Negotiating Salary: Pitfalls to Avoid
18 July 2011
Read by 8660 persons
A company wants to hire you, and you're going to negotiate your salary. Naturally, everyone wants the highest possible salary! But beware: don't start lying or exaggerating to get a big salary. Today, we give you some helpful tips for negotiating your salary.
Don't lie about your current/previous salary
Your new employer will certainly ask how much you currently earn (or earned in your previous job). Many people don't hesitate to lie in the hope of getting a better salary. Be careful, especially if you hold a position with fixed scales, as your future employer could well discover that you lied. You can also simply be honest and say how much you earn currently, but specifying that you want to earn a little more. Don't forget that it's not just the salary that counts, but also all the extra-legal benefits.
Be realistic
It's important to have a realistic idea of the salary you will receive in your new job. Inquire with people who hold a comparable position, and try to have a ready answer when the recruiter asks you how much you think you should earn. Don't give a figure that is too low or too high. If you have no idea of the salary, you can also answer that you cannot yet properly estimate what your responsibilities will be and what you will precisely have to do. If the company says it cannot give you the salary you want, try to negotiate a little more. Perhaps you can still reach an agreement; the company can, for example, grant you more extra-legal benefits.
Think carefully about variable salary
Many companies have the habit of giving their employees a variable salary (generally in addition to a fixed salary). If your future employer asks if you agree, it's important to know certain things first. For example, it's important to know what factors this part of your salary depends on. You can also ask if your colleagues generally achieve their objectives or not. You will thus know if they are realistic and have an idea of what you can expect.
Never say that you are leaving your current employer because you want to earn more
You may feel that you are currently earning too little, and that is why you are looking for a new job, but never limit yourself to this single motivation during an interview. You can say that your job had become less stimulating, that you didn't have enough career prospects... Changing jobs because of a too low salary will not leave a good impression on the future employer.
We hope that your negotiations will go well and that you will get the salary you want.
Posted on July 18, 2011.
www.stepstone.fr
Don't lie about your current/previous salary
Your new employer will certainly ask how much you currently earn (or earned in your previous job). Many people don't hesitate to lie in the hope of getting a better salary. Be careful, especially if you hold a position with fixed scales, as your future employer could well discover that you lied. You can also simply be honest and say how much you earn currently, but specifying that you want to earn a little more. Don't forget that it's not just the salary that counts, but also all the extra-legal benefits.
Be realistic
It's important to have a realistic idea of the salary you will receive in your new job. Inquire with people who hold a comparable position, and try to have a ready answer when the recruiter asks you how much you think you should earn. Don't give a figure that is too low or too high. If you have no idea of the salary, you can also answer that you cannot yet properly estimate what your responsibilities will be and what you will precisely have to do. If the company says it cannot give you the salary you want, try to negotiate a little more. Perhaps you can still reach an agreement; the company can, for example, grant you more extra-legal benefits.
Think carefully about variable salary
Many companies have the habit of giving their employees a variable salary (generally in addition to a fixed salary). If your future employer asks if you agree, it's important to know certain things first. For example, it's important to know what factors this part of your salary depends on. You can also ask if your colleagues generally achieve their objectives or not. You will thus know if they are realistic and have an idea of what you can expect.
Never say that you are leaving your current employer because you want to earn more
You may feel that you are currently earning too little, and that is why you are looking for a new job, but never limit yourself to this single motivation during an interview. You can say that your job had become less stimulating, that you didn't have enough career prospects... Changing jobs because of a too low salary will not leave a good impression on the future employer.
We hope that your negotiations will go well and that you will get the salary you want.
Posted on July 18, 2011.
www.stepstone.fr
