When the recruiter is about to offer you the job, the question of how much you hope to be paid for the position starts to loom. The tension is there, the lead-up questions are coming, but you are sure that it is going to happen anytime.
So that you are not caught anytime it happens, we have put a little something together on the topic of negotiating job offers.
Should You Consider Negotiating Job Offers?
Yes, yes and yes. The answer to this will always be yes.
When you go out to buy anything in the market, you always want to make sure you get the best quality at the most inexpensive price. Now, that is the same thing the recruiter will want to play out with you.
You should know that if they get you to join the company with the lowest salary possible, they will get a pat on the back for a job well done at your expense. When the recruiter throws you the first offer, we want you to know one thing – that’s not the best they can do!
Why Bother Negotiating Job offers?
There are a lot of reasons why you should bother. For one, you will be getting paid less than your industry colleagues. The sad part is that you won’t be able to ask for a raise just anyhow, so good luck trying to catch up to others’ pay scale when they are busy advancing the career ladder too.
Speaking of career ladders, how much you earn (which is determined by the starting salary you failed to negotiate) is subconsciously a measure of your worth to the company.
If you are receiving $75,000 per year as a General Manager, and the industry standard for a Senior General Manager is about $150,000, no one will make that big a leap on you. If they ever consider you for the position, be prepared to earn even lesser.
You Should Also Read: The single most important reason why you should be yourself at work
Tips for Negotiating Job Offers
If you ever find yourself in the position where you are being asked how much you will want to be paid for the job, defer the question back to the interviewer. If you pick a figure, it could be lower than usual or higher than average.
Even if it’s lower, your interviewer will still want to negotiate, because that is human nature. If it’s higher, know that some companies have given recruiters strict information to let go of anyone that goes beyond their pay bracket.
When the interviewer makes the first move, that gives you something to build on. Instead of answering outright, let them know you will get back to them. At no point should you sound utterly excited about the figure that has been given to you.
Know that you can earn much more than that, but stay confident and open all through.
Telling the interviewer you’ll get back to them puts you back in the driver’s seat. They know you have the chance to do your research, discuss with people and come back with a better figure. Best believe they’ll be able to match you when you do get back to them.
As a side note, have a reliable reference to backup whatever figure you’ll provide next. Don’t just pick a number because that is what you want to be paid. You can choose one based on what ‘people with your skillset are earning’ or ‘industry colleagues are earning on the average.’ That shows that you are not driven by greed, but a knowledge of what you’re worth.
Finally, quote slightly higher than what you want to earn. If your plan is for $110,000, quote for $120,000. We have always said it is human nature to negotiate. By the time your interviewer aims to meets you halfway, they would have landed right in your pocket.
Now, who got the better bargain?