Figuring out the right salary for your role can be tricky. Everyone seems to have an opinion, but how do you know what’s real?
1. Opinions/Social Media or Forums (Least Reliable)
People love to talk about salaries on social media and in casual conversations. Remember that opinions are often Trojan horses for hidden agendas. People often have their own reasons for saying what they do. Sometimes, people are motivated to post false numbers to influence opinions and set certain expectations in the job market. Also, they might exaggerate to look good and impress others in public while downplaying their earnings when talking to coworkers. It’s hard to know what’s true.
2. Surveys (Better, But Not Perfect)
More structured than opinions. Helps to collect more information, including the demographics of the participants so you can analyse them better. But since the answers are self-reported, this information can contain biases and false information.
3. Research (The Best Method)
The most reliable way to understand salaries is through proper research. This means gathering data from multiple sources such as gossip, surveys, and websites like Glassdoor. If you can, try to get information directly from companies. By comparing and cross-checking, you get a clearer, more accurate picture. When you’re looking at all this information, remember that some sources are more reliable than others. If you have solid information from a trusted source, give more weightage to that. The more sources you check, the closer you’ll get to knowing your true worth.
Finally, don’t rely on just what people say. Mix sources, trust reliable ones more, and do your homework. That’s the scientific way to know your true worth.
A multifaceted professional known for diverse interests and contributions in various fields, including management, technology, education and entrepreneurship. Also the founder of ITPro.lk, bringing a unique perspective and industry knowledge to writing.
