Negotiating Salary

You got the job offer – now it’s time to negotiate salary...

One of the toughest aspects of an interview or job offer is the salary phase. Negotiating can be tricky – and there are some definite dos and don’ts.

• Do be ready to talk about it – just don’t be the first one to bring it up, unless you’re being asked to sign papers.

• Do your research. Find out what you’re worth before discussing it. Don’t go into negotiations unprepared.

• Do think about it ahead of time – and decide what you’re willing to accept. You don’t want to get caught off-guard on the subject.

• Do take a look at the company’s financial position. Some companies just don’t have the flexibility to negotiate much.

• Do consider perks. If the money’s not there, you may be able to negotiate some more vacation time or a shorter waiting period for 401k matching or potential raise.

If you are asked first to come up with a number – a good response would be “I’m going to need more information about the job, expectations, and salary range benefits before I can name a number.” This buys you some time and puts the burden on them to give you a clue.