Negotiating a higher salary is critical to career growth and financial stability. However, the process can be intimidating and uncomfortable for many people, which explains why 58% of millennials don’t negotiate their salaries.
In reality, though, most competent salary negotiations (85%, according to research) are successful. So stop delaying the pay conversation. Hopefully, these tips will help you prepare for and successfully negotiate a higher salary, and you’ll get paid what you deserve.
Do Your Research
Before negotiating your pay, you must determine the appropriate salary range for your skills, experience, and job responsibilities. Research the average income for your role in your industry, location, and level of experience using online resources like Glassdoor and LinkedIn. This information will help you understand what you should reasonably expect and give you a starting point for your negotiations.
Understand Your Value
Know your worth and what you bring to the table; when you do, it comes through during the interview. Consider your past achievements, experience, and skills that you bring to the position. Outline your contributions to your current or previous job and how you have helped your company grow or save money. You can demonstrate why you deserve a higher salary by highlighting your unique selling points.
Moreover, all of this should be included in your resume and backed up by data. If you feel like you need professional help, click it now—and your resume will become the best evidence of your professionalism. You’ll then be able to use it to convince any employer that you deserve to earn more.
Choose the Right Timing
Timing is key in salary negotiations. You don’t want to discuss the topic too early or late in the hiring process. It’s best to wait until the employer has offered you the job or indicated their interest in hiring you. Also, avoid discussing your pay expectations during the initial interview, as this may give the impression that you are only interested in the job for the money.
As most Reddit users agree in their responses to AnonBananaMan4567’s post, it’s okay to change your mind regarding the desired salary. If you’ve suddenly realized that you asked for too little (and can explain why using numerical data), it’s okay to raise the topic of money again.
Practice Your Negotiation Skills
Negotiating a higher salary is a skill that can be honed through practice. Try role-playing with a friend or mentor to practice your negotiation skills and gain confidence. You can also research negotiation techniques and strategies to help you prepare for different scenarios and types of negotiations.
Most job seekers don’t even realize this, but there are tons of opportunities for practicing one’s negotiation skills in everyday life (that then come in handy during job interviews). The simplest example is bargaining at a farmer’s or flea market. When talking to vendors, practice using specific arguments instead of claiming you don’t have enough money.
Use the Non-Offer Offer Technique
One of the best negotiation techniques is the so-called “non-offer offer.” David Lax and James Sebenius first described it in their 3-D Negotiation book, and it has since become a common strategy among job seekers. The non-offer offer technique artificially increases the amount of money used as the starting point during the salary negotiation.
If your research of good salaries in your industry reveals that people in your role are earning between $90,000 and $100,000, claim that, to your knowledge, it’s between $100,000 and $110,000. Even if the interviewer knows you’re wrong, they won’t necessarily disagree (as long as they’re interested in you). And you’ll have some extra wiggle room.
Be Flexible and Open to Compromise
At the same time, it’s essential to be flexible and open to compromise during pay negotiations. Be prepared to discuss alternative forms of compensation, such as stock options or additional vacation time, if the employer isn’t willing to meet your salary expectations. Those might seem like small perks, but they cost quite a lot when one has to pay for them out of their pocket.
Also, negotiating a performance-based pay increase is often a great idea. This implies that an employee’s salary is reviewed after a specific period or when certain goals are met. This way, your potential employer will know that you’re extra-motivated to work hard and be productive, which they’re also interested in.
Don’t Settle For Less Than You Deserve
Finally, don’t settle for less than you deserve. Suppose the employer refuses to offer you higher pay. In that case, it might be better to consider other options, even if it means looking for other job opportunities that better align with your salary expectations. Remember, your skills and experience are valuable, and you deserve to be compensated appropriately for your work.
An Afterword
Most job seekers fear salary negotiations, but there’s no need to be. In most cases, they end up in the candidate or employee getting the money they hope to. However, to succeed, ensure you have enough evidence to support your demands, including market research and the value you bring as a professional. Also, practice your negotiation skills and use proven techniques, such as the non-offer offer.
Before you even get to salary negotiations, you must get your resume to impress potential employers. Skillhub can help you with that, so don’t think twice before googling us.
FAQ
Should you keep pressing if your initial request for a higher salary is denied?
If you have more data to back up your demands, you should. If you’re convincing enough, an initial no can turn into a yes. But also know where to stop; never keep pressing after the third no.
Should employers disclose salary ranges?
Ideally, they should, but it’s not the law (at least not yet). A few states already have such legislation. Let’s hope that the rest will join them soon.
How often is it okay to ask for a salary review?
It depends on such factors as one’s workload and performance, as well as changes in the company. But asking for a raise more frequently than once every six months or a year is typically pointless.
Works Cited
- “Is it okay to negotiate salary after verbally agreeing to an offer over the phone?” Reddit, 14 Nov. 2022,
- Fox, Michelle. “Negotiating a Job Offer Works: 85% of Americans Who Counteroffered Were Successful. Here’s How to Do It.” CNBC, 13 May 2022,
- Half, Robert. “How to Negotiate Salary After You Get a Job Offer.” Robert Half, 7 Jan. 2022
- PON Staff. “How to Negotiate a Higher Salary.” Harvard Law School, 24 Feb. 2023,
- “Salary Negotiation Statistics 2023 – 18 Key Figures.” Procurement Tactics
