Tired of low-ball job offers?
Tired of low-ball job offers? The issue may be you.
A friend and I were speaking about his job search recently, and he lamented that he was not having the luck he had hoped.
Frustrated by a career full of lowball offers, he thought he’d never land a decent job with a high-quality employer.
Ok, here’s the deal.
When an employer presents you with a low-ball job offer, they are broadcasting that they are not worthy of your services, saving you the headache you’d likely encounter.
But his issue wasn’t that employers were cheap. His issue was that he didn’t value himself properly.
The importance of knowing your value.
If you don’t know how to value yourself, or more importantly, you consistently underbid yourself out of fear, you’re more likely to attract low-wage opportunities.
When you understand how to determine your worth on the open market, your mindset will suddenly shift.
Here’s the thing: one bad employer usually leads to the next because you’ve branded yourself with low-quality roles.
You must break this vicious cycle if you want to upgrade your career.
So let’s discuss how to determine your value
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#1. Understand your true open-market value
It’s shocking how many people don’t understand how much they should be compensated. Nor do they do regular salary research while they’re actively working. They really only consider it when they start looking for a new job.
If you don’t know how to properly value yourself, you put yourself at a major disadvantage, potentially costing you $10,000s in “lost” compensation.
When determining your value, I’d suggest doing the following:
- Look at job postings that share ranges
- Interview even when you’re not looking for jobs
- Visit sites like Glassdoor, Salary.com, Comparably, Team Blind, Fishbowl, etc., regularly
Learn how to find what employers are paying. And because the market changes frequently, do this exercise at least once every 24 months.
#2. Be firm with your salary requirements.
An old saying in investing says you don’t make money when you sell. Rather, you make money when you buy correctly.
Your career is no different.
Trying to play catch up when you’ve underbid yourself out the gate is a losing proposition. Sure, you can march into your boss’s office and demand a raise. At best, you’ll earn a 5-10% increase.
It’s most important to start out at the right compensation level. Why? Because it’s all about compensation percentages.
Let’s look at an example.
Suppose you discover that the market for your job averages $75,000, yet you negotiated a $50,000 salary when you got hired. You proceed to ask for a raise.
The boss listens and gives you a 10% bump in pay. In all regards, a good percentage increase. Now you’re earning $55,000.
How many years will it take you to catch up to the market, even with “healthy” raises?
Likely never.
But when you negotiate your starting salary at $75,000, you’ll be “at market” to start with. Not to mention you’ll automatically receive larger annual raises (and bonuses) because you have a higher base to start with.
So negotiate the right amount in the initial interview and avoid the headache.
#3. Raise your prices.
When a recruiter asks about your salary requirement and provides a low number out of fear, you’re broadcasting that you’re “low value.”
And what happens is an employer will assume you don’t have market-leading skills.
Suppose my role pays $80k-$100k.
If you say you require $45k, I may assume you aren’t at the proper level, which may lead to your rejection.
Because someone who’s got the goods and knows how to market themselves properly will likely already be paid appropriately.
So, be confident with your salary research and raise your ask to meet the market. That way, you’ll screen out low-quality employers before you get far in the interview process.
And guess what? That’s the goal!
As CEOs of our careers, we only want the best opportunities with the best companies at the best salary possible.
Stop being afraid of losing the job because you bid yourself too high. If you’ve done your homework and are realistic with your skills, you will (and SHOULD) eliminate some opportunities.
Let the low-quality companies weed themselves out, leaving only the best opportunities to focus on.
Do these things now, and your career (and earning potential) will thank you for it later.
Want more insight on how to determine and negotiate the highest possible wage? Check out the Ultimate Job Seeker Bootcamp!
Whenever you’re ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:
1 – If you’re still looking for traction in your business, I’d recommend starting with an affordable course:
→ Resume Rocketfuel:This best-selling course will teach you the exact system I developed to help over 1000 people land great jobs, myself included.
→ The Ultimate Jobseeker Bootcamp: This A-to-Z guide takes you from job search all the way to offer negotiation, providing detailed, recruiter-proven strategies.
→ Unlocking LinkedIn: Unlocking LinkedIn walks you step-by-step on how to set up a profile for maximum discoverability, techniques for accessing the hidden job market, and how to cut in front of the long application lines.
2. Private 1×1 coaching
Have a specific question or strategy that requires more tailored help? I offer limited private coaching sessions. My clients have had too many “ah ha!” moments to count.
Happy hunting!
-Bryan
