Whether a beginner or a seasoned professional, landing a job offer is always an exciting experience. It is not only a testament to your hard work but also a significant milestone in your career journey.
However, getting an offer is not the end of your application process. You will still need to consider everything that the deal entails. These include factors like your salary, benefits, and working conditions. After all, you may want to negotiate on particular terms before accepting the offer.
Granted, engaging in a contract negotiation can seem daunting. It is a delicate balancing act that requires you to be upfront about your requests without making them unrealistic. How you approach a company will ultimately depend on your specific circumstances, but there are several helpful strategies you can use to leverage your bargaining power.
To learn more about them, here is what you need to know when negotiating:
Be Personable and Diplomatic
Remember: tensions and tough questions are inevitable in any negotiation. However, how you handle such challenges will indicate your professionalism.
Being a personable job candidate is the first step to conducting a successful negotiation. While this might seem like an apparent prerequisite, some applicants can forget its importance.
Whether or not the negotiation is in your favour, do be sure to remain civil and patient. The company representative is more likely to accept your proposals if they find you pleasant and likeable.
Additionally, try to understand the person you are negotiating with; be mindful of their specific interests and concerns. For example – how you approach a potential boss will differ from how you approach an HR representative. Once you have figured out where they are coming from, you can better adjust your negotiations.
Think about the Deal in Its Entirety
While receiving a salary increase may be the first thing that comes to mind during your negotiations, it is not the only factor to consider. There is more to achieving a fruitful career than a large salary, so try not to focus solely on that.
Be sure to think about everything the job includes – your work hours, paid time off, healthcare benefits, career mobility, and the like. For instance, a job may not offer very high pay, but it might have better benefits that’ll bolster your career in the long run.
Always Justify Your Proposals
Once you’ve considered the terms you’d like to negotiate, make sure that you can justify them appropriately. Your potential employer needs to understand why you’re making these requests so they can assess whether you truly deserve them.
For example, if you’re asking for a 10 per cent salary increase, you’ll need to provide supporting evidence for your proposal. Perhaps you have many years of experience or a track record of successful projects that make you deserve such a benefit.
Also, be as specific as possible when justifying your requests. Vague reasons like “being a valuable employee” may cause you to look arrogant. If you can’t find a clear justification for specific requests, it may be best to forgo it.
Prepare to Face Difficult Questions
Tricky questions aren’t limited to your job interview, as you’ll face more of them if you decide to negotiate your contract. When offering an improved deal, an employer needs to give more of their resources. Hence, they’ll want to ensure that you’re well worth their effort.
The individual you’re negotiating with may ask you about other job offers you’ve received, whether their company is your top choice, or if you’d be willing to accept the job as soon as possible. Without the proper preparations, you might give unsatisfactory answers to these questions. It could cause you to lose your bargaining power.
Acknowledge the Constraints
Even if you pull out all the stops during your negotiation, things don’t always go according to plan. No matter how much a company wants to fulfil your requests, they may still be unable to grant them. There are certain things that an employer can’t change, such as salary caps.
Though this might sound disheartening, all is not lost. There may be other ways a company can adjust, like granting you flexible work hours or more paid time off. In these cases, the best thing to do is accept constraints and focus on other areas for improvement instead. Avoid bargaining more than you should if you’ve already received a reasonable offer.
By following the tips above, you can guarantee beneficial and smooth negotiations for you and your potential employer. If some of your requests are not successful in your first round of negotiation, don’t fret. Circumstances and interests can change over time, and you can always revisit your unaddressed proposals during performance reviews or promotions.
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