6 Successful Tips To Help You Negotiate Your Salary
Let me guess...
You have a voice lingering inside your head that’s whispering:
“Don’t be too pushy.”
Or maybe it’s saying:
“I don’t think I’m good enough for this.”
Whether you’re negotiating a new job offer or asking for a raise, salary negotiation can feel like a daunting experience. Think sweaty palms, weak knees, and needing to pee every 5 minutes. Or maybe that last one’s just me.
If you’re unsure about how to ask for more or you’re afraid of your boss, you definitely want to keep the following tips in mind during your next salary negotiation. It’s time we agree to dispel the myths you’re telling yourself and ask for what you’re worth.
Define What You Want
Your success comes down to making the right choices for you and setting clear intentions for your life. To do this, you need to define what it is you really want.
Not what your parents want for you and not what you should want based on what society expects of you. What’s your dream job? How much do you earn in your ideal salary? Where do you want to live?
Maybe you’re a natural creative that’s stuck in a corporate environment and you’d love to become a director at a local art gallery. Or perhaps your dream job pays you a generous salary that affords you lavish vacations each year.
Dream BIG. Choose your future. You can then start taking the right steps to turn your dreams into reality.
Know Your Value
When approaching your boss or hiring manager during a salary negotiation, you’ll need to be able to articulate your value to the organization. This includes gathering evidence of your past performance and the strengths you bring to the table.
Think about the times you’ve increased profitability or reduced cost. Maybe you provide an exceptional customer experience that your customers rave about. Or you follow up with every customer inquiry, increasing sales for your company.
Be clear. Be assertive. Don’t hold back.
Do Market Research
It can be hard to figure out how much to ask for when you negotiate a raise. Start by researching the industry averages for your skill set and role. Sites like Glassdoor and Salary.com are great resources where you can filter by location and companies.
Reach out to acquaintances. Speak to head hunters. Gather as much information as you can about the kind of salary to expect.
Armed with the data to support your request for a raise, you’ll have the confidence to ask for more.
Be Strategic
In case you’re thinking about marching over to your boss’s desk right now to ask for a raise, not so fast.
Consider the timing of your salary negotiation. For instance, asking during a performance review allows you to highlight your accomplishments giving you more leverage during the negotiation.
Alternatively, a promotion or another job offer can put you in a position of power and increase your chances of success.
Be clear about your achievements, discuss the impact of your work, and take the lead in making the conversation happen.
Always Ask
It’s not uncommon for women to shy away from asking for a raise because they think that their salary is non-negotiable.
Whether this is true or not, it doesn’t hurt to ask anyway. Being excessively cautious and protecting yourself from rejection could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in income over your career.
Put it this way, if you don’t ask, it’s a ‘no’ anyway. So, what do you really have to lose?
Refine Your Strategy and Negotiation Skills
Salary negotiation can feel like an intimidating process and sometimes it just takes practice. Before you ask for a raise, role play with a trusted family member or a friend that can help you in the areas where you draw a blank.
Alternatively, record yourself speaking out loud or practice what you’re going to say in front of a mirror. You’ll notice where you start to sweat or stumble.
The more you practice, the more confident you’ll be when it comes time to negotiate. You'll also start to form new habits where negotiation becomes a reflex rather than something you fear, allowing you to apply it to other areas of your life, including interpersonal relationships.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let fear hold you back from getting what you’re worth. Over time you’ll gain valuable experience about what works or what doesn’t work and it’ll become second nature. You might even find doors opening to new opportunities.
Believe in yourself. Own your success. Ask for what you’re worth.
References
Ask for it: How women can use negotiation to get what they really want
https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/first-job-salary-negotiation-tips#slide-1
https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-a-raise/
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/strategies-for-women-to-negotiate-a-higher-salary-4067697
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