Salary is a large part of job satisfaction and one of the major reasons for changing roles. As a job seeker you want to make sure that you’re being paid fairly for the time and effort you put into your work. You also want to make sure that your salary and working conditions are in line with current market conditions. Since Covid-19 lifestyle factors are now seen as almost as important as salary.
As expert ICT recruiters, we have the latest salary information at our fingertips. A Spark Consultant can discuss what your skills and experience are worth in today’s job market.
The great salary debate: know what you’re really worth
As recruiters, salary is the hottest topic we’re asked about. The media, business leaders, hiring managers and job seekers all want to understand the latest developments and trends for Australian salaries. With the economy back on track, Australia’s IT employment market is making a comeback and many skills are in high demand.
As a jobseeker, you are better able to change jobs, reposition your career and negotiate a better overall remuneration package. But how do you ascertain what salary is appropriate for you and your job profile?
There are certain basic steps you need to follow to assess your worth:
Understand your skill competency
Consider your whole remuneration package
Compare your salary online
Discretely & honestly share salary information
Speak to a recruiter who specialises in your field
Understand your skill competency
As the IT employment market is so skills-specific the more advanced your skills are within your chosen specialism, the more you are worth to both your current employer and potential employers. It's also important to understand the availability of talent in your specialisation, eg how may experts are in the local talent pool? can the job be done offshore?
Consider your whole remuneration package
As part of your salary you should also consider core factors such as flexible working hours, location, opportunities to work from home, plus additional benefits such as more annual leave, health packages, training and development opportunities. Increasingly these are more and more important to people.
Compare your salary online
ICT job seekers can also benchmark their expectations with a variety of online salary comparison portals. These tools can provide a rough salary guide based on your sector, work experience and education. But beware of completely relying on online approximations - you cannot base your decisions on these alone. Also consider your own circumstances and preferences.
Share information with others discretely
If you graduated five years ago, you could check with your university friends to get an approximate market valuation. You can make a more accurate comparison with a friend working for the same company doing a similar role but be cautious about who you ask as salary is a highly sensitive subject. Make sure you don’t breach your contractual obligations around confidentiality.
Speak to a specialist recruiter
Ultimately you are only worth what the market is prepared to offer you. Find out if your salary goals are realistic by talking to Spark and prospective employers.
Be open with your current employer
If your only reason for looking for a new job is to get a pay rise we recommend you approach your current employer and discuss this with them prior to entering the job search process.
Be prepared to be open with your employer and understand how your performance compares with what is expected of you. Try to be realistic in your requests and prepare to give them some time to accommodate you.
Focus on what really matters
As long as you are achieving your financial goals and are happy at work that is all that matters. Having the highest salary does not always ensure the highest job satisfaction!
Tips for negotiating IT salaries
Be open with your current employer
Frame salary questions around internal structures, such as pay-bands and reviews
Consider the value of incentives & non-cash benefits
Identify tangible factors that support a higher salary
Focus on what really matters to you
For expert insight around I.T salaries talk to one of the Spark Team.