The secret to being paid the highest wages is to be prepared – find out in advance what a job is worth.
The best way to find out how much you should be earning in a particular job is to look up the relevant awards or industry websites.
But there is a trick question that many employers ask during job interviews and job seekers who are not prepared for it could find themselves being underpaid.
The question is: How much do you want to be paid?
Most job seekers are so desperate to get a job that they reply to this question with a very low asking price.
The employers can’t lose when they ask this question. They will already have a figure in their heads.
If the job seeker quotes less than the figure the employer has in mind, then the employer will gladly accept the lower offer.
If the job seeker suggests a figure that is higher than the employer has in mind then the employer will simply say that they are not willing to pay that much. Most job seekers will then lower their asking price so that they get the job.
If you know the going wage for a particular job you will not sell yourself too cheaply.