How to Negotiate Your Salary
Posted June 20th, 2016
Salary negotiations are never easy. Few people feel comfortable when haggling over pay. But there are things you can do to make the process a little less stressful, to make it go a little more smoothly. The important thing is not to get locked in right away. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Prepare
Do a little research first. Find out what the position generally pays industrywide. You can use websites like Glassdoor, which compiles salary data from current and former employees of similar companies and within the industry as a whole.
2. Find out the salary levels
If the company is interested in you, the human resources department will probably be the first to make contact. During this initial talk, you should find out what the general salary range for the position is. This will help you decide if you want to continue to pursue the job.
3. Do not reveal what your current salary is
Try to avoid giving your current pay rate because this will most likely lock you in to a specific salary range when you begin negotiations. The employer will use your current salary as a starting point, and generally add about 10 percent to it.
If you are asked your current salary, explain that it is not relevant to the position you are applying for because the duties of the job are different from your previous job. Focus on your skills and knowledge and what they are worth to the employer.
4. Don’t set an exact number
When you begin salary discussions, rather than giving a definite number figure, give a salary range. That will give you more leeway to negotiate. Again, if you give a definite number, you are locking yourself in to a certain salary range.
5. Let the hiring manager make the first move.
If the hiring manager asks what kind of salary you are expecting, ask him or her what the company’s salary range is for the job, or what the company is willing to offer. That gives you starting point to work with.
If you are looking for a job with a good salary, Bayside Solutions can help find a job that is right for you. Bayside specializes in technology-related fields and has the expertise and the network in the tech area to help you. Give Bayside a call today.
