The simple answer is, "I don't know. Let's let the market figure it for for us."
You see the real question being asked is "How much can you get me?" I understand that and also understand that when I quote a range, you only hear the highest number of the range. Often, people get stuck on that number and cause their career more pain than it needs.
So let me offer a simple way of figuring out your approximate value.
Go to a few job boards and look for job descriptions that read like what you do. Make the job description as focused as possible. Do you see a pattern?
That pattern is your approximate value.
Remember that if you are working under a visa, you will be offered less.
If the work is not current, you are valued less.
If you are a consultant, trying to enter industry at a staff level, you are OK. If you are a technical consultant whose work is primarily programming and trying to earn $150000 or more, you are over-priced for most markets. Firms pay that salary for people who manage, are involved with the budget process, and lead. They, generally, do not pay that to someone who wants to be doing that and hasn't done it yet.
If you require relocation to do the job you believe you are qualified for, you may need to take a little less.
Jeff Altman
The Big Game Hunter
Concepts in Staffing
jeffaltman@cisny.com
© 2007 all rights reserved.
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, is Managing Director with Concepts in Staffing, a New York search firm, He has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in many disciplines since 1971. He is a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist.
To receive a daily digest of positions emailed to you, search for openings that The Big Game Hunter is working on, to use Jeff’s free meta job lead search engine, Job Search Universe, to learn about his VIP program, or to subscribe to Jeff’s free job hunting ezine, “Head Hunt Your Next Job, go to http://www.jeffaltman.com. Job Search Universe is also available at www.jobsearchuniverse.com To add your firm’s career page to “The Universe” email the url to jobsearchuniverse@gmail.com.
For Jeff’s free recruiting ezine, NaturalSelection Ezine, designed to help human resources professionals, managers and business owners make even better hiring decisions, ,subscribe at www.thebiggamehunter.net.
If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at thebiggamehunter@cisny.com (If you’re looking for a new position, include your resume).
thebiggamehunter@gmail.com
