I agree with this, in the sense that he is obviously on one end of a major chasm between his own perception of his value and the market's. I say "market" becaus

I agree with this, in the sense that he is obviously on one end of a major chasm between his own perception of his value and the market's. I say "market" because he quickly glossed-over the fact that he took the job reluctantly because he couldn't find any other work. The simple answer is to run your own finances like a business. Know what you need to earn to be profitable to your level of satisfaction and turn down offers that don't meet that requirement. I've been in manys a job interview when the inevitable awkward question about salary expectations arose and I simply put out my number and didn't hear from them again. Fine, they made their decision on my value and I made mine and I move along without wasting anybody's time. I didn't blast the other employees at the companies or proclaim myself as an expert in the field. I would say stop taking things so personally and if the company isn't willing to pay what you believe yourself to be worth, find one that will.