Tigard Salary Guide

Congratulations! If you are reading this article you are likely facing the prospect of having a new job in the next few weeks. In fact, you may even be looking at working the first job you have held in over two years if you are like other Tigard job seekers who were laid off in this economy.  Chances are that the last job you held continued for years and so perhaps you have not embarked on a salary negotiation adventure in quite some time.  Here are some must know tips to help guide you through the fire and out of the flames and ensure that you obtain the highest possible salary for your expertise.

The first thing that you must consider is that most of the information that you will find in an online salary guide is based on a national average and not on your actual city of residence.  This can be incredible beneficial in salary negotiations if the salary in your area tends to be lower than the national average but can wreak serious havoc on negotiations if you live in an area with higher salaries.  If you live in an area that offers substantially higher salaries than the salary guide is touting then consider ordering a custom salary report from a reputable online site. Reputable salary guides allow you to break down your potential salary by company size, industry, skill set, your location, and may even offer more options. Obtaining a salary report will allow you to easily determine how much your skills are worth in your area and sit down at negotiations with confidence.

The next order of business is to determine exactly what you want in your full benefits package. Are you willing to sacrifice your executive level salary for a few thousand less and more quality time with your family? Will bonuses make up the difference for a smaller salary? How many weeks of paid time off do you desire? How frequently will you have to travel, or put in long hours? Each of these is just as important to most Tigard job searchers as the total dollar amount on their paycheck because it allows them to achieve a much needed work-life balance.

Once you have your salary report in hand, and you know what you want, you are ready to begin salary negotiations. Rule number one of salary negotiations is to never be the first one to state a number. Allow the employer to examine your skill set, and consider what you are worth to the company.  Good help is challenging to find even in a tough economy. Remember your worth and politely decline to ask for a specific salary when applying for a long term position.  Instead tell the employer that, “I am willing to consider looking at any reasonable offer, and I am willing to negotiate because I am highly interested in working for XYZ Company.”  Stating this eliminates the fear that the employer will upset you with a low-ball offer but erases your fear of presenting them with an astronomical figure that will cause them to choose their second candidate.  If the employer continues to press you can politely pull out your salary report and state that, “According to XYZ salary experts my skill set, education and expertise commands a salary of 65k per year, and at my last position as a Engineering Project Manager I was paid 60k per year, so I would appreciate compensation of no less than 65k per year, but it honestly depends on the full package being offered.”  Make sure to point out whether or not the total salary figure you are touting includes benefits, and which benefits are included. If the salary is lower than you desire negotiate for more paid-time off, flexible hours, or the ability to leave early or work from home on Fridays.