Explain salary transparency, market positioning, responsibilities, progression and development, and The Lab's salary guarantee and the thinking behind it.
The problem
Salary is often treated as an afterthought in job adverts, hidden behind phrases like "competitive" or "dependent on experience." This lack of transparency wastes everyone's time, attracts the wrong candidates, and signals that the employer does not value clarity.
What good looks like
Employers state salary clearly in every job advert. They understand that salary is one part of a wider offer that includes mentorship, training, progression, portfolio-building opportunities, and meaningful creative work. They do not use these non-salary factors as substitutes for fair pay, but as complementary parts of a genuine opportunity.
The Lab framework
Consider salary and the wider offer together:
- Salary transparency: State the range clearly in the advert
- Market positioning: Research what similar roles pay in your sector and location
- Responsibilities: Ensure the salary matches the level of responsibility
- Progression: Show how salary can grow as the person develops
- Development: Mentorship, training, and portfolio-building are part of the offer, not a replacement for pay
- Non-salary factors: Meaningful creative work, good management, and a healthy culture all matter, but they do not replace fair compensation
Example
An employer advertises a Junior Designer role at £26,000 to £28,000, with a clear progression path to Midweight Designer at £32,000 to £38,000 within 18 to 24 months. The advert also describes the mentorship structure, training budget, and the types of projects the person will work on. The candidate can make an informed decision before applying.
Employer checklist
- Is the salary stated clearly in the advert, not hidden?
- Is the salary appropriate for the responsibilities and location?
- Is there a clear progression path with salary growth?
- Are non-salary benefits described alongside, not instead of, fair pay?
- Does the salary meet The Lab's standard for a genuine entry-level role?
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