When applying for a job, and especially when negotiating your salary, it is important that you are aware of your worth. Before I address valuing your worth, let me urge you to keep in mind that your financial value is not associated with your self-worth. Your salary does not determine how valuable you are as a person or how intelligent you are. Absolutely no one can pay what you are worth as a person!

If you want to land a job and a great salary, you need to show the employer that you are not just a good candidate, but the best one. And to do that you need to 1) know your financial worth, and 2) know how you benefit the position you are applying for.

Most companies value employees who increase profits, save money, improve service, and enhance efficiency.  Initiative and willingness to learn are also two highly valued factors. Taking all this into account, how can you link your previous experience/s with what’s needed for the job? How can you show them that you are the person they are looking for? Never forget: it’s not about you evaluation, it’s about theirs.

 Take some time to make an inventory of your:

1.    Qualifications for the job, including education.

2.    Skills, talents, strengths, and experience that will help in that position.  Do not mention anything that will not add value to the company. At the same time, don’t underestimate your talents and/or experience. One of my clients thought that having worked in different fields was some kind of liability, compromising her future career.  Actually, it allowed her to demonstrate a great variety of skills! So, don’t be scared if you have tried very different fields, as that means that you have learned a combination of skills that could be useful for your new position.

3.    Examples of success stories. You’ll be asked for success stories in job interviews, so pay attention to situations that show you have initiative and you have gone the “extra mile” in order to get the project done or to help your colleagues (everyone loves a team player). If you can measure your success in financial terms, you would be on solid ground to justify your salary request (saying something like “I saved the company $30,000 last year due to the measures I implemented.”) Of course, that might be difficult if you have been working in a lab, but you get the point.  Now is neither the time to be modest, nor to diminish your accomplishments.

4.    Character traits that will help in the position. Maybe you are known to be a loyal employee, or you are known for your persistence when tackling a project...

5.    Why you are the best candidate for the job, why should they hire you. This is probably the most important thing you need to know about yourself. They want someone to add value, show them you are the one.

6.    Honors and awards

Once you have made your inventory, it’s time to research the market value of the position you want, taking into account the specific sector, and the experience you have. That way you will have facts to back yourself up. You can find salary information in websites like Payscale.com or CBsalary.com. Or, if you know someone who works for the company and feel comfortable asking, you can ask them what they are making in the same role.

In a nutshell, be prepared, leave your modesty aside, do your research, and never, ever associate your salary with your self-worth.