Basics of Salary Negotiation

You find a great position. It might even be a position you have dreamed of being offered. Because you are overwhelmed with excitement, as soon as you are offered the position, you say yes without regard to the salary and benefit package. How many have taken a job because of the adrenalin rush of being offered a position. If you say never, you are not being honest with yourself.

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If you are a Facebook user, you have read numerous disparaging posts by colleagues and friends regarding their position, their supervisor, their budgets, or lack thereof, difficulty with parents, and more.

Although this piece is not about Facebook and public postings, it does deserve a quick recommendation by this author: Do not post anything “ever” that would damage your present position, current relationships, and/or future positions. Follow the adage, if you do not have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all – what you say now, may come back to bite you later.

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Now, back to the topic at hand…this piece is only focused on salary and benefits. It should be noted that the position description is also vital. However, much of that is not negotiable. 

When entering into an employment agreement, not including union and/or professional employment policies and recommendations, both salary and benefits, take time before you sign the contract. This isn’t Shark Tank, although it may feel that way. Ask, if offered the position you applied for, for a day or two to consider the position, read over the employment policies, benefits, etc. When you have your follow-up conversation to talk final numbers and benefits, it is important to know all you can about the employment policies. These policies, including but are not limited to, guidelines on vacation time, sick days, personal days, continuing education, prep periods, retirement, etc.

In terms of making the position, aside from artistic reward (which is why you applied for the position in the first place), financially beneficial the following common steps will serve as a guide to negotiate your salary and benefits :

1.Do not discuss salary until the employer offers you the position-Refrain from mentioning your salary desires in your resume, including past and present. Obviously, if asked for in the ad you are responding to, you will need to supply a salary expectation.

2.“Those who speak first, lose.” Allow the interviewer to make the offer. Remember, the first figure given by the employer is a starting place. The employer has a range in which they can negotiate.

3.Do as much research as you can – Negotiate through knowledge. Research the employer, and the salary range for your position and experience. A useful starting point can be found on the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics website.

4.Let negotiations begin – Know your worth, because of your experience and education. You should strive for the highest salary possible. Yet, be fair, as the employer has a bottom line. You can however, negotiate a salary review date in your contract.

5.There’s more than pay? – Salary, is only one component of the negotiating process. You can also negotiate vacation time, sick days, personal days, continuing education, prep periods, retirement, etc.

Know your field, and your prospective employer. With this knowledge the “world is your oyster”. So, negotiate.

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