The salary you receive has a lot to say about your worth in the work environment. Most employees are paid less than their skills are worth not because the company they work for is incapable of paying more, but because they didn’t negotiate salary to their advantage.
Salary negotiation is an important skill every job applicant must learn if they wish to be compensated fairly for the services they would be providing their employer. However, knowing when and how to negotiate a salary is more important.
This article will share a few tips on how to effectively negotiate a salary during a job interview to your advantage.
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How to Negotiate a Salary During a Job Interview
Salary Negotiation is like walking on a land mine, if you are not tactful and diplomatic well, it can explode to your disadvantage. But don’t worry the highest that could happen is; that the salary amount you wish for might be rejected by the hiring team or you walk away if they are offering to pay lesser than you think your skills deserve.
Before you go for that job interview;
Research
Researching the job requirement and the average salary paid for the job role by other companies in the locality will inform you on the salary range you should suggest while negotiating a salary.
Also, set a target and realistic salary range that matches the skills and values you will be offering the organisation.
Research the organization’s strengths and weaknesses. This will enable you to present your values in a way that fits their dire needs. When they realise that you have what they need, it will be easier for you to negotiate a salary as they would stop at nothing to include you on their team.
Rehearse
Most individuals find it uncomfortable to negotiate a salary during a job interview while some are afraid to state what they want. It should not be so, after getting a job offer, the salary you would earn is the next important thing you should consider. Practicing how to negotiate a salary before your job interview will help to eliminate the awkwardness and fear you could face on the actual day.
Salary Negotiation Tips
Understand the power of timing
Knowing when and how to negotiate a salary is important. Negotiating your salary too early could present you as needy and only interested in the paycheck.
Even when the hiring executive brings up the topic you should try to avert it until you have been formally hired.
Present yourself to win
You are addressed just the way you present yourself. If you must negotiate your salary and get a salary offer that compensates your skills, don’t hesitate to present a prospective employer or hiring team with your unique selling advantage.
Share details backed with facts about the values, unique skills and strengths you will be providing the organisation/company with. Remember the research you carried out earlier about the organisation? Leverage your employer’s dire needs and work objectives and present your worth to suit them.
Talk about it at any chance you’ve got, when they are convinced that you have what they are looking for, they will not hesitate to give you the salary amount you want.
Be careful with the information you share
Don’t share your salary history with the hiring team during a job interview but you can state the significant work experience you have and the companies you have worked with.
Whilst, being confident and gracious in the details you provide, be honest as well. Never mislead your prospective employer not invent job offers that are not there. Even if there you have other job offers and you must state them, present the information in a way that suggests that you are willing to work with them based on their values that match yours.
Consider other rewarding benefits
Just before you negotiate a salary, think beyond the actual salary.
- Are there other benefits attached to the job? Inquire about it. Discuss the Job insurance policies, allowances and other flexible work options the company would be offering.
- Does the job offer an option of a day off and can the job responsibilities be done from home sometimes?
This will help you to set a flexible salary range that doesn’t seem like you are exploiting your prospective employer.
Be diplomatic and tactful
Knowing how to negotiate a salary is also necessary. Speaking in a way that conveys your message without sounding needy, authoritative, or argumentative with your prospective employer is a necessary negotiation skill you must learn.
You should start with a salary range that is slightly above the amount you would like to be paid. Remember, any amount your mention is subject to negotiation. Stating a lower salary range might get you a salary that is below what you wanted.
Even when, stating your salary try not to be conclusive, leave room for negotiation and if you must provide a counter offer back it up with facts about your strength and don’t spend a great deal of time on negotiation if you don’t want to sound needy.
Don’t accept the first salary offer
Yes, negotiate the salary your employer offers. You are expected to. Just like you are open to bargaining your prospective employer will also be using his bargaining power as well. You will realize that you can get a better salary offer and that the first offer was only the least your prospective employer is willing to pay.
Seal your negotiation with the ink
Writing your salary agreement is the last step in the salary negotiation process. The benefits and insurance your job offer has or will be given to you as agreed by your prospective employer should be written down for future reference. Doing this will keep you insured and act as a reference for the rainy day or if your employer fails to keep up with agreements made during the job interview.
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