How to get a higher starting salary
Salary is probably one of the most stressful aspects of a job seeker’s protocol when seeking a job that makes them happy. Especially in today’s competitive job market, you may be wondering how much you can negotiate to make above your current salary and what is too much. Moreover, most people are unaware of the rules of salary negotiations and may have to start lower than they would’ve liked. Here is a comprehensive list of what you should do to get the solid starting salary you deserve:
1) Research- Though many job seekers pass this tip up thinking that the results are pointless or inaccurate, researching what your current market value is, is a crucial action to both knowing what you are worth salary-wise and also, getting it. Moreover, it is a very easy and quick thing to find out.
Visit one of the salary estimate sites out there, and it will ask you where you live and what you do. Most of these sites even allow you to specify your education, specialty, and any other skills you might bring to the job to make your value more than the general position. With this information entered in a matter of minutes, the site will give you a range of what people with your same position, experience, and skills are making in your area. Knowing this, will allow you to know what to ask for and what salary offers to walk away from.
2) Don’t Jump to Answer Salary Questions- Another thing that could be giving your job seeking results a less than productive ending is that you may be offering what you expect to make salary-wise too quickly in the interview process. Though it is a common thing for an employer to ask what your salary expectations are early on, being more vague than not could help you be more to them in the end. This is not to say that you should settle for less than what you think you are worth, but by offering salary expectations after you have shown them why you deserve this amount, may help you in the long run.
When asked this burning question, you can answer either by saying that you are “flexible” or willing to consider a “range within market value”, and these should suffice as acceptable answers. Moreover, you are welcome to politely ask what the range they are hiring for is to evaluate if this is a range you are even interested in considering.
3) Don’t Lie About Current Earnings- Though it may seem necessary to fudge the amount that you make in your current position in order to come nearer to the possibility of making what you want to the next position, it is the wrong way to go. Unfortunately, many potential employers now conduct more extensive reference and background checks and finding out your salary at previous jobs is one of the things they regularly check. So, you can be discredited based upon what you say and what number they come up with- just like that. It is better to tell the truth, and prove to them why you deserve to make the number you want to make at their company.
4) Don’t Accept Right Away- Lastly, make sure no matter how good the salary offer and compensation package that a potential employer offers you may sound, it is necessary to always take some time to think it over. When given a particular number, the best thing to do is to thank them for the meeting and let them know that you will think it over. Moreover, you should have all the information you need to make that decision, such as what is the promotion and raise schedule, how does insurance play in, stock options, 401K, etc. Though at the time you may be tempted just to accept because you are so happy to be getting the offer, refrain until you can thoroughly analyze if the offer is in your best interest.