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You should be aware that
salaries vary from city to city. The cost of living in a particular area
will influence your starting salary. Use the
Salary
Calculator to determine cost of living.
The following links will
be helpful in determining appropriate salary ranges for the jobs that
interest you.
Salary. Com
Jobstar
Career Journal
America's Career Info Net
Occupational Outlook Handbook
NEGOTIATION
Know before you begin
negotiating what you need to have and what you would like
to have. Research what the position generally pays so that you will
recognize whether an offer is low, high or in the ball park. If you need
to negotiate a job offer, you will have to justify wanting a higher
salary. Do this by pointing out your high GPA, your internship or other
experience or specific skills you possess. Mention the research you have
done on the average salary for the position. Also consider negotiating
for additional benefits if the employer is not very flexible on salary.
Issues such as extra training, more vacation time, or help with
transportation costs are also negotiable items of value.
Remember, it is not
appropriate to ask questions about salary during the first interview.
These websites will
provide additional information:
College Grad.com
College Recruiter
It is also important to
research the area to which you are thinking of relocating. Housing costs
especially vary from city to city. Most cities have newspapers that are
online. Look at the "apartments for rent" section and compare prices.
Consider the part of the city in which you want to live. Is it close to
where your new job will be located? Are utilities included? Will you
have a car or will you have to use public transportation? Having a
preliminary budget will help you consider your expenses.
Sometimes you must decide between multiple offers. It helps if you
compare the offers side by side. Write down the elements of a job that
are important to you. These might include: pay, benefits, location,
commute time, potential for promotion, opportunity to travel, challenge,
freedom, flexibility, use of abilities and helping others. Across the
top, list the two or more job offers. You now have a grid. Fill in each
part with a value from 1 to 5. The point value will depend on its
importance to you. Add up the totals and use them to help you make your
decision. The results might be surprising!
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