Money discussions are always tough, let that be in a personal area of life or professional. During the interview process, understanding the importance of salary negotiation might make it easier to take the first step of discussing a salary that you desire and deserve as you help employers understand the value you provide. All companies anticipate salary negotiations as part of the hiring process, so do know that the first offer they give - doesn’t always need to be the final one.

Why should you negotiate your salary?

In a recent Indeed survey, more than half (58%) of respondents claim to never, or rarely ever, negotiate their pay. However, not discussing your salary and benefits can negatively affect your lifelong earning potential and lead to dissatisfaction in your current role sooner than expected.

When should you negotiate your salary?

• It doesn’t reflect the market standards
• It will impact your lifestyle drastically
• The company can offer it

Make sure to only discuss the salary after you’ve been offered a contract.

What should you keep in mind while negotiating your salary

• Avoid negotiating till you have received a written offer - A written offer gives you more leverage since you exactly want to pay you as an employee. It also gives you time to prepare for your negotiation
• Do your research - Look up the market average for the position. Check websites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Kununu to establish a range. Often reverse platforms like talent.io, and honeypot.io also provide reports year on year on salaries for web developers, data, and freelance professionals
• Determine your ideal amount - Basis your research, establish your ideal number. Determine the salary you would like to ask for and the lowest in that range - make sure to account for your living costs, debts (if any), and future goals
• Decide what's your non-negotiable- Not all companies are open to negotiating as per expected. Prior to the decision, reflect if the salary offered is a deal breaker. If you feel comfortable walking away from the offer, then it helps in being more persistent during the negotiation.
• Create your own pitch - Having your talking points ready is key. You need to be confident about why and what you are negotiating about. Explain to them why you deserve the raise or a certain benefit. To build confidence, even practice your pitch with the career services team or friend. While crafting your pitch, steer the conversation toward the future and the value you will add to the overall business goal and the team

Developing strong negotiation skills takes practice. Make sure you are

• Confident - Tell yourself that you deserve more. A few practice pitch sessions with your friends and coach should already make you feel more calm & confident.
• Polite and respectful - Avoid being rude or aggressive. Understand that this talk needs to be in favor of both parties for which both need to be heard and understood. You can always be firm yet polite and don’t forget to listen!
• Appreciative - Always open the negotiation by expressing your gratitude of landing the offer and your interest in the opportunity. If your negotiation goes well, express gratitude for their flexibility. If you do decide to walk away from their offer, still thank them for giving you the opportunity - you never know, they might consider hiring you for a higher-paying position in the future