Week 7 Negotiating Salary

When getting your first job people don't really tell you that you have to first of all ask how much you are getting paid after the position is offered to you. As a teenager all you are excited about it finally getting a job, but when you receive that first pay check and its little to none and you are shocked.All you have to do is ask how much it pays then negotiate. Here are a couple of tips and strategies to keep in mind when it comes to negotiating your salary.

#1 Never discuss salary till the very end of the interview, when and if they have definitely said         they want you.

Usually the employer, as soon as they decide that they want you, ask themselves how much is this person going to cost me and you start asking yourself how much is this job going to pay. If the employer ask "What kind of salary are you looking for?" early in to the interview here are some go-to quick responses:

      1. "Until you've decided that you want me, and I've decided that i can help you with your task and projects. I feel like any discussion of  salary is premature." 

      2. If an employer is being persistent you can say "I'll gladly answer that but could you help me understand what the job involves?"

      3. If the employer is still demanding to know before discussing anything else you can answer without specifying and figure " I'm looking in between the ranges of $48,000 to $55,000". 

Do not start talking about salary until you are aware of in depth job description, until they figures out how well you match their criteria, not until you have decided that you want to work there, and not until they say "we have to have you".

#2 The reason for negotiating is to figure out how much an employer is will to pay to get you. 

  When an employer gives you a range when they start talking to you about salary it usually sound like "the salary pays around $18-$30". This means that the lowest that they are willing to pay you is $18 and the most that they believe that job should get paid is $30. Employers already have in mind the amount they are willing to pay you. When an employer starts of by saying how much the job pays, that means that they are not willing to negotiate. 

#3 Never be the first to mention figure. 

Since employers are trying to figure out how low they can pay you, and you are trying to see how much they are will to offer. It's been said that the first person to mention salary or any figure is the first to lose. This is way employers ask you "what kind of salary are you looking for?". They are hoping you are going to answer with a number because they are hoping you lose. They are not doing it to be nice. A great response to have is "Well, since are offering this position, you must have some figure in mind. I would be interested to hear what that figure is".  

#4 Research typical salaries for your field and in that company before going into the interview. 

How do you know if the salary that they are offering you is their final offer? You research before you even go to the interview.

Never be scared or be intimidated to ask what your starting salary is going to be or if you will get a raise eventually. Most jobs wont let you know about this things like that till the end of the interview. Just remember, talking about money is a must, it's all about the correct timing.