They say, "know your value" but what does that mean? Hopefully it doesn't mean comparing myself to a mule and selling myself?! Of course not. But how do you quantify your value? How do you know what kind of impact your work has made?
I'm going to break down the following brilliant and on-point article into simpler, more approachable steps-- or habits or thought processes rather than steps. It's an excellent article, but there's a problem with it. It uses experienced corporate language to explain simple things, and this makes it unapproachable for recent grads, and those inexperienced with business and the corporate world. So-- let's begin de-coding.
Research Your Market Value
My value? Ew. I don't give anyone else the right to determine my value. This article is encouraging me to determine it for myself. I have to know how much money I want to make or someone is going to low-ball me.
How do I know? People want to keep money in their own pockets and pay me as low as they can, that's why.
So if I look for these spreadsheets, I can find out how much someone like me would make. How do I know how to navigate myself on this spreadsheet? I will first proclaim how many years of experience I have, and make a case for my position on such a spreadsheet. If I don't claim my own experience, then it doesn't exist.
Document, Document, Document.
Documents make me feel depressed. I think of it this way instead -- when you're at a job, ask yourself, "Why is it that my boss / co-workers just can't live without me?" "Why am I awesome?" or "What have I uniquely contributed, big or small?" Get serious about this question. Answering this question will help you if you want a raise or you get laid off and you're convincing a new employer to hire you. These unique contributions and work are your gold... or your "value." Don't lose them. We lose them in the sands of time. We often forget what we even did while at a job, or working on a side project, or just working on anything. We're not in school anymore. We don't just do work for good grades. We do work for money. And if you don't give yourself credit and keep a record so that you can put it on your, resume, portfolio, cover letter or actual interview answers, you lost a LOT of gold nuggets. Don't forget to take the time to record that work you have done. Just keep a Google doc or a list in a notebook. Simple as that. Be ready to expand upon it by memory if you are writing your resume later. But when we don't really record this information, we just forget throughout the years.
Data: if you have any actual numbers, like how many bugs you logged or how many at least "upwards of ###" that would be amazing data. So write it down while you're on the job. This shows you're thinking about your future at least once a week at work.
Avoid Sharing Salary History or Expectations.
It's none of their business how much you made in the past. Avoid the question. You need them to tell you how much they'd offer first.
Take Your Time and Compare Comprehensively.
You may have gotten more than one job offer. Ideally, you'll pick one that pays you more than the other. You will have to turn them down, and they could also turn you down. That's life, so be sure to pick the offer that is the best job and the best salary. You can take your time in thinking, but try to get back to them the same day. They could give the job to someone else. However, a few hours is plenty of time to write out a list of the benefits of each. Of course, free food isn't as important as a salary. And don't ask your family or friends which one you should choose. You're the one who to spoke to the manager during the interview so you know how that person made you feel and whether or not the company is the right fit for you.
Just Ask!
Great point. There's never anything wrong with asking. Be prepared for them to say no. And know that you can plan your next move when the time comes.
https://blogs.vmware.com/opensource/2019/11/05/effective-salary-negotiation/
I'm going to break down the following brilliant and on-point article into simpler, more approachable steps-- or habits or thought processes rather than steps. It's an excellent article, but there's a problem with it. It uses experienced corporate language to explain simple things, and this makes it unapproachable for recent grads, and those inexperienced with business and the corporate world. So-- let's begin de-coding.
Research Your Market Value
My value? Ew. I don't give anyone else the right to determine my value. This article is encouraging me to determine it for myself. I have to know how much money I want to make or someone is going to low-ball me.
How do I know? People want to keep money in their own pockets and pay me as low as they can, that's why.
So if I look for these spreadsheets, I can find out how much someone like me would make. How do I know how to navigate myself on this spreadsheet? I will first proclaim how many years of experience I have, and make a case for my position on such a spreadsheet. If I don't claim my own experience, then it doesn't exist.
Document, Document, Document.
Documents make me feel depressed. I think of it this way instead -- when you're at a job, ask yourself, "Why is it that my boss / co-workers just can't live without me?" "Why am I awesome?" or "What have I uniquely contributed, big or small?" Get serious about this question. Answering this question will help you if you want a raise or you get laid off and you're convincing a new employer to hire you. These unique contributions and work are your gold... or your "value." Don't lose them. We lose them in the sands of time. We often forget what we even did while at a job, or working on a side project, or just working on anything. We're not in school anymore. We don't just do work for good grades. We do work for money. And if you don't give yourself credit and keep a record so that you can put it on your, resume, portfolio, cover letter or actual interview answers, you lost a LOT of gold nuggets. Don't forget to take the time to record that work you have done. Just keep a Google doc or a list in a notebook. Simple as that. Be ready to expand upon it by memory if you are writing your resume later. But when we don't really record this information, we just forget throughout the years.
Data: if you have any actual numbers, like how many bugs you logged or how many at least "upwards of ###" that would be amazing data. So write it down while you're on the job. This shows you're thinking about your future at least once a week at work.
Avoid Sharing Salary History or Expectations.
It's none of their business how much you made in the past. Avoid the question. You need them to tell you how much they'd offer first.
Take Your Time and Compare Comprehensively.
You may have gotten more than one job offer. Ideally, you'll pick one that pays you more than the other. You will have to turn them down, and they could also turn you down. That's life, so be sure to pick the offer that is the best job and the best salary. You can take your time in thinking, but try to get back to them the same day. They could give the job to someone else. However, a few hours is plenty of time to write out a list of the benefits of each. Of course, free food isn't as important as a salary. And don't ask your family or friends which one you should choose. You're the one who to spoke to the manager during the interview so you know how that person made you feel and whether or not the company is the right fit for you.
Just Ask!
Great point. There's never anything wrong with asking. Be prepared for them to say no. And know that you can plan your next move when the time comes.
https://blogs.vmware.com/opensource/2019/11/05/effective-salary-negotiation/
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