Getting Paid What You're Worth

P.H.D. Perspective By Stephanie C. Harper

With today’s economy being in it’s present state, many employers are taking advantage of not having to pay top salaries for top talent. While it is your choice to accept or decline any offer presented to you, it may be a bit easier to make your decision if you know what you’re worth.

Let’s take a salaried employee being paid $45,000 per year. Is that their worth? Absolutely not! In the eyes of an employer, a $45,000 a year employee will cost them an additional $10,000 or more, based on the entire benefits package or other perks offers.

Salary of $45,0000 + Bonus of 3.44% = $1,548 + Benefits at 15.5% = $6,975. Total Compensation is now $ 53,523. This does not include education reimbursements, an elaborate benefit structure or family expenses. But as the company is agreeing to pay you a salary of $45,000, your real worth to the company is over $50,000. Be sure to take that into consideration when negotiation a salary for yourself. Look at the company’s bottom line along with your expenses and living habits. When negotiating, here are a few other items to consider.

EDUCATION — Which doesn’t always mean a degree (work experience + certifications many times are equivalent to a degree). How educated are you in your field? Are you current with the trends and changes or are you still calling Administrative Professionals “Secretary.” Once you have invested in career planning you will understand the difference between Receptionist, Secretary, Administrative Assistant, and Executive Assistant and be prepared for the duties that come with the position and be able to ask for the appropriate pay.

EXPERIENCE — Relevant to the current position you seek. A Human Resource Manager is also “qualified” to pursue other positions such as: Education Administrator, Social Worker or a Public Relations Specialist. But having the relevant on-the-job experience will determine suitability for those position. The good thing is that some knowledge is transferable and provides for other opportunities when you can’t find work in your field. That is why Career Planning is important.

ATTITUDE — Many times when the skill is not there, but the attitude is, people will give you a chance and be willing to train you (that’s when you get those offers of in 90 days we’ll review your salary, it’s because they see potential). Come in with the attitude of “you owe me this because this is what the Internet said I should make,” and you can forget it.

PRESENTATION — This goes back to the first impression. Can the employer present you to the organization, to clients, to peers or to vendors?

A word of caution to the job seeker. BE VERY CAREFUL DETERMINING YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS BASED SOLELY ON INTERNET INFORMATION. Let’s take Salary.com for example. They give an option to add a position if you can’t find it. This means that you can go in and, say, as a Secretary, you should be paid $250k. This only has to be placed in so many items, before it becomes a salary guide. This is a figure you want to be paid, but very unrealistic. Before you can get paid your worth, you have to first know what you’re worth – and that’s the P.H.D. Perspective.

Stephanie C. Harper, founder and executive director of P.H.D. Staffing Strategies in Atlanta, GA. For more information on Career Planning or Career Strategies, contact the offices of P.H.D. Staffing Strategies at 404-246-7247. •