Written by Cordula Schnuer
Published on 27.08.2022
You must have the right arguments to support your request for a raise, says Maxime Durant Photo: Matic Zorman
The director of recruitment agency Michael Page on negotiating your salary in Luxembourg.
“You cannot negotiate without knowing what you can expect from the market,” says Durant. Luxembourg has a reputation of paying big, but salaries aren’t the same across different industries, and companies usually pay more for people with local expertise. “Don’t start too high in terms of negotiation” when first arriving, the recruiter says. “It’s important to have these two, three years of experience.”
It’s important to take into consideration what your net salary will be and how far this income will take you. Coupled with an understanding of what different sectors pay and what other benefits there are, this forms a solid basis to talk. “As soon as you have all the information, you’re readyto negotiate.”
Under indexation, salaries in Luxembourg rise 2.5% to adjust them for inflation. “Indexation is an important raise, but it’s possible to get more,” says Durant. Companies generally include index payments in their raise calculations. The crucial thingwill be to have the right arguments and make a case why your salary deserves a boost.
This article first appeared in Delano's Expat Guide 2022-2023.