Getting the salary you deserve

Accepting a salary that is lower than your expectations is demoralizing and has implications for your career in the years ahead as you constantly play catch up in the salary stakes.

Don’t accept the job offer immediately, take some time to yourself to go away and mull it over. Compare it to industry standards and evaluate the benefits package that is offered in conjunction with the salary.

Remember that the salary you accept forms the baseline from where you will be measured going forward over the years. Each pay raise will be a percentage of this baseline rate so it is in your best interest to get it right from the beginning. Take time away to consider all the implications.

If you find yourself in the situation where the offer is unacceptable to you, it is time to regroup and consider your options. Once you have gathered your data and are prepared to negotiate, you may present a counter offer to the employer.