EPISODE 801: Best Job Negotiation Tips
Let’s imagine your very bright career future together today. The job you wanted is within your grasp. The interviews have gone impeccably well. They have made the offer. And the ball is in your court.
Let’s talk about job negotiation options. This goes beyond salary negotiations, as if that weren’t sticky enough. It’s also critically important as it sets the stage for your future with this company, and the impacts that are far ranging for you.
Depending on the stats I read, 35-45% of people negotiate salaries and benefits. Women are the ones in the lower range, and if you are a female, don’t be part of that low statistic. A huge 70-85% of companies expect you to negotiate! Please don’t let them down. If you don’t negotiate, a full 100% of people will regret it. That’s just my opinion.
There are so many things to focus on here and I did a lot of research before paring this list down to the top five things for you to consider.
Don’t fixate on the compensation package alone. Think about the entire deal on the table: job flexibility whether it’s in hours, working from home, or a divided schedule of in office and remote. Think about continued education and training. This is a top item candidates mention to me now. Opportunities for growth and promotion. Look at what the company can offer long term for your career far beyond today. Benefits and perks. Travel. Job Title.
Negotiate all the items you want to ask for at the same time. Don’t ask the HR Director about salary, and when they do come back with a good answer there, turn around and say, “Now about the vacation time.” Organize your needs, wants, and requests simultaneously.
View negotiations as a collaborative process instead of an adversarial one. The wise saying “Begin with the end in mind” is a good one for job negotiation. Don’t negotiate for the sake of negotiation. Negotiate when something is important to you. Don’t haggle over little things. Don’t be combative. Be a professional collaborator and show that you are also considering the needs of the company you are talking to as well as your own. Be positive. Someone who likes you is going to fight for you much harder than someone who thinks you are unreasonable or greedy. Picture yourself standing side by side with that HR leader with both of you ultimately wanting the same thing – for you to come on board.
Accept that constraints can exist for hiring professionals. Large companies legitimately do have salary caps and vacation bands that they must stay in without a lot of wiggle room. It’s up to you to listen closely and see if they genuinely have immovable constraints. In these cases, they can possibly offer you something different, like a signing bonus in lieu of a larger base salary to start. Genuinely understand where they are coming from and ask for clarity if you need to.
Be prepared. Know the exact salary, benefits and perks you want. Don’t lowball any of those items. Confidently discuss them. Know the market by doing research on what current comp and benefits are. It changes and it has changed. Know that you deserve top pay for the work you do. You have a lot of value. Bring it. Consider having a one-sheet document that highlights your accomplishments. This can be used to bolster your confidence as well as sharing with a hiring manager in addition to your resume. Practice the verbiage you’ll use.
If you are considering a career change, I can help. I’ve helped thousands of people secure great jobs at hundreds of different companies, and I can help you. Reach out to me at brenda@brendaholley.com. I offer a free 30-minute consultation and it’s the next step for your best job.
