Start small, there’s nothing wrong with a humble beginning

I am currently job hunting, and have a fixed target salary. My friends think that this will diminish my chances of getting a job. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Which roles do you have in mind? How do organisations remunerate incumbents of such roles who bear your qualifications and experience?
  • It may not be appropriate to have rigid salary expectations regardless of the role or demands that may be placed upon you.
  • If you were to start your own business, you would probably remunerate your employees based on what you expect from them and your ability to pay.

Q. I am currently job hunting, and have a fixed target salary. My friends think that this will diminish my chances of getting a job. Plumbers and freelancers decide what they get paid, why can’t I do the same? Why are job seekers expected to accept what an employer deems fit for them?

Although it is your right to have salary expectations, it is important to consider how you form them, aware that employers usually associate roles with certain ranges of remuneration. What is the basis for arriving at your fixed target salary? Which roles do you have in mind? How do organisations remunerate incumbents of such roles who bear your qualifications and experience?

Most professionals start small. The stories of the early phases of their careers will usually have the nostalgic flavour of humble beginnings. Early in their careers, employees would largely be learning. Once they start contributing optimally to their organisations, it becomes more probable that they will earn the salaries they desire. To the extent that you have a track record of exceptional performance, employers may be amenable to your salary expectations.

It may not be appropriate to have rigid salary expectations regardless of the role or demands that may be placed upon you. The same role in different organisations may present very different demands. It is therefore advisable to have flexible salary expectations. Bear in mind too that an employer’s potpourri of pay components may include non-financial elements such as transport, which are worth considering.

Businesses expect a return on their investment, and this in part informs the approach they adopt towards remunerating their employees. If you were to start your own business, you would probably remunerate your employees based on what you expect from them and your ability to pay. It would not be prudent to put up with rigid expectations from prospective employees regardless of your circumstances.

To quote Paul Kagame,

‘Let no one think that flexibility and a predisposition to compromise is a sign of weakness or a sell-out’.