How to Negotiate a Job Offer

YOU FINALLY DID IT! All the long job searching, networking, filling out applications, and interviewing has finally paid off in the form of a job offer. Woohoo! But what if the job offer isn’t quite what you expected in terms of pay, perks, or benefits?

They might throw out the term ‘salary cap’ or try to tell you there’s nothing they can do. But here’s the thing: some companies will actually expect you to negotiate your offer. If you don’t, they may even question their decision to hire you!

Want to negotiate a job offer like a pro? Here are our top tips to get a better salary:

1. Build Leverage Before You Negotiate

The company seems to have all the leverage in the deal because they are interviewing multiple candidates and will hire one of them, but this simply isn’t true. You can create leverage for yourself by having multiple job offers or interviews. Some experts advise you to never go to an interview unless you have other interviews lined up. If you only have one option, your interviewer will likely be able to tell.

2. Force the Hiring Manager to Give the First Offer

If the hiring manager asks you what your salary expectations are, don’t answer — it’s likely a trap. They may hold you to whatever figure you name, even if they were willing to pay more. 

An easy way around this is to say something like “I’ll consider all reasonable offers.” Make them come to you with a figure, and then be prepared to reject it.

3. Don’t Accept the Second Offer, Either

 Don’t feel like you have to accept whatever offer they come back with. It doesn’t matter what they say (hint: salary caps don’t always mean something), you can usually do better. This persistence proves you know your worth, and it can actually increase your value from the start.

4. Take Time to Think About It

You don’t have to give an answer right away, so don’t feel pressured. Take time to think it over, talk with your spouse, and crunch the numbers. Call back in a day or two and ask an open-ended question to see if they can do better, such as “I’m really excited about the job opportunity, but what else can we do in terms of salary?”

 Leaving it open puts the ball in their court to come up with a figure, and at this point, they know it better be good.

Want to practice your negotiations? Schedule a consultation with our team and learn how to ask for a better job offer with confidence!