10 Ways to Negotiate a Salary Increase

Have you ever felt short-changed after accepting a job offer and discovering that many of your colleagues earn significantly more than you? It's natural to feel like you should have fought harder for a better wage. Negotiating your current salary can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be.

Most people don't understand that they have the power to negotiate their salaries, especially when seeking a new job or asking for a raise. The ability to effectively and confidently negotiate for yourself can help you get ahead in your career journey. Here are several time-tested strategies for increasing your paycheck without burning bridges or making yourself look too pushy. Read on for ten simple ways to negotiate a salary increase!

Do Lots of Research

When it comes to negotiating a raise, knowledge is power. And an essential part of negotiating a raise is doing research. It's important to understand what your current role is worth in the market to ensure you're getting a fair offer. To do this, reach out to recruiters and headhunters, and ask colleagues, friends, and family for feedback on what kind of salary range you should expect. Also, research current salary bands for the job via apps like Glassdoor or PayScale.com and consider additional compensation, such as bonuses and perks, that have a monetary value. This will give you an idea of the average salaries for your position and help you determine if the offer is in line with the market or lower than it should be.

What to Say and Avoid

Before the meeting, practice your pitch aloud to ensure you have a steady rhythm and can confidently articulate your points. Make sure you have been at your job for at least a year to demonstrate your value and worthiness of a raise. Showing you are willing to take on new responsibilities is also beneficial in negotiations. Going above and beyond expectations will help prove that you deserve more money.

Knowing what not to say is essential to ensure a successful negotiation process. Avoid making threats or ultimatums, as this could put your current employer on the defensive and make them less likely to give you what you want. Additionally, do not compare yourself to other employees or make any personal attacks against anyone in the company. Lastly, do not accept an offer right away; instead, take some time to think about it before giving an answer.

Stay Calm during Salary Conversations

You should not consider negotiating as a fight but rather as problem-solving. During negotiations, staying professional, gracious, and reasonable is essential to reach a deal that works for both sides. Being overly aggressive can make an offer withdrawn, so it is best to negotiate reasonably and effectively to build relationships and impress prospective employers. Remaining positive and calm during the negotiation process will show that you are confident in your abilities and willing to work towards a mutually beneficial agreement.

Understand the Person Across the Table

Negotiating with the person across the table is an integral part of any business transaction. Understanding the interests and individual concerns of the person you are negotiating with is essential to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. When negotiating with prospective bosses, it is crucial to understand their priorities and how your work contributes to those goals. Taking note of your work that supports those priorities can be helpful when making requests during negotiation. Additionally, it is crucial to be aware that larger requests may require authorization from other stakeholders and could take a significant amount of time.

It is also important to remember that companies negotiate with people, not organizations. Therefore, building rapport and trust between yourself and the person across the table is essential for negotiations to be successful. Understanding their individual needs and concerns will help create a win-win situation for both parties involved in the negotiation process. Doing these things ensures that both sides are happy with how the negotiations turn out.

Request for a Salary Higher Than Your Ideal Salary

When negotiating a higher salary, asking for more than you want is key. To do this, you can make a counteroffer slightly higher than the first offer. If your present or prospective employer makes a counteroffer that falls somewhere between the two numbers, that's a good compromise. Career experts recommend asking for a range versus a hard number when negotiating salary.

Be Flexible

Flexibility is key when negotiating any deal. It's essential to keep the big picture in mind and consider different monetary options, such as a one-time signing bonus or a six-month review with the chance for an increase, as well as a non-monetary benefits package like the ability to work remotely occasionally or flexible hours. The base salary component for many jobs is flexible within a pre-determined range, and potential employers may be willing to offer more money or additional benefits to accommodate specific skills and abilities. Be flexible and open-minded when discussing terms and conditions to develop an agreement that works for both parties.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

When negotiating compensation, it is vital to ask the right questions. Asking questions about how your organization approaches compensation can help you understand whether they focus on internal or external equity. Researching what other positions like yours are paying in the market can provide data-driven conversations when asking for additional forms of compensation. If you get a "No way!" or "This is our absolute final number!" response to your salary request, it is vital to dig deeper and find out why.

Asking open-ended questions can help uncover underlying interests and design a compensation package that meets both parties needs. Suggested questions include: "What's driving that? Why is there a cap? Is this tied to location? Is it tied to the level of experience?" Additionally, asking questions such as "What is the budget of this position based on?", "What information do you need from me to make a decision."

Don’t Give up When You Hear “No”

Negotiation doesn't actually start until someone says "no." Saying "no" is not a reflection of your performance but rather a tool in the negotiation process. When Human resources throw one of those condescending smiles at you and say, "This is the best we can do," give them a big smile right back, followed by something like, "Really? I'm sure we can work something out - let's negotiate." This could mean asking for better perks such as vacation time and remote work, negotiating for better reporting lines or specific projects, or requesting a faster review cycle when considering a promotion. When it comes to getting what you want and deserve, the game isn't over until you say it is.

Figure Out What You Will Do if They Say No

In negotiations, it is important to be ready for any outcome. If Human Resources rejects your counter-proposal offer, you must decide whether to accept the initial offer or walk away. Before sending a counteroffer proposal, have a plan in mind in case the company wants to hold firm on its original offer. Consider the benefits, job requirements, the current job market, industry experience, and salary surveys when making this decision.

When someone says "no" in a negotiation, it is an opportunity to find out how to get to a yes. Negotiations are problem-solving, and a little prep and confidence can go a long way. It is important to remember that there may be room for compromise if both parties are willing to work together.

Walk Away From Salary Negotiation

When it comes to successful salary negotiation, walking away from a lowball offer is often the best option. Employers know that some candidates are willing to accept lower salaries than they deserve, and resisting the temptation to accept a salary that is not up to your standards is likely in your best interest. If your current employer lowballs you, it may be better to look for other options.