Salary Negotiations

[Mia1982]

Dear All

I would greatly appreciate your assistance with a query I have.
I am preparing for a 2nd interview and I know in advance the salary range is around 60k-65k. This is for a sales analayst role at an airline company.
Also its at a company I really really really want to work for.
I am a qualified accountant and for this job you dont need to be one.
My minimum ideal salary I would be looking for is 70k but the range I suppose I would be ok with is 65k-70k. There are also other benefits but am not quite sure what they are and this could even out what I am wanting perhaps.
So how do I go about wanting what I am worth here being that I am a professional accountant? They will probably go with someone less costly even though I have clearly expresed I want the job and so forth.

Many thanks
Mia

[ahos77]

Hi Mia,

Salary negotiation is always a tricky thing--how hard do you push for an ideal salary without causing them to offer the job to someone else?

The fact you are a qualified accountant may help you get the job over other candidates and help position you for an offer at the top of their range, but unfortunately, they aren't necessarily going to offer you what a professional accountant is worth because--as you stated--you don't need to be one for this position.

Before you go into the 2nd interview, you need to know what minimum salary you'll accept for this position. According to Frances Cole Jones, this is your "walk away number"--your absolute bottom figure, based on concrete costs such as groceries and bills. Can you live off of 65K? Really evaluate your expenses before you agree to 65K just to fit in their range.

Other important factors to consider include the companies' policy regarding employee reviews and raises, holiday bonuses, retirement plans, and the possibility for advancement (does the company prefer to promote from within or without). Great benefits can add thousands to an annual salary. Consider inquiring about the possibility of extra vacation days or flexible hours if you find the salary lacking. If this is a company you'd like to work with long-term, then it may be worth going below your ideal salary for the sake of your career.

When going into the interview, be prepared to sell yourself as a qualified accountant they're getting for a steal, but I wouldn't expect them to pay 5K more than their top offering, sorry. Since you say you really really really want to work for their company, if you can live on 65K, I'd give them your range of 65-70k then accept if they don't break 65k.

[sarahpinton]

There's no way to stop them if they want to go for someone cheaper.

But you should be firm on your feet. Hold your position good and don't be afraid to say no if they don't want to give you what you want. I would guess you can get 65k but if you want more you can play it risky and say you're going to go to someone else.

Seeing how you are a professional you can go in there with the confidence that they can't find anybody as good as you. Walk like that and they'll take it like that.

Good luck

[KA]

Let the employer decide to hire you first, then discuss salary. You will be in a much better position to negotiate a higher salary and to secure the position. Always negotiate after you are offered the job, but before you accept the offer. http://www.kmd-solutions.com/Salary-Negotiation.htm