Your Progress
Week 10: Negotiating and Offer Letters
How to Negotiate the Salary and Benefits You Want
Video Time: 17 Minutes Action Time: 2 Hours – 1 Day
Video Time: 17 Minutes
Action Time: 2 Hours – 1 Day
How to Negotiate
1
Prepare ahead of time. Know the average pay for your position by doing research on websites like GlassDoor. You’ll need to know what you want from a salary and benefits standpoint.
2Always be positive, polite and professional. Smile! Be relaxed! You want to either be face-to-face (which is ideal), on a video conference, or worst case, on the phone when negotiating. Don’t negotiate on email or text, ever! An accidental extra zero has ruined many a negotiation!
1
Prepare ahead of time. Know the average pay for your position by doing research on websites like GlassDoor. You’ll need to know what you want from a salary and benefits standpoint.
2Always be positive, polite and professional. Smile! Be relaxed! You want to either be face-to-face (which is ideal), on a video conference, or worst case, on the phone when negotiating. Don’t negotiate on email or text, ever! An accidental extra zero has ruined many a negotiation!
3
Negotiating is a back and forth conversation. You want to ideally get the deal done in one sitting! Read visual clues and understand what’s going on during the dialogue. Watch episodes of The Mentalist or CIA interrogation tapes for tips on influencing your friends and enemies.
4As we’ve said before: if the salary question comes up in the interview (“What’s the salary range for this position?”), make them provide the first salary offer, and go from there.
3
Negotiating is a back and forth conversation. You want to ideally get the deal done in one sitting! Read visual clues and understand what’s going on during the dialogue. Watch episodes of The Mentalist or CIA interrogation tapes for tips on influencing your friends and enemies.
4As we’ve said before: if the salary question comes up in the interview (“What’s the salary range for this position?”), make them provide the first salary offer, and go from there.
5
Whatever they tell you, write it down. By writing it down, you can memorize what’s said and repeat it back to them, if needed. Plus, it proves that you can write. A useful skill in the workplace!
6If they give you a letter, read it carefully. If they give you two, it means they LIKE like you.
5
Whatever they tell you, write it down. By writing it down, you can memorize what’s said and repeat it back to them, if needed. Plus, it proves that you can write. A useful skill in the workplace!
6If they give you a letter, read it carefully. If they give you two, it means they LIKE like you.
7
In the job interview, it’s important to repeat what the interviewer says, nod your head in a positive “yes.” You want the interviewer to think positive thoughts regarding you.
8Be aware of your facial features, demeanor, and tone when asking a question. A scowl, a smile, and a lustful wink tell very different messages.
7
In the job interview, it’s important to repeat what the interviewer says, nod your head in a positive “yes.” You want the interviewer to think positive thoughts regarding you.
8Be aware of your facial features, demeanor, and tone when asking a question. A scowl, a smile, and a lustful wink tell very different messages.
- The Accommodating Interviewer: This person who will give you everything you ask for. If you don’t walk out with a gargantuan salary, full healthcare coverage, and one of their children, you didn’t try hard enough.
- The Negotiating Interviewer: They are similar to the Accommodating Interviewer, but their persona starts to change. They may not be able to make a decision on what you request so you may have to wait. If you don’t want to wait, that’s okay. You can pass on a request and come back to it at a later time.
- The Non-Negotiating Interviewer: This person’s going to is “NO.” If you get the dreaded “No,” don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be intimidated by the no or the interviewer’s new attitude. Remember the 3 “C’s” when dealing with this interviewer. Remain calm, cool, and collected.
Let's Get Down to the Nitty Gritty
Negotiations can go a number of ways. These conversations, although annoying, can help you understand more about the company and how they work. So be persistent and continue to ask questions until you’re completely satisfied. Some example questions would be, “Is that the case for promotions as well?” “What happens if I’m exceptional and rise quickly to leadership positions?” “Would you still treat me like others even if I exceed them?” The point is to practice as much for negotiating as much as you do for interviews. And keep in mind, asking open-ended questions will encourage discussion.
1For salary, ask for more than you expect. You may end up getting it, or they may try to negotiate lower or meet you halfway. Either way, it’s a win-win situation. Consider the whole package and negotiate any other benefits you see fit.
2Don’t be afraid to get creative! If you are on your spouse’s health coverage plan or you are a veteran, use those benefits to your advantage. Convert this opportunity into something that means more to you; whether that be time off, more salary, hair plugs, a parking spot, a golden toilet in your office, etc. just be sure to ask for it.
1For salary, ask for more than you expect. You may end up getting it, or they may try to negotiate lower or meet you halfway. Either way, it’s a win-win situation. Consider the whole package and negotiate any other benefits you see fit.
2Don’t be afraid to get creative! If you are on your spouse’s health coverage plan or you are a veteran, use those benefits to your advantage. Convert this opportunity into something that means more to you; whether that be time off, more salary, hair plugs, a parking spot, a golden toilet in your office, etc. just be sure to ask for it.
“I’m a veteran so I won’t be using the company health benefits. Could I get the difference added to my salary since the company won’t be paying for my health insurance?”
3If you prefer working from home, it’s as simple as requesting to do so. Point out that the company would save money, they love that! By not having to pay the overhead electricity for your presence could be a reason why they should consider you working remotely.
Ideas for talking points on working from home:
- Working from home is cheaper. The company won’t have to provide you with electricity, food, water, shelter, toilet paper, a gender-inclusive bathroom (if applicable). Just like The Beatles, all you need is love!
- It’s better for the environment. Virtual work reduces the carbon footprint of the company, creates less waste, and shows a lean into the future! By not having to travel to and from the office you’ll reduce personal emissions and as such be less guilty of the environmental apocalypse that’s slowly encroaching upon humanity as we speak.
- Increased productivity. As a virtual employee, you’d have better control of your own hours, as all the materials to work from home are already there!
- People who work from home are happier!
Happier people work faster and better due to less existential crying than those common plebeians chugging away in their office cubicles. You don’t want to be a filthy peasant riddled with the Spanish Flu. You want to be in your castle filled with home-cooked Spanish food!
“I’m a veteran so I won’t be using the company health benefits. Could I get the difference added to my salary since the company won’t be paying for my health insurance?”
3If you prefer working from home, it’s as simple as requesting to do so. Point out that the company would save money, they love that! By not having to pay the overhead electricity for your presence could be a reason why they should consider you working remotely.