Quick Tips to Prepare for Salary Negotiation
A friend recently asked me for some advice or tips on how to negotiate a salary. They are no expert at salary negotiation and would like to get better.
Expert salary negotiation takes a lot of experience and a lot of practice. My experience has allowed me to negotiate salary many many times, and I have been able to realize significant salary gains as a result. I am writing here to outline what I consider a great, quick approach that can help arm you for salary negotiation and get you ready to negotiate a great salary.
What follows here is a great set of introductory strategies, however there are many approaches to salary negotiation. It is very important for those looking for a higher salary to have the full picture. You need to know all the relevant strategies for salary negotiation to be successful. You may be faced with objections and have negotiation hurdles to overcome.
I can't address it all tactics here, but I am willing to give a brief overview of the best possible salary negotiation approach.
Check out the following salary negotiation do's and don'ts.
1) Job market research is crucial in finding out the value of the job you are going to fill. Check out these web sites: salary.com or monster.com or salaryexpert.com for valuable market data research.
2) Write down all the value adds that you contribute to the company. Give extra attention to tasks you do that are over and beyond expectations.
3) It is very useful to know where you stand compared to other staff in your company. This can involve some research on your part. Ask people. It is seemingly more acceptable these days to discuss salary in social circles. Choose your words carefully when discussing this sensitive subject.
4) Plant the thought in your supervisors mind. Approach them at a stategic time when they are not too budy. Avoid times when they are rushed out the door or off to their next staff meeting.
5) Ask if you can discuss salary when it is a good time for them, and then ask for your increase. You should be confident about your request because you've done your research and built your case.
6) Make sure you've conscientiously rehearsed through some objections and have thought out your responses to the objections. There is always a way to keep the salary negotiation on a win-win path.
7) It can get discouraging in salary negotiatiosn, but do your best to maintain your high self confidence. Never give an ultimatum when negotiating salary because you may be forced to act on it. You don't want to find yourself looking further for another job.
There are many ways negotiations can play themselves out, and its important to avoid pitfalls and other roadblocks that can sabotage your success. Make sure to consider topics and approaches that you could take that would cause you to fail. Awareness is the best way to avoid these problems and to come out successful.
One successful strategy is to defer the topic of how much salary until the employer brings it up. They will either disclose their acceptable range, or they will ask you what your acceptable salary range is. It is best to put this off as until as late in the salary negotiation process as possible.
When you receive an offer that you're not happy you can always ask the employer the question, is that the best possible offer you can make me at this time? When you follow up with silence, the boss will be scrambling to say something. If the answer to the question is yes, you need to discuss why you cannot accept it, and that you have reasons to believe you are worth more. If the response is no then ask them if it is possible for them to give your top salary request.
Whatever tactics and strategies you use, make sure you're prepared with a well supported case for your increase. Know your script well. Be prepared for their objections, and know how to deal with unplanned or unusual situations. Always leave the door open for further negotiation, until you get the close that you are happy with.
To your total negotiating success.
Trevor Davide Grant is a project manager in the IT field and has extensive experience in salary negotiation. Trevor has worked for global telecommunications companies, electric utilities, software development consulting, and a significant web 2.0 website. He has learned how to negotiate a salary in the most effective way. Learn great tips on the topic of salary negotiating at http://www.HowToNegotiateASalary.com
