You’ve gone on two interviews and you’ve been offered a job with a company you really want to work for. The company knows your salary expectations, but when you get the offer letter, you’re a bit disappointed. What do you do now?
Uncomfortable as it may be, it’s time for you to negotiate. This isn’t everyone’s favorite thing to do — in fact, just half of all respondents in a Comparably study said they negotiated their current salary. But it’s often necessary, particularly as you gain more experience and progress in your career.
Here are some tips for how to negotiate your salary like a pro.
1. Do your market research.
There was a time when figuring out what you should be earning was more mysterious. Today, there are many ways to get that information. Sites such as Comparably make it easy, letting you look up what people like you are earning. Use this data to figure out whether or not the proposed salary is in a fair range based on your years of experience, location, education, and other factors.
What you were making in your previous job doesn’t matter. In fact, many cities and states have passed legislation that bars employers from asking job candidates what they have made in previous jobs. It’s all about what your bring to the table, and coming equipped with a good handle on what people in your role should be earning will only benefit you in the long run.
2. Practice an attitude of assertiveness, not aggression.
You don’t want to start off on the wrong foot with your future employer. Make sure that any conversation you have with an employer is characterized by respect and assertiveness, not aggression. Instead of saying something like, “Listen, I thought you knew what I wanted to earn. I’m really disappointed. This doesn’t come close,” say something like: “Based on market research and what I know about your company, I am hoping to be somewhere in the range of $x to $x.” Discussions about salary are hard, but having a cooperative, polite attitude will help the process immensely.
3. Show why you’re worth it.
Avoid bringing up your financial burdens when asking for more money. Sure, paying off a mortgage and raising three small kids is a lot, but everyone is dealing with something, and you’ll have a better chance of success if you focus on the job itself.
What does that mean? Reiterate what it is you can bring to this role, department and company. What are some of the things you’re most intent on solving? How will solving those problems help the company overall? Spell these things out in a polite and meaningful way. Show your enthusiasm about joining the team.
Related: How to Address a Cover Letter with No Name
4. Target the bonus instead of the annual salary.
Sometimes companies are in the position of not being able to raise someone’s base salary for reasons related to organizational structure. As a prospective job candidate, it’s worth considering asking for a signing bonus instead; you’ll often find that employers have more wiggle room here.
5. Don’t forget about your vacation and flex days.
Often, a job candidate might look at the annual salary and forget that there’s more to compensation than the dollar sign. If work-life balance is important to you (and we have a feeling it is), look at your PTO and vacation policies. Is there any room for more flexibility there? Ask your future employer about getting an extra few days of vacation if that’s something that matters to you. At the end of the day, the time you spend taking care of yourself can be worth far more than you imagine.
