Salary negotiations can cause even the savviest of job seekers to waver; they are tough because job seekers want to get the highest salary without offending the managers that are doing the hiring. Money can be a highly sensitive topic, and this is especially true during the interview process. People realize this, and they often don’t push hard enough for a fair salary; with a quality job on the line, people tend to take whatever is offered to them.
If you fear losing out on a job offer because of salary negotiations, remember that most hiring managers anticipate a little wiggle room in the salary they offer you. If you can negotiate your salary in a peaceful, productive and respectful way, you give yourself a raise before you even start working.
How Can You Negotiate Your Salary Without Being Combative?
Do Your Homework
Before you start negotiating, it’s important to know how much money others in the same position are making. Always do some research before you negotiate; there are tons of websites that let you search for average salaries based on company averages, location, position and experience. A personalized salary report can give you a good idea of what is a reasonable range for your position.
If possible, try to make direct contact with someone who has worked for the company you are negotiating with. Friends, family and social networking websites can help you find employees who have worked for the company; these employees can give you insights into how the company operates when it comes to negotiating salaries.
Before you start negotiating, it’s important to know how much you’re worth. If you talk to other employees, you can figure out if the company is deliberately giving you a low offer or not. If you do your research, you can go into a negotiation knowing how the company goes about their salary negotiations.
Never Discuss Salary Early
Many people go into a preliminary job interview and quickly bring up salary figures; this is a mistake that can cost you money in the long-run. It’s important to leave salary negotiations until later. If you try to negotiate your salary too quickly, you might cut your interview short. If you don’t know what the job entails, you can’t give your future employer a fair salary estimate; you might price yourself out of a position before you find out what it involves.
If you later find out that the job entails skills that you researched prior to the interview, recite industry numbers that are on the high side of average. Ask the hiring manager if their company adheres to industry norms; this makes you look knowledgeable about what other companies are offering, and it puts pressure on the managers to give you a salary that is fair.
Don’t Shortchange Yourself
If you are too eager, you may end up getting paid less than your peers. People who need a job usually accept the first offer that is put out on the table; if you do this, you play right into the hands of hiring managers who avoid making their best offer right off the bat.
Hiring managers always have a salary range that they are willing to work with; if you do a little negotiating, you can work your salary up to the high part of their range.
Be Delicate And Convincing
Approach your salary negotiation like a relationship that you care about. It is important to come off as friendly and convincing during your negotiation; use carefully calibrated arguments that don’t make you seem aggressive or demanding. Always try to avoid theatrics; they can cost you your job offer altogether. You don’t want to be demanding, but you do want to be as persuasive as possible.