Finding Out What You're Worth

No matter where you live, millions of people are finding their paycheck is stretched farther than ever. Rising costs of heating oils, vehicle fuel, electricity bills, telephone bills, loan interest rates, and other necessities are skyrocketing while salaries are barely rising.

This is hampered by a growing trend by business's to outsource their work to India and Mexico. In these countries, workers are willing to do the same work for far less pay. As the job climate continues to fluctuate, workers are now struggling to gain acceptable pay while retaining a job.

Are you being paid what you are worth? Chances are high that you are receiving far less pay than you should. Start by heading to Salary.com and finding out what the average salary is in your area. This useful tool compiles base salaries and the salaries for someone with expertise in almost every job. You can then weigh your own salary against the averages to see if you are falling into the acceptable range.

Alternately, visit the government's Occupational Outlook Handbook website. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics puts together this handy website packed with information on salary averages, job duties, and required education. You can use this information to negotiate a better salary.

Once you have this information, you can begin negotiating a new contract or for a pay raise based on the information you have discovered. This will only work effectively if you discover your base pay is far lower than the average. There are ways to negotiate a salary in a manner that will benefit your needs without aggravating your employer.

v Be Polite: Meet with your boss in a friendly manner. Do not let your emotions get the best of you. If you offer respect, you will get respect in return most of the time. If your boss comes off as defensive from the start, even after your polite and friendly tone, you may want to start looking for another job if possible. No one should have to put up with an unreasonable employer. If you have the opportunity to talk to someone above you boss, politely tell him or her that your boss has become unreasonable to work with. Often, this approach can help you stay with the same company while moving to a different division.

v Have Statistics On Hand: Print out everything you can find on your job duties versus local, state, and national salary averages. If you often tackle more than one role for your company, print out information on both jobs and use this as a tool for negotiations.

v Job Performance: Often companies use your job performance against you. If you want a raise, you need to be prepared to prove why you deserve it. If you have spent all hours of the day chatting with friends online, you honestly cannot state how productive you have been to the company. If you have landed a big contract, offer proof. Keep copies of any job performance evaluations and letters from business contacts thanking you for your help. These documents can help you sell yourself to the business as a valuable employee.

Remember that in the end, your company may be struggling as well. They may not be able to give you a salary increase. If this is the case, it can be beneficial to negotiate more personal time or additional benefits that the business can deduct at the end of the year on their tax forms. If this does not work, you may need to take the hit and start searching for a job that offers you more pay.Sometimes, you have to be willing to change locations to better yourself.