A higher salary is something that every worker wants. Having a salary higher than your initial salary is expected within at least one year of starting a job. In some jobs, salary negotiations may take place at the initial interview stage. In other jobs, you may be expected to negotiate a higher salary when either you or the employer feels the time is right. There are some tips and techniques that may lead to a successful salary negotiation.
The first step is to inform your employer that you wish to talk to him or her about the matter of your salary. This should be done in a non-confrontational way, and the request can be made either in person or by email. If the employer is open to your request, then he or she may think that salary negotiation is a viable topic for discussion.
If you feel you are due a higher salary, make sure you do your research. Check out similar job salaries to yours. Find out how much a person who is doing the same job as you is earning at various other companies. You can use this information both as a guide and as a bargaining tool.
Make a list of the reasons why you feel you deserve a higher salary. These could include changes within your job role. You may have been given more work than was originally specified at your initial interview, for example. Your job may now include training other staff. You may feel that your work has contributed a profit to the company that would not have happened without you.
Your skills may also be a factor when negotiating a higher salary. You may have taken training or educational courses either within or outside of the company. These extra skills you have gained should be brought up in negotiations and viewed in the context of your current or future job roles.
Be realistic in your salary expectations. Your current job may have a lot of benefits, such as a medical plan. These benefits may not be available within other companies and should be considered part of your salary. Some companies' benefit plans are worth thousands above the actual monetary salary, and this may be brought up by employers during negotiations.
Negotiations are all about both parties feeling as if they have gained in some way. By not focusing specifically on money, you leave yourself open to wider negotiations. These can include future job roles and promotion within the company. When negotiating a higher salary, stay calm and in control of the situation. Your employer has taken you seriously enough to negotiate and will be interested in what you have to say.
Once an offer has been made, take time to think it over, and think long-term. Do not jump in at the first pay raise mentioned. If the negotiation has been successful for both parties, make sure that it is set down in writing.
The biggest factor for employees asking for a higher salary is fear of rejection. If you have done your research and know that you deserve a higher salary, then negotiations are warranted. The employer can either say yes or no. If the answer is no, then it may be time to take your skills to someone who will appreciate them more.