Salary negotiation produces anxiety in many people. This chapter in What Color is Your Parachute helps you to feel confident in yourself, and gives you proven tips on how to conquer that negotiation. I am sharing with you the summaries of my reading, but as always, I highly suggest you read this fantastic book!
1. Negotiate at the end! Save your negotiations for the end of the interviewing process. This should be after they know that they want you, but before they officially have you. Also, never be the first person to bring up salary. Let them ask you what you are looking for, and then tactfully remind them that they created the position and then ask what their range is.
2. Remember that an employer is going to usually offer you the lowest starting salary for your skills. Sometimes they really can only offer you this, especially if they are a small company, but remind them why they want your skill set and how beneficial you will be for them. The top of their range should be the bottom of your range for the salary you are willing to accept.
3. Again, never be the first to bring up salary. No one quite knows why, but usually the first one to bring up salary loses. Let them bring up a number first, and then work your way up from there.
4. Research, research, research. Just as you have done research about the company you are interviewing with, be sure to research what the typical salary is for someone in your field with your experience. While it may be time consuming upfront, that extra money will make a difference in the long run! Be sure to not only research online, but through other interviews, informational interviews, and job postings too!
5. While this tip may seem a little complicated in the book, it really isn't. Figure out what the salary range of the person below you would make. Then do the same for the person above you. Make your salary negotiation range between the high and low of each of those respected ranges.
6. Get it in writing! Don't just leave the negotiation on a "yeah, thanks." Negotiate any benefits that you would like included such as various insurances as well as vacation time. Then get your salary and benefits written up in a formal agreement that both you and your interviewer can sign. If they flat out refuse to do this, this raises red flags, and now you might want to beware of your future work environment.
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