When you are interviewing for a new job it is critical to not leave money on the table. Candidates often make the mistake of sharing their salary from their last position. Not only is it illegal in California for a prospective employer to ask you about your salary history, it puts you in a difficult position from a negotiation standpoint to request more compensation. It also reinforces pay inequality based on gender and race, where women and minorities have historically been paid less for the same work.
As an applicant, you are entitled to ask about the salary range and a California employer must disclose this information to you.
It is very important to do your research about what people are earning in the field that you are interested in. It is also critical to take geography into account, as you may earn more depending on the county where you are applying. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great resource. It is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. This unit measures labor market activity, working conditions and wage changes in the U.S. economy. You can get information based on geographical region about what people are earning in particular fields. https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/bureau-of-labor-statistics
Another good resource can include getting information from professional organizations in your industry. These organizations periodically do salary surveys that they can share with you.
Talk to people in your field about their thoughts on a fair salary. While people probably will not want to share their exact salary with you, a good way to get some useful information is by asking, “what would you expect a role like this to pay?” OR “Does a salary of around $ X sound right for a role like this or does it seem too high or too low?”
Ask around a specific company’s reputation when it comes to how they compensate their employees.
Looking at online job postings that list salary ranges can also provide some useful insight as well.
It can also be helpful to look at what government sector positions are paying for the same private sector role. Government sector salaries are publicly available online. It may not be a perfect parallel but it will give you additional information to factor in when negotiating your salary.
When negotiating your salary, don’t forget to think about other factors that can enhance your compensation and quality of life. Inquire about whether the company offers health insurance, how much of the premium the employer will pay, whether it offers matching for a retirement plan, whether life insurance benefits are paid for by the employer, and if so, how much.
You might be able to negotiate other perks like a company paid cell phone, a gas stipend, company vehicle or reimbursement toward a personal vehicle, stock options, a signing bonus and/or relocation bonus to help defray the costs of moving for a new position.
Talk to the interviewer about the vacation and sick pay plan. Quality of life is an increasingly important factor in considering a job change. It does not hurt to try and negotiate for additional paid vacation days.
One of the things that we have learned living through the COVID-19 pandemic is that many jobs can be done remotely. It does not hurt to inquire about having the ability to work remotely, even parttime, to cut down on commute time.
If you have questions about how to approach an ongoing negotiation for new employment, feel free to reach out to Salusky Law Group at (562) 855-0004. We offer flat rate consulting services to help you maximize your full potential when making a career move.