Discover Your Market Worth Abroad: A Guide to Evaluating Your Salary in a New Country

Assessing your market worth in a new job market involves various strategies and resources. Here's a comprehensive approach:

Online Tools for Salary Comparison
PayScale: A detailed calculator for comparing salaries across different regions and industries based on your skills and experience.
WageIndicator: Provides data on living costs and salary levels worldwide.
Comparably: Another platform for comparing salary and benefits.


Professional Networks for Insights
Elpha: A community for women in tech and startups, offering insights on salaries and career development.
JobStreet: Useful for job seekers in the Asia-Pacific region, providing salary information for various professions.


Annual Salary Reviews from Recruitment Agencies (My Favorite)
Hays Salary Guide: A comprehensive annual review of salaries in various countries and sectors. This source is reliable and provides detailed salary information in New Zealand, USA, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, and the UK. Download it if your country is on the list; you won't find a more accurate source: https://www.hays.com/salary-guide


Check Visa Requirements and Local Standards
H1BdataInfo (USA): For those needing H1B visa sponsorship, this offers access to data on salaries proposed for H1B visas, which may differ from standard market salaries.


Utilize Regional Resources
StepStone and SalaryExplorer: For Europe and other regions, these platforms provide salary data that can be helpful for job seekers in the European Union.


Tips for Assessing Your Worth
 Research and Compare: Don't rely on a single source, as salary data can vary significantly depending on the source. Not all platforms have sufficient data for analysis, especially for rare professions and less active markets.
Adjust Your Expectations: Consider local economic conditions and living standards. If you've moved to Serbia hoping to find an employer in the American market for an American salary without considering local market standards, remember that employers are more likely to pay according to the local market, not the American one.
Network and Validate Your Salary Expectations: Talk with local professionals and industry experts to better understand the local market, see how HR reacts to your salary expectations during interviews, and adjust if necessary.
Consider Long-Term Prospects and Think About Perks: Sometimes, the starting salary may be lower, but the growth potential is higher. If you donʼt need to commute to the office every day, saving money on travel, parking, and lunches, if the company is willing to sponsor your education, or if there are other worthy benefits, these can compensate for a salary slightly below your expectations.

If you receive an offer below your salary expectations, don't rush to accept it or refuse the employer outright. Salary negotiation is an important part of the hiring process in many countries, and companies are willing to discuss your wishes. If you receive a verbal offer over the phone, take your time to think, ask them to send you the offer in writing, and say itʼs not a convenient time to talk. You are not obligated to respond immediately. And if you wish to increase the offer amount, you can attempt to do so.
Here is a letter you can send in response to a job offer within 24 hours of receiving it:

Subject: N/A - Reply to email with offer details


Hi [Name],
First, thank you so much for your help throughout the process. You made things easy, and Iʼm grateful! Second, thank you for sending this offer. I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to join [Insert Company] and help [Achieve Goal / Overcome Challenge] alongside the fantastic team that I met during the interview process. I took the last [Insert Time] to review the offer and compare it to my current role and other roles Iʼm being considered for. To be transparent, I am currently being considered for similar roles in the range of $XXX - $YYY along with:
• [Insert Additional Comp Or Benefit]
• [Insert Additional Comp Or Benefit]
• [Insert Additional Comp Or Benefit]
This role at [Insert Company] is still my #1 choice of all of my options, but I wanted to see if it was possible to find a way to make up the difference between the current offer your team had sent and the other ranges Iʼm being considered for. Thank you again for all of your help throughout my candidateʼs journey. I appreciate your help a lot.
Thanks,
[Your Name]

How to Craft an Effective Resume

To ensure your resume stands out among hundreds of others for quality positions, it's crucial to tailor it to the standards and expectations of the job market in the country where you seek employment. Here's a detailed step-by step guide to significantly enhance your chances of securing interview invites:


1: Job Market Research
Before writing your resume, conduct thorough research on job openings in your target country. Analyzing profiles of professionals in your field and job listings is even more effective. Use popular job boards and LinkedIn to find positions that match your skills and experience. Aim to understand the frequent requirements and key terms used in job descriptions for your specialization. Also, pinpoint the correct job titles, as titles can vary and even hierarchically differ across markets (for instance, the term 'Manager' should not be used if you do not have managerial experience).

Read at least 5-10 job descriptions (the more, the better) to clearly understand employer expectations.
Identify keywords and skills that are frequently mentioned.
Highlight technologies and certifications that are crucial for professionals in your role in the desired location (e.g., Prince2 for Project Managers in England and PMP for those in Australia).


2: Resume Customization
Using the data gathered during your analysis, start tailoring your resume for the target market:

Incorporate keywords and skills into your resume to align better with employer search queries (modify job titles if necessary). Your application might be rejected if recruiters donʼt recognize that a UX researcher and an Insights Manager are related professions. Sometimes, even 'Software Engineers' are turned away if the vacancy lists 'Software Developers', and vice versa, so do not overlook this step.
List technologies and certifications you possess, especially those mentioned in job listings.
Focus on specific achievements in your professional experience, utilizing quantitative success metrics wherever possible. Aim for 4-6 bullet points per job position, using action verbs in simple past tense.
Avoid cliches and generic skills that can render your resume too vague, which could be perceived as a lack of authenticity or reliance on AI generated content.


3: Professional Presentation
Besides content, the format and presentation of your resume play a key role in the selection process. Ensure your resume:

Concisely presents your professional experience and achievements (limit to 1-2 pages, strictly 1 page in the US, except in Germany, where longer CVs are acceptable).
Features a clear structure using headings, bullet lists, and bolding for improved readability.
Is professionally formatted with no spelling or grammatical errors.
Maintains a neutral design, with black text on white background without excessive colors or graphics; in most countries, including a photo or personal details like age, marital status, or children is not necessary.


4: Final Review, Adjustment, and Automation
Before sending your resume to potential employers, conduct a final review:

Check for any errors or typos that could negatively impact your professional image.
Use specialized services, such as TealHQ, to assess resume matches against job descriptions and get external feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Remember, no single resume fits every vacancy perfectly. If you aim for higher interview conversion rates, tailoring your resume for each application is crucial. I maintain statistics on client responses and can confidently say that the quality of responses is more important than their quantity