Accepting a new job offer is an exciting time in your life. It gives you a chance to open more opportunities and helps you grow personally and professionally. However, you’re not always going to get paid the amount you think you deserve. In order to make sure your next job reflects your worth, here are some great tips you can use to negotiate your starting salary.
1. Understand the job thoroughly
Research your position and know all of the responsibilities, tasks, and duties it entails. If you’re not quite sure, ask the hiring manager or recruiter. You can even reach out to other members of your team to find out how you will be interacting with them on a daily basis or to get a better feel for what you’re going to be expected to do. Once you have a better understanding of your job function and what it will require of you in the short and long run, you can move onto step 2.
2. Build your case
You most likely were hired because you were qualified—so bringing up your qualifications isn’t going to be very convincing. You need to align your background (whether that’s your educational or working history) with other skills you have that aren’t required or listed in the job description. Talk about how they will benefit your team and the company. See where these skills can fill in gaps within your position. Leverage your experience and other transferrable skills to make yourself even more unique and valuable.
3. Ask for a reasonable range
Conduct market research for your position. This means you should take into account the region and level of the position combined with your years of experience. You can also research what the company has traditionally paid for others in your role. Once you have a good understanding of what the average salary is with all of these factors taken into consideration, negotiate reasonably. Employers are more likely to consider your offer when the request is reasonable and backed by a strong case.
4. Make a counteroffer
Be prepared for your employer to say no or to make you an offer lower than what you’re negotiating for. If this is the case, have a counteroffer in mind. You can ask to see your full compensation package to figure out other areas that you may need higher salary to compensate, such as traveling, medical benefits, paid time off, etc. Then put some time between yourself and your employer to let them know that you’re putting thought into your decision. Afterward, bring your initial salary request to a number that you think is still fair to you and that your employer could agree upon.
5. Be gracious
Remember to be appreciative of the opportunity you’re being given. Because jobs today aren’t so easy to come by as they used to be, you want to show your employer that you’re grateful for this chance to contribute to the company. So no matter what the outcome, handle the entire process with professionalism, grace, and care!
Wishing you all the best of luck on your job search out there and hope you found these tips useful!