Don’t Take ‘No’ For An Answer: Negotiation Tactics That Actually Work
Are you feeling nervous, excited, and overwhelmed at the same time? Is it because of your job offer and negotiating a salary? Negotiating your salary can be intimidating but the key is to go in prepared with confidence. Knowing what you’re worth, doing research and understanding the employer’s needs are all important factors when trying to negotiate for a higher salary.
In this blog section, we’ll share some helpful tips on how to negotiate salary so that you walk away from the table knowing exactly what you negotiated for!
1. Know your worth
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘know your worth’, and it is something that is particularly applicable when negotiating salary. Knowing your value allows you to make sure that you are not being taken advantage of by whoever you are negotiating with.
When preparing to negotiate a salary, the first step should always be research – look into what similar jobs, backgrounds and experience within your industry earn so that you can determine how much exactly to request when entering negotiation. This will give bargaining power as well as peace of mind knowing exactly where you stand and what offers may be available elsewhere in case negotiations don’t go according to plan.
Being informed could also lead to an exploration of alternatives such as flexible working policies or changes in responsibilities on top of additional monetary rewards which could prove favourable for both parties involved – especially ones where a proficient team player isn’t just valued for the amount they get paid but instead their overall contribution beyond basic remuneration.
2. Weigh in perks and benefits
Negotiating salary can be a stressful and intimidating process. But one of the best tips to remember during your negotiation is to factor in perks and benefits. Perks and benefits are extras that go beyond your salary but can help you secure a better compensation package without simply raising your base salary offers.
Perks could include things like flexible working hours, additional vacation days, commuter stipends or bonuses, tuition reimbursement options, 401(k) matching programs, and so much more. These extra considerations should definitely not be ignored because they have inherent value that far exceeds their absence from the conversation.
Many people forget about these types of negotiations when it comes to getting a higher salary offer — either out of fear or lack of knowledge on how best to frame them into conversation —but if leveraged correctly they can make all the difference in securing what might be a seemingly meagre starting amount into an exciting career opportunity with significant potential for growth and financial security over time.
3. Set a range and tell them the higher figure
The idea behind this tip is simple. When presented with an offer from an employer, don’t just accept it outright or try to negotiate for more money immediately; instead, provide the employer with two figures – a lower figure within which you would be comfortable accepting and a higher figure which represents your ideal desired pay rate – before making any decisions.
By doing this, you demonstrate that you have thought ahead about what kind of compensation package was reasonable as well as intentional in requesting something closer to your ideal rate without asking too much at once – something employers appreciate and may even be incentivized by if they like both their options!
Moreover, picking the higher number provides employers more room for negotiation if they wish not only keeps negotiations open- ended but also allows them time to consider their true opinion on how capable they view each candidate compared with their expectations initially set out in offering salaries in order to make sure all parties involved feel satisfied at the end result!
4. Never be afraid to say ‘NO’
Negotiating salary can be a tricky proposition, especially if you are not sure of the value you have to offer. ‘Don’t be afraid to say no’ is one of the best tips when it comes to negotiating salary. This means that if an employer offers an unacceptable wage, then don’t hesitate to turn it down and look for other opportunities or negotiate with them further.
When stating your case and proposing your desired compensation package, make sure that you back up any requests with evidence as this will give you more leverage in finding common ground between both parties. It’s important not to come across as too demanding but also remain confident in stating what benefits and remuneration is reasonable for the job role at hand.
Saying “no” shows employers that you know your own worth and won’t settle for anything lower than what is fair relative to market standards.
5. Do a thorough research
It is essential to do a thorough research on current salary standards in the industry before drafting your salary negotiation email. It can be beneficial to speak with people within your professional network who are familiar with the prevailing trends of pay scales pertaining to various roles, qualifications and amount of experience. To get a better understanding about what you deserve for your position, you may use websites like Glassdoor and Indeed that show the average salaries for different profiles across multiple locations. This will help build up evidence when formulating an appropriate ask in the negotiation process.
6. Always see it from the perspective of growing
When engaging in negotiations, it is vital to remember that there is always a potential for disagreement – the hiring manager may not necessarily accept your reasons or demands.
Despite this seeming setback, you can use such occurrences as an opportunity to hone your assertiveness and boost your self-assurance.
Refusing to back down from what you believe in will be beneficial when it comes to future salary negotiations. Therefore, this simple yet effective advice should never be overlooked.
7. Try to understand what their limitations are
Although they may show appreciation for you and think you deserve all the success in the world, what they can actually offer might be limited due to their own constraints. It’s up to you to figure out where those boundaries are so that a fair solution is achieved by both parties involved.
For example, when negotiating with a large corporation who is looking to hire numerous people for similar positions, salary caps could already be in place that no negotiation would be able change.
However, there may still be room for flexibility when it comes to start dates, vacations days or bonus payments. On the other hand, if negotiating with a smaller company who has never hired someone like yourself before could mean more wiggle room regarding pay rate and job title but not much else beyond that.
By understanding exactly what kind of limitations each side have in store will give one an upper hand come deal time so finding solutions which works best for both sides should become easier as time goes on.
Conclusion
In conclusion, negotiating salary is a skill that takes time to perfect and practice. But with the right strategy and tactics you can increase your chances of getting the salary you deserve. Do thorough research on wages for similar positions in other organizations and compare it to what is being offered by your employer. Be confident, not aggressive while communicating with your employer, so they will take your demands seriously. Finally, have confidence in yourself as well; often times that can be the best negotiating tool of all!