Everything is a bargain. The phrase goes, but is it actually true? Is everything a bargain? Numerous facets of your career are still negotiable at work. A successful negotiation will provide a win-win situation for you and your company and move you one step closer to landing your dream job. A perfect bargain is often difficult to come by, whether you’re looking for a new career or just hoping to get paid more for your existing position.
Step 1: Consider
Consider your strengths and faults when gazing in the mirror. Be truthful to yourself. Neglecting their shortcomings and underplaying their triumphs are two of the biggest blunders people make while negotiating on their own behalf. Make a list of each and memorize it. Use your strengths and be ready for your limitations because your current employer is already aware of the things on both lists.
Advice: Each job values a person’s talents and flaws differently. When applying for jobs, emphasize your qualifications that are most pertinent to the position. Additionally, before the actual negotiation, look for ways to solve a particular weakness if you’re asking for a raise at your current work and you’re worried about it. These solutions could include attending training programs, reading certain publications, or even consulting your supervisor.
Step 2: Get ready
Nothing may ruin a negotiation faster than a candidate or employee who is underprepared. When requesting a raise, do your homework to determine the amount a worker in your position should earn. Visit wage websites like www.salary.com and speak with recruiters, colleagues, and others about salaries. Additionally, be certain that you are well-versed in the company’s policies regarding the pay or perks you are requesting.
Advice: Compile and organize all relevant information and documents, including transcripts, reviews from the past, your present wage, and salary expectations, so that you won’t have to fumble with numbers during negotiations.
Step 3: Set Priorities
Many people fail to realize that total compensation consists of more than just base salary and includes other factors as well. Knowing what you desire most will increase the likelihood that you’ll receive it. Some people’s base pay. For certain people, commission rates are more significant (such as salespeople). Businesses will concentrate on stock or stock options. Others, such as second-wage workers, believe that health benefits or flexible work arrangements are the most important aspect of pay.
Advice: While it may seem easy to identify your priorities, doing so takes some consideration. Even letting go of something less significant in order to obtain something more significant could out to be rewarding.
Step 4: Present Your Case
Schedule a meeting with your manager or the human resources department as soon as possible, ideally before budgets are decided upon and reviews are completed to provide the employer time to make necessary preparations. Talk about your contributions to the company in detail, taking care to call out any noteworthy accomplishments or unique abilities. Make sure the employer understands your exact expectations for salary and why you deserve them.
Advice: Remember to stick to business-related justifications when arguing for a raise or benefit increase. A raise should not be denied because you are unable to take the desired family vacation. Additionally, make sure to relate your present and future skills to the manager’s (and company’s) objectives. This will assist in giving your abilities value.
Step 5: Negotiate
You and the employer will now talk about what you have presented. There’s a good probability you’ll have to give something up during negotiations given the competitive employment market of today. Therefore, it’s crucial to decide in advance what minimum wage and other compensation levels you’re willing to accept. You must determine whether the employer is able or willing to negotiate. After an offer has been made, it’s acceptable to be tough in outlining your criteria, but keep in mind that the company likely has its own and that both parties will need to make some concessions in order to succeed.
Advice: Remember to maintain composure throughout this meeting. Your negotiation is merely a discussion between two parties trying to meet either the objective of staff recruitment or retention. Employers want contented, effective workers, and the negotiation process reveals the intricacies of how to get there.
Follow Through
The negotiation process includes talking about your potential to produce exceptional results. Do it. Overdelivering on the commitments you made to obtain the raise or job offer will give you the strongest negotiation position the next time. Keep in mind that the best employees will be taken care of, even during a recession.
