From www.Careerbuilder.com
In one corner: the prospective employer, who wants to hire you at the lowest reasonable salary. In the other corner: you, wanting to be hired at the highest reasonable salary. In between is the negotiable area, which, according to the HR managers we spoke to, ranges anywhere from 10 to 30 percent.
Should you bother to negotiate for a higher salary? Absolutely! "The level of salary is a predictor of the level of responsibility you will have within the company," says Human Resources expert Lori Kocon. "And since future salaries, salary increases and bonuses are based on this one, an increase of just $1,000 in the negotiated salary may represent $15,000 to $30,000 over the next 10 to 15 years. "Most employers are not trying to exploit you and will not take offense as long as you approach the negotiation with professionalism, tact and goodwill," Kocon adds.
Here are 10 ways to do just that:
Dress and act the part.
Remember going into the interview that much of your salary negotiation is already non-verbally transacted by your image and bearing.
Be patient.
Wait until after the job has been firmly offered to discuss or negotiate salary.
Research the Salary Range for the position.
If you have close contacts at the hiring company, they may be able to provide you with the actual salary guidelines for the job grade or position. Otherwise, you can find out what salary individuals in similar positions are making by checking out our salary calculator.
Don’t be the first to give a figure.
Ask for the salary range for this position before offering any figure you have in mind. (In some cases, the manager may have discretionary power to go 20 percent above the highest salary he or she mentions to get an exceptional candidate.)
Pay attention.
Listen and watch for all verbal and behavioral cues that will give you a better idea of the real needs, values and aspirations of the company.
Be comfortable with silence.
In salary negotiation situations, the person who has the least tolerance of silence will fill the void by speaking – often with a concession.
Don't sell yourself short.
Never downplay your strengths or over-emphasize your weaknesses during the process of salary negotiation. Be amicable, but firm. In higher level positions, especially, the most appealing candidates have a pleasant air of invincibility about them.
Give yourself time.
Do not put pressure on yourself to make a decision or grant concessions on the spot. If they tell you the salary offered is final, say that you’ll need a day or so to think about it.
Negotiate for the future as well as the present.
If you are told the salary isn’t flexible, perhaps there is another area to negotiate. Try to increase the total value of your compensation package through benefits such as deferred compensation, relocation assistance, vacation time, stock options, club membership, commissions or a company car. (As a rule of thumb, benefits are worth 25 to 30 percent of the cited salary.)
Make a decision.
Don’t turn down an offer until you are absolutely sure you’ve made the best decision for your situation. The way you negotiate salary can show the employer how you will handle various business situations.
The key is to negotiate salary in a way that gains you not only a higher salary, but the employers’ trust and respect.
A fun way to test your salary knowledge and compare pay for different professions
