Whether you are taking on a new job or you have been working at the same company for an extended period of time, you need to make sure you are getting paid what you are worth. If you have had your job for a while, and think you deserve more money, there are certain tactics you can use to leverage what you are worth to your employer. However, you need to prove that you are an essential worker, so if you have been complacent or lazy in the recent weeks, turn it around and wait for better timing. Timing is everything, because you want to ask for more money or benefits at the peak of your performance, so your company realizes how valuable of an asset you really are.
Advice for New Job Salary Negotiation
If you have been offered a new job but the salary seems too low, you have every right to negotiate a higher pay. However, you need to be careful, because there are right and wrong ways to do it. First, you should ask in person as opposed to over the phone or via email. Sometimes phone and email are your only options, but talking to human resources in person is the best way to negotiate your salary. Do some research before your interview and know what the average salary is in your area. There are many good sites for this type of information, such as salary.com or glassdoor.com. Next, you need to determine whether or not you are considered entry-level, or if your prior experience is applicable to the new job. If you do have experience, you should ask for a salary somewhere near the average. It helps to show HR a slightly higher figure than what you expect to work for because there is a chance that they will accept the higher offer. However, you should expect that HR will consider your higher offer but counteroffer with a lower amount, since this is usually standard operating procedure. However, if the offer they give you isn’t what you expected, don’t be afraid to counteroffer back, and stick to your original figure. However, if they offer you a final amount, and you really need the job, just take what they give you. If you are unhappy, you can try to negotiate at a later date, but at the very least you locked down a solid job.
Advice for Current Job Salary Negotiation
If you have been working at the same company for an extended period of time, statistics show that you are probably making under what you actually deserve. Sometimes asking for more money can be nerve-racking, but if you truly feel that your efforts warrant a raise, then you should definitely go for it. If you are already being paid higher than average, then your chances are not as good as someone who is being paid less than average. If you are being paid less, then you should notify your managers that you are not happy with your current pay, and that you think you deserve more. The worst that can happen is they tell you no, so you really have nothing to lose. If they refuse to pay you but you have been doing a good job, then maybe it’s time to move onto another company that will pay you what you are worth. Just make sure that before you make any rash decisions you weigh the pros and cons.
Companies around the world have a budget to meet, and will always prefer to pay employees less if they can get away with it. It just the way business works. Less overhead means more profit at the end of each month. If you think you deserve a higher pay, you need to ask. Being silent will surely result in you bringing home the same paycheck week after week. If you have applied for a new job and the offer is low, tell them that you expect a higher paycheck, and that your past experience warrants this type of salary. However, if you need the job, be willing to bend and take the lower pay, because there will always be the chance to negotiate at a later date.
Matthew Welch
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