What Not to Do During Your Salary Negotiation
Whether you’re interviewing for a new job, have just started in a company or are a seasoned professional with years of experience in the same organisation, there are some things you should know about how to approach salary discussions.
On one hand, there are some best practices that you should always keep in mind and follow to the best of your ability. On the other, there are some common pitfalls that you should absolutely try to avoid by not doing a number of things that can jeopardise the negotiation.
We have already told you about the dos, but what about the don'ts? Here are the top 5 according to Findcourses.co.uk.
1. Don’t make the first move.
You obviously know what you have in mind, but since it’s impossible to know what your boss is thinking, choosing to go first may end up being a big mistake. Don’t take that risk by speaking too soon and indicating a figure that is either way too low or way too high.
2. Don’t bring your personal finances into it.
Arguments like "I just bought a new house", "we’re expecting a baby in November" or "I have to pay back my student loan" are an absolute no-no during salary discussions. Remember: your private life is not and will never be your employer’s concern. Don’t make the mistake of trying to gain his or her sympathy with your personal money woes – they are not a charity.
3. Don’t threaten to quit.
When all other avenues have been exhausted, it can be easy to end up threatening to quit as a last resort. Do this at your own peril – your employer might just take you up on that offer, so if you decide to go there you better be sure you are prepared to follow through with the threat.
4. Don’t use your colleagues’ salaries as an argument.
"But Bob gets X per month!" is only a good argument if you know that you are as good as, if not better, than Bob. Otherwise their answer may simply be "Bob works harder than you".
5. Don’t confuse titles with experience.
Relevant work experience is often worth more than a couple of words on a piece of paper, so be aware that a nice-sounding accolade doesn’t automatically mean you are justified in asking for a raise.