This has got me thinking. I would literally pay someone to figuratively sit down with me, go through what I've done/can do etc and then based off their experiences tell me what I could be getting.
Of course, it won't be too accurate and location makes a big difference but perhaps an enlightened recruiter type with a bit of experience in a couple of parts of the world could give a ballpark figure, say X in SV, Y in NY, Z in the UK. That's more use to me than looking at self-reported salaries where I know hardly anything about the real circumstances. Failing that, just a guy in one place from which I could very roughly convert to my part of the world.
You can email me and I'll give you some guesstimates. Also give you some tips on how to make sure you're presenting the message you think you're presenting and what it means for your job prospects. Something like this: http://www.pchristensen.com/blog/articles/what-your-resume-r...
I would happily accept some figurative payment of good will and satisfaction of you getting more out of your career :)
Sure, but the vast majority of people still tend to underestimate how much they could get. And you can get a pretty darn good estimate from a person's background and skills.
I think the problem with this is that negotiations are very sensitive to starting terms, what he would pay for (and I think many others would as well) is basically an intelligent idea of where to start.
Exactly. I don't want to know what an employer thinks they can get away with or even what level I can push it to (which may be higher or lower than my 'recommended' level).
To get a proper idea I'd also have to do a lot of interviews. Hence where someone who's got a bit of experience/knowledge in this area can save me a load of hassle.
But, if you give them guidelines, they can work well with you. If you're currently in the $150k range and you want to get to $200k but don't know how, talk to your local friendly recruiter over coffee. They'll even buy. As long as you're clear with them that you won't accept an offer for a penny less than <X>, they won't waste your time. They will also tell you if you have no chance of getting a job through normal means at that price range given your current skills and experience.
At least, most of the ones who are working for independent recruiting/placement firms that I've met hanging out here in Chicago will do that. YMMV elsewhere.
Certainly, if you just respond to the first recruiter who mails you after finding your resume via a random web search and industry-appropriate keywords, you'll get about what you put into it. If you're having trouble finding a reasonable one, either ask a friend or find them via your peers at companies you would like to work at on LinkedIn. Recruiters live there. And again, not the recruiters working for the company; try to hit up the independent ones if you want to have a lower-pressure conversation.
Those poor corporate recruiters are in a perpetual pressure cooker to fill their available headcount.
Of course, it won't be too accurate and location makes a big difference but perhaps an enlightened recruiter type with a bit of experience in a couple of parts of the world could give a ballpark figure, say X in SV, Y in NY, Z in the UK. That's more use to me than looking at self-reported salaries where I know hardly anything about the real circumstances. Failing that, just a guy in one place from which I could very roughly convert to my part of the world.