4 Ways to Negotiate Salary

Salary negotiation can be a very awkward conversation, especially if you are not prepared. Whether you have been given an offer for a new position, or have been with the same company, the opportunity to negotiate is there.  Here are 4 tricks to negotiating your salary.

Use free tools to your advantage

Salary.com, Payscale.com and Glassdoor.com are all websites that can provide you a specific salary range for your position and industry. They compile HR-reported salary data that can break down your worth by market, experience, and education.  

Consider the company standing

Is your position with a large corporation, new start up or non-profit organization? It is important to remember the financial impact of a company before making higher demands. After all, it does no good having a higher salary if the company goes under after a year.

Consider your performance

Do you have stats that show you have helped generate revenue, reached your target goals, or helped save money? Have you taken on new responsibilities and continued to meet your goals or deadlines? These are all measurable facts to use to your advantage.  Negotiating a higher salary because you are trying to buy a house or send a child to college won’t get you far. You must have facts and data to support your request.

Consider other benefits

If you work for a startup or non-profit, they may not be able to negotiate a set salary. Extra vacation days, equity, working from home or performance-based bonuses are all up for negotiation as well.  During your discussion, take time to understand what additional benefits the company can offer and focus on negotiating in these areas.