Here's how you can research salary ranges to ensure fair compensation.

I typically find that people underestimate the equity associated to the experience that they have. This is particularly true of females unfortunately. It’s important to take stock of how much value you bring to Business and the tangible experience you have generated in your own career that you will be taking into a potential new employer when considering, what kind of salary benchmark you should have in your own mind

This is great advice, in addition I think it’s also important to consider the context of the specific organisation that you are considering moving to. For example, a start-up organisation is less likely to want to offer significant basic salary but is more likely to offer an inflated variable component for commercial roles as a way to try and Traction in their growth curve. On the other hand a large corporate is more likely to offer generous basic salaries and less likely to offer the kind of percentage blend in the variable component that is usually more evident in smaller organisations that want to drive Sales.

Familiarize yourself with industry standards for your specific role by researching professional associations or industry groups that often gather comprehensive salary data. While this information may not be tailored to your exact circumstances, you'll gain a broad understanding of earnings for professionals with similar titles and responsibilities. Having this context is invaluable when determining where your expected salary should fall within the market range. By being well-informed, you can confidently enter salary negotiations, knowing that your expectations are grounded in industry benchmarks.

Start by analyzing industry benchmarks through platforms like Glassdoor, PayScale, or LinkedIn Salary Insights to gather average compensation data for similar roles. Next, compare this information with job postings and reports from industry associations to gauge the range for your specific location and experience level. Lastly, network with professionals in your field to gain insights into current trends and adjustments. This comprehensive approach ensures you have a well-rounded view to negotiate fair compensation effectively.

This topic is even more convoluted and complicated in the post Covid era that we are now living in. Many roles that used to be based in large central cities are now undertaken by people that choose to live in much more beautiful but cheaper jurisdictions. For example, somebody that used to have an account director role in London doing most of their work remotely, can now relocate to Portugal and do the same job. The employers perspective of this is probably that they should remunerate that person based on the cost of living in Portugal, but the employees perspective is that they can make a London salary and live in a much cheaper location. this can make for quite complicated decisions around what fair and reasonable remuneration should be

This is such an important thing to recognise for candidates but want to generate and in gender a strong feeling towards them from an employer. A high percentage match intangible experience and ability against the job description for a role creates a more buoyant foundation on which to negotiate a higher salary. This might seem obvious, however what shouldn’t be underestimated is the difference that this makes to the sentiment of an employer to make the higher quickly and potentially even pay above the budgetary provision that they originally had.

Think, 'why you will want to hire, yourself, in that company'. You need to know yourself & how you can add value to the revenue/profits of the company. You need to present your case, in a way, that acts as a leverage to the company's revenue. That is, by investing in you ( in terms of your salary), company will be able to get returns, which will be multiple of your salary. Think, why company wants to hire you, how you will add value. Try to hire yourself in that company & what questions come to your mind. If needed, take help of your trusted friend to do role-play. Prepare as that will give you confidence. With self-awareness, preparation & confidence, you will be able to successfully negotiate.

One needs to have clear priorities. There are many things at stake, which include money, work-life balance, work satisfaction, ability to make a difference, fame etc. There is nothing wrong in asking/aiming for these things. But you should be clear, what is ok with you, what can be negotiated & what is non-negotiable. Also, don't compare yourself with others. You are unique as everybody else. So, your desires & priorities can be very different. What make you happy. Once you are clear on your prioritise, you will be able to get a job, which make you happy & successful.