| Career Center - [ Salary ] |
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Dealing with Questions about Salary
History
by Michael Chaffers |
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Q: How do I respond to the salary history
question when I am currently grossly underpaid for the work that I do, and I am
trying to correct that as I interview for new jobs?
A: Your best strategy is to keep them focused on
what is an appropriate amount for you given your experience, skills and
credentials today. This requires some homework, since you have to translate
those intangibles into a dollar figure or a range of figures. In addition, be
prepared to explain why you are seeking a significant jump in your salary and
be ready to help the employer justify paying you this increased amount - those
people do not want to feel as if they are overpaying you. You could try saying,
"I chose to work at my last job for less than my market value for very specific
reasons (e.g., gain experience, restart career, they had money problems). Now
that I have benefited from experience, as I look for a new employer, I want to
make sure that I am being paid fairly for my talents." As you follow this
advice, do not forget that you have to be prepared to discuss your current
salary, even though it ought to be irrelevant. If that information matters to
the employer, they will either insist on talking about it, or they will learn
it another way. Try to cover the issue quickly and steer the conversation back
to its rightful place - what you ought to make, given the value of your talents
in the market. |
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