If you don’t ask for what you want, the answer will always be no! This is especially true when it comes to salary negotiations. However, you can also negotiate other elements of a job offer, such as a signing bonus, training reimbursement and sometimes the amount of vacation time. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of negotiating, follow the tips below and build your confidence.
[See: Famous CEOs and Executives Share Their Best Career Advice.]
Research salary ranges. You should conduct company research before you walk in the door for your first interview. Technically, you should have researched salaries before you applied for the job to ensure your range was appropriate. Most job postings will not include salary information. In order to get an idea of what the job is worth and what other people in similar roles make, do you due diligence. This means using multiple sources. Use salary calculators such as Payscale.com, Salary.com, Glassdoor.com or LinkedIn’s salary tool. But don’t stop there. Talk to recruiters in your field and geography. Network with people who are in your field of work to understand what the going rate is. Use as many of these options as possible to develop your desired range. Remember, your value in the marketplace is based on how much the employer is willing to pay, the value of your skills and what your previous employer paid you.
When to negotiate. You technically can’t negotiate a job offer until you have one. You should avoid getting into a detailed discussion around salary or attempt to negotiate any condition until you have a job offer. Mentioning your desire to work from home during the interview could sour the deal. And don’t try and negotiate on the spot. Ask how long you have to consider the offer and schedule a time to provide your answer. Remember, accepting a job is a major decision and you shouldn’t feel pressured to accept an offer.
Negotiate with enthusiasm. If an employer doesn’t think you want the job, it could hurt your chances of negotiating, or worse, could lead to the offer being taken off the table. Tell the employer you are interested in the job and why. And be sure to smile.
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Negotiate with the right person. The person who extends the offer may not be the person with the power or authority to negotiate. Every company has a different set of procedures. It is important that you know who has final budget approval for the job. While human resources may be the ones who extend the offer, they may not have the ability to negotiate.
Use company research and inside information. During the interview and through networking conversations with company insiders, you may uncover some valuable information. Perhaps you learn that the company has negotiated vacation time for certain employees or lets some of the team work from home once a week. You might be more likely to negotiate those things if there is already a precedent in the company or department. Use the information you uncover to your advantage.
What things can you negotiate? There are many elements to a job offer. Here are some things you may want to consider:
— Job title
— Start date
— Vacation/paid time off
— Flextime/job hours
— Remote or virtual work
— Signing bonus or other bonuses
— Level of responsibility
— Relocation expenses
— Professional association dues, subscriptions
— Laptop, mobile phone, home office technology
— Auto (car lease, mileage)
— Training/certification reimbursement
— Severance provisions
Negotiate salary first. It’s important to prioritize what you want to negotiate, and don’t be greedy. Negotiate salary first and if you secure your desired salary, be willing to compromise on other items you want to negotiate.
[See: 8 Important Questions to Ask a Job Interviewer — And Yourself.]
Convey confidence. Your body language, tone of voice and words you use should convey you believe you are worth what you are asking for. And remember, the company has invested significant time and manpower interviewing you. They don’t want to start over.
Get your offer in writing. Once you have reached a final agreement on the terms of the offer, be sure you ask for it in writing. You will want this before you begin your first day of work. Managers can change and policies can shift. You want to protect yourself in case anything changes.
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9 Tips for Negotiating All Aspects of a New Job originally appeared on usnews.com
