How to negotiate the salary for a new job
If you are in the process of hunting for a new role, read on for our top six tips on how to do a salary negotiation with HR
How confident do you feel putting a price on your talents? For some, broaching how to negotiate a salary for a new job can feel awkward, with uncertainties about how and when to bring up money.
While we would all love for this process to be smooth and seamless, getting the salary you want will require negotiation most of the time. And it is important to do so, for the benefit of employer and employee, as taking on a job that doesn’t meet your financial requirements will quickly lead to workplace dissatisfaction.
If you are considering how to negotiate a salary offer or how to negotiate a salary increase with your boss, read on for these useful tips.Â
- Set out your expectations in advance
Before you even think about how to negotiate the salary for a new job, start negotiations with yourself. What do you want from a new job? What is the minimum salary you would accept? Also, consider the wider benefits you’d like to see offered, such as training, career progression, holiday allowance, flexible working, the chance to travel. What’s non-negotiable on that list? Set down your dream package, and also set out the bare minimum you’d need to make a move or accept a promotion. It is easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment during the interview process, so set yourself some clear boundaries to stick to.  Â
- Research the role and the company
Often, employers won’t post salary details on job listings, so you might have to make an educated guess about whether this company and role will be right for you. Study the job description and compare it to other jobs out there to divine a salary range that you would expect to be attached to the job. This can give you a greater sense of confidence when negotiating.
- Let them bring up money
Though most of us work to live rather than living to work, and as such wouldn’t be getting up to go to work every day unless we were getting paid, it can still be a delicate subject. Though money might well be your driving force, you shouldn’t let that shine through in negotiations. During the interview process, instead focus on convincing the person that you are right for the job. Don’t bring up salary until they do, and when they do try to negotiate as openly and as honestly as you can.    Â
- Be straight with recruiters
There is an exception to the ‘don’t mention money upfront’ rule, which is a recruitment agency. If you are dealing with an agency, it is best to be immediately transparent about your salary expectations to avoid wasting too much of your time and potential employers’ time by chasing jobs that will never match your salary goals. Again, go back to your forward