Now there’s a loaded question. Frankly, I don’t often think about my worth on the job market, because I’m a self-employed copywriter and editor. On the other hand, with so many looking for work these days, it makes sense to give it some consideration. After all, we may have friends and loved ones on the hunt.
In a recent article, Toni Bowers of TechRepublic posted about ideas presented in Jim Hopkinson’s book Salary tutor: learn the salary negotiation secrets no one ever told you.
According to Mr. Hopkinson, job seekers need to remember that the company is in the driver’s seat and probably knows what it wants to pay. The company also knows its budget limitations and the additional revenue a position can generate. So, after you stave off the salary question as long as possible, he recommends turning it back on the interviewer. Ask about the range the company has budgeted for or the value the company places on a specific skillset, and indicate that you’ve done your homework.
This is well-intentioned advice. And it may even work. Some who commented on Ms. Bowers’ post, however, were less than admiring. One fellow said that smaller, less organized companies don’t know what to budget and are waiting for interviewees to tell them. Another noted that most organizations don’t have a clue about the dollar value of an employee’s contribution. Still another stated that stall tactics and negotiations are worthless. Your goal is a paycheck, he said. Tell them what they want to hear.
Actually, I erred in that first paragraph. Whether we’re freelancers or corporately employed there’s a value or perceived value in our work. I’d be curious to know how you have arrived at yours and how you present it when questioned.