Let's Talk Salary

Most of us do not look forward to discussing the issue of salary with our supervisors. But when it comes to feeling like you're earning what you're worth, a little salary negotiation might be just the thing to take the next step in your career. It's important to go into a negotiation prepared with the right tools and the right mindset. Consider the following tips as you prepare to talk about the compensation you deserve, and why.

Don't go in blind.

Be sure you take a good, hard look at what kind of an employee you are before marching into a supervisor's office and demanding a 20% increase in pay. You may think that your 70-hour workweeks deserve more pay, but if everyone else in the office is only working 50 hours a week and getting the same amount of work done, your request won't fly.

Think about everything you bring to the company: office habits, timeliness and work ethic. Your boss is going to look at the whole picture when placing a value on your head. It's not always what you produce, but also what kind of atmosphere you create in the office. If you tend to inspire others on the team with your positive attitude and upbeat personality, you are more valuable than the average Joe in the end cubicle, even if he is producing the same amount of sales.

Do you define your job description?

If not, do you do more or less than originally anticipated by your manager? You may have started as a junior rep, and quickly taken on more senior-leveresponsibilities. If that's the case, create an updated list of your tasks and compare them to your original job requirements. Point by point, you'll be able to discuss what your "second-level" tasks are worth to the company. If you are a junior rep doing what other senior-level employees are doing at a 30% pay cut, it's definitely time to talk about what you're worth.

Research the going rate.

There are an endless number of online resources where you can check out what others are making in different positions. Check out sites like www.Salary.com and www.Vault.com for general reviews of compensation according to experience, responsibilities and geographic region. For more specific salary surveys, you can visit industry-focused sites like www.CareerBank.com for accounting and finance salaries, or www.ComputerJobs.com for IT salaries. It's important to have a good idea of what a fair price is on today's market instead of just pulling a number out of thin air.

Consider your options.

Depending on your employer, a straight salary raise may not be an option. Don't give up and start sending out your resume. Remember that in today's business world "compensation" includes a whole lot more than your weekly paycheck. Discuss possibilities of stock options, better health insurance coverage or more vacation. Your goal should be to feel well compensated for your hard work. If cash isn't the only thing you're concerned about, be sure to consider other ways of being "paid" by the company, which for many professionals simply means a better quality of life.

It may not be something you look forward to, but the benefits of negotiating a better salary can make a big difference on the job. Follow the tips above and an employer will not only be impressed with your professionalism, they'll also want to take a good hard look at your worth in the company. It makes sense to reward excellent employees, and it makes sense for you to feel comfortable discussing your salary with your boss. As long as you have realistic goals and a good idea of your day-to-day performance, salary negotiation can be a positive discussion with great results.