Unlocking the Truth: The Dangers of Inflating Your Salary in Job Hunts

In today's economic climate, where financial challenges are a common concern, it's not unusual to see job seekers either underreporting or inflating their current salary when seeking new opportunities. The reasoning behind this is clear – the desire to maximize one's perceived value is understandable, especially with the rising costs of living, including energy bills. However, it's vital to distinguish between legitimate salary growth and misleading inflation. In this article, we'll explore the risks associated with ineffective salary strategies.

Pricing Yourself Out of the Running: Many organisations are grappling with salary inflation due to high demand for specific skills. They are often paying at or above their budget limits for these skill sets. Inflating your current salary might inadvertently take you out of contention for roles that you would otherwise be a perfect fit for.

Lack of Progression: Artificially boosting your salary during a job change can have consequences for your career trajectory. Starting with an inflated salary could result in stunted progression and a need to overdeliver to justify future raises.

Higher Expectations: If you secure a role with an inflated salary, you may find yourself facing undue pressure from day one. Colleagues and supervisors may expect more from you due to your salary level, which can lead to stress and discomfort.

The Butterfly Effect: Widespread salary inflation within an organization can limit its ability to hire other crucial roles, potentially hampering overall growth and limiting future opportunities for everyone, including you.

Remember, your recruiter is your ally. They have your best interests at heart, and their success is tied to your satisfaction. You should not shy away from pursuing a higher salary. In fact, we encourage it, especially when advancing in your career. However, it's essential to be transparent about your aspirations and motivations. A good recruiter, particularly one with expertise in the Microsoft Dynamics space, can provide guidance on realistic expectations based on market knowledge and your skill set. They will fight for your worth.

For an in-depth exploration of this topic, you can delve into our article on why choosing a specialist recruiter in the Dynamics space can make all the difference.

Salary Insights from the Microsoft Space (December 2022)

• General Microsoft Dynamics 365 salaries increased by 4%.

  • Top role increases:
    • D365 Architect +18%
    • D365 Consultant +8%

• General Microsoft Azure salaries saw an 8% increase.

  • Top role increases:
    • Azure Engineer +10%
    • Azure DevOps +10%

• General Power Platform salaries rose by 7.5%.

  • Top role increases:
    • Power Platform Engineer +19%
    • Power Platform Developer +9%

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If you're exploring opportunities in the Microsoft Dynamics, Azure, Power Platform, or M365 space, or if you'd simply like to discuss the available options, we'd love to connect with you. Feel free to fill out the form below to share your CV or contact us at uk@cognitive-group.com, specifying your areas of interest. One of our dedicated Cognitive team members will get in touch with you promptly.