Are you paid enough? How much is the 'right' salary?

No one ever complains that he is being paid too much cause no one ever felt that he is paid more than what he should be getting. But how much is the 'right' amount of salary for you?

Qualification

This is most obvious. The qualification requirements on job advertisement gives you an estimation of how much the company is willing to pay anyone to do that job. If you have a college degree but choose to accept a job for 'O' level graduates, then accept the fact that they are only going to pay you so much. OPEN your eyes and look at the job requirements, it's an indication of your salary package.

Experience

You are disappointed with your increment (if any). But how much more should you be asking for? There will come a day when you reached the maximum amount that the company is willing to pay for the job that you are doing and would rather hire someone new to replace you.

10 years of experience does not make you better than someone with 2 years experience. Doing the same thing over and over again for the past 10 years does not increase your value as an employee. Rethink about the value of the job that you are doing. If you feel that you can achieve much more and the company is not giving you the opportunity, then maybe it's time to move on.

Know what you are looking for. Salary comes NATURALLY as you increase your own VALUE.

Interview

You do know that your interview affects your salary package right? If you don't realise, yes it does. Companies have a budget that they are WILLING and ABLE to pay anyone who can show that they can do the job. That 1 hour interview is your only chance to show that you are worth it. That accounts for the difference between you and your colleagues' salary packages.

Job Scope

Lastly, do you know how the company decides how much to pay you? Different job pays differently.

Now, there are two vacancies available. The janitor and general manager role. If the same person applied for both, he will be offered different salary package for the 2 different positions. Why? It's because generally the company is going to pay you depending on the JOB, not the individual. That's why a janitor will not be paid $5,000 a month no matter how outstanding the person is.

If you joined the same company but different department as your classmate (both with same qualification and no working experience), probably you will have different salary packages. The reason is the difference in the JOB SCOPE. Every job has it's own duties and responsibilities and depending on the difficulty of the job, companies pay differently.

Do you know what job pays well in Singapore?