How to Discuss Salary During the Job Process

How to Discuss Salary During the Job Process Image via isorepublic.com How to Prepare for the Salary Conversation Do Your Research Before you even consider discussing your salary, do your research. Find out what the general salary range is for your position. The company may either publish this information on their website or you can do a quick Google search to find the salary for a similar job. (Public sector jobs disclose salaries, so if you’re looking for a job there, you should easily be able to find a salary amount). If you can’t find any data on salary amount, you can ask at the right time. Sell Yourself First Another thing to remember before discussing your salary is to sell yourself first, then start the salary conversation. Let the company know that you can help them in their goals and that you will be profitable for them. Starting salary negotiations too early can turn off the interviewer because you will seem more interested in what the company can do for you rather than what you can do for the company. If they start the salary conversation too early and they give you a range, let them know if it’s within your range, but don’t commit to a salary too soon. When it’s time to talk about the salary, use your research to tell them a range, not a specific number. Make sure the top end is high enough. Ideally, your low end would be in the middle of their range and the high end above it. Your first salary negotiation is the most important one. For most people, starting at the highest salary range ensures that future increases which are often a percentage of base salary are higher. If you later decide to apply for another job and they ask what your previous salary was, you start from a strong position. It is difficult to ask for a much higher salary if your current salary is low. Over an entire career, the difference in total income could be significant if you start your first job at a higher income. Now, it’s time to start the salary conversation. The most important thing to remember during this conversation is to be willing to negotiate. Both you and your employer have to come to a point where you both believe you got a good deal. If your salary request is said to be too high, be willing to negotiate other perks. Ask them about other benefits. Maybe you can get an early review with a raise if it is satisfactory. Also, have a minimum amount in mind. Below this amount, you will be willing to walk away. When a person loves their job, they will be willing to work for less. When a person dislikes some aspects of their job, a good salary can make them stay. When the dissatisfaction of the job is higher than the perks of the job, it’s time to leave. If you have been unemployed for a length of time, don’t accept anything that comes along. Make sure you are asking what you are worth! Don’t sell yourself short just because you really need a job. Finally, if you are an exceptional candidate, let the company know why you are worth more than the others. Show them what makes you unique and how you can help them. Although the salary conversation might seem intimidating to those of us who are just entering the workforce, if you come prepared, you can have a successful, productive salary negotiation and leave feeling like you got a good deal. Good luck with your salary negotiation!