With the annual January jobs rush upon us, many are looking for the dream role to start 2023 on a high. And whilst it’s ideal to search for a job that you find interesting and fulfilling, it’s important to be practical too.
Salary and employee benefits are hugely important considerations when looking for a new role, with research from LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends Report revealing that 60% of professionals say compensation and benefits are the top priority when picking a new job – ranking above factors such as company culture and organisational support to balance work and personal life.
So how can you negotiate your target salary during the interview process, or even in your existing role? We spoke to Ed Johnson, CEO and Founder of PushFar, the leading online mentoring and career progression platform, and he offered his top five tips on how you can come out on top of your contract negotiations.
1. Do Your Research
When entering a negotiation, you need to be as informed as possible – so it’s important to know what’s fair for the work you’ll be doing.
Depending on your industry, it can sometimes be difficult to determine the standard salary range for your role. A good place to start is looking at recent industry reports, competitive job listings, and also speaking with recruiters. Ideally you should conduct your research from multiple sources, to strengthen your data and avoid falling victim to the gender pay gap.
Once you’ve gathered your research, it’s time to use tools that can provide a more precise estimate of what you should expect in terms of compensation. This is where a salary calculator Ireland can be incredibly useful, especially if you’re considering a job in the Irish market. These calculators take into account various factors like location, and industry standards, offering you a tailored estimate that reflects current economic conditions.
2. Look Beyond Salary
Money isn’t the sole motivator for employees, and extra workplace benefits can be just as important. Employers will almost always negotiate down, so make sure to consider other benefits that are important to you that you could leverage during negotiations – whether it’s flexible working hours, being able to work from home, or being provided with ongoing training sessions to allow your skillset to grow further.
3. Build your case
Even if your research supports your case for a higher salary, it’s not enough to simply counter with a higher number – you need to explain why you deserve it. Ahead of your meeting, make notes of specific examples of how your experience and skillset will benefit this particular company.
We can all be our worst critics sometimes, so it can be easy to forget how much value you can bring to an organisation. You’ve been offered the role, so remind yourself that the company feel you have something to offer that will improve and benefit the organisation as a whole.
4. Rehearse with a mentor
If you hate the idea of negotiation and asking for more money, you’re not alone, as research conducted by Reed found that more than half of the UK (51%) have never negotiated wages when being offered a job.
The thought of negotiations can be daunting for many of us, which is why it’s so important to practice your conversation beforehand. By finding a mentor that you can rehearse with, it will help you build your confidence as they can walk you through role-playing scenarios to help you feel prepared and empowered to ask for fairer terms.
Mentors can also help you to consider unexpected questions you might get, how best to answer these, as well as to help you deliver your negotiations more confidently.
5. Approach Negotiation in the Spirit of Collaboration
Whilst negotiations can sometimes feel a bit conflicting, you’ll feel much more at ease if you approach them in the spirit of collaboration. Look to meet an agreement with your new employer, who will value your honesty and will want to work with you to ensure both parties are happy.
Being prepared goes a long way toward a positive negotiation process, so these five top tips should help you feel confident in asking for what you deserve!
If you’re on the hunt for a mentor, or are looking for career progression tips and tricks, visit www.pushfar.com where you can also sign up for free training sessions each month.
