Determining your individual value is part art, part science. Let’s take a look at the science – the objectively researched competitive market value presented on sites like Jobstar.org, Payscale,com, Salary.com, Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com.

If you want to maximize your compensation there are a number of tactics you can use to demonstrate your value. 

 

There are creative ways to make your package bigger without necessarily stretching the salary past the breaking point.

Many execs refer to getting a low offer as being "lowballed." They often feel offended at the low offer which can lead to giving up on negotiating or walking away from the job altogether. But a low offer is not an insult. It's just a low offer: a starting place from which you can get a better offer.

V.P. and “C-Level” positions with complicated golden parachutes, performance clauses, and the like obviously need legal attention. Most lower and middle management positions don’t. But where do you draw the line?

Do you feel you’re underpaid? Are you not getting offered the salary level you think you deserve? Would you like the ability to write your own ticket? Here are some suggestions on how you can quantify your financial value to an employer to ensure the highest possible compensation.

Many people that I meet don’t have a strategy for negotiating their compensation. They come to me after years of being behind their profession’s salary curve and need direction on how to make immediate change. Earning less than colleagues with similar, or lesser, skills and experience can certainly be frustrating. Here are a few tips for improving the quality of your salary negotiation conversation and the ensuing final offer in your next position.

Dan left a high–paying job with an insurance company in Virginia to sign on with a rapidly–growing company outside his industry in Chicago. He found the opportunity particularly attractive, as it offered a chance to earn equity instead of just working for salary.

When should you get it in writing? Always get it in writing!

On an engineering project, Alex’s boss offered "50." Alex negotiated it up to "60." The trouble was, the boss meant $60,000 a year while Alex was counting on $60 an hour! That’s double the boss’ offer at $120,000 a year!

You’ve expressed interest in the job, gone through the interviews and the company is ready to extend an offer. Now what do you do? Is it only about the money or are there other things to consider?