SALARY ADVICE

A strong start for your first salary

Every year, about 70,000 youths trade school for work. These past few days, a new generation of youths once again bid farewell to student life. In the coming days, weeks or months they will take the step towards their first ‘real’ job. They can contact us for free starting salary advice.

Annemie Van Gucht, along with Diane Pardon, is one of the driving forces behind this service. As salary experts, they assist union negotiators in salary debates at the company level. This expertise comes in handy for starting salary advice. In recent months, Annemie has also helped countless graduates on their way during online university job fairs, via the webinar ‘A strong start – the salary you deserve’.

What are the questions troubling youths at the start of their professional careers?

Annemie: “A frequently asked question is what their extra diploma yields in extra wages. For example, if they obtained a postgraduate degree, they want to know what this could mean for their future salary.”

And what are the results?

Annemie: “This extra diploma does not immediately lead to a higher salary when entering the labour market. The extra diploma does open doors to a wider range of jobs, or offers opportunities for climbing the ladder more easily. Your salary is mainly determined by your position and the sector in which you work. The more baggage, the faster you can grow. And that means higher wages.”

 

“The ultimate challenge is to agree on an optimal gross salary with fringe benefits on top.”

 

And for an estimate, young people can contact ACV…

Annemie: “Exactly. Via www.startersloon.be they can find out what salary they can expect for their specialization and/or a specific position. Our team of service providers then provides them with advice in line with the market, which not only takes into account the wage brackets but also the practicalities. Certainly for more senior positions, employers often have more in store than the sectoral minimum wage brackets. We will then provide the applicants with an indication of what to expect. That typically involves an upper and lower salary estimate. Because there are always employers who offer better or worse pay.

For an economist in pc 200, for example, the market starting salary will fluctuate between 2,428 and 3,056 euros. That is a considerable difference with the collective labour agreement-defined bracket wage of 2,059.30 euros. However, employers can of course compensate for this difference with fringe benefits, such as a company car, meal vouchers, a telephone or laptop with an internet subscription… These are fringe benefits may be quite considerable, although one does pay a small contribution for personal usage. The ultimate challenge is to agree on an optimal gross salary with fringe benefits on top. After all, social security rights are accrued based on your gross salary. Fringe benefits do not count in this regard.”

Do you also provide advice on fringe benefits?

Annemie: “This is not explicitly included in the starting salary advice we provide. However, as a member you can of course also contact the ACV with questions on this topic. For the personal usage of telephone, internet, and laptop, legally defined lump sums are deducted from your salary. This is also true for company cars. The tax calculation of the benefit derived from the personal usage of your company car is calculated using a complex formula, which is currently being thoroughly modified. Much also depends on the car you get and the precise agreements in your contract or the company’s car policy.”

 

“During the application it is also important to make it clear that you are well informed. The recruiter opposite you also knows exactly how much you will earn.”

 

What advice would you like to give to current first-time job seekers?

Annemie: “Salary is certainly a key aspect, but not the only one. Your salary must of course be equitable. But just as important are the actual substance of the job you so eagerly accepted, the opportunities for growth, the team in which you find yourself… Consider the complete picture and use your first job to gain experience and grow. During the application it is also important to make it clear that you are well informed. If you are asked how much you would like to earn, you can respond that you have informed yourself on how much you can expect for this job. The recruiter opposite you also knows exactly how much you will earn. There is usually not much margin for negotiation – save for highly exceptional cases. In addition, ACV is also the right place for application tips. The career centre offers useful tips and even workshops on the matter.”

More and more youths are choosing a self-employed career…

Annemie: “They too can contact ACV. Through United Freelancers we have an extensive offering specific to freelancers. Be sure to look into it if you are considering taking this step.”