Your job contract determines your livelihood for the next several years. Since it's part of your plan for lifelong success, it's sensible to speculate and negotiate your salary. Your starting pay determines how far along you'll be when you receive raises or promotions, so having this groundwork stabilized is essential.
The first step of any negotiation, whether it’s for your salary, benefits, or a proper coffee, is knowing what you need. Look at your monthly and annual budget, what you’re currently paying for retirement and insurance, what tax bracket this new position grants you, and go from there
Now it’s time to take everything you’ve considered in step one and bring those considerations with you while you study the job offer. Take a close look at what the benefits are.
Information is power, and knowing your worth is vital. Do a quick Google search for your job title and see what other companies are paying, what this company is offering, and what the national and state averages are.
As mentioned above, companies expect salary negotiation. It’s part of the deal. So before you sit and talk with your new potential employer, consider your counter offer. A counter offer is essentially you saying, “This job looks great, but…”
Now that you have your priorities in order and all the information you need, set up a time to speak with your potential employer.
Everyone has their reasons for wanting or not wanting a job. Remember that this is a career choice and not a place that calls for friend-to-friend type etiquette. If the job isn’t for you, or if the compromises the company makes simply don’t meet your needs, that’s okay.
When the employer calls you back after the initial interview, that’s when the negotiations can begin. Here’s a sample script for you to prepare for this conversation.
Hiring Manager: Do you have time next week for a follow-up interview? We’d like you to meet our department heads.