.
If you are interested please send your resume to Bianca Nafpliotis, Career Corps Volunteer Program Coordinator at bianca@corporateamericasupportsyou.org.
11
Q: How do I go back if I quoted too low?
While you can go back after your first quote, I don’t advise it. By doing so, you are probably taking yourself out of the running. Imagine yourself as an employer: You’ve decided to renovate your house. You’ve interviewed several designers and have chosen the ideal candidate. You told them what you wanted, they gave you a reasonable quote, and you’re planning for your future. Suddenly, you get a call—your designer says it’s actually going to cost quite a bit more, and they’ve already gotten started! You feel sick. How are you going to make your budget work? How are you going to tell your spouse? What have you gotten yourself into, what other demands could come up? Can you even trust them at all?
In a salary negotiation, you want to be the dream designer who quotes a rate and sticks to it. If you quote a number, make sure you are confident in the range. The amount you are quoting—low or high—could eliminate you from the pool or land you a job that pays less than what you think you deserve. In a pinch, remember: “She who quotes an amount first, loses.”
If you wait to hear what the company offers, you can reply from a more confident bargaining position.
Negotiation strategies to remember include:
1.
“I am confident that if I am the right candidate, we can agree on a suitable amount. I can give you a better idea of my range once I have a better understanding of the role and responsibilities for this position.”
2.
"What is your target range for this position?”
3.
“I see that the market range for this type of position is from x-y. Is this role in line with that?”
4.
“I would consider anything in this market range, but would like this amount due to x, y, and z.”
At the end of the day, the amount in a paycheck is not what you are worth as a person.
If you learn to separate your sense of self from the business negotiation, you will feel comfortable with the conversation, the process, and ultimately the outcome.
“She who quotes an amount first, loses.”