Understanding Salaries

Know Your Worth

It is important to know your salary expectations before heading into an interview or a possible negotiation. By doing your research ahead of time, you can feel more comfortable in asking for what you're worth without asking for too much or too little.

  • Review the job description and quantify the number of qualifications the employer is seeking vs. what you have. This will help determine your desired salary. Example: If you have 9 out of 10 qualifications in a job description, you should feel confident asking for a higher number since you have 90% of what they are seeking.
  • Also research the salary trends for your major, desired job title, and geographic location. Use at least 3 reputable resources to find this information so you have appropriate data to compare.