Salary Negotiations During Job Interviews
Have you asked yourself questions like, how do you talk about salary negotiations during an interview? When should I bring up salary negotiations? You're not the only one. In fact, hiring managers and recruiters are not allowed to ask for candidate's salary information. Candidates can give a salary range of what they are looking for in order to jump to their next opportunity. My advice, be honest with what you are looking for and don't shoot for the moon! Here are 3 myths when negotiating salaries with potential employers.
1) Salary Negotiations Are Difficult Conversation
No one wants to bring up salary negotiations. There is a time and place when salary has to be discussed but that is never in the first interview. As a candidate, get a feel for the interviewer. The interviewer should be honest and open about the role. You should be talking the same technical language and both of you should have a rough idea on what the salary for this role will be. If an interviewer asks about your compensation, you can give them a range of what you are looking for.
2) Don't Shoot for the Moon on Salary Negotiations
Shooting for the moon or the best offer you can get will lead you to demise. Your salary reflects the number of accomplishments you did in your lifetime. Each academic or work experience you gain should reflect in your salary number. Got a Canadian Engineering Degree? Great! That gets you to a certain salary band level. Take a close look at your experiences and what you have accomplished for previous companies. Usually, I believe the simple saying of "You are paid what you are worth". Some companies will pay higher for certain positions but usually there is someone more experienced than you (likely your manager) that will determine what your salary should be based on your past experiences. If you feel that you are not getting paid what you are worth, maybe its time to look around for other opportunities.
There are salary surveys such as payscale.com and Linkedin that can give you a ballpark figure of where you should be. Remember, what you find on the internet are ballpark figures and should not reflect your exact salary. Your salary is based on your academic / post-secondary achievements plus your accomplishments in your work experience.
3) Should I Take The First Salary Offer That's Presented To Me?
If the offer is fair, reasonable and you have a gut feeling that its the right move for you, then I would advise you to take the first offer that's presented. There is a fine line for being too greedy and what's fair market value. Remember, the new hiring company does not know you. Why should the hiring manager pay you more just meeting you in 3-4 interviews. If you feel that the offer is low, I suggest to see if there is a salary review within the first 3 - 6 months after the probationary period. Once you are in the company and you have proven yourself to your hiring manager, the conversation about salary can be vastly different.
