Brad,

This situation should stimulate philosophical discussions:

1. You need to do your homework when discussing salaries. You need to know the market value as well as an honest evaluation of your own skills and experience. Then you need to answer how much you are willing to accept to move to a new job. If the offer is not high enough, it is your decision to accept or reject.

Should the new employer say "we only offer 10% over your current salary", then it is up to you to prove what the market value is and convince them of your value compared to market conditions. If they reject your argument, then do you really want to work for them?

When discussing salaries - you need to hone your negiotation skills as well as your sales skills. Remember you are trying to "sell" yourself and this may be the only time you have to wear the hat of a salesman. Be prepared and well versed on your market value to convince your new prospective employer your "true" worth.

2. This situation also brings up the realism of whether you should be honest about your current salary or not. If you tell a "white lie" and bump your current salary by say, 10%, you run the risk of being found out. And the new employer may reject you as a candidate just because you lied. As for me, I have always felt being honest is a personal attribute I can never "bend" or jeopardize, hence I would not lie about my current salary.

Instead, I would do my homework, evaluate the market conditions, understand what the new prospective employer needs, try to convince them I am worth X dollars and unwilling to accept less and can fulfill their needs better than most candidates. Ask the new prospective employer, "Do you want quality people or just average employees?" "You get what you pay for, right?"

If they still reject your arguments and presentation, do you really want to work for that company?

Never mind what other companies/agencies say or do. There is always room for negiotations - it is just a matter of how much either party is willing to compromise for a number of reasons.

Finally, make sure you are realistic in your expectations. I am sure everyone would love to get a 25% increase but is that being realistic or not - do your homework and verify your expectations. I have, in my own experience, received as much as a 30% increase to move to a new employer because I had what they wanted, did my homework, and they were looking even though I was happy where I was. It was a bit different in that they wanted me, so they had to convince me to leave.

In any case, you will need to answer some self-evaluation questions honestly, know what you want and do not want, and decide what is needed to move on, and go from there. But what is MOST IMPORTANT - ARE YOU DOING WHAT YOU REALLY ENJOY? If so, then consider yourself very fortunate indeed! Because you really are never working, right? You are doing what you want to do - everyday - and getting paid to do it - is that work or enjoyment???

Good luck - and do not pay too much attention to these industry statements like the one you posted. They typically concern the "average" situation/person, and are you "average"???

My two feathers worth, Birdman

Charles Patridge Email: Charles_S_Patridge@prodigy.net