Salary Negotiation

Nick Edwards, Recruitment Strategist, iCrossing

Salary negotiation has always been a tricky subject when you are applying for a new job and can easily start the relationship with your new employer off on the wrong foot. So how do you negotiate what you are worth without pricing yourself off the market or selling yourself short?

When going into negotiation for your salary it is best to be as prepared as possible. Use industry magazines and Job Boards to research what salaries are on offer for equivalent roles, therefore giving you a salary range rather than a concrete figure. The range should between lowest you’d accept to the desired salary that you want.

Don’t jump the gun; if you discuss salary before you have shown your potential employer what you are worth and what you will bring to their organisation you have lost the power of negotiation and will end up with less than you desired.

The ideal situation to be in when negotiating salaries is for the employer to mention a figure first; this may be higher than you were going to negotiate. If you have done your research and “sold” yourself during the interview, if the offer comes in lower than your expectations; you are then in an ideal position and with all the ammunition at hand to put across a strong case for why the offer should be increased.

In an ideal situation it is best to negotiate through a 3rd party. The Human Resources or on site Recruitment teams can be used as a go between for your negotiations; this means that your first conversation with your potential new line manager isn’t one about money.

The main thing to remember is look at the bigger picture not just the base salary. A strong benefits package on top of the base salary can add value; if you are fitness fanatic and regularly use the Gym, complementary Gym membership can be worth up to £1000 a year; 25 days holiday over your current 20 days adds an extra weeks holiday; new government incentives of childcare vouchers and ride2work schemes all add up in the long run.....

Remember at the end of the day.... Money isn’t everything