It’s one of those awkward conversations that you dread to have with your superiors, but it’s one that simply has to happen in the aid of career progression. Unfortunately, salary negotiation is an art and storming into an office demanding ‘x’ amount just isn’t going to cut it.
There’s all sorts of guides on the matter and we were alerted to a recent discussion following a Tweet by JD Dukes. While nothing is ever going to make the task simple, we should point out that it’s in your employer’s best interest to make you an attractive offer. Some are more against increases than others, but at the same time it’s a lot more expensive to recruit and train a new face.
Therefore, you certainly have at least some bargaining power. To get the most out of your position, here are the best suggestions to help you on your way.
Don’t put any numbers on the table
You might have a salary figure in your mind, but don’t put this on the table during your initial negotiations.
It’s always best to wait for your employers to make the first offer, and then you can go from there. If you put a figure out there, that will be your ceiling. If they kick-off negotiations, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Know what you are truly worth
As we’ve already said, you’ve got to keep a figure in your head when you start negotiating a salary. Of course, it’s not about plucking a figure out of thin air here – there has to be plenty of substance behind your expectations.
The power of the internet means that this is relatively straightforward. Simply searching for a similar role can provide you with all of the ammunition you need – and at least give you a ballpark figure.
Back up your claims with your achievements
Of course, you might have a good idea on what others in your field are paid, but all that will be for nothing if you don’t have the results to back it up.
In other words, if your experiences so far in the role haven’t yielded overly positive results, it’s going to be hard to convince your superiors to increase your pay packet.
However, if you have been successful, it’s time to bring hard numbers into the equation. Show what you have accomplished; whether this is increasing turnover by 20% or any other favorable perspective. Then, any increase to your salary suddenly seems like a good deal.
Keep your personal situation separate
Something that you shouldn’t bring up during these periods are your personal reasons behind your request. Stating that you need more money to pay for Christmas, or any other excuse, isn’t going to get you anywhere.
As we’ve already said in the most recent point, your main approach should be to highlight what you have brought to the company. Management are unlikely to be too bothered about how they affect your own situation.
