Speaker explains garnering top salary
by Beth Beach, Reporter

   Getting the best salary for any position requires both thorough research and sharp interviewing skills, according to a representative of the South Campus career center.
   A good sense of a person’s realistic expectations before the interview is key, Monica Carasco-Bettle said when presenting Salary Negotiation Oct. 21.
   To emphasize the importance of research, Bettle gave a sample scenario.
   “I settled for what they gave me ... regardless, I had to make a quick move. I was the only bilingual person they had in that area. I could have made a lot more, but I thought ... that’s $4,000 more than I make now,” she said.
   A job seeker should know the market salary range for the type of position in a particular industry and region, Bettle said.
   However, entry-level positions will be lower within the range than higher-level positions, Bettle said.
  Before the interview, job seekers must decide what amounts they want to earn, need to live on and are willing to settle for, Bettle said.
  Determining a realistic budget that does not omit expenses such as, student loans and any future loans, is primary in determining what one needs to live on, she added.
  Calling company human resources departments to get salary ranges and checking salary surveys are great ideas, Bettle said, even though not all companies readily give out information.
  “In a lot of places, communication lines are just hard,” Amanda Stockman, nursing student, said after the presentation.
  When in an interview, rather than answering questions on the desired salary, the job seeker should change the subject by asking more about the position, Bettle said.
  “Let them give you a figure first,” she said.
  If offered a salary range or specific salary, the interviewee can suggest, in return, a range where the company’s high end is more in line with the low end of the person’s expectations, Bettle said.
  Regardless of how good the offer is, one should have an ambivalent “let me think about it first” attitude toward the offer to see if the company will make a better one, she said.
  Benefits are also important in salary negotiation, according to Beetle.
  “Some companies are offering you a good salary but few benefits,” she said.
  Benefits can become another negotiation altogether when employers feature more flexible benefit plans, Bettle said.
  Finally, when the applicant and employer reach a salary agreement, Bettle said the applicant should get it in writing.
  When relying on verbal communication, Bettle said, there is no proof of what was agreed upon if it comes into question.
  The career center can help individuals (not limited to TCC students) with all aspects of job seeking, such as personal help with resumes.
  The office’s computers are available for independent job searching and research.
   The South Campus career center is located in the Student Center and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.