Posted on 10/05/2008 10:28:54 AM PDT by uzumaki_naruto
I am seeking advice from freepers on salary negotiation. I appreciate any advice you can offer. Maybe there are hiring managers out there that can share some tips. To be honest, I don't have much with salary negotiations. A few times, I've been told that this is the typical salary and I took it. Not too smart.
I was told that this job's salary ranges from 40-70 k/a.
I've been offered 45k/a. Actually, with my experience and qualifications, I probably should be paid closer to the upper range (~65k/a). I know times are hard, and I should take what I can. Nonetheless, I want to negotiate a bit. I think my employer expects that I negotiate too.
I was thinking of making a counter-offer of ~10% more, say 50k/a. Is this reasonable? This is still below the middle of the quoted salary range.
Thanks.
WHat job and how much experiance do you have? Are you a college grad. Have you hell a job for more than two years. etc.
I am not sure that a complete answer can be given to you without looking at all options. Salary history, experience, demand of you line of work, current fiscal status of the company, wage analysis of employees in that position at that company, etc.
Good luck.
Ask for what you want. No one else will fight for you like you will. The worst they can do is say no and, frankly, most employers appreciate employees (or potential employees) that have the confidence to ask. They see it as a sign that you’ll defend the company as well by standing up when needed.
Just do it!!
You can also accept their offer with a caveat. “I’ll take a probationary wage of 45k for 90-180 days(pick one) and then I’ll need 52.5k after that period has expired”. “I’ll also need it in writing”.
You have to be prepared to walk away if you want to negotiate.
It really depends on two things:
1) How good a poker player are you and
2) Can you afford to walk away from this job?
If you think they’re willing to negotiate, throw out the $65k number and see what they say.
You can also ask them how quickly your salary would be expected to rise if you take the lower number.
Lastly, you can agree to the lower number and insist (in writing) to a series of milestones/benchmarks over the next 12/24 months for reaching the higher salary. In other words, tell them you’ll take the $50k but only if they outline a set of objective milestones that, if you reach them, will trigger automatic salary increases.
Hope that helps.
By making you an offer, they want to hire you.
Ask them what qualifications your final contenders had and what made you their choice.
Then, key in on your attributes compared to other finalists, accentuating your best qualities over the other finalists. Don’t say “I am better qualified than the other finalists because.....” They already probably know that.
Just bring up your strengths as compared to the other finalists without mentioning them, then ask for a little more money. Little is the key word here. Once in the position, you’ll be better off to prove your worth.
Just a little background information; be sure you are comfortable with the 48 Laws of Power. Salary negotiation is a subset.
http://www2.tech.purdue.edu/cg/Courses/cgt411/covey/48_laws_of_power.htm
In fact, tell them you're willing to take on the job for even less money, because you know that times are hard and that many companies are having difficulties making ends meet. While you, as a private individual, can simply tighten your belt and wait the hard times out.
If you're still young and single, explain this by saying that you're living expenses are still rather low, you're lean and mean, and you can afford to wait until the economic outlook brightens again. If you're old and nearing retirement, a similar argument applies (you are no longer planning upon starting a family, the kids are already out of college, you only have a few more years anyway, etc.)
The fact that your (future) CEO may be earning a thousand times as much as you are asking for is not relevant, and the "golden parachute" he has undoubtedly negotiated should he be fired for mismanagement is merely the compensation he is due for the risks associated with taking such a high-profile position.
Above all else, understand how really replaceable you are. After all: Guys like you are a dime a dozen. You're past your prime. There are young college graduates who would jump at a starting salary like that / There are old geezers who would feel honored to be making that kind of money.
Etc., etc.
Regards,
Rokuman doru no ho ga ii. Gambare
If they know your present salary. They can offer +10-15% more without higher up agreement. With agreement they could probably do 20-25% but will not go higher.
This was true for me during the Carter Administration when mortgages were >15%
I told them I needed 40% for the same size house which their Realtor told me. They offered 25%.
They knew I had another offer of probably 10-15% locally. I went to that job.
They called me 2 months later and offered me more again but not what I wanted originally. I turned them down. They went out of business and 1+1/2 years I moved for 40% more going from engineer to Product Manager. They will do that high a percentage, if you are moving to them for a promotion but not for a lateral.
Hope this helps.
I took it upon myself to get all of the major players in the same room, treated them all respectfully, and outlined all of the contributions I had made to the company in the 11 years I have been here, highlighting the most recent and significant ones. I then gave them each a list of the efforts I was currently making and my vision for the future, and asked them if there were any of those items they thought would be good to do without, or did they have any suggestions for modifications to them.
At the end of the meeting I asked them all if they thought my efforts warranted reducing my net income and placing undue burden on my family. They all said they'd get back to me. On April 1 this year I was surprised by a 12% increase in my annual salary and an additional week of vacation.
Managers and administrators are often blind to the contributions of their subordinates, and don't realize the hardships that such inattention places on them and their families. Some truly don't care, but they are fewer than most people think.
In short. You need to sell yourself, but don't sell yourself short. Aim high and settle somewhere in between.
Your tagline would make an awesome bumper sticker. :)
Thank you all for your replies. It seems that what I am asking could be reasonable. If I take the job, it’ll involve a long commute (more $ spent on gas, 300/month) or a move (higher rent and/or housing price).
I do have more than enough work experience (more than a decade) and am probably over-qualified for the job (with a graduate degree).
What I am asking for is about 10% more from their offer, so it might work. Also, I could afford to walk away from the offer if negotiations break down.
Alright, I am going to play poker with them!
Islander2: I am not Japanese, BTW and don’t speak Japanese. But, I like the character in the series Naruto. I am very much like him.
Thanks, I am considering it.
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