Key Salary Negotiation Techniques

1. Wait until late in the interview stage before negotiating a starting salary. This will provide you with more leverage since the number of candidates will be smaller and the company will more than likely be convinced that you are a solid candidate.

2. You will be in the best position to negotiate your salary after the offer is made. It is not a good idea to ask for a better offer after accepting an initial one.

3. Avoid salary negotiations right after the company makes a job offer. Express appreciation but ask for some time to consider it. Companies usually provide people they want to hire a short period of time to think about the offer.

4. Conduct research to better prepare yourself for salary negotiations. It is beneficial to have an understanding of the average salaries of people in your field with comparable experience, salary levels of workers in the city where the company is located, and average salaries for people currently working with the company making you the offer. You should also take some time to familiarize yourself with details about the company’s benefits.

5. Most organizations are willing to negotiate starting salaries with new hires, so don’t let fear or inexperience stop you. It is not necessary to spend a lot of time researching tactics. Rather, you should be familiar with some basic negotiation skills.

6. Utilize your talents during salary negotiations. Good writers should submit their counterproposals in writing, while effective speakers can schedule one-on-one meetings with a manager. 7. During salary negotiations, request a salary slightly higher than what you want, so if the company hiring you counters, it will be close to the dollar amount you are seeking. After you are hired, be sure to work diligently and efficiently to demonstrate to your employer why you deserve the salary you requested.

8. Frequently, employers refuse to negotiate starting salaries. If this is the case for you, request performance based bonuses or a signing bonus.

9. If you make a counteroffer, list some benefits you are willing to go without if your employer cannot afford your requested salary otherwise.

10. Even if the starting salary is non-negotiable, you can request additional paid days off or vacation days, compensation for relocation expenses, etc.

11. While negotiating a starting salary, constantly remind your new employer what specifically you bring to the company and how you will help improve productivity. Also, be sure to be optimistic and express appreciation.

12. Do not participate in salary negotiations if you plan on refusing whatever the company offers.

13. Do not attempt to get companies bidding against each other if more than one company wants to hire you. This is a very ineffective strategy.

14. Do not be pessimistic during salary negotiations. A manager might be able to sense whether you have a poor attitude.

15. You might be placed in a situation where starting salaries are non-negotiable. A poor economy, a company’s size, or being inexperienced are just a few factors that an employer might cite when refusing to negotiate wages.

16. Do not demand a salary that you refuse to budge on and be very professional.

17. After making a counteroffer, be ready for a number of different responses, including acceptance, rejection, or acceptance with minor compromises.

18. You must be prepared to stop negotiating if it is going horribly. However, many people are not in a situation to do so because they do not currently have a job or other offers. If you must accept the job, do not make ultimatums or leave the negotiating table.

19. If the new employer agrees to your requested salary or counteroffer, do not request additional money. This is unprofessional, and the job offer could be dropped.

20. Request an accepted offer in writing. Companies refusing to do so are unprofessional. Consider preparing a written counteroffer since your requests will be listed.