The Hunt is ON! The job hunt, that is...

[blueerica]

I need some opinions on my first official, real-deal job search. I really don't have a clue as to what I'm doing. I'm sure I'll have other questions and a few people might have questions of their own, so I am opening this thread up for it all.

My first question...

I'm online and found a really great job for myself. In fact I found two jobs at the same company. Better yet, I have all the experience necessary for one of the positions, Technical Writer. Best of all, it's a short drive away... none of this driving to SLC bologna! (Or should I have spelled that baloney?) (Anyway...)

The question is - I know what the various pay ranges are, thanks to handy-dandy intrawebs salary calculators. But, do I use that when putting my "minimum salary requirement"? Do I go lower? Do I start off higher? Is this a frigging trick question???

According to Salaryexpert.com the average for the position here is $41,523. According to them, half of those employed make between $27,845 and $51,854 (17th and 67th percentile, respectively). According to salary.com, 25th percentile is $37,401 and 75th percentile is $48,254. (The salary.com figures are not including compensation packages...)

I know that my true bottom is $30K, but I could probably get more than that. I am trying to take into account that I actually do have experience in writing/proofreading/etc... but, not necessarily in this industry, and I've only written proposals in school.

Should I go higher? Should I go lower? Why isn't there anything out there that spits this sort of information out for me?

[Kevy Baby]

Ask for $150,000.


Seriously, do these calculators or other sites provide for regional differences in pay? What is the job market like in your area? If the unemployment rate is high, then you would expect to be in the lower end of the range.

Personally I would go with at least a 50th percentile figure or higher (in this case $41-45K). That way, you will not price yourself out of the range, but you will state that you have a value with your skill set and experience.

[blueerica]

I liked BTD's suggestion of one-quadrillion dollars (with a pinkie to the corner of my mouth).

And frankly, I'm priceless... Or is that worthless?

[Ghoulish Delight]

The figure is only a starting point for negotiations, not binding. Aim high, but not unreasonable. As Kevy said, just above 50th percentile is probably a good starting point. It shows that you feel you're skills are valuable and that you aren't just out to take whatever comes your way without being greedy.

[Sohrshah]

Originally Posted by blueerica

And frankly, I'm priceless... Or is that worthless?

Priceless! No one is worthless!

~Message from your friendly neighborhood PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) Cheerleader

[Sohrshah]

Good thread Blue, especially as I'm about to be moving and looking for work, too. I'm an expert job hunter. I'm always hunting for jobs, and sometimes I even get one.

SLC is usually only a 10% drop from major metros like New York and LA, so if you made 35K before, ask for 35-38K, and keep 33K as your dead minimum.

I'm finding that Los Angeles/OC pay rates are actually slightly lower than in New Jersey, which is lower than NYC, so instead of asking for 45-50K, I'm asking for 38-43K in LA ( I'm an Executive Administrator/Coordinator). I really don't want to take less than 40K, but I'll take what I can get.

Do you utilize recruiters? I have had a great deal of luck working with recruiters. Often, the recruiter's office also does temp work, which presents temp-to-hire opportunities as well as short term temp work to get a little money in your pocket in the meantime.

One of the great mysteries of finding work for me is networking. I also live in mortal fear of recommendations, as I don't have enough!

[blueerica]

I feel pretty lucky in that I do have a lot of positive recommendations and I've worked in some informational interviews (thanks to Pru!). I guess my biggest worry is that I do have applicable freelance experience, but its the first time I've looked for a full-time gig in this career post graduation. I'm also pretty lucky in that I am still working as a writer, just remotely at the moment.

I've never worked with recruiters, though I'm thinking of going with one, if I can find it.


Also, the question is posed as a "minimum salary requirement." Should I still use it as a starting point for negotiations, or does that imply something different, worded as such?

[Sohrshah]

Minimum salary requirement means what is the dead minimum you will take? If you say $35K, then they know you're expecting AT LEAST that much and 3-5K more is reasonable to you.