did I just low-ball my salary for the rest of my career? by Alison Green on May 7, 2012 A reader writes: This week I accepted a job I am really excited about. During the interview process, I was asked what salary I was looking for, and I answered honestly with what I thought was an appropriate salary (I only have one year of experience so I wasn’t exactly sure, and I didn’t have […] Read the full article →
when a candidate won’t share salary expectations by Alison Green on April 19, 2012 A reader writes: I have a question in regard to a piece of the recruiting process. I have always asked candidates what their compensation requirements are, either before they come in to meet with me or after they have come in. Most candidates do not have any issues disclosing what they’re looking for, although some […] Read the full article →
why you shouldn’t take a counteroffer by Alison Green on March 26, 2012 For some reason, I’ve received a bunch of letters lately asking about how to use a job offer from somewhere else as leverage in getting a raise from a current employer. This is generally — not always, but generally — a bad idea. Using another job offer as a bargaining chip may be tempting, but […] Read the full article →
what not to say when you ask for a raise by Alison Green on March 14, 2012 If you’re thinking about asking for a raise, make sure that you prepare a compelling argument in advance, one that’s based on your contributions to your company – not on your coworkers’ salaries, your own financial needs, or other arguments likely to sink your request. Here are eight things that you should never say when […] Read the full article →
can you ask about salary at a job fair? by Alison Green on February 24, 2012 A reader writes: I was looking at a flyer for the upcoming job/internship fair hosted by my university. It included tips for job-seekers navigating the fair. One of them advised not to ask about salary or benefits. Is it just me, or does this seem really weird and even inappropriate? It’s a job. The whole […] Read the full article →
how to deal with a rude recruiter by Alison Green on February 6, 2012 A reader writes: I’m looking for advice on how to deal with rude recruiters, due to a phone interview with one earlier this morning. A third-party recruiter contacted me for a slew of opportunities he was hired to fill for a start-up company. Presumably, he found my profile on LinkedIn, as a few others have […] Read the full article →
can an employer require you to keep your salary confidential? by Alison Green on January 14, 2012 A reader writes: At my current employer, we’re being asked to sign a new legal agreement before they’ll process our bonus checks. One thing in the paperwork that caught my eye was this clause: “1. Confidential Information. Both during and at all times after termination of my employment with the Company for any reason or no […] Read the full article →
the average salary increase is pretty low by Alison Green on December 29, 2011 The average salary increase for 2011 was 2.8%. So if you earn $40,000 (the average income in the U.S.), that’s a raise of $1,120. But you’re not average, of course, so what do you get? Top performers had a barely different median increase: 3.1%. I mention this here largely because I think most people have […] Read the full article →
your burning questions about salary, answered by Alison Green on November 9, 2011 If you’re like most people, talking to your employer about your salary is intimidating. You might even avoid it altogether, simply because you’re unsure how to raise it or because you worry about how your manager will react. But with annual performance evaluations coming up for many people, now is a perfect time to get […] Read the full article →
was I burned in this salary negotiation? by Alison Green on October 12, 2011 A reader writes: I was contacted by the recruiter of a company about a position a few weeks back. Titles for what I do for a living are often arbitrary, so I expressed to her that I wasn’t sure the salary would be enough in that it was a “specialist” role — even though the […] Read the full article →