At one time or another, you will have to negotiate your salary. It is not that the task is difficult, but it can be nerve racking. No matter your level, your initial negotiated salary is very important. It will be the basis from which you will gain raises over time. A miscalculation here can be very costly. Therefore, here is our how to negotiate a salary guide. If you are asking how to negotiate a salary, remember: (1) know your worth; (2) do not directly answer a question about the salary that you would accept; (3) never accept the first offer; and (4) know that your salary is only a part of your total compensation package.
Know Your Worth
How to negotiate a salary 101, you must know your worth. Before you begin the job search, before you get the job offer, know your worth. Do your research. You must know the average salary for the position based on your skill level, the average range of the salary for someone of your abilities and experience for the size of the company that you will be working for.
You must do this research. This is the only way that you can know if a proposed offer is too high or too low. In doing your research, ask your friends, look online, ask someone at the company in such a manner that they can provide you with the information needed.
Do Not Give A Direct Answer To The Salary Question
In any interview, you will be told a range of the salary for the position. If one is not given to you, ask for the range. This gives you the bounds of the position, but do not take this as a definite range. If you are good enough, if you are attractive enough professionally, they will offer you more than that range. This is why it is so important to not give a number when asked what salary you are looking for. If answered directly, you may unintentionally lock yourself into a low salary, or turn off the employer by going too high.
If you are asked a direct question about salary, inform the recruiter that you can negotiate on salary. This in effect continues the conversation. If the interviewers like you, they will pay you. The trick, have the recruiter give you a range. If the range is lower than what you will accept, you can negotiate up to your number if the interviewers like you.
Never Accept The First Offer
How to negotiate a salary? One of the most important point is to never accept the first offer if the position is not a lock step position. Do not do it. Once an offer is extended, it is typically an invitation to negotiate. Never accept the first offer. If the offer is low, know what your low point is and counter above it. You will know that an offer is low based on your research.
If the offer is in your sweet spot, ask for more. If the offer is above what you think the range is, ask for more. Note that it is unlikely that any employer will match what you come back with in a counteroffer, but they are likely to meet you somewhere in the middle. As such, if your aim is $150,000 and you were offered $140,000, it is advisable to ask for above $150,000. Consider counter offering at $160,000 or above and have the potential employer meet you somewhere in the middle. Do not sell yourself short.
Remember, your first salary at a company will be the basis from which you will gain raises. So the higher your starting point, the faster your salary will grow. Also, typically, 401K packages and other benefits are based on a percentage of that salary. Do not sell yourself short.
Salary Is Not Everything
While your salary is important, it is not everything. When negotiating a salary, it is important to remember that the salary is only one part of your compensation package. If you cannot get the number that you want with regard to a salary, do not forget that you have other options as far as employers but also other areas of your compensation package to negotiate. Think about vacation days, retirement, stock, bonus, transportation and medical coverage to name a few. In some cases, a salary may be lower, however, total compensation may be higher in comparison to another job. The reason for this may be the employer’s health care plan, bonus structure, stock option and retirement plan.
While you may have a salary that is $5,000 lower than a comparably position at another company, you may have a higher 401K match percentage, higher bonus, or receive more stock. As such, while the salary may be lower, your total compensation package may be significantly higher. Therefore, before you accept a compensation package, do a full evaluation.
Conclusion
At one time or another, you will have to negotiate your salary. It is not that the task is difficult, but it can be nerve racking. No matter your level, your initial negotiated salary is very important. It will be the basis from which you will gain raises over time. A miscalculation here can be very costly. Therefore, here is our how to negotiate a salary guide. If you are asking how to negotiate a salary, remember: (1) know your worth; (2) do not directly answer a question about the salary that you would accept; (3) never accept the first offer; and (4) know that your salary is only a part of your total compensation package.
While every situation is different, we sincerely hope that this how to negotiate a salary guide helps you as you look for your next position. Journey to financial independence.
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