Problem
In our conversations with job seekers, a consistent theme has been HOW do you use AI tools. This can be used to get new ideas, improve and optimize resumes, understand trends/market data, determine new connections and networking avenues, save time, alleviate headaches and roadblocks, and be more efficient and effective overall. Well, say goodbye to the days where you need to start a cover letter or resume from scratch or feel isolated, alone, and anxious during the resume writing, interview prep, salary negotiation, and other parts of the job search process, as we all now have an incredibly powerful job searching tool and career coach at our disposal to help with any writer’s block and almost every challenge you may run into!
Since there are so many different ways you can leverage this technology for your professional “marketing materials” (i.e., resume, LinkedIn, portfolio, social media, Github, etc.), job searching, skills development, and any other career development area, we’ll start this series of tips with all things compensation.
Solution
AI has endless use cases and benefits; I’ve heard and leveraged this technology in at least 100 unique ways around job searching and career development. Let’s start by shining a light on a few favorite use cases and specific starting prompt examples for how a Data/SQL/Technology professional can leverage around the topics of market worth/value, compensation, and rate negotiation. Note: All the prompts provided great results using the free version of ChatGPT and the paid version of Microsoft Copilot.
Salary Calculators
One of my favorite tools to suggest to job seekers is a salary calculator, as the majority of people seem to be unaware, they exist or forget to use them. You can get guidance on specific tools to use for different things/‘asks’ you may have, such as your market worth, how your current salary compares to the market, and potential range you could target.
Example/Starting Prompt: What are some of the best salary calculators for a Data/SQL Server professional? Provide a list of your top 4 recommendations and the pros and cons of each one. Provide any helpful links. Format as a table.
Sidenote: I love that PayScale was listed as the second option (when asking both ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot), as that is one of my all-time favorite tools/resources.
Market Worth
An important early step of any job searching process, or prior to asking for a raise, should always be to get a gauge of “What are my experience and skills worth? What’s the market value of what I bring to the table?” In addition to reviewing over five job descriptions of jobs you’re targeting (ideally in your immediate area/location), utilizing a few salary calculators and/or asking a tenured Recruiter a couple questions to understand what companies are paying for your experience level and skill set, ask a few prompts to your AI tool of choice.
Example/Starting Prompt: I am a senior level data analyst with over 10 years of experience with SQL Server and Power BI. I live in Tampa, Florida, and I have mainly worked for healthcare companies. What is the “market value” of my skill set? What are a few other strategies for determining my market worth?
I learned early on the importance of providing as much context/detail as possible to the AI tool, which greatly impacts the quality of the output/result. So make sure you feed it as much information about your situation, your experience, and your goals/‘asks’ as possible.
Also, I recommend using two AI tools (if possible) for the same prompts/inquiries, as they can provide slightly different results. For the above prompt, Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT both generated extremely helpful insights, but the results had quite a few differences. When pairing all of it together, the guidance was even more helpful!
Lastly, but just as importantly, as we all are likely well aware, you can’t put complete faith in these tools. They’re a great starting point but require validation. They also can’t be your “end all, be all” (i.e., your only resource and strategy). Once you have a range, you can run that by a seasoned Data Recruiter for their reaction and input.
Understanding Overall Compensation Factors and Benefits
As I try to stress to job seekers, there is a lot more to consider than a pay rate or base salary. All the extra benefits and perks companies offer should be identified and factored in when evaluating compensation packages. Yet a lot of folks aren’t sure on “What other benefits exist that I could be considering?” These tools can really provide comprehensive information around even categories of benefits (i.e. healthcare benefits, training/upskilling benefits, etc.).
Example/Starting Prompt: As I am evaluating a company’s offer, what are all the benefits and compensation aspects I should evaluate outside of simply the base salary or hourly pay rate? Include any benefits that might relate to growing my technology skills and gaining new certifications or technology experience. As a mother of two young children, include any family benefits or perks.
A future MSSQLTips article will focus on more use cases and prompts for interviewing, but keep in mind that these tools can also provide a recommended line of questioning to help you get answers on any of these areas as well.
Example/Starting Prompt #2: What are three to four questions I can ask a Recruiter or hiring Manager to best get a gauge on the benefits they offer in these areas?
Target Salary Range and Overall Compensation
As a follow up and expansion to all of the above, you can always iterate and go down “rabbit holes” with your line of questioning or prompting. As one of my internal Directors (who is an AI power user) said, “I find that I get the best information and results on my third or fourth prompt!” You first want to give some thought to the following before leveraging these tools:
- Outside of base pay/salary, what benefits matter to me?
- What else could/should I be considering when evaluating a total compensation package?
- What perks are important to me at this point or phase in my career or life?
- What are my career/technology goals and what could a company offer to help me achieve those?
For example, one of the recent technology leaders I worked with said “I won’t consider any opportunities/offers that don’t offer RSUs (restricted stock units). I also don’t have any experience with GitHub Copilot yet, so getting hands-on exposure there is a huge priority in my next role.”
Example/Starting Prompt: I am targeting Lead Data Scientist roles. What compensation should I ask for in my next job? Give me a recommended salary range of $100,000. Also, factor in the potential cost benefit/value of these other benefits and compensation aspects that are very important to me: bonuses, stock, 401K contribution, healthcare benefits, remote work/telework, tuition reimbursement and other trainings.
Remember that as you’re starting to get interview requests and offers, you can feed in specific scenarios and company benefit packages to understand the total compensation offered. Per the advice mentioned above, treat your Recruiter, Talent Acquisition Specialist or other HR/hiring partner as a Coach/Advisor during this process though, and cross reference any of this information with them.
Example/Starting Prompt for Specific Opportunity/Offer Scenario: What base salary should I consider if a company offers a 15% performance bonus, 11% 401K match, excellent healthcare coverage, 60% telework/remote work option, and $100,000 annually in reimbursement towards tuition, certifications and conferences? What would be the total compensation package in this scenario?
Upskilling Insights to Strengthen Salary Potential
As a job seeker or individual looking to advance their salary potential at their current company, you want to understand the skills, experience, and other qualifications you can learn, get, and develop that will make you a more attractive candidate. Give some personal thought to and ask a few Leaders and Data/SQL-focused Recruiters too (this bears repeating!):
- What skills should I learn to enhance my marketability?
- What certifications are in demand?
- What are the tools, technologies, and methodologies companies are using?
Getting these insights has certainly been made easier and quicker through the use of these tools!
Example/Starting Prompt: I’m a senior level data analyst with over 10 years of experience with SQL Server and Power BI. I have no certifications, but I have a master’s in computer science. What skills, technologies, and other tools should I be learning to strengthen my skill set? How can this position me for more jobs and/or a higher compensation?
Rate Negotiation and Accompanying Communications
More often than not, people struggle with the rate negotiation process. This includes when and how to go about it, what to ask for, and how specifically to ask. You can get general financial counseling advice from these tools and rate negotiation tips and scripts specifically.
Example/Starting Prompt: I am making $98,000 with 3 weeks of PTO now. I want to ask for an 8% raise and an additional week of PTO. I also want to work from home one more day a week, especially if I can’t get any extra PTO. What guidance do you have for making this request? What other rate negotiation best practices should I keep in mind?
Example/Starting Prompt #2: Draft 4 bullet points to help me communicate my ask.
Example/Starting Prompt #3: Draft a follow up email reiterating my ask commitment to this role and company.
Next Steps
The above potential uses of these AI tools should only be a starting point. You’ll likely iterate your prompts to provide far more effective results. The prompts you use will also differ dramatically based on the current questions you have, your goals and/or challenges you face, your specific skill set/location/scenario, and more.
Important reminders:
- “Don’t lose a piece of yourself.” A continued fear of mine is that I will become too reliant on AI for certain things, including communication. I never want to lose my ability to think strategically, identify solutions to problems, draft communications, etc. Therefore, use these tools AFTER you’ve given your goal/question some personal thought.
- “Two minds are better than one.” Consider using two AI tools and take what you like from each one’s output.
- “Hallucination is real.” Don’t put complete faith in the results you’re getting. Validate, validate, validate!
Do you have other salary/rate negotiation type use cases or prompts you have used that provided helpful results? We are all continuing to learn ways we can use this technology, and best practices. Be sure to share any additional advice, ideas or prompts in the Comments section!
Check out these additional job search related articles.
Erica Woods is the Director of Contractor Programs and Philanthropy at Apex Systems. Her focus is on overseeing programs, teams, communication channels, and other resources that support their IT Consultant Community of 16,000+. Erica also oversees corporate philanthropy efforts and acts as a technical community evangelist for various STEM programs/nonprofits. She has 18 years of experience in the IT staffing and solutions world and an MBA from Loyola University. She is a Professional and Career Development Author for the MSSQLTips.com online technical community, presents Career Development sessions for various communities, including SQL Saturdays, Code Camps, PMI chapters, IIBA chapters, BA World conferences, and provides internal and external Leadership and Hiring Coaching. Erica is a Co-Founder of the ‘Baltimore Techies for Good’ Meetup group, and Co-Founder/Co-Organizer of the Tampa Tech4Good Meetup group, which are monthly events that bring together technical and marketing folks looking for skills-based volunteering opportunities with nonprofits in need of technology help/guidance. She is also one of the three Founders of the ‘100 Techies Who Care’ group in Tampa, which launched in 2023.
- MSSQLTips Awards: Rising Star (50+ tips) – 2022 | Author Contender – 2016 | Rookie Contender – 2014
Great article. Thank you!