Here are a few tips on how to negotiate salary:
- Research salary surveys for your occupation, experience, and location to determine what you are worth.
- Research the company to see if the company is in a growth mode or hurting financially. If growing, go for top salary, benefits and rewards. If not, remain flexible go with what you can comfortably live on, but you may want to think seriously about working there.
- Sell your skills, talents, accomplishments, work ethics, and experience for top pay.
- When asked about your salary requirement, professionally and politely sidestep the question. Say, “It's negotiable,” or “I am open for a competitive offer,” until you are confident they want to hire you. Then, YOU have the advantage.
- When asked directly about your salary range, counter by asking what the range is for the job, so you know the boundaries.
- Command rather than demand while working toward a win-win situation. Appear eager and enthusiastic, but willing to walk away if you cannot reach a satisfactory number. Always leave the door open, consider the offer overnight then, if needed, professionally decline the offer.
- Even if you get what you ask for, ask for a day or two to think it over.
- Never lie about your past salary. Reference checks might expose you.
- Consider the value of benefits and rewards, such as stock options, bonuses, telecommuting options, and promotion potential.
- Ask about extra benefits and rewards, so it appears that you are compromising if you do not get them, or attempt to trade them for a higher salary.
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