It is difficult to correctly assess the appropriate amount of your own salary: If the sum is too low, you sell yourself below value. If you ask too much, you are greedy for money and you won’t get the job. But how much is the right salary?
“Please send your detailed application and your salary expectations to …”: Most job advertisements end with this phrase. It should be clear that as an applicant you are not writing a lame application. But the second part of the sentence is more difficult. Quantifying salary expectations is not that easy. How much does the salary have to be to be fair? If you set the amount too low, you sell yourself below value. If you ask too much money, you can quickly find a new appointment. But how much is exactly right?
She has put together a self-test that should help to better estimate the salary. With the help of questionnaires, applicants can better assess how high the salary should be.
1. The qualification
Good training is always worthwhile: Those who have an academic degree earn an average of 35 percent more than people without a university degree. However, the field of study is also important: According to Kununu.com, medical professionals earn an average annual gross salary of 55,000 euros as young professionals, while humanities scholars only receive an average of 34,000 euros.
2. The industry
Mechanical engineers have it good – in their industry the wage level is 125 percent compared to the average wage in all industries. Call center employees, on the other hand, only receive 64 percent of this average salary. So it always depends on the industry what you can earn. Applicants should inform themselves here in advance.
3. The experience
As a career starter or career changer, you have worse cards than employees who already have some experience. This can be achieved through many years of work within a field of activity. But a part-time course also increases qualifications.
4. Die Soft Skills
There are parameters in the job that are more difficult to measure – such as soft skills, i.e. qualifications such as empathy, social competence, leadership or enthusiasm. In fact, these skills are important for employers. Applicants should therefore ask themselves whether they bring such soft factors with them – and to what extent they can be included in the application.
5. The size of the company
Anyone who starts at a small company or start-up should be aware that the extra-high salaries are not paid. The company would not be able to do this at all. Larger companies or even corporations have a different wage structure. However, small companies also offer the opportunity to advance faster. Here applicants have to weigh up which perspective is more important to them.
6. The location
Employers also adjust the salary to the location. If this is in rural areas, employees usually receive less than their colleagues in metropolitan areas. In Germany there is a north-south divide and a big difference between east and west. The wage differences are also due to the different high cost of living. If you have to spend less money on rent and everyday life, you may be happy with a lower salary – or should at least keep this point in mind when applying.
Applicants should therefore provide information on their training, skills and abilities in advance. The factors that relate to the employer (location, industry, company size) refine one’s own self-image.
Source From: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
