Negotiate Your Salary Like A Pro

[Hornbill Oriental]

During an interview, many job applicants get caught unprepared when asked salary questions. Poor answers to money questions can cost the applicant the job, or if hired, can result
in being paid thousands of dollars less than the employer would have
been willing to pay. The following steps can prepare you to negotiate
your salary like a pro!

1. Know the salary range you can expect to be paid for the position you have targeted. Not knowing this information is like trying to negotiate on a new car without knowing the dealer's costs. You must know this in order to
negotiate effectively. Here are some ways you can find salary
information for your target position:

Internet sites:

- A great resource is found at www.salary.com.

-Salary information can also be found at the O*NET site

-Information can also be obtained through the Occupational Outlook Handbook, other Internet sites, state/federal employment departments and employment agencies. Printed information will be dated, and may be
national rather than specific to your geographic region.

-You can also conduct a labor market survey to obtain accurate salary information for yourgeographic area. A labor market survey consists of calling five to ten employers who would hire people for the position you
are targeting. Ask them how often they have positions open and the
approximate salary range for the job when they do have positions open.
By surveying a number of employers you can determine an appropriate
salary range for the position for which you are applying.

2. Remember that pay is negotiable. Employers usually do not have one particular dollar amount in mind for a position. Instead, they typically have a range (for example,
$40,000 to $50,000) within which they will be willing to negotiate. An
employer's goal usually is to get the right employee for the least
amount possible. After all, they are running a business and have to
consider their bottom line. Their first offer, therefore, is usually not
the top dollar they are willing to pay.

3. Try to avoid discussing salary (and other benefits) until the employer is interested in hiring you. The time you have the most power to negotiate is from the time the employer wants you up to the time you accept the position. If salary questions are brought up early in the interview attempt to defer the questions. If, however, the employer insists that you answer
at that time, or if you are asked after the employer has indicated that
they are interested in you, be prepared with a strategy for responding
that still leaves you room to negotiate.

For example, if the employer asks, "What are your salary requirements?" you can respond by saying that while salary is important, right now you are more concerned as to whether you are a good fit for the position.
Tell the employer that once you both determine that you are the right
person, you're sure that the two of you can come up with a satisfactory
salary amount.

4. Once you are given a firm job offer, and the company has offered you a specific salary amount, you are now in a position to negotiate, if needed. For example,
you are offered $45,000 per year and based on your market research, a
more appropriate salary for someone with your skills and experiences is
$50,000 per year.

Negotiate by using questions, not ultimatums. You can state, for example: "Mr. Employer, I appreciate your job offer. I am excited about the duties of the job, the company seems to be a good fit for me and I believe that
you and I could work well together. I'm wondering if you could come up
to $50,000 per year?"

If needed, you can always discuss how you have conducted some market research and have determined that $50,000 per year seems appropriate for someone with your skills and experience.

If the employer says, "No, I'm sorry we can only pay $45,000 per year," you are still in a position to be able to accept the job if you so desire. But in many cases they will negotiate with you. And just
think--by asking questions you could add several thousand dollars to
your salary. It is possible to add thousands of dollars to your starting
salary by using some simple negotiation techniques.

5. Other benefits (for example, vacations, insurance benefits, etc.) may also be negotiable. Consider the overall compensation package when analyzing an offer.

6. It is easier to get a pay raise before you accept a job rather than after. Your negotiating power is strongest from the time that an employer wants to hire you until the time you accept the position. Do your
negotiating within that window of time.

7. Practice answering salary questions and negotiating with a friend or family member.

Like any new skill, it may seem awkward at first. With a little practice, however, you can learn to negotiate like a pro!