2020 HBCU Careers Magazine

HBCU Careers Magazine

Negotiating a Job Offer

By: Simone Campbell

When considering a job offer, it’s no surprise that most people are not comfortable asking for more money once their job search has ended. The thought of negotiating your new salary can be daunting. No one wants to risk losing an offer in hand, particularly if the salary is reasonable. Thankfully, most employers anticipate salary negotiations, however, when handled appropriately, you shouldn’t lose what’s already on the table. The following points will provide a basic overview of the negotiations process and how to successfully navigate through it. Do Your Research

The first step to approaching any salary negotiation process is preparation. Prior to a job interview, you will need to consider two key points in the event you are the successful candidate: The offer that would make you immediately say yes, and your basement offer, the bare minimum of what you will need to meet your basic living expenses. Everything that exists between these two thresholds is negotiable. Once you have determined your minimum and maximum salary requirements, be sure to have a clear understanding of what the market salary is for the position you are seeking. It is crucial to know the going rate for your position, in your specific industry and your geographic area. Conducting an online search on sites such as Glassdoor, PayScale or asking others in the field can lay the groundwork for structuring the offer negotiation conversation. Know Your Worth After you have done your homework and completed your research, you will need to begin assessing your professional value. Value refers to what you bring to your employer through contributions you’ve made throughout your career, particularly in your current role. Think of strong examples of how your skills and experience will benefit your new organization and write them down. If you possess certifications or specialized technical skills that enhance your ability to do the job, do not fail to mention this. By tying your strengths to the role you’ll be taking on creates the case for why you should be given more than the initial offer. However, do keep in mind, your salary negotiation needs to be rooted. Highlight past or current experience that emphasize results you’ve achieved driving revenue, savings and productivity, with examples relevant to the organization or role. Remember, don’t undersell yourself. You are your own best ambassador, so aim for a competitive salary that you will be happy with. Be Honest When negotiating the salary for a new position, it’s not uncommon for an employer or a recruiter during the job search process to ask about your current salary (Illegal in some locations). Be honest about your salary needs. If you’re being underpaid in your current position or looking to make significantly more, it may be tempting to inflate your salary, but it is never a good idea to lie. Instead, provide your total compensation to include benefits and bonuses if you are comfortable. Then, share the desired base compensation you are seeking. Professionals who know how to negotiate salary successfully understand that complete honesty is vital. There’s nothing worse than to see your offer withdrawn by having a hiring manager find out you weren’t truthful about a competing job offer or embellished your salaries from past jobs.

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