Salary Offers: Job Seekers Can Laugh or Cry

Negotiating salary or asking is a skill that few people master. Every job seeker should attempt to negotiate but it is more than salary that should be your focus.

Few are consistent in getting the results from his or her employer. Preparation, as in any hiring or review phase, is critical in the salary negotiation process, and only a thread divides success and failure. It can affect your emotions and at times, fear the result.

To prepare for this stressful but needed phase of negotiating salary your accomplishments need to be front and center. If your negotiating a raise with a current employer gather reports that establish success and workload. In either case detail is critical, if not, overwhelming. Include salary research from sites such as, Salary.com, Glassdoor.com, and The Riley Guide Salary Guides & Guidance. Proving with facts is half the battle, and quantifying your accomplishments will always make a compelling case.

Use the CNN Money Calculator if you are locating: http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html)

The employer will likely consider the following:

· Level of the position

· Needed skills and experience (see: Great Demand for STEM Job Seekers Drives Up Pay)

· Career progression

· Fair market value

· Range of salary within the organization, industry, and region

· Economic conditions of the industry

· Company climate for raises and competitive salary

Now, having said that, you should NOT negotiate salary as the only means of satisfaction. There are a few other areas that should help you increase the value of your new job experience:

1. Vacation and time off (negotiate your upcoming time here—paid or unpaid)
2. Personal values (I have a lot to say about this soon)
3. Flex time
4. Work from home option?
5. Future raises (“If I exceed expectations…”)
6. Health insurance
7. Retirement plans
8. Bonuses and/or incentives
9. Tuition reimbursement (find out what degrees are eligible)
10. Stock options
11. Other insurance (dental, life, etc.)
12. Company car, laptop, or software
13. Health club membership
14. Professional memberships and certifications (Don’t assume the company pays!)
15. Relocation?

Do you regularly negotiate? What are your experiences? Please share in the comment section below.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers," career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. I aim to give a safe place online to those with different needs, cultures, and ethnicities to find their voice in the job market. Thousands have read my career advice throughout the web as I write about everything from job search strategies to the mobile job search. I have published more than 400 articles on this blog and some of the largest career sites such as Recruiter.com, YouTern, and Come Recommended. I've been quoted in major online publications such as Monster, TIME/Money, Fortune, Business Insider and MSN. FlexJobs, JobMonkey, Aerotek, Career Pivot, and CareerSherpa listed my podcast as one of the top podcasts to help your job search. Love for you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. I share the latest articles I've written, new podcast episodes, and answer any questions you may have. The new job search is scary and if you need help, I am here for it!

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