Need to engage in salary negotiation after a successful interview that led to a job offer? Use the 19 tips below for salary negotiation before negotiating the rest of your compensation package.

An increase in your salary is sure to put a pep in your step and provide a certain level of satisfaction, so negotiate for your long-term success, but negotiate only after you have an offer. If you feel unfairly compensated, it might lead to quiet quitting, and that may not help you get ahead in your career. 

If asked about your former salary, it’s illegal for employers to ask in certain cities or states, so know the law in your area. Your former position(s) have nothing to do with your future-forward position, so past salaries and future salaries have no ties.

Create a mindset of abundance and success to thrive. Know your own value and ignore your inner saboteur that creeps in with thoughts of self-doubt and being pushy for asking for more, especially if the position is a good fit. 

When you know your value, you may also realize that you might even have to walk away from an offer that is too low. Sometimes, walking away is necessary and might lead you to an even better opportunity. That happened to me, and I am thankful for learning to say NO!

Realize you may have some bargaining power, but make sure you converse with a human who is the ultimate decision-maker and don’t make your requests by email. Some companies actually seek employees with good negotiating skills, so live up to their expectations and show them your strength in negotiating.

Two-way communication will allow you to get a better read on the other person. The conversation should be collaborative, and you must ensure you don’t push too many “must haves” so the offer might be rescinded.

There may, however, be some instances where the job offer is non-negotiable, especially if it’s an entry-level position and several people are hired simultaneously at the same rate.

What is genuinely ideal is when a company lists the salary in the job posting. You would not apply to the position in the first place if the salary did not appeal to you. Sadly, most companies lack this transparency.

Do your homework to know the salary bands in your locale for your job title – review salary websites like Salary.com, Payscale.com, and Glassdoor.com. However, there are so many more industry-specific sites, and you can get a comprehensive list and many other benefits by being a member of the Great Careers Groups & BENG.

Practice, practice, practice to feel confident in what you will say and how. In other words, have a strategy to negotiate the salary before negotiating other compensation benefits. Did you read last week’s article on Do you know what benefits you can negotiate as part of your compensation?

If asked for a number first, defer that salary discussion whenever possible so the employer will put out the first number or range. 

Remember, you don’t have to give an immediate answer to accept or reject an offer. You can ask for time to review and analyze all aspects of the compensation package.

Remember that silence can be golden. Silence may cause some awkwardness, but try it as a tactic.

If you are lucky, you may have multiple offers come in simultaneously, and you can leverage your bargaining power even more with multiple offers. The goal is to have a win-win package for yourself and the employer.

Maintain a positive attitude, show confidence, determine your wants and needs, and use a poker face when necessary!

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AUTHOR BIO

Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Groups, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career education and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management. She is also the President of ChemPharma.net and runs a Clubhouse session on Fridays at 11 AM ET in the Thought Leadership Branding Club. 

Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn profiles, Lynne is currently writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love along with the late Dick Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, and is also a speaker on career topics.

This article is also published on: vista.today, montco.today, delco.today, bucksco.today, and in the author’s LinkedIn newsletter. A list of articles can also be found in a Google doc.