it again.
See our sample letter for rescinding an accepted job offer.
Anxious about asking for a raise? Here’s the cure. Click here to view more details
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