How to Successfully Negotiate Salary

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Host Sheila Boysen-Rotelli is talking about how to successfully negotiate that salary that you have worked so hard for. Don’t just jump at the first number they throw your way!

Episode Highlights:

  • Sheila made the mistake that most people do with their first job by jumping at the first offer

  • We all make negotiations every single day in our own lives

  • There are some basics and important elements when negotiating a job offer

  • Use the plethora of available tools to research your job value in the market

  • Know the market value of the position itself and not so much on you as a person

  • Reach out to your network and research your market value from a different perspective

    • Not everyone in your network is going to want to discuss their pay, but you don’t need many

    • Tell your network connections what you are seeing in your online research

    • It might take you disclosing first to get past the pay secrecy in society

  • Build a case as to why you deserve an above-average salary

  • Use your past accomplishments and praise from past employees

  • Emphasize your unique perspectives and personality that you bring to the table

  • Show that you are educated and continue to educate yourself and grow

  • Avoid the salary conversation during the interview process

    • Deflect by politely refusing to answer the expected salary question

    • Reassure them that they are not wasting their time and that fit is more important than salary

    • Pivot away from the salary conversation by asking an open-ended question about the position

    • Try putting the ball back in their court by asking them the salary range for the position

  • Employers want to avoid the negotiation process, so you need to buy yourself time

    • Gratitude will let them know how excited you are about the opportunity

    • Ask for the offer in writing so that you can review all the details and to decrease the offer from being rescinded

    • Set up a follow-up time to discuss the offer live, whether it be in-person or over the phone

  • There are many more factors in negotiating other than funds

    • Make sure that they know that you have other items to discuss regarding the contract

    • Consider the full-benefits package

    • Education and investment funding

    • Gym membership and meal reimbursement

    • Limit these negotiations to a few exchanges, no one likes to have their time wasted

3 Key Points:

  1. The only time that you have the power to negotiate your salary structure is when you receive the job offer, so take advantage.

  2. Never let them know that you need the job out of desperation. Focus on what you bring to the table.

  3. Do your best to avoid the conversation of salary until an offer has been made by deflecting, reassuring, and pivoting.

Tweetable Quote

“We are negotiating every single day of our lives. We might just not be thinking about it in quite that way.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

“If you want to ask for an above-average salary, you’ve got to explain why you are an above-average worker.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

“You don’t want to start discussing money before an offer has been made.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

“You want to acknowledge without being overly affirmative.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

“Taking any new job can impact your life in huge ways...so don’t hesitate to demand the time you need to fully prepare to negotiate.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli

Resources Mentioned:

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