Pitching the right salary
One of the trickiest subjects to broach for the jobseeker is that of salary. You may feel embarrassed mentioning it or confident you should be earning more. So how do you get the result you want without putting your potential employer offside?
Source the right information
Tip number one is conduct as much research as possible. It would be foolish not to when so much information is readily available at your fingertips. You should begin by looking at the Hays Salary & Benefits Guides, the most comprehensive collection of regional and sector-specific salary reports available.
For further general information on average figures, often the best sources are the specific industry's professional organisations. Or you could tap into your immediate peer group for an informal survey with other professionals to gain knowledge about expected salaries, job titles and career paths.
Buy trade magazines or publications which advertise the type of jobs you are looking for and take note of salaries that are published. You should be subscribing to these anyway so you can keep abreast of a whole host of industry information. There is also a wealth of information on the web.
Speaking to recruitment consultants will give you a clearer idea of market supply and demand and the kinds of benefits you can expect. Some companies publish salary information on the careers section of their websites. With others, you may need to inquire further through their personnel departments
Know when to ask
It's important to remember that, even when armed with great information, you should always push salary discussions to the later stage of job interviews. Do not broach the subject during your first interview because you will lose negotiating power if you disclose your requirements too soon.
Look beyond salary to the benefits and the total rewards package on offer. This includes annual leave entitlement, car allowance, health insurance, education reimbursement, pension schemes and flexible working hours. It never hurts to ask for more money, but be careful how you play it. Steer clear of mentioning any other job offers that you may have received. Do not hold people to ransom because it could a) backfire, or b) damage your future with the company.
Positive outcome
One final piece of advice – especially for first-time jobseekers – is that you should never sound too desperate, and do not accept just any job offer. Discussing money with your employer need not always be the awkward experience many people assume it to be.
Armed with the right knowledge and a bit of confidence, you might be pleasantly surprised with what you can achieve.
