These days, it can be tough to find a good job. There were a lot of people in that waiting room who would have been glad to take the job you just got. It is understandable that you don’t want to mess it up just when you are about to sign on the dotted line.
There’s just one little thing that should be troubling you as you look at the official offer from the company. They are lowballing you big time. They know it. You know it. And every busy beaver working at their little cubicles knows it. You are about to sign a bad deal because you are too afraid that you will lose your opportunity.
A good way to avoid this moment entirely is to take a job through a professional staffing agency. I’m not talking about entry-level jobs. The next nursing home administrator in State College, Pennsylvania will likely be hired through a staffing agency. De Vore Recruiting spotlighted this particular position, which offers a salary range of $85,000.00 – $100,000.00. A staffing agency is a great alternative for professionals who do not wish to play the “name-your-own-salary” game with their compensation package. For everyone else, these tips should help…
Nail the Interview
Your salary negotiation does not start at the signing meeting. It starts at the interview. If you are one of ten people the company is hiring, you want to be the one they really wanted, not the one that barely made it. The one that barely made it has no leverage for negotiation. That really is the person who should just be happy to get the job.
Navigating your way through the sneaky job interview questions and traps that put some at the top and others out the door, is a must. You need to be well-versed on interview tactics. Many companies treat the interview like a maze that you have to navigate. Do so successfully, and you get to name your own price.
Ask
Many people take whatever offer they get because they didn’t know they could ask for more. Others do it because they are too afraid to ask. One thing is for certain; you will never get a better package waiting on the company to volunteer it. The only offer they are ever going to volunteer is the lowball offer you are getting at the beginning. Anything more, including raises, you are going to have to get by taking the initiative and asking.
Know What the Job is Worth
You cannot negotiate if you do not know what the job is worth. It is a little like buying a used car. If you don’t know how much the car is worth, you have no idea how much to offer. Many job listings have salary ranges. The company is going to always offer the low end of the range. It is usually based on experience.
If you feel your experience merits the upper range, you have to express that. It helps to be able to show that the average person with your education and experience draws more than what is being offered. There are many places you can find average income information for certain jobs in certain areas. Your preparation will be a mark in your favor.
Remember, the offer is just that, an offer. You are fully empowered to make a confident, well-informed counter-offer. Better offers only go to those who ask for them.
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