Savvy Salary Negotiations Can Seriously Boost Your Income!
It's crunch time. Are you ready for smart salary negotiations?
Let's say you're a finalist. There are a couple other
candidates. But an employer has advised you that you are
well-qualified for the job opening for which you've been
interviewing. Now he/she wants to know what kind of money you're
looking for.
What can you do to maximize your salary?
Here are some tips that can help you dramatically move the odds
in your favor:
1. Do your homework. Research the salary range by checking out
friends in the same business. Also, go to www.monster.com. Click
on the link for "Career Advice" and go to "Salary Center"
2. Don't let the interview get into money issues prematurely.
You don't want to be ruled out because you're perceived as too
expensive. Tell the interviewer, "I'm confident this position
pays a competitive salary. And I'll be happy to discuss
compensation when a mutual interest has been established."
3. When it's time to discuss salary, don't negotiate on the
basis of what you've been making. Negotiate on the basis of what
the job you're being offered is worth.
4. Try to find out what the company is offering before you
mention a number. For example you can say, "Thanks for your
interest in me. Since you brought up compensation, what is the
salary range for this position?"
5. If you're required to mention what you're looking for first,
always talk about a range . . . 20% on either side of the number
you're looking for.
6. Be sure to go beyond base salary in your deliberations.
Benefits, bonuses, profit sharing and stock options can
significantly enhance the overall value of an offer.
Handling salary negotiations can be stressful. After all, this
is where your job search culminates. Preparing yourself in
advance and practicing these strategies out loud can put you way
ahead of the game.