Free Career and Job Search Advice

josie

You've done it! You have gotten your first interview out of the way, and they want to hire you. Now you have to work out the fine details of employment. When it comes to salary negotiation, beginning the process by saying as little as possible is very important. The biggest mistake can be simply calling out a number; if you speak first you might be cheating yourself out of a lot of money. Let the employer speak first. And keep in mind that salary can encompass more than a paycheck.
First, check out the other details of your employment contract very carefully and ask about anything unclear. The amount of money you could be making comes at the very end of the negotiation process. It is more important to know what you are agreeing to concerning job duties, reasons for dismissal, and so on. But when it does get to the part about money, consider paid vacations, sick pay, and other perks as part of the salary negotiation process. Salary can include paid vacation days and include reimbursement for travel, clothing allowances, and more. Things that the employer will be providing you that you would otherwise be paying for yourself should be counted towards your total pay, at least in your mind. It will be difficult to predict the exact dollar value of any extra perks, but they should still be considered. If the salary being offered to you seems low, take the perks into consideration. You might be getting a good deal after all.
As for the actual negotiation process, keep quiet and let the employer do the talking. They know what they are willing to pay but will typically start at a lower level and plan on negotiating up. They just tend to hope that they "buy you out" at a good price. To keep from getting undercompensated, check out the statistical average for a job of your type on a national average, and maybe data from other competing companies. This will give you an idea of when to accept. Just like the employer, start out high and negotiate towards them. In the bartering process, actual pay could be sacrificed for the addition of perks and reimbursements. Finally, when the agreement is reached, read the offer letter carefully before signing it and ask any questions. Ideally, the negotiation process should be smooth and quick. But if you are having difficulty difficulty during the negotiation process, keep this in mind. It could be an insight into the job you are about to begin.

http://www.cvtips.com/job_offer_salary_negotiation.html
http://www.cvtips.com/salary_history_and_negotiations.html

julian · Expert Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 255 Career Advice: +2/-0

Some say it is inappropriate to put the money problem during an interview, because this may decrease your chances of actually getting a job, but from my experience, it is better to say what you think about how much you would like to get on a specific position than to go back on your words after, or to enter a negotiation when it might be too late. I think the employer might actually think you are a person who knows what you want. so....

http://www.cvtips.com/discuss_money_in_interview.html

KA · Expert Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 235 Career Advice: +2/-0

Also, it is a good idea to start with the base salary negotiations first. Once you agree on a base salary, start negotiating additional benefits. This way you have a better chance of getting the best for each.

May be worth having a look at http://kmd-solutions.com/salary_negotiation_example.htm & http://kmd-solutions.com/salary_negotiation_coaching.htm

Join our Newsletter
CopyRight © 1999-2008 cvtips.com This material cannot be published under any form or condition.