OMG Digital Magazine OMG Issue 302 29th March 2017 | страница 22

OMG Digital Magazine | 302 | Thursday 29 March 2018 • PAGE 22
Business
Ask Vicki
What are some
salary negotiation
tactics everyone
can use?
In this answer on Quora, Monster career expert Vicki Salemi tells
you how to maximize your job offers by being a smart negotiator.
Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert
Q. What are some salary negotiation
tactics everyone can use?
A. There are several tactics you can use
in salary negotiations, regardless of your
industry, geographic region, and job level.
One of the most important tips I can give
is that you must know your worth. What
is the going rate for someone in your
position and in your region, with your
level of experience? You can find this
information from a variety of places—
online, mentors, former bosses who work
at other companies, peers.
Once you know what the going rate is for
someone like you, figure out your “break-
it” number—that is, the lowest possible
base salary you will accept. Identify this
number prior to any job offer.
When coming up with your break-it
number, it’s important to calculate what
your out-of-pocket monthly health care
costs will be. When you’re comparing two
offers side by side, one salary may seem
much more lucrative, but buyer beware.
Don’t forget to compare employee
benefits packages and your commuting
costs (time and money). Evaluate the
entire offer, not just the salary.
Here’s another salary negotiation tip: Try
not to reveal your desired salary before
hearing what the company offers you. Let
them say a number first, then leverage
that as a starting point. They may ask
what salary you’re seeking, or you may
feel tempted to give them a specific
number, but instead, give them a range
(you may end up shortchanging yourself
more often than not by giving a specific
number).
I’m a former corporate recruiter and when
candidates show recruiters they’ll stick
with their intentions, it’s a win-win for
both parties. Let’s say the offer is $80k.
You ask for more, they push you to name
a number, and you say in the $90s range.
They come to you with $85k. You can say,
“I really appreciate that, but given my
experience and skills, I’m really hoping for
$90k. I tell you what, if you can come up
with $90k base comp, I’ll accept today.”
The recruiter knows that’s what it’ll take
to get you onboard—and believe me,
often times recruiters want to fill the job
more than you want to get it! Recruiters
pour a lot of hard work—as well as their
time and the hiring team’s time—into
the interview process. If they can’t come
up with the money for base comp, see if
they can add a $5k sign-on bonus plus an
additional five days off. (That’s another
tactic everyone should use: Always ask for
additional paid time off.)
Whatever you do, don’t accept a job offer
on the spot. Always tell the prospective
employer you need to think about it, and
always ask for more (yes, even if you’re
happy with the offer). Don’t worry about
coming across as greedy; employers are
more surprised when you don’t negotiate
than when you do! It’s part of the
negotiation process, that’s all.
Looking for more expert insights? Join
Monster today. As a member, you'll get
career advice and useful tips sent directly
to your inbox to help you craft your
resume, ace the interview, negotiate the
offer, and much more.
Read Vicki Salemi's answer to "What are
some salary negotiation tactics everyone
can use?" on Quora.