How to negotiate a higher salary
30th Sep 2021
We get it. Salary negotiation can be scary. But what’s even scarier is not doing it.
Sometimes an employer might offer you a salary that might not meet your expectations. Knowing how much your skills, experience, and expertise are worth are all important steps to negotiating a better salary and advancing your career.
So, whether you’re in your first job or your fifth, it’s time to learn how to negotiate. And we’re here to help, with a list of expert tips so you can enter salary negotiations and come out ahead:
1. Know Your Value
If you’re going to get the pay you deserve, it’s crucial to know the going rate for your position in your specific industry and in your geographic area. As I Will Teach You to Be Rich’s Ramit Sethi points out, if you walk into a salary negotiation without a number, you’re at the mercy of an experienced hiring manager who can simply control the conversation.
You can do this by doing an online search on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or our Salary Guide. You can also ask others in your field (ideally both men and women, to avoid falling victim to the gender pay gap).
2. Talk to Recruiters
Reach out to recruiters. They know what people with your experience and expertise are worth, so use it to your advantage! The next time one reaches out to you, engage in a conversation about the position’s responsibilities and pay.
3. Pick the Top of the Range
As you’re doing your research, you’ll likely come up with a range that represents your market value. It can be tempting to ask for something in the middle of the range, but instead, you should ask for something toward the top.
Second, your employer will almost certainly negotiate down, so you need wiggle room to still end up with a salary you’re pleased with.
4. Make Sure You’re Ready
Before you ask for a raise, you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions. Have you been at your job for a year? Have you taken on new responsibilities since you’ve been hired? Have you been exceeding expectations (rather than just meeting them)? The answer to all of these should be “yes.”
5. Plan the Right Timing
Timing is everything. Most people wait until an annual; performance review to ask for a salary adjustment, but by that time, your manager has probably already decided what salary increases will be handed out.
6. Remember Practice Makes Perfect
Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Write down what you want to say, and practice to a mirror, on video, or with a friend until you’re super comfortable having the conversation.
7. Show What You Can Do
Before you start talking numbers, talk about what you’ve done and—more importantly—what you can do.
You’ll want to specifically highlight times when you’ve gone above and beyond in your role, which will build the case that you deserve a raise. Then, be prepared with a few thoughts on what you’re excited to take on going forward—whether that’s freeing up some of your manager’s bandwidth by taking on an existing project, or proposing a new idea that you’re excited to own.
8. Ask for More Than What You Want
You should always ask for more than you actually want. Psychology shows that your bargaining partner will feel like he or she is getting a better deal if he or she negotiates down from your original ask.
And don’t fear asking for too much! The worst that can happen if you give a high number is that the other party will counteroffer—but the worst that can happen if you don’t negotiate is that you’ll get nothing.
9. Don’t Forget to Listen
Listening to the other party during a negotiation is almost as important as your ask and argument. By really paying attention to what the other person is saying, you can understand his or her needs and incorporate them into finding a solution that makes you both happy.
And if you need advice with negotiating salary or finding a higher paying job, consider contacting our Pivotal London recruitment team.
Our team of experts can help you connect with the widest range of Digital Marketing jobs In London, suggest potential roles that you could be suitable for, and help you prep for your interview.
Get in contact with a Pivotal London consultant or browse all of our live vacancies.