It happened! You landed that job interview that you wanted so much!
While you are pretty sure that the company wants to hire you, you want to make sure that you are able to get the salary you need.
But just how do you do this without appearing rude? It is actually quite simple when you use the valuable tips described below.
Prepare Ahead of Time
First of all, before you go to your interview, it is essential for you to be prepared. Conduct some research and find out what the average salary is for your chosen field. However, do not stop there. Try to find out what the average starting salary is for individuals in your chosen sector as well.
Additionally, if at all possible, discretely question employees of the company and try to find out how much the employer typically pays new staff members. All of this research will give you a general idea of what your minimum and maximum salary expectations should be. Other things to keep in mind are employee benefits and travel costs.
For example, if you will need to travel a long distance to and from the job, you will likely want to push for a higher salary. On the other hand, if you find out that your prospective employer offers an excellent benefit package to staff members, you may be satisfied settling with a lower salary.
Timing is Key
You have conducted all of the necessary research for your interview, and you feel that you are ready to begin salary negotiations.
However, just when is the right time to bring the subject up? This is actually a common question for many job seekers, and the answer is simply this: Do not bring it up.
It is best for you to avoid being the first one to propose a specific salary amount. Let the employer begin the discussion. Typically, employers will do this near the end of the interview. If you are asked how much money you would like to earn, do not give an exact amount.
Say something like you are interested in helping the company, and you feel sure that you both can agree on an acceptable wage compensation. Usually, the employer will offer an amount at this point, and you can begin your negotiations.
Keep in mind that the employer will probably offer a low salary at first just to get the ball rolling.
Be Polite and Professional
One reason that many people do not get the salary they desire is because they are merely too afraid to ask for it.
Always remember that nobody loses job offers if they ask for something. Nevertheless, you can lose a job offer due to the way you ask. As such, you want to be sure that your salary requests are reasonable.
Additionally, make sure that you are polite, professional and enthusiastic during salary negotiations. Use an appropriate tone of voice and body language that shows you are a professional who is highly interested in making a difference within the company in question. In other words, do not appear as if you are only interested in salary.
Explain Your Worth
It goes without saying that employers only want to hire people whom they think will contribute something valuable to their company. As such, it is important for you to prove your worth from the start of your job interview. As you progress through your interview, let the employer know how the company will benefit from your skills.
Things you may wish to talk about include past accomplishments in other jobs, any specialty certifications you may have earned and any leadership qualities you possess. In short, you want to make the employer think that by hiring you for the available position, the company will benefit in some sort of way.
Be Willing to Settle
You may not like this tip, but it must be said. There are some cases when you may need to settle for a lower salary than you want. However, this in no way means that you should not try to negotiate a higher salary. If you feel that you are worth more, by all means try to get the salary you desire.
Nevertheless, if you are in desperate need of a job and have been looking for months with no results, you may want to settle. Additionally, if you are in serious debt and need money badly, you might want to consider settling.
Finally, if you have completed the interview and are sure that the employer definitely will not agree to a higher salary, you may need to settle if you absolutely want the job.
Negotiating salary is a touchy subject for many people today. Too many individuals often settle for a lower salary than what they want because they are afraid to ask for more money. However, if you use the helpful tips described above, you just may find that you are able to get the salary that you want and need.