WASHINGTON, D.C. -- What is my worth? Many people believe that skills, experience and education are the ONLY things that affect your salary. But other factors, such as location, industry and company size can determine your worth. Worth sometimes depends on the state of the job market and the personality of the applicant.

Personality is a very important factor, because you may have the best background but if your personality does not mesh into an organization, you may not get what you are worth. How do you determine the typical salary for a position? Check the job announcement for a salary range. Do some research. For a unique job, look at job sites specific to your industry and occupation.

Most job seekers are anxious about salary discussions and want to get them over as soon as possible. However, talk about the job before you talk salary. Create a job (offer) that suits both you and the hiring manager. Make sure it is at an appropriate level for you. If the job is too low-level, don't ask about the money, instead upgrade the job. Start salary negotiations once you have a job offer. However, if you are in your final round of interviews and the employer still hasn't mentioned salary, ask how much they are offering, or a salary range for the position.