Negotiating Salaries: Tactics For New Job Offers
1. Do Your Research in Advance
It’s important to conduct thorough research before entering into conversations about salary during a job offer. Interviewers may expect you to bring up the topic, and the more information you can provide the stronger your position will be. Find out what people in the same field are earning, and then decide how much you’re worth. This should include researching both salaries in your specific area of the country as well as salaries for comparable roles at other companies. Read industry trends and know the average salary for your position.
2. Be Prepared to Negotiate
When you receive a job offer, don’t be afraid to consider negotiation tactics. If you’ve already identified the market rate, this is a good starting point. It’s beneficial to be persuasive when talking about how you are the perfect fit for the job, and explain why you are worth more than what they’re offering. Use accomplishments, awards, and, if relevant, the financial success of projects you’ve been involved with to make your case.
3. Don’t Show Too Much Excitement
Interviews can be an emotional process, and it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a job offer. However, try to avoid displaying too much emotion. It’s important to remember that what seems like a great job offer may not have room for salary negotiation. Employers may have set budgets, so don’t expect to get everything you want. Try to exude confidence, but show understanding if the employer is unable to make changes to the salary.
4. Be Prepared To Walk Away
It’s worth remembering that you are typically interviewing the employer as much as they are interviewing you. Show that you are willing to work hard by being willing to walk away if the salary is too low. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should pull the plug if you don’t get what you want, but you should gauge the situation while setting your own expectations. Make sure that you are secure in your job choices, and don’t let potential salary variations determine which company you join.
5. Ask About Other Benefits
It’s important to remember that salaries don’t always reflect the full worth of a job. While salary negotiations are important, consider other forms of compensation like bonuses, vacation time, benefits, or even vehicle allowances. These can form an attractive package which can match what you’re looking for from a job. Different companies have different policies, so ensure you ask questions about these details and have a reliable comparison.
6. Adopt an Appropriate Tone
When negotiating salary, ensure that you maintain the most appropriate tone to the situation. Remember that it’s not a war between you and the interviewer; it’s simply a discussion about how you can make the position and the company better. You want to be persuasive without being overbearing. Talk confidently, use facts and figures, and aim to come to an arrangement that is beneficial to both parties.
7. Remain Open and Flexible
Make sure you don’t simply fixate on one particular thing. The job market is quite competitive, and you may find yourself in a situation where the employer can’t give you the salary you want, but may be willing to rearrange the structure of the job to fit you better. Consider factors such as flexible hours, more days off, or an improved benefits package instead of a higher salary.
8. Follow Up After Receiving an Offer
Use email or other contact methods to thank your interviewer for the job offer and ask for some time to think about it. This will demonstrate respect and organizational skills. You should also provide a deadline for which to make a decision. If salary negotiation is still part of the equation, make sure to inform your interviewer what would be required to make the role more attractive to you before the end of the time period you give them.