Looking for a new job! How best to negotiate salary?

Sunshine&Stars

Hi everyone.

I am actively looking for a new job, one that pays more money. The one thing I fall down on in life is negotiating a salary.

EG: if a job is paying between X and Y? How do I say I want Y when my current job is paying me quite a bit less than X? Basically I want to have the confidence to say pay me Y! I know I am worth it but think I may talk myself out of the running by saying pay me top dollar! :rolleyes:

Any tips?

steve700

Good question - I'll be looking forward to the replies on this one.

Cheers

Steve

Although I would probably ask for (X + Y)/2

mountainofdebt

I never been in the situation where I could say pay me Y but it does strike me that if you are earning less than X then would it not be better to be paid anything between X and Y and when you have proved your worth, demand Y?

Timmne

I think S&S means that he/she won't be able to get much of an increase through negotiation once employed, meaning it's best to get the best pay straight away....

Am I right?!

ckerrd

You can say, I notice that you are offering a salary between between X - Y, where would you expect someone with my level of experience to be in that range?

That's your starting point.
It has little to do with your current job and salary, as a company will pay you what you are worth and what they can get away with as a minimum.

Also ask about progesssion etc

angelavdavis

When applying for the job, always ensure you examine the job spec really carefully and prepare working examples of where your experience adds value to the role and questions that will lead the interviewer to ask you for examples. Then think of methods in which you could add further value to the role that may be slightly outside the job spec and introduce these into the interview (usually an interviewer will ask you what other skills you think you possess for the role).

You can then use these additions to rightly justify a higher salary.

Bottom line - if you don't ask, you don't get! Provided you already have a job, be prepared to not jump at their first offer, simply say you were really aiming at the higher salary and would they be prepared to review their offer...

Good luck!

pusscat

Tips fopr getting the pay you want

1) Understand how much is realistically likely to be on offer for the job. Check out the industry web sites and salary comparison things on line. Only apply for jobs that are likely to pay in the region that you are looking for. If the job is via an agency, ask them for a figure that the client is paying for the role - get them to email this to you and take it to the interview. if the offer comes in lower then tell the interviewer that you were given a higher figure which is why you attended the interview (show them the email if neccessary) and then say your expectations were somewhat higher than they are offering.
If the job is advertised directly, but does not have a salary indication on it, then ring up and ask how much they are looking to pay - tell the HR person (or whoever) that you are simply trying to avoid wasting their time and yours by applying for a job that is outside of your salary expectations.

2) If you are asked in an interview how much you are currently earn then you can reply that you have a package worth in the region of £X ammount. This allows you to place value on certain things that are not included in the salary, such as pension contributions, flexible working arrangements, extra holiday, company car, car allowance, subsidised canteen, uniforms, use of mobile, laptop etc. You can work out approx what the "benefit" is worth to you in real cash terms and then total that all up to a "package". Work out this package before you get there (and be prepared to justify it by breaking it down if absolutley necessary, but unlikely to be asked to).

3) If you are asked how much you want then the best answer is I am currently on a package in the region of £x ammount (go for the highest figure you think you can get away with) and I am looking to increase that, what kind of package do you have in mind for the role.


4) If the interviewer comes back with an ammount, then you say " I assume that is the basic", "what package comes as standard with the role?".

The reality is that most jobs have a "salary range" that will be paid for them, the trick is to get your pitch in at the top end of that range rather than the bottom end. Unless you are an exceptional candidate, the interviewer is unlikely to stray outside of those margins. If you are exceptional then you should probably be applying for higher level jobs anyway.

It is always worth getting the highest package offer you can at the beginning. If the comapny wish to put you on a trial before they pay the full amount (or offer a bonus after a year eg) then make sure that is a written part of your offer or your cotnract as many comapines have a habit of forgetting them. A vague promise of a salary review is not enough.

always talk in terms of packages rather than base salary - that way you always have room to manouvere (both up and down the scale).

Puss

melaniec_2

Great tips Puss, I'm going to print them off for my BF who WILL be looking for a new job or a new GF!!!!

pusscat

Sounds like you are too good to loose girl so get him out job hunting.......:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

silvercar

let them make the decision (in their mind) they want you, then start talking money. Having decided they want you, they will pay for you. If you give them the impression that they will have to pay a lot for you, they start comparing person A for X or person B for Y. You want them to decide they want you and then look at a salary.