November 18, 2021

By Celeste Gable, Marketing Coordinator

Hiring Managers rarely make their best offer first, and candidates who negotiate their salary tend to earn more than those who don’t. Most often, people who at least attempt to ask for a higher salary are perceived more positively because they are demonstrating the skills the company is hiring them for. So where do you start? In this blog, we will outline our best tips for negotiating salary.

Do Your Research

Before beginning the negotiation process, and in most cases, before the first interview; conduct some preliminary research. There are many resources available online that can provide estimations of salaries based on role and location. If working with a search firm, the recruiter should be able to advise you on a salary range for the position you’re interviewing for. At Direct Recruiters, we offer free, downloadable Salary Guides for a variety of industries that we serve.

Don’t Talk Money Too Early

You should never ask about salary during the first interview. While we all want to earn more money, no hiring manager wants to hire someone who’s only motivation is money. In many preliminary interviews, the hiring manager may ask about your salary requirements. This where your research becomes helpful! Try to give a range that’s indicative of someone in your position and with your experience applying for this role. Your goal when negotiating is to find the balance between what you’re worth and the employer’s budget.

Sell Yourself with Confidence

As you go through the interviewing and negotiating process, remember to continuously sell yourself. Perhaps you have certain skills and experience that would eliminate the need for an outside vendor, leverage that. Justify your request with confidence. When you make request, don’t go on and on stating why its justified. Offer a short and simple explanation for why the amount is appropriate.

Negotiate Extras

If the employer is unable to adjust the salary offered, try asking for other valuable options that might not cost as much. You can try to negotiate for yearly salary reviews, sign-on or performance bonus, or more vacation days. For the best negotiating strategy, ask for a few benefits or perks you don’t want that badly. Then you can concede and agree to the employer’s terms without those added benefits if they meet all your other requests.

In an ideal negotiation situation, both parties will walk away from the engagement feeling satisfied with what they have gained. This is especially true when you’re dealing with salary negotiations. You want your employer to feel secure in the price paid for your services so that your working relationship begins on a positive note.