If you’ve been unemployed for some time, unhappy in your current job, or new to the industry, accepting whatever job offer comes your way may seem like the best course of action.
Except, it isn’t.
On the surface, it might look like you have no bargaining power to ask for better terms, but the job market’s complexity means there are always opportunities you can take hold of to negotiate more skilfully.
With job mobility rising, many people vying for the same position come from vastly different backgrounds. They have different strengths and salary histories, making it unwise for employers to standardise salaries and employee benefits across the board if they want to retain talented hires.
Every job offer you receive is unique, but there are effective strategies and tactics you can use to champion what matters most to you when you receive job offers. Here are seven tips to help you negotiate a better job offer with potential employers.
๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ญ: ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ท๐ผ๐ฏ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Negotiating a job offer is not just about negotiating a salary. Your job satisfaction will come from more than just getting paid once a month. Consider the job, responsibilities, office location, work culture, job flexibility, prospects, support for continued education, etc. By negotiating suitable advantages for yourself.
๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฎ: ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐
Fighting an organisation’s status quo to get you the perks you desire takes more than just saying okay to you. It takes some effort on their part, talking to management, convincing the organisation that you’re worth the cost.
Thus, it would help if you tried to be as likeable as possible. Practice getting interviewed with your friends to understand how others perceive your words. Do you come across as greedy or petty when you negotiate? How can you phrase your intentions better?
๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฏ: ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐’๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
But being likeable isn’t enough. You have to make them believe you’re worth the effort. The best way to do that is to tell the story behind your proposal. Why do you deserve a higher salary? Why do you need to work from home once a week?
If you have no justification for a demand, it’s unwise to make it. Avoid coming across as arrogant by giving ‘I’m a valuable asset’ as your reason. Instead, demonstrate in concrete terms or evidence how you’re valuable.
๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฐ: ๐๐ผ๐ป’๐ ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐’๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ
Mentioning that you have other offers is okay, but highlighting it too much will make your prospective employer suspect you’ve already got a better offer, and there’s no point in negotiating for you. Make it clear that you’re serious about working for this company.
If you want to mention your other offers as leverage, balance that out by explaining under what conditions you’ll be happy to forgo those options and accept this offer.
๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฑ: ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐
An HR manager hiring more than ten people at once might be more reluctant to break precedent for you than your future boss or manager, who will benefit directly from getting you hired. That said, HR is less likely to think you’re petty for discussing the minute details of your job scope than the latter.
Understand who the person offering you the job is and their interests and concerns. Being understanding will do wonders to increase your likeability.
๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฒ: ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
Prepare to be asked difficult questions that might make you uncomfortable or expose your weaknesses. You don’t want to be caught off guard and end up evading the question or lying. That will not benefit you in the long run. Always strive to respond honestly, but tactfully so you don’t come across as responsible and trustworthy.
Expect to answer questions about any other job offers you might have or whether this company is your top choice. If you’ve already thought these questions through in advance, you’re more likely to respond in a way that doesn’t diminish your bargaining power.
๐ง๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ณ: ๐ก๐ฒ๐ด๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐บ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ
If you get an offer with multiple parts that need negotiation, propose all your changes simultaneously. You might think you’re being kind by not dumping all your concerns onto the other person and asking in order of priority, but dragging it out will make them more likely to become impatient with you.
If you have more than one request, list it out and signal the relative importance of each request to you. This way, you’ll ensure that the requests you value most are met instead of those of lower priority to you.
Need professional guidance to clinch a better job? Send your resume to us today!