Salary negotiation doesn’t have to be a stressful process. With the right approach, you could end up with an even better paycheck! It doesn’t need to be challenging either.
Begin with a realistic salary request and support it with research on other people’s salaries in your field. That way, you can demonstrate why you deserve an increased wage.
1. Know Your Worth
When seeking a new job, updating your salary package during an annual review, or just wanting to increase your pay, knowing your worth can help you negotiate for a better salary package. A study from Columbia Business School even suggests that knowing one’s worth makes one a more successful negotiator.
Before any raise or promotion, it’s essential to know your worth in terms of market value. This is determined by what others in your industry are being paid and should serve as a gauge for when asking for more money or an upgrade.
2. Know the Market
Negotiating your salary is all about understanding your market — where companies and consumers buy and sell products and services. By understanding how much others in your industry are earning, you’ll have the best chance at receiving top pay for your talents.
To do this, research the latest salary data in your industry and location. Then, create a target salary range based on experience and unique skillset. Finally, assess the financial health of any prospective employers to determine their likelihood of making you an offer. Knowing how far to push salary negotiations depends on factors like cost of living and any perks or benefits offered.
3. Be Flexible
Negotiating is the ideal way to increase your earnings. But make sure you do your homework and use the correct words when conducting negotiations.
It is essential that you only ask for what you deserve. Otherwise, you could end up accepting a lower salary than what is deserved or desired.
A more favorable paycheque could include a flexible work schedule, more vacation days or a signing bonus. These factors could mean the difference between getting promoted and remaining below poverty line.
4. Be Honest
If the salary offered doesn’t quite match your expectations, now is the time to negotiate. Negotiation may not always be straightforward, but it could result in a greater pay check than what was originally anticipated.
Honesty is essential in any successful negotiation. Never mislead a hiring manager about your current salary or create an alternate offer in an effort to receive more money.
It’s essential to be honest about your skills and experience when applying for a new employer. Demonstrate how those can benefit the organization, as well as why those qualifications are in demand.
5. Be Prepared
When starting a new job or seeking to advance in your current role, knowing how to negotiate for a higher salary can make all the difference. According to Stanford negotiation expert Margaret Neale, it could even pay off up to seven figures over your working lifetime.
To maximize the outcome of your negotiations, be prepared by researching salaries in the industry and geographic region in which you plan on working. Doing this will allow you to present a salary range that accurately reflects what the employer expects from you from the outset.
Avoiding salary discussions during interviews can help you position yourself for success in the future. If someone asks about your salary, keep the conversation focused on the position’s significance to the company and avoid getting off topic.
