How to negotiate salary and a job offer
Got a job offer? Don’t rush to accept it. Knowing how to negotiate a better job offer—even asking for more money—could be worthwhile. If you got a job offer, assume the employer is motivated to agree to a deal that makes everyone happy. Then start planning for a job offer negotiation.
- Schedule a conversation with the right person to negotiate
- Research about salaries for this role and those comparable
- Prioritize what you want to get out of negotiating
- Prepare your bargaining chips
- Write out a strategy based on your ideal outcome
- Stay polite during your conversation
- Negotiate all the issues at once
- Show them what you’re worth
- Be patient
Debunking Salary Negotiation Myths
Most employers work with salary ranges rather than specific amounts. There may be rigid pay systems in place but there is more often than not some flexibility. If you are provided with a range of salaries, the low end will be for people who meet the minimum requirements and the high end for individuals with above average qualifications. If you are offered a salary on the low end of the range, review the job description to determine where your skill level falls to leverage your negotiation.
Unless you somehow become very irreplaceable in the organization meaning the employer cannot function without you, the initial salary your receive can determine what you receive in the long run. Once you accept a salary, you may have little or no leverage in future salary negotiations because pay raises, especially in the public sector, are determined by pay scales. Unfortunately, people think they are worth more than they are but employers do not view you in the same light.
While it is always best to keep the discussion of salary to the very end, it is not always possible. Some employers raise the question early on in order to screen you in or out of their salary range. Be prepared to discuss the concept of salary in the context of ranges appropriate for the type of position you are interviewing for. At this stage, you should let employers know that salary is important for you, that you’ve done your research and expect to receive a salary based on your qualifications and skill.