The Salary Game: What Are You Worth?
You are prepared to go to a second interview knowing the salary game will
be discussed. How do you prepare yourself to negotiate a reasonable
salary? Most people seeking a job are uncomfortable when it comes to
talking about money and what they believe a fair salary is to them.
Some people start to work without ever
knowing what they will be paid because they feel a job is better than not
having one. Often people fear mentioning or negotiating a salary because
they are afraid the employer will withdraw the offer of a position.
Knowing what the potential salary brings and being prepared with facts to
present a case for a higher salary is important. Some employers will test
the employee by offering lower wages.
If an employer asks you about your salary
it is wise to tell them that it is “negotiable.” Different companies
offer different salaries and benefits. The first step in negotiating
salaries is to do some research. Find out how much other companies are
paying for the same position that you will be doing. What are their
benefits including medical insurance? Check the U.S. Department of
Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, which most libraries, colleges,
and universities have. Check the Internet for wages and salaries listed on
the position.
Analyze the benefits package that is
provided. Sometimes a lower salary is worth the benefits. Are the benefits
important to you? For instance, if you have children and the benefit
package offers medical insurance for the children this may be more
important than a higher salary. It is important to examine what your
priorities are. For instance, a single person might not care about the
medical insurance as much as a family person would. Make a list of what
your needs are when it comes to salary. Listen to what the employee states
about the salary offer. Is he open to discussing it? If he hesitates, go
ahead and suggest what you feel is fair as far as salary. Most employers
want to be fair when it comes to negotiating the salary.
Remember the first step to salary is having
a job. If you make the employer angry then you might not get the position.
Be willing to negotiate but do not insist on having your way. If the
employer thinks that you are out of line more than likely this may lead to
problems in getting the job or keeping the job.
Here are some steps to negotiating a
salary:
• Always research the salary for the position before going on an
interview.
• Never start the discussion about salary. It is important to let the
interviewer discuss the salary.
• Analyze the benefit package as to what your priorities are. Decide
what is important to you such as medical insurance.
These steps are important in negotiating
salary. Demanding more than the employer wants to give may lead to losing
the job. However, many employers are willing to discuss salary if they
believe you are worth the cost.
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