Celebrations are definitely in order after you’ve gone through the long process of landing a job. But, there’s still one crucial step to consider before you accept the position and all of its terms – salary negotiations.
Your research isn’t quite done until you’ve taken the time to determine how much the job you’re taking on is worth, and how much your skills, experience and expertise are worth to your prospective employer. This will give you power and confidence to professionally negotiate an informed and fair end salary. So, how do you make this happen? Here are some tips:
Timing – Money is always a touchy subject, so it’s best to wait for the appropriate time to bring it up. You must be patient. As a general starting point, let your prospective employer be the first to bring it up once they make the job offer.
Patience – Wait for them to make the first move when it comes to throwing out numbers. Even if you’re asked about salary requirements, simply say that they’re open, and that they’ll be based on the proposed position and all that it entails, as well as the overall compensation package being offered. This leaves you room to negotiate once a real offer is on the table.
Research – If and when you do put a number on the table, make sure it’s well-searched and backed by industry data.
Wait – Salary negotiations should be allowed a little breathing room. Any number that a prospective employer brings to the table, take your time to consider it, and don’t respond right away. It’s perfectly alright to say that you need time to consider their offer.
Salary negotiations can be intimidating at times, but don’t let it get to you. You know your worth, and with the right research and information in-hand, you’ll have all the confidence that you need to negotiate an appropriate salary that you deserve.