The scene is of typical office cafeteria. Employees have gathered around in groups to have lunch. A newly joined employee - Rachael goes and joins a group of friends. They start enquiring Rachael about her qualifications, previous experience and other general details. Slowly the conversation moves toward each person's salaries. On knowing the profile and corresponding salaries each person is getting, Rachael begins to analyze her own. Soon she realizes the salary she is getting does not equate her skills and qualifications.
The purpose of telling this story is to ask all the readers, are you Rachael in your office? If you are not being paid according to the skills highlighted in the resume, read further to find out which all skills and qualities of candidate matter to the employer, owing to which candidates can demand higher salaries.
- All employers reward strong experience well. They see a candidate having years of experiences, as an expert in his field. There is no doubt over his competence in handling daily responsibilities, meeting deadlines and handling issues or complex situations. Hence, an experienced candidate will always get salary higher than other inexperienced applicants will.
- Candidates having qualifications, gained from esteemed universities or passed with high grades can demand higher salaries. If the employer gets impressed with the grades or the name of a highly acclaimed institute on the candidate's certificate, he would be willing to offer good salary.
- Skills like leadership, organizational, negotiating, problem solving and interpersonal communication are highly regarded by all the employers. Only with the help of these attributes, one can put knowledge and expertise into practice. These skills are required to adjust and excel in the work environment. Owing to the value addition made by these qualities in applicant's profile, one can convince the employer to pay higher amounts of salaries.
- Achievements are a proof of the applicant's abilities of applying the acquired skills and knowledge to practical situations, in a way that it yields beneficial results. While the objectives may make the employer feel that the applicant is making false promises, the accomplishments verify the qualities and abilities mentioned in the resume. Hence, it improves the scope for the applicants to gain salaries they deserve.
- Recruiters consider those applicants who have experience in diverse fields as job shifters and someone who is unsure of their career goals. It is a risk for the recruiters to hire such candidates, as they tend to get disinterested in jobs quickly. Hence, such applicants have very little to argue for their efficiency and so have to settle with lesser salaries.
- Applicants, who have faced a suspension before or been laid off from their previous jobs, start with a negative image of being inefficient. It becomes difficult to convince the employer of their abilities and hence, most of them have to settle down at low salaries.
- Mention the 'areas of interest' section only after gaining profound experience where they can justify their choice. This brings out the candidate as a specialist and goal - focused. Employers consider these candidates as valuable for the growth of the organization and hence agree to pay high salaries.
Take help of the pointers given here to find out if you are being paid according to the skills highlighted in the resume. Do not put yourself in same situation as Rachael. Knowing the qualities the employer seeks and regards in prospective employee will help you highlight the key areas within your resume. Once your resume gets selected, it becomes the key and the decisive factor in getting the salary you deserve.
