Archive for the ‘Interviewing’ Category
Negotiating Your Salary
I recently had someone ask me about a job offer her husband just received and wanted advice on negotiating the salary. Here are a couple of thoughts I had in response to her question that might prove useful though, admittedly, not wholly complete.
- Multiple Offers: nothing is as concrete and powerful as having a competing offer(s) at a higher rate. The downsides are you might have a challenge timing when you receive offers and when you need to decide as well as making a tough decision between two or three good options. But it’s great leverage.
- Research: basically you need to come up with a reasonably defend-able position not based on feelings/emotions that a manager/recruiter can work with. Trying to push the numbers up just because you feel you’re worth it doesn’t have any teeth.
- Honesty: you want the job but don’t have another offer…what do you do? Be honest that you’re excited about the opportunity and that you want to make sure that you receive a fair increase seeing as will be some time before you are considered again for a raise (another year). Convey something to effect that you want to be completely satisfied with your decision and don’t want to have a lingering feeling that you’ve agreed to work for less than you’re worth.
The bottom line in negotiating is that if you really can’t accept losing the deal, than you have no leverage to change the variables. It’s an odd thing for some to consider pursuing a job/company while at the same time not being commited to making the change if offered. But it’s business. If the offer doesn’t meet your needs, than now is the time to bring it up. After you accept, there’s nothing to do but enjoy the ride.
What do you think? Post a comment.
