There are a number of tools to help people better understand their value. I’m thinking in today’s market, you may be able to add 10% to 20% on the top considering the number of coworkers I’ve seen move on to bigger better deals in the last 4 months.
Salary.com, Indeed.com, Glassdoor.com all have salary calculators and review sections for exact job titles that enable you to know EXACTLY where you stack up before you take the first interview.
Today any company lowballing will be interviewing for a good long while. Let them know your salary expectations, when that part of the discussion arrives, you may get a callback after they’ve sifted through the chaff.
Interviewed with a Company trying to fill Fedgov slots with contractors...
Told him I wanted 30% of the fee the Fedgov was paying them to fill the slot - as this was 15 years ago my cut would have been ~ $120k...
Today - $175 - 200k...
Why is Fedgov broke? Look above...
When the mass retirements began, the company took that as an opportunity to lower the pay range for the positions that were being vacated, since they were being filled with younger employees.
I can see how my former company would have a harder time explaining the salary range vs what the jobs were previously paying, because the previous worker was employed at the company for a very long time.
-PJ