I am a 33-year-old Canadian who has been living in London, England for the past 5 years, working as an employment and development manager for a social enterprise. I would like to return home in September 2005 and work in a similar role. However, when I look at the jobs currently available they never mention a salary or even a salary range. Instead they ask the applicant to state their expected pay. Could you please advise me on salary expectations, when I should start my job search, and whether Canadian employers are willing to use technology to interview or if I will have to be in Canada.

Location is an issue in a job search, but not as big an issue as it may seem. It will take more time however, so it is best to start your job search sooner rather than later. The physical distance between you and your employment opportunities presents new challenges. For instance you may have very few contacts and it is more difficult (and expensive) to get in touch with potential employers. Take action to build and leverage your network on this end. Have them make introductions and explain your situation. It is important for you to be organized and persistent in your job search.

Your network can only take you so far however. It may be most beneficial for you to take one or two “vacations” to research opportunities in your new location, as well as build your network. Target different organizations on your trip. Use this time for face-to-face meetings and informational interviews in the new market.

The same rules apply for any job search; you have to present yourself to these new organizations as someone they need on their team. If you have done so, they will no doubt be considerate of your situation and will be able to accommodate with conference calls, phone interviews, etc. By starting your job search early, you not only give yourself adequate time to plan for your move, but you also give your potential employers time to plan for and make adjustments for your arrival.

In terms of your salary expectations with these potential new employers, they are looking for another way to narrow their choices for potential employees. This is where research into the area and organization is most important. There are many factors to research that will impact what salary you should expect, such as: the organization’s budget; how many staff you will have; what budget you are responsible for; as well as geographical location. You have to consider what you are worth, what you would bring to the organization, and ultimately what your bottom line is.

An easy answer to the question of salary expectations may be “salary is negotiable”. It is important though to consider salary versus total compensation. Salary can be negotiable based on factors such as vacation time, educational opportunities, flexibility in hours, etc. Also, given that you are returning to Canada from abroad, it may be beneficial in the long run to look at a new position with a lower salary as a strategic move – one that could result in a great opportunity later in your career. Consider not only what you are worth, but what you can earn.

Alan Kearns is the Head Coach and the Brand Champion! of CareerJoy. He is one of Canada’s foremost experts on all things career. With more than 14 years of experience coaching people through successful career changes, he brings an intimate knowledge of the entire transition process to all of his clients. To contact Alan about paid professional services, e-mail alan@careerjoy.com or visit his web site www.careerjoy.com.

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Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.