Salary, Raises, & Perks: Negotiate to Get Paid What Youre Worth!

Salary negotiation requires preparation and good timing. It's important to determine your salary needs and research the market value for the job you want. Timing is critical for negotiation. Discussing salary requirements too early in the interview process can jeopardize your chances of getting the salary you deserve. Failure to negotiate could result in losing money.

Market Value

The negotiation process begins by determining what salary you need. Prepare a detailed outline of your expenses. Next determine the market value of the job for which you are applying. Research similar positions with other companies and jobs requiring comparable experience. Information can be gathered from classified ads, competitors, informational interviews, and web sites.

Win-Win

Be polite and professional during negotiation. Try to impress to the employer that your goal is a win-win situation. It is your job to convince the employer that you are worth more than they are offering. Be prepared for objections by talking about how your past accomplishments benefited previous employers.

Wait

Never bring up salary until an offer has been extended. At that point, the employer has decided that you are the best person for the job, giving you bargaining power. If the employer brings up salary before an offer has been made, be prepared with a response. For example, "I need to know more about the job responsibilities before I can talk salary." If the position is newly created you could say, "Since this is a newly created, position, I'm sure you have a salary in mind."

Start Higher

When you have determined an acceptable salary, start negotiating higher than you think the employer wants to pay, and then go to a middle ground. If the employer offers you $50,000 and you want $55,000, ask for $58,000 and then work backward toward your target salary.

The employer may offer you some reasons for not wanting to give you the requested salary. Again, be prepared with a response. If the employer tells you their budget won't allow an increase, negotiate some perks such as flex-time or an early salary review. If the employer tells you that you would be earning more than others at that level, point out that you should earn more, because you're worth more. Another option is to ask for a different job title so that you'll fall into a higher salary range. Be sure to mention that you will take on some additional responsibilities to compensate for the higher salary.

Perks

If the employer can't increase the salary, be creative and look at other ways to boost your compensation package. You could ask for extra vacation days. Another option is to ask for an early salary review. Request that you be given a three-month review. If your performance is satisfactory, ask that you receive your annual raise at that time. Other options to consider include: a one time sign-on bonus, flex-time, or a shorter work week.

Get Paid What You're Worth

Why should you negotiate your salary? You have a right to be paid what you're worth and what the market supports. Records indicate that 60 percent of all negotiators get more than the initial offer. If you don't negotiate, you'll lose money, since each annual raise is based on the amount of your starting salary. For example, suppose you were hired at $30,000 per year, without negotiating. Had you negotiated you may have started at $32,000. Based on a five percent salary increase each year, you would lose more than $26,000 over ten years.

Finally, salary negotiation isn't reserved for the corporate world. People in all types of industries can successfully negotiate their salary. Remember, you are negotiating for your future!

Joan Runnheim, M.S., founder of Pathways Career Success Strategies [http://www.pathwayscareer.com ] in Hudson, WI, is a career consultant who helps individuals reach their career goals by developing an effective career development plan or job search strategy. As a career advisor for Monster.com, [http://forums.monster.com/forum.asp?forum=3560 ] Joan has been able to reach out to millions of people with her career-related articles and advice. To subscribe to her free bi-monthly newsletter "Strategies for Career Success" go to: [http://www.pathwayscareer.com] For more information call 715-549-6432. Email: joan@pathwayscareer.com

---

Corporate World: Jungle Or Paradise?

The road to the top is not easy, it is... Read More

Old Hiring Foxes vs. The Hedgehogs

You are about to compete for the best people again.... Read More

How to Write a Scientific Resume

You're a scientist, you're very well educated, you're intelligent, and... Read More

Tips for Handling On the Job Setbacks

If you've chosen a business career, you will inevitably experience... Read More

F-E-A-R in the Job Search!

Fear in starting a job search is a four letter... Read More

17 Surefire Ways to Annoy Potential Employers

Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still... Read More

Acing The Interview

It's no secret that there is a lot of competition... Read More

Moving From A Weekend Hobby To Career In The Arts

Building a career as an artist takes hard work. Because... Read More

I Just Lost My Job: How Am I Going To Tell My Kids?

One of the responsibilities of a human resources professional is... Read More

What is My Calling?

"What is my calling?" Do any of us really have... Read More

Job! Money! Career!

Feel somehow your life is stuck in MS-OFFICE ? The... Read More

The Perils Of Employment: Are You About To Be Let Go?

From the moment you are born and you take your... Read More

50 Things To Do To Your Boss That Are Fun For You, But Not For Them

1. You're eavesdropping and you hear your boss has reservations... Read More

In a Rut? Ready for a Career Change?

Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and... Read More

Career Education Options For Working Adults

Ask yourself this question: "Do I like what I do... Read More

Bullseye Interviewing

An interview is much like a blind date. You have... Read More

How to Track Your Right Career

Are you lost in the wilderness when it comes to... Read More

Discontentment in the Workplace

While more people are finding employment, more employed workers are... Read More

Build Your Career Decision By Decision

Do you dislike making decisions and avoid the challenge whenever... Read More

Business Experience is YOUR Security Cover

Some may want to interpret "independent" to mean WITHOUT others.... Read More

Six Factors That Can Cost You the Interview/Job

Most job seekers know that an unprofessional appearance will count... Read More

What is Absolutely the Best Day to go on a Job Interview?

First of all, to fully understand and appreciate the answer,... Read More

How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part I

The AIDA formula is as old as dirt. It was... Read More

Three Steps to Writing Your Own Resume

While most professionals hire a professional resume writer, some draft... Read More

Dissatisfied with Your Job? Take Your Power Back!

Apparently, there are all sorts of reasons to be dissatisfied... Read More

Handling the Dreaded Why Did You Leave? Question

If you left your last job under less-than-ideal circumstances, you... Read More

Writing Great Cover Letters

Cover letters are an essential ingredient to your complete résumé... Read More

What is Contract Programming? An Alternative to the Conformity of Everyday Employment

What is contract programming, you ask? Well, when companies need... Read More

Pre-Interview Web Research

You have obtained an interview -- congratulations! You feel prepared... Read More

Adapting To Change In A Changing World

Have you learnt a new skill or improved upon your... Read More

Change Your Life, Change Your Career And Get A New Job!

Careers dictate resume formatDifferent careers use different forms of resumes.... Read More

Stand Out From the Crowd with Simple Marketing Methods

Although today's job market can be very competitive, many job... Read More

Resume Success Factors--What Exactly Is A Resume Anyway?

You know you're good...real good. The problem, though, is that... Read More