I have a BA in Chemistry and an MA in Educational Technolgy (web design and construction, MS office, desktop publishing, digital photo editing, interactive software). I am leaving the teaching field where I earned 67k per year. I am returning to the analytical chemistry arena or I may see if I can get a job in information technology or possibly an entry level management position. I worked for the last 9 years as a chemistry/physics teacher at the high school level. Previously I worked as an analytical chemist, using bench chemistry, and gas and liquid chromatography for about 4 years. How much salary should I ask for? I am worried about being to greedy and turning off my prospective employers, but I don’t want to sell my self short either.
I just had an interview for a quality control position, which has a salary range of 33k -80k and involves sensory as well as instrumental (liquid chromatography) analysis of food. I told the interviewer I wanted at least 42k. Is this too low?
April 28, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Call a large employment agency and ask them what is the salary range for that position.
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April 28, 2010 at 11:29 pm
You should never give an exact amount in an interview. If they ask you what salary you are looking for, tell that that you would like a market salary comparable to your skills and abilities. That should help you walk around that question, and keep you in the running for a position. The problem with giving an amount isn’t always the fact that you may overprice yourself, but you can severely underprice. You told them that you wanted at least 42K, while they may have been thinking 70-80K for someone with your experience. Why should they offer you a higher salary than 42K when you seem happy with that figure. Just don’t put yourself in a position where you can sell yourself short.
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