3 Tips to Land Top Salary Jobs

According to the Society for Human Resource Management survey, 63 percent of workers said compensation was “very important” to their overall job satisfaction. Although a worker may find a good job match, it may not be enough if the salary does not grow over time. The median raise per WorldatWork’s 2020–21 Salary Budget Survey was 3 percent. This proves that you could get your desired salary at your current job, but it could take some time. Are you willing to wait? Or are you seeking to land a top-salary job with a new company?  

SkillGigs understands that discussing salary may be intimidating and uncomfortable, so we have compiled three major tips to help you secure a top-salary job. Check them out: 

Prove You Are a Valuable Asset with Your Resume 

Before you get an invite for an interview, the hiring manager will look over your resume. Your resume must speak for itself. What qualifications do you meet? What is your skill set? To be a top prospect, you must prove that you meet or exceed expectations for the role. But how do you do that? Here’s how!  

• Expand your skillset – boost your areas of expertise by possibly cross-training in another department that interests you. You could shadow a peer or get hands-on experience.  
• Develop leadership skills – doesn’t necessarily mean you must lead a team. If you have, great, but if you haven’t offered mentorship to an entry-level employee, create a training guide for new members of your team  
• Add your relevant experience with detail – this is your opportunity to let everything you have done shine brightly. If the job description has specific requirements and you have them, ensure that you add them.  

SkillGigs has a patented 3D resume feature that displays your resume like never before ensuring employers have an easier time reviewing your top skills using state-of-the-art technology. Check out this article to find out more about our 3D resume.  

Research the Job Market  

Do your homework. You can advocate for yourself when you have the right information to do so. Regardless of industry, you can find out online what others are making on average for the role you are seeking. Knowing what is considered a fair salary for the position you are applying for can help when it’s time to negotiate. Search by:  

• State  
• City  
• Job Title  
• Industry  
• Company (find out what current employees are making it)  

The Occupational Handbook, from the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, is available online and can be a great resource for your job market search. Check out this article to learn more about what states are taking part in implementing pay transparency laws to better equip you as you navigate this topic with peers and leadership.  

Ask for the Higher End of The Salary Range  

Don’t be shy! You completed your resume and ensured that all your skills matched the job description. Then research the job market to understand the average salary for the role you are applying for with your level of skill — time to ask for the top range of the expected salary. You may be surprised and not get pushback; if that’s the case, CONGRATS! If it’s a no, time to negotiate. It is always better to negotiate when the starting salary is at the highest number. Meaning you could still end up with a salary you can be comfortable accepting. When negotiating salary, know when to start it. Don’t bring up your salary expectations at the beginning of the interview process. Experts believe job seekers have more leverage to ask for a higher salary when the company has an actual intent to hire them — when an offer letter has been sent.  

Don’t set off the hiring manager with the question of salary right away. Doing so may come across as if you are only in it for the money. Negotiating should never be done through email either. It is important to agree on a salary through conversation and then have your salary agreement in writing. Ensuring your salary agreement is in writing can help avoid any confusion or misunderstanding in the future.  

The Bonus Tip Is… 

Just apply for the job! [Or in our world, submit a bid on the marketplace] Take risks when you feel like it’s the right thing to do. To land your highest paying job yet, you’ll most likely feel like you’re out of your comfort zone, filled with doubts that landing the job may be a long stretch. But you could be surprised. If the position you are interested in matches most of your experience, go for it! Focus on your strengths and the great asset you could be for the company if you were to be hired. This is your chance to prove that you are a fast learner, a problem solver, and up for a challenge to be successful in your role. 

SkillGigs Gives You Negotiating Power 

SkillGigs empowers you to set your salary expectations. We understand the power of pay transparency and the positive impact it can have on company culture. Not only is it good for company culture but the hiring process is much more seamless. Negotiating is much easier when both parties understand what each expects in job responsibilities and salary. With our one-of-a-kind bidding technology, you will no longer go into an interview without knowing the salary ahead of time. Instead, employers and job seekers connect when salary rates are calculated in our bidding process, and only then are you a true match to move to the next steps of the hiring process. No more wasted time! An added advantage of having SkillGigs on your side is that the bidding technology allows you to also create a pipeline of employment opportunities to always have you in front of employers when you are ready to connect.  

Sign up today and experience a better way of landing the job at the salary you wish using SkillGigs’ bidding technology.