Did you shine so much at your last interview that you got a job offer? Time to negotiate! Use the 19 tips below to negotiate your compensation package from the start!

An increase in your salary is sure to put a pep in your step and provide a certain level of satisfaction, so negotiate for your long-term success, but negotiate only after you have an offer.

If you feel unfairly compensated, it might lead to quiet quitting, and that may not help you get ahead in your career.

If asked about your former salary, it’s illegal for employers to ask in certain cities or states, so know the law in your area. Your former position(s) have nothing to do with your future-forward position, so past salaries and future salaries have no ties.

Create a mindset of abundance and success to thrive. Know your own value and ignore your inner saboteur that creeps in with thoughts of self-doubt and being pushy for asking for more, especially if the position is a good fit.

When you know your value, you may also realize that you might even have to walk away from an offer that is too low. Sometimes, walking away is necessary and might lead you to an even better opportunity. That happened to me, and I am thankful for learning to say NO!

Realize you may have some bargaining power, but make sure you converse with a human who is the ultimate decision-maker and don’t make your requests by email. Some companies actually seek employees with good negotiating skills, so live up to their expectations and show them your strength in negotiating.

Two-way communication will allow you to better understand the other person. The conversation should be collaborative, and you must ensure you don’t push too many “must haves” so the offer might be rescinded.

There may, however, be some instances where the job offer is non-negotiable, especially if it’s an entry-level position and several people are hired simultaneously at the same rate.

What is genuinely ideal is when a company lists the salary in the job posting. You would not apply to the position in the first place if the salary did not appeal to you. Sadly, most companies lack this transparency.

Do your homework to know the salary bands in your locale for your job title – review salary websites like Salary.com, Payscale.com, and Glassdoor.com. However, there are so many more industry-specific sites, and you can get a comprehensive list and many other benefits by being a member of the Great Careers Groups & BENG.

Practice, practice, practice to feel confident in what you will say and how. In other words, have a strategy to negotiate the salary before negotiating other compensation benefits. Read last week’s article on Your Compensation Package is More Than Just Your Salary.

If asked for a number first, defer that salary discussion whenever possible so the employer will put out the first number or range.

Remember, you don’t have to give an immediate answer to accept or reject an offer. You can ask for time to review and analyze all aspects of the compensation package.

Remember that silence can be golden. Silence may cause some awkwardness, but try it as a tactic.

If you are lucky, you may have multiple offers come in simultaneously, and you can leverage your bargaining power even more with multiple offers. The goal is to have a win-win package for yourself and the employer.

Maintain a positive attitude, show confidence, determine your wants and needs, and use a poker face when necessary!

NEXT STEPS

• Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn for bright ideas to manage your career.

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• Register on the events page for these upcoming online events.

• Book a call to chat if you need a resume or LinkedIn profile to get you to your next step!

• Follow #GreatCareersPHL

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