Salary negotiations

When it comes to negotiating salary and other compensation, hesitation can cost you. Prepare for compensation discussions before you even begin interviewing so you are ready whenever they come up. Here are some tips.

1. Don’t be afraid to negotiate.
You know what you are worth. You know what you require for compensation, and what your desired compensation is. This information is all necessary to produce the offer you are looking for. Don’t hesitate to ask, and don’t be apologetic about it.

2. Don’t exaggerate your present income.
It is possible to verify these numbers and you never want to skirt the truth in an interview.

3. Always keep negotiation at a business level.
Negotiating salary is a business skill, not a measure of your worth as a person. Keep it professional and never bring personal feelings into it. The company is not rejecting you as a person if they don’t accept your counteroffer. Also, never bring your home life into the conversation, such as “Well, I just bought a house and have a mortgage to pay, so I will need more than that.” That is not appropriate. Your salary is based on what you offer the company.

4. Resist accepting an offer on the spot.
No matter how good it looks, realize that their first offer is not going to be their best. Always ask for time to think it over and then counteroffer to begin the negotiation process.

5. You can negotiate compensation beyond salary.
If you can’t get them to budge on salary, think ahead and ask for a review of performance and salary in six months. Negotiate up medical benefits, bonus schemes or other added benefits.

6. Stay positive.
Never come across as negative during your negotiation. Always remain enthusiastic about the job and the future in conversations with your potential employer. Even if negotiations are not going your way, you still want the job.

7. Know what you are worth.
Researching the current rate for your skills is not optional. If you don’t know what you are worth, you are sure to walk out of negotiations settling for much less than you can get. Do your online research and talk to people in your industry to get an idea of the salary ranges. Most large companies have structured compensation programs. See if you can get the inside scoop on what the range is for your position.

8. When you receive more than one offer, take your time.
If you get more than one offer at a time, buy as much times as you can to weigh your options. Ask for the time to you need to consider each offer. You can also ask to see benefit plans in detail to get more information and get some extra time to cultivate your other offers. Make that phone call to a company you have been waiting to hear from and let them know you have had an offer. Ask them if they can move any faster on their hiring decision.




Becky Papp has been a professional writer for 20 years, working for newspapers, magazines and corporate communications. She currently contracts for clients all over the world, writing online and print articles, newsletters, blogs, and e-books. She resides in Phoenix, Arizona.