Throughout your job search you need to seriously consider several questions about your financial value and future income. What, for example, are you worth? How much should you be paid for your work. How can you best demonstrate your value to an employer? Salary negotiation is something at which hiring managers are usually a lot more proficient than the people they hire are. In the interest of leveling the playing field, here is a list of tips for salary negotiation that has worked for many people.
- Maximize on your past experience. Understand what you have achieved. Bring your past experiences to the table as a tool when negotiating for your salary.
- Make a list of what you have to offer. Know what you have to offer a future employer. Make a list of your skills, abilities, talents, and knowledge. Be prepared to show your employer what capability you bring to their company. Make sure you have some firm basis for added compensation, i.e., skills, abilities, and value to the company.
- How badly does this job need to be filled? Find out what you are worth to the employer and how badly (or not) they need to fill this position with a qualified candidate. This gives you more negotiating power.
- Wait for an offer. Delay discussing salary until you’ve been offered the position.
- Demonstrate excitement for the job. First, make sure you want the job and are excited about the job, then let the employer know that you really want the job, but that you are only hesitating because of salary.
- Do not bring personal needs into the discussion. Don’t discuss the monetary needs for your family or the cost of living. This will not get you very far in most cases.
- Be prepared with salary options. Come up with three salary figures for yourself: the low-ball (not in your life) offer, an offer that would make you smile, and one that would make you jump up and down and call all your friends. Shoot for a salary between your middle figure and your high figure.
- Remember that the employer has a budget. Understand that most employers have a range in mind (budgeted for the position) and will actually start at the low end of that budget to give themselves some negotiating room. This does not mean they will try to low-ball the position and pay less than they think the position is worth. This is usually not in their best interest since they are looking for qualified candidates.
- Know your absolute bottom line. Know what your minimum salary range must be to support the life you want to live. Although it is not advisable to bring this up in the interview, you will need to know what your absolute bottom figure is.
- Let the employer bring up salary first. Wait for their offer. Stall when asked directly what your salary requirements are. For example: “I would consider any reasonable offer.” If the salary question comes up too early, try side-stepping the issue with a statement such as, “I’m open to discussion about salary and compensation, but I’m sure that will be no problem once I’ve shown how my experience will be of great benefit to the company.”
1 Response to Tips for Negotiating Your Salary Part 1 of 2
Find job Bookkeepers: Olympic Peninsula Personnel #853001
June 15th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
[...] Apply for Bookkeepers: Olympic Peninsula Personnel Here are a few related blogs on this subject: Tips for Negotiating Your Salary Part 1 of 2 – Global Job Center – Free J – Tips for Negotiating Your Salary Part 1 of 2 – Global Job Center – Free [...]