Getting a raise at your next job after taking a pay cut for your dream job

Q. I took a 50-percent pay cut for my dream job. How do I ask for a salary increase at my next job?

A. It’s OK to be upfront with potential employers about your choice to sacrifice pay for a dream job.

When you’re asked about your current compensation, provide a ballpark figure of your entire package by factoring in the employer share of benefit costs, which is a rough estimate of the value of your paid time off and other benefits.

For example, instead of saying you earn $50,000 at a job that may be worth $75,000, you can say your total compensation package is “in the 60Ks,” therefore putting you closer to the target of their anticipated comp.

Overall, though, don’t let the perception of pay penalization prevent or stall you from forging ahead and looking for a better paying job at an employer who truly values your worth.

An excellent employer, one that will pay you what you are indeed worth, will look at compensation numbers for an accurate range of the going market instead of looking at your 50-percent pay cut right now.