Negotiating Your Starting Salary
7 March 2012
Read by 1835 persons
Negotiate, yes, but not just any way
Many candidates are petrified when it comes to discussing salary in an interview. However, this is perfectly normal in the recruiter's eyes. Conversely, a candidate who wouldn't mention this question might seem suspicious or too docile.
However, salary negotiation isn't so easy to master. Here are some rules that should help you see more clearly.
Estimate your salary
Before you start negotiating your salary -and to avoid making mistakes - find out about the usual salary for the type of position you are aiming for. Then take stock of your daily needs: your new salary will of course have to cover them. In this way, you will know below which income you cannot go.
Surfing the Internet is a good way to compare the remuneration generally offered in the profession for this type of position. Economic magazines also publish average remuneration grids every year. An excellent approach is to discuss the issue with someone holding the position you are applying for. Ideally, this person would work in the company offering the position: this way you would know exactly where you stand.
Whatever method you use, the only thing that really matters is that you have in mind, before the interview, a salary range in your favor, of course, and also consistent with the practices of the profession.
During the interview, never talk about salary first
Let the recruiter bring up the subject and make the first offer. By doing so, you gain valuable time that allows you to better understand your interviewer and possibly discover the price he is willing to pay. Another advantage: you will better estimate the stakes and responsibilities of the position and therefore, the salary associated with it.
If the recruiter asks you what salary you are considering, never answer precisely before you have had a real job offer. Some recruiters still work this way: the cheapest one gets the job. You can then get away with a somersault like: "You are the one offering the job, I imagine you know more precisely than I do the salary it deserves."
If the recruiter really insists, give them a salary range rather than a precise salary. If you have previously researched the salaries in the industry, you should be able to come up with a fairly realistic salary proposal.
Finally, don't forget this basic commercial principle: if you let your interlocutor speak first, maybe they will offer you more than you expected!
Salary and remuneration
Before getting excited because the salary the recruiter offers you seems too low, take into account all the elements that make up your remuneration, that is to say your salary as well as other possible benefits: bonuses, level and frequency of increases, 13th month, company car, health insurance, specificities of the collective agreement, etc.
A few tips for negotiating well
Only talk about your last salary if you were paid more. Otherwise, you would devalue yourself by giving the impression of being ready to accept a pay cut.
If the annual remuneration offer is well below your expectations, talk in terms of monthly salary. The amount will be less impressive and maybe you will achieve your goals.
You can also raise the stakes by conducting the interview brilliantly, by committing to quantified and credible results - because you have already achieved them in your previous position.
In the same vein, if you don't get the salary you want, offer a kind of deal to the recruiter: you accept a lower salary than you wanted, provided that it is planned to increase your remuneration if you achieve results above the quantified objectives. This approach is for example conceivable for commercial functions.
Monster.fr
Posted on March 7, 2012.
Many candidates are petrified when it comes to discussing salary in an interview. However, this is perfectly normal in the recruiter's eyes. Conversely, a candidate who wouldn't mention this question might seem suspicious or too docile.
However, salary negotiation isn't so easy to master. Here are some rules that should help you see more clearly.
Estimate your salary
Before you start negotiating your salary -and to avoid making mistakes - find out about the usual salary for the type of position you are aiming for. Then take stock of your daily needs: your new salary will of course have to cover them. In this way, you will know below which income you cannot go.
Surfing the Internet is a good way to compare the remuneration generally offered in the profession for this type of position. Economic magazines also publish average remuneration grids every year. An excellent approach is to discuss the issue with someone holding the position you are applying for. Ideally, this person would work in the company offering the position: this way you would know exactly where you stand.
Whatever method you use, the only thing that really matters is that you have in mind, before the interview, a salary range in your favor, of course, and also consistent with the practices of the profession.
During the interview, never talk about salary first
Let the recruiter bring up the subject and make the first offer. By doing so, you gain valuable time that allows you to better understand your interviewer and possibly discover the price he is willing to pay. Another advantage: you will better estimate the stakes and responsibilities of the position and therefore, the salary associated with it.
If the recruiter asks you what salary you are considering, never answer precisely before you have had a real job offer. Some recruiters still work this way: the cheapest one gets the job. You can then get away with a somersault like: "You are the one offering the job, I imagine you know more precisely than I do the salary it deserves."
If the recruiter really insists, give them a salary range rather than a precise salary. If you have previously researched the salaries in the industry, you should be able to come up with a fairly realistic salary proposal.
Finally, don't forget this basic commercial principle: if you let your interlocutor speak first, maybe they will offer you more than you expected!
Salary and remuneration
Before getting excited because the salary the recruiter offers you seems too low, take into account all the elements that make up your remuneration, that is to say your salary as well as other possible benefits: bonuses, level and frequency of increases, 13th month, company car, health insurance, specificities of the collective agreement, etc.
A few tips for negotiating well
Only talk about your last salary if you were paid more. Otherwise, you would devalue yourself by giving the impression of being ready to accept a pay cut.
If the annual remuneration offer is well below your expectations, talk in terms of monthly salary. The amount will be less impressive and maybe you will achieve your goals.
You can also raise the stakes by conducting the interview brilliantly, by committing to quantified and credible results - because you have already achieved them in your previous position.
In the same vein, if you don't get the salary you want, offer a kind of deal to the recruiter: you accept a lower salary than you wanted, provided that it is planned to increase your remuneration if you achieve results above the quantified objectives. This approach is for example conceivable for commercial functions.
Monster.fr
Posted on March 7, 2012.
