Negotiating a salary can either be a terrifying proposition, or it can be an opportunity for you to reflect on and demonstrate your value with confidence. In order to face salary negotiation with confidence, you can use some of WTI’s tips to negotiate your salary like a pro.
Industry Salary Trends
Do your research. You will want to negotiate a fair salary based on what you can offer the company. You will also want to consider what other positions similar to yours and with your experience and education are offering.
You can find plenty of information about industry salary trends through job-search services like Indeed and Glassdoor, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics can provide you with a general, nationwide ranges for salaries based on education and experience.
Have A Number In Mind
After you’ve done your research, you will want to have a few numbers in mind. In addition to understanding industry salary trends, you will also want to keep your skills, education, and experience in mind when you’re setting your desired salary.
Additionally, you will want to consider what salary you need to make a new position worthwhile. What are your baseline expenses? What do you need to be able to save money, plan for your future, and still have some money to actually live the life you’re working for?
When you’re offered a position, you’ll want another number at the ready. Be ready to counter offer with between 10-20% above the offered amount unless that sets you above the average for your industry and skillset. This might mean that you have to ask for a little bit of time to consider their offer in order to think about everything clearly and do the math so that you can make the best possible decision for your future.
Consider Other Perks Of The Job
While you’re considering an offered salary, you will want to consider other perks of the job. Do they allow you to work a more flexible schedule? That alone can be an enormous perk that will immediately boost the quality of life for a responsible self-starter.
Paid time off or vacation time can be an enormous perk to any job. Consider what type of mental health time or sick days they offer, and be sure to find out what their policy is about taking their PTO. Don’t be afraid to ask those important questions and consider the answers as a part of that salary negotiation process.
Employer paid benefits or employer contribution to health insurance benefits are also an important consideration on top of salary. A lower salary might be able to bridge the gap to a higher salary through the cost of health insurance alone. Money that doesn’t come out of your salary for healthcare is an important part of any benefits package.
Setting Salary Expectations
When it comes time to negotiate your salary, some companies will try to talk to you about your current salary. You will want to say nothing about current salary, and it’s absolutely acceptable to express that you aren’t comfortable discussing your current salary. Instead, you can tell them you’d rather discuss what you can offer their company.
By refocusing on the value you offer the company, you’re putting the number part of the negotiation back in their court. If they shift gears and ask you what salary you expect, it’s good to avoid setting a number even if you have an idea of what number you would expect. Instead, ask them a question in turn: Based on what they know of your skills, value, and experience, what are they willing to offer?
You can also answer with a more generic answer by saying something along the lines of, “I am hoping this can be a positive opportunity for me to move forward in my career responsibilities, so I am also hopeful this can be a step forward in regard to compensation as well.” Hopefully, they will catch on that they are going to have to name the number first and then you can make a decision or counter offer based on that.
You don’t want to reveal your number if you can help it because you don’t want to shoot too far above or below whatever salary they have in mind.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Even if it’s in your bathroom mirror at home or in the rearview mirror of your car before you walk in to the meeting, practice what you will say and how you will say it. Run through scenarios and focus on keeping a calm, confident demeanor.
Overall, you want to find yourself with a company that is genuinely invested in your financial well-being, so how they react to you during this negotiation process will tell you a lot about how they will behave throughout your career. If they send out red flags, then that’s a sign that they will continue to do so during your tenure as an employee with that company. However, if they’re willing to talk about a plan to pay you according to the value you add to the company, then that’s a company worth working with.
Washington Technical Institute
Washington Technical Institute‘s fully online certificates can be completed in a matter of months, with daily or bi-weekly start dates. Such flexible start dates make these programs unique and much more accessible for students like you. Most of our certificates can be earned as a self-paced program, meaning that you can work at your own pace to complete your courses, even finishing early if you have the time and motivation to do so. An additional benefit of WTI’s programs is that we offer affordable pricing and monthly payment options to help our students leave school without debt.
Although our goal is to help our students graduate their programs with little to no debt, we also recognize that some students might need financing options for their educational investment. We also include partnerships with Meritize Financial Assistance and Climb Credit, student lending companies focused on financing career-building programs like ours.
If you’re ready to enroll and start working toward the personal and professional benefit of a career certificate program, you can register for your program online through our website. Still have questions about our programs? Feel free to call us at 800-371-5581 or text us at 952-465-3702 to speak with an admissions specialist.
