Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it.
– Publilius Syrus
Okay, so your shiny new resume and cover letter got you the first interview and it went very well. You are now asked in for a second interview and it looks like you will eventually be made an offer. Excellent news!
But alas, your job isn’t done yet.
Applicants are all too often ready to jump on the first offer made by an employer, as they are happy just to be working. But remember, if you have presented your skill set well and impressed in the interview the way you should have (given the practice runs and research you did, right?), then you are just as valuable to them as they are to you. With that, be sure you take the time to know your true worth so that you know if the offer is a good one. Actually, it is recommended that you never accept a job offer on the spot. Let the employer know that it is a great position and you are considering accepting, but would like a day or so to think things over.
Instead of comparing your value based upon a job title alone, be sure you are matching it to a job description. Titles and associated responsibilities are not always consistent across companies or industries. Also, remember that the larger companies usually pay their employees more than smaller companies because they usually have higher revenue per employee. Lastly, if you plan show your findings to the hiring manager, you want to use employer-reported data, which will be considered more credible due to the fact that it accounts for all company factors that influence compensation.
The World Wide Web has numerous tools out there for you to use to get an idea of what your new position should pay. Using criteria such as region, experience level, education, and industry, these calculators can provide you with a solid range and median for your position.
Some of the more popular calculators include:
Salary.com
PayScale.com
AreaVibes
Careerbuilders
Monster.com
