You did it. You scored an offer for a job that seems absolutely perfect for you. You’re seconds away from cha-chaing into your happy dance, when your eyes skim down and catch on a number: The salary they’re offering.
Suddenly, your desire to cha-cha is overwhelmed by the urge to either fall to your knees or curl up on your couch. Why? Well, what they’re offering is significantly lower than what you were expecting.
You know you deserve (and perhaps even need) more than what they’ve put on the table. But, you’ve never negotiated before. And, you can’t help but to think that the second you ask for even a subtle increase, they’ll say, “Nevermind!” and then briskly show you the door.
I get it—negotiating can be intimidating, particularly if it’s your first time doing it or for your very first job (when you feel like you have zero experience to leverage). But, for many people, it’s an inevitable part of the job search process—meaning it’s a tactic you’re going to want to get at least somewhat comfortable with.
So, before you break into a cold, clammy sweat at the mere thought of asking for a bump in that offer, read through these tips. They’ll give you some need-to-know information, so you can negotiate with poise and confidence. Nobody even needs to know you’re nauseous—that can be our little secret.
1. Don’t Talk Yourself Out of It
You know you want to ask for more. But, the whole thing seems so awkward and uncomfortable, you’re debating whether or not you should even bother. Wouldn’t it be easier to just accept what they’re offering and make the best of it?
Believe me, I can understand your desire to avoid confrontation altogether. However, if you firmly think you deserve more than what you’re being offered, you definitely should negotiate.
Research has shown that neglecting to ever negotiate offers can lead to you missing out on a hefty sum of money throughout your career. So, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s worth it. You’ve got this.
2. Do Your Research
If you’re going to ask for an increase in your salary, it’s important that you come armed with some research and background information.
The best place to start is to find a salary range for your position. Then, aim for the top of that (since you’re negotiating anyway, you might as well be ambitious!). By laying this groundwork and doing some research beforehand, you can rest easy with the knowledge that your request is reasonable and justified.
Basically, don’t just pull a number out of a hat. You want to have some real information supporting what you’re asking for.
3. Know Your Value
Of course, you can’t just throw a number out there and expect any employer to give that to you without a second thought. No, it’s going to take a little bit of work on your end—mainly, proving why exactly you’re worth more than what they initially had in mind for that position.
Obviously, the employer already sees value in what you bring to the table, or they wouldn’t have offered you the job in the first place. But, now you need to take things one step further.
Do you have a very niche and specific skill that’s difficult to find? That can carry a lot of weight, even if you don’t have a lengthy employment history. Do you have a lot of great experience—and therefore knowledge—that would benefit you in this position? Do you have a proven track record of success?
Your goal here is to find what makes you worthy of a bigger paycheck. Knowing your worth and value will give you a little increased confidence when it comes time for that uncomfortable conversation.
4. Avoid Soft Language
When negotiating, you always want to be kind and polite (that should go without saying). But, you don’t want to be so courteous that you come off as completely complacent or easily swayed.
The biggest thing you’ll want to remember here? Don’t use a salary range or the word “between” when saying what you need the compensation adjusted to. That makes you seem insecure and even a little meepy.
Instead, use your research to pick a set number and then put it out there. Don’t leave things open-ended. You want to be friendly, but also firm.
5. Demonstrate Enthusiasm
Employers look for specific skills or expertise when hiring for a position. But, what’s another big thing that goes a long way? Enthusiasm about the position and the company—particularly when you don’t have a lot of previous positions under your belt.
Even if the salary is a little lower than you were hoping for, an offer is an offer. And, it’s important that you show excitement and gratitude for that.
Before launching in with your request, remind the hiring manager how enthusiastic you are about the opportunity by saying something along the lines of, “I’m so excited about this position and all of the awesome work your team is doing at Company XYZ. But, I’m aiming for a salary of $60,000.”
6. Be Prepared to Walk Away
Here’s the unfortunate news: Sometimes—even if a company is willing to negotiate—the final offer still comes in much lower than what you wanted.
In those cases, it’s up to you to decide on your next move. Have they come up enough in order to make accepting the position a reasonable option for you? Or, is the offer simply still too low?
If you’re going to prepare to negotiate, then you also need to prepare yourself for the possibility that you might end up walking away. Simply because you ask, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it.
There’s no denying that negotiating a job offer can be nerve-wracking. But, if you’re serious about a bump in that paycheck, it’s an idea you’re going to need to get used to.
Remember these six tips, and you’ll be able to have that dreaded conversation with at least a little bit more confidence.
