Why are certain candidates compensated more than others?

Negotiation skills

The company want to hire you. You now discuss your compensation expectations.

Depending on how you approach this conversation, this will determine whether you achieve your asking salary, or the numbers are lower than anticipated.

Tips for ensuring you receive a competitive offer during negotiations:

· Know your worth. Especially in the Tech space, the market is candidate-driven, not client.

· Talk with specialized staffing agencies in your space. Understand what the median salary is for a candidate with your background. Relay this to the client.

· Consider several companies. Therefore, you're in control and don’t have to rely on one offer.

· Allow a staffing agency to assist you with the negotiation. A good recruiter possesses bundles of experience in this field. Certain recruiters will place 50+ candidates per year.

· Confidently elaborate on what you want. If you act nervous and mention that you're flexible on the asking price, don’t be surprised if the numbers are lower.

Changing companies often (but not too often)

I don’t condone this tactic, but it’s a fact. Candidates that move every 1–2 years receive a pay-rise each time they jump. Try this every few months, however, you may find yourself on the opposite side of the fence — unable to find a job.

Stay up to date with the latest tech skills

Adapt or die, innovate or die. This applies to any field. Keep up to date with the latest tech skills or platform release. If your company isn’t willing to update their systems, find a new job or work on side projects.

Building your personal brand

If you build a brand around your accreditations and experience in your field, you will likely be in a position that employer’s (or recruiters) come to you. When I say brand, this could mean an amazing blog, enticing LinkedIn Page or a Github account with multiple commits.

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