Dear Job Doctor,

How much am I worth, and how can I improve how much I earn?

This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself when you are assessing a job offer or negotiating your salary.

Your experience will shape your future career as well as your earnings. It is important to consider your ambitions and goals. This way you can steer your experience towards industries and fields of work that are of particular interest or where the rewards are greater.

Consider how much control you have over the scope of your role. Think about how transferable your skills and experience are.

Training holds great value for both you and your employer. The time, money and effort you invest in furthering your education and qualifications will pay dividends in the future. Education and qualifications differentiate you in the employment market. Consider your ambitions, goals and where you want to be. Talk to someone who has reached that position and ask: what education, qualifications and commitment are needed?

Ongoing pay decisions, bonus and promotion will all be based partly on individual and team performance. Seek periodic reviews and feedback from your manager. Boost your performance through continuous improvement, and set formal targets and objectives with your manager.

Everything we have covered so far will not improve how much you are worth unless it can be perceived by the stakeholders in your future. You will have to make decision makers aware of your achievements. Know the stakeholders in your future, and work on the image they have of you.

The more people you have reporting to you, or the wider the scope of your role, the higher you can expect to be paid. Provided you can handle the responsibility, seeking out such positions may help increase your worth. Also, consider whether your responsibilities have changed since your last review.

Unique knowledge of particular markets, processes or systems is highly valuable when a company stands to bear a high cost from losing this knowledge. Be aware that such unique knowledge can also be a hindrance. The cost of losing you from a particular role may limit your chances of a promotion or transfer. So, decide whether to keep or share any unique knowledge you have.

Finally, salary levels vary by location and industry. Similar jobs may attract very different salaries depending on supply and demand or location. Always compare yourself to similar roles in related industries for a true measure.

Darren Robinson is managing director of Badenoch & Clark Luxembourg, the largest staffing and recruitment firm in the Grand Duchy.

Have a question for the Job Doctor? Send an email to [email protected] with “Job Doctor” in the subject line. Your inquiry will be confidential: the Job Doctor will not be given your name, nor will it be published anywhere by Delano.