Salary, Raises, & Perks: Negotiate to Get Paid What Youre Worth!

Salary negotiation requires preparation and good timing. It's important to determine your salary needs and research the market value for the job you want. Timing is critical for negotiation. Discussing salary requirements too early in the interview process can jeopardize your chances of getting the salary you deserve. Failure to negotiate could result in losing money.

Market Value

The negotiation process begins by determining what salary you need. Prepare a detailed outline of your expenses. Next determine the market value of the job for which you are applying. Research similar positions with other companies and jobs requiring comparable experience. Information can be gathered from classified ads, competitors, informational interviews, and web sites.

Win-Win

Be polite and professional during negotiation. Try to impress to the employer that your goal is a win-win situation. It is your job to convince the employer that you are worth more than they are offering. Be prepared for objections by talking about how your past accomplishments benefited previous employers.

Wait

Never bring up salary until an offer has been extended. At that point, the employer has decided that you are the best person for the job, giving you bargaining power. If the employer brings up salary before an offer has been made, be prepared with a response. For example, "I need to know more about the job responsibilities before I can talk salary." If the position is newly created you could say, "Since this is a newly created, position, I'm sure you have a salary in mind."

Start Higher

When you have determined an acceptable salary, start negotiating higher than you think the employer wants to pay, and then go to a middle ground. If the employer offers you $50,000 and you want $55,000, ask for $58,000 and then work backward toward your target salary.

The employer may offer you some reasons for not wanting to give you the requested salary. Again, be prepared with a response. If the employer tells you their budget won't allow an increase, negotiate some perks such as flex-time or an early salary review. If the employer tells you that you would be earning more than others at that level, point out that you should earn more, because you're worth more. Another option is to ask for a different job title so that you'll fall into a higher salary range. Be sure to mention that you will take on some additional responsibilities to compensate for the higher salary.

Perks

If the employer can't increase the salary, be creative and look at other ways to boost your compensation package. You could ask for extra vacation days. Another option is to ask for an early salary review. Request that you be given a three-month review. If your performance is satisfactory, ask that you receive your annual raise at that time. Other options to consider include: a one time sign-on bonus, flex-time, or a shorter work week.

Get Paid What You're Worth

Why should you negotiate your salary? You have a right to be paid what you're worth and what the market supports. Records indicate that 60 percent of all negotiators get more than the initial offer. If you don't negotiate, you'll lose money, since each annual raise is based on the amount of your starting salary. For example, suppose you were hired at $30,000 per year, without negotiating. Had you negotiated you may have started at $32,000. Based on a five percent salary increase each year, you would lose more than $26,000 over ten years.

Finally, salary negotiation isn't reserved for the corporate world. People in all types of industries can successfully negotiate their salary. Remember, you are negotiating for your future!

Joan Runnheim, M.S., founder of Pathways Career Success Strategies [http://www.pathwayscareer.com ] in Hudson, WI, is a career consultant who helps individuals reach their career goals by developing an effective career development plan or job search strategy. As a career advisor for Monster.com, [http://forums.monster.com/forum.asp?forum=3560 ] Joan has been able to reach out to millions of people with her career-related articles and advice. To subscribe to her free bi-monthly newsletter "Strategies for Career Success" go to: [http://www.pathwayscareer.com] For more information call 715-549-6432. Email: joan@pathwayscareer.com

---

Career Success Through Self-Marketing

Marketing shouldn't be limited to advertising companies. Finding a job... Read More

Interview Tips - Ten Top Dos & Donts for Winning Interviews

In this day and age it can become increasingly difficult... Read More

Knowing and Guessing

The line between average and exceptional work performance is dotted... Read More

Medical Billing Businesses Are Growing Fast And Providing A Needed Service For Doctors

You've seen the commercials and web sites about starting medical... Read More

Spiritual Practices Offer Peace and Acceptance

Facing career transitions and daily life challenges can leave us... Read More

Speak Up: Your Job Is At Stake!

How good are you at standing up for yourself?Do you... Read More

Youre Fired!

One-day you're minding your own business and your boss comes... Read More

What Turns Potential Employers ON; What Turns Them OFF?

According to an annual survey conducted by the National Association... Read More

Can You Compete?

Are you looking to hire the best talent? Are you... Read More

Resume Writing - Get That Job

Looking for a new job, whether it is with a... Read More

Top 5 Tips for College Grads Entering the Working World

1) Build a Relationship With Your Boss:Like it or not,... Read More

For Effective Decisions, Look Beyond Career Stereotypes

You've probably been taught not to stereotype people based on... Read More

I Quit!

More and more people are calling it quits to successful... Read More

Stop Searching for A Job and Start Attracting Professional Success!

1. Assess ? Evaluate your skills, interests and abilities. Understand... Read More

Updating Your Plum Job Now That Youre a Parent

It's startling to discover how having kids changes the way... Read More

Hair Dressing as a Career

Since the world started hair has been a very important... Read More

6 Vital Tips For Creating A Superior Resume

1: Keep It ShortConsidering that initially HR personnel only spend... Read More

Leaders Meet Challenge Heads-UP With Confidence --

Maybe "buck" is better referred to as the Boss' Challenge.... Read More

Work In Dubai

Dubai is home to an exciting, diverse, multi-cultural blend of... Read More

Networking is the Key to Star Performance in Everything You Do.

Many people's idea of networking relates to the 'size of... Read More

Brainteasers: Or, How Many Crazy Interview Questions Does It Take to Get Hired?

You've looked at all the job interview tips and techniques.... Read More

Why You Need To Be An Intrapreneur

When a client asks me if I think he or... Read More

Career Success: Get Ahead of the Crowd

Regardless of where you open your briefcase or palm pilot... Read More

3 Reasons To Hire From Outside Your Industry

While at times it may prove comfortable and convenient to... Read More

Seven Myths You Must Challenge Now To Begin Your Second Career Today

* Has it been awhile since you explored career options?*... Read More

Unlimit Your Life!

Do you have a tendency to think in absolutes?Is everything... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Accepting Judgment

Applying for work is stressful, no matter the circumstances. Even... Read More

The Background on Background Checks

In one of my past lives I held a Top... Read More

Passing The Police Test Just Became Easier

You've taken the police officer selection test or law enforcement... Read More

Now, Do You Have Any Questions?

"Who is that hot babe in the picture?" isn't the... Read More

The 7 Tough Job Interview Questions That Can Make or Break You - and How to Answer Them

Some interview questions are asked so frequently that they've become... Read More

Using Freelance Websites to Telecommute

How is your job hunting going? Have you had problems... Read More

Change Your Career, Change Your Life

Change Your Career,Change your Life!Lots of times I see and... Read More