How to negotiate salary

[steppinthrax]

Essentially I'm leaving my current job and I'm set at the bare min of 60K. I'm in the field of IT. I'm currently making around 48 or so right now. I've gathered lots of experience since then and think I'm worth that 20K or so jump. I notice a couple of things/questions.

1. Lots of jobs don't advertise salary. You can only guess based on requirements. Is there a general rule based on company size etc to see how much your paid.

2. I was told never mention salary at interview unless it's mentioned? Assuming this is true how far can you go with this if they ask you at interview?

3. When do they normally talk about salary? When they give you a job offer or after they hire you?

4. If they say out right the starting salary of this position will be 55 how would you counteroffer this just say "I can only go 60 that's it or no job" Or something like I'm worth 60 based on this and this and this???

Just need some help?

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Essentially I'm leaving my current job and I'm set at the bare min of 60K. I'm in the field of IT. I'm currently making around 48 or so right now. I've gathered lots of experience since then and think I'm worth that 20K or so jump. I notice a couple of things/questions.

1. Lots of jobs don't advertise salary. You can only guess based on requirements. Is there a general rule based on company size etc to see how much your paid.

2. I was told never mention salary at interview unless it's mentioned? Assuming this is true how far can you go with this if they ask you at interview?

3. When do they normally talk about salary? When they give you a job offer or after they hire you?

4. If they say out right the starting salary of this position will be 55 how would you counteroffer this just say "I can only go 60 that's it or no job" Or something like I'm worth 60 based on this and this and this???

Just need some help?

Companies operate under budgets, the best way to find out what their expectation is to ask what the position is budgeted at to see if you and the company are on the same range. Never ever ever reveal your requirements.

 

[Baked]

Just so you know, 60K - 48K = 12K, not 20K.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Essentially I'm leaving my current job and I'm set at the bare min of 60K. I'm in the field of IT. I'm currently making around 48 or so right now. I've gathered lots of experience since then and think I'm worth that 20K or so jump. I notice a couple of things/questions.

1. Lots of jobs don't advertise salary. You can only guess based on requirements. Is there a general rule based on company size etc to see how much your paid.

2. I was told never mention salary at interview unless it's mentioned? Assuming this is true how far can you go with this if they ask you at interview?

3. When do they normally talk about salary? When they give you a job offer or after they hire you?

4. If they say out right the starting salary of this position will be 55 how would you counteroffer this just say "I can only go 60 that's it or no job" Or something like I'm worth 60 based on this and this and this???

Just need some help?

1. Use salary.com to gauge the role of the position

2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent"

3. Salary and other compensation is normally discussed verbally and agreed upon, then the written offer follows with the details to make it official.

4. Counter with something "for my eperience/skills and value I can add I believe a fair price would be in the 75K range", and work from there. If you honetly believe you are worth more then ask for it. Only you know what you are worth.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

1. Go get an interview, and once they offer you something, you counter it. Even if what they offer is good, you'd probably want to counter to bring it up a little.

2. How far can you go? A few local business owners have told me that if the person they're interviewing talks about their pay in the first 2 interviews, they won't even consider them. Those specific ones need people that are motivated for reasons outside of money to do the work they're involved in.

4. "If you can bring that up to 65, you've got me" or something similar.

 

[TheKub]

1. No.
2. Depends. Would you rather go through 1-3 interviews only to find out they they can only offer 58K? Or would you rather say it's 60K or I walk now.
3. My past jobs have been local government. I knew the range before applying.
4. Basically yes. If you have it in your head that you will not accept anything less than 60k tell them your reasons for thinking so. If you are convincing and they have the wiggle room congrats. If they have 55k and ONLY 55k walk.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Originally posted by: Baked
Just so you know, 60K - 48K = 12K, not 20K.

:laugh:

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Originally posted by: Baked
Just so you know, 60K - 48K = 12K, not 20K.

Nope, didn't you know? When you go to the grocery store and see something for $4.99, you're supposed to round down. You always round down to the nearest dollar, or ten thousand dollars in this case.

 

[Tim]

Ask for 120k, and when he/she gasp, quickly quip about 50% of that will be spent towards gas for your vehicles next year.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Baked
Just so you know, 60K - 48K = 12K, not 20K.

i like how this negotiation is starting off.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: spidey07

2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent"

Works great in theory, but unfortunately many IT/IS jobs especially and also others now will not consider resumes without a salary history listed.

It's BS IMHO and I have not applied to any jobs like this. It's due to "kid's" living at home into their 30's willing to work for subpar wages causing this.

However, in negotiation for a wage; money has to come up...they will make an offer...you can either reply it's fine or not good enough. If the latter they will usually ask where do you need to be.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

It's always worked for me. It also puts you at an advantage because you're taking control of negotiations and gaining the power position. It's just like selling a car, once the seller finds out the buyer really wants the car he can drive up the price - "so, how much do you want to pay for this car?"

You're the car and you're the seller, employer is the buyer.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

Correct. A company doesn't want to waste it's time if there's not going to be a match in the salary range.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

It's always worked for me. It also puts you at an advantage because you're taking control of negotiations and gaining the power position. It's just like selling a car, once the seller finds out the buyer really wants the car he can drive up the price - "so, how much do you want to pay for this car?"

You're the car and you're the seller, employer is the buyer.

Precisely why the company will deny you.

 

[Vehemence]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

Yep. BALEETED!

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

Correct. A company doesn't want to waste it's time if there's not going to be a match in the salary range.

If you tell a potential employer what you make you are at a SEVERE disadvantage. It's one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Nothing good can come from divulging this information.

1) Job pays 150k, you tell them you make 80 - they offer 100. You left 50k a year on the table that you can never get back. 5 years, quarter of a million dollars you left.
2) Job pays 150k, you tell them you make 200. No offer

OR

1) Job pays 150k, you don't divulge information and get them to name a number. They name 145k and you negotiate to 170k plus a perfomance based bonus and 4 weeks vacation. WIN.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

It's always worked for me. It also puts you at an advantage because you're taking control of negotiations and gaining the power position. It's just like selling a car, once the seller finds out the buyer really wants the car he can drive up the price - "so, how much do you want to pay for this car?"

You're the car and you're the seller, employer is the buyer.

It's not that simple in every industry and it has been much tougher in most industries as of late. Things have changed a lot recently when it comes to this strategy thanks to the economy even in just the past 12 months. The employer has the upper hand in most industries right now due to there being so many job applicants and so few jobs. In other industries, the average employer is being much more conservative which is also due to the economy. They are willing to wait for the next qualified applicant to come along who is willing to accept a lower rate and will be honest about their salary history.

This is all especially true when it comes to the middle class and lower middle class which constitute the vast majority of people out there right now who are applying for jobs.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: Baked
Just so you know, 60K - 48K = 12K, not 20K.

I'm looking at min 60 to at most 70. But I'm really pushing it to ask for that but I wouldn't be surpised if I could get it.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

Correct. A company doesn't want to waste it's time if there's not going to be a match in the salary range.

If you tell a potential employer what you make you are at a SEVERE disadvantage. It's one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Nothing good can come from divulging this information.

1) Job pays 150k, you tell them you make 80 - they offer 100. You left 50k a year on the table that you can never get back. 5 years, quarter of a million dollars you left.
2) Job pays 150k, you tell them you make 200. No offer

OR

1) Job pays 150k, you don't divulge information and get them to name a number. They name 145k and you negotiate to 170k plus a perfomance based bonus and 4 weeks vacation. WIN.

and then you wake up from your wet dream...

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

Correct. A company doesn't want to waste it's time if there's not going to be a match in the salary range.

If you tell a potential employer what you make you are at a SEVERE disadvantage. It's one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Nothing good can come from divulging this information.

1) Job pays 150k, you tell them you make 80 - they offer 100. You left 50k a year on the table that you can never get back. 5 years, quarter of a million dollars you left.
2) Job pays 150k, you tell them you make 200. No offer

OR

1) Job pays 150k, you don't divulge information and get them to name a number. They name 145k and you negotiate to 170k plus a perfomance based bonus and 4 weeks vacation. WIN.

If you did your homework, you would know what the salary range is going to be.

Also, the majority of companies out there will ask you in the first interview (usually by a HR rep). Why do they want to waste their time if they have a position with a salary range of $80-100k and wait after 3 rounds of interviews with 10+ people to find out you're looking for $125k?

Note, many companies will require it on an application and will call your former employers to confirm.

 

[Mahaguru]

Those specific ones need people that are motivated for reasons outside of money to do the work they're involved in.

There are motivations other than money at a job? Maybe if the job was offering something really really cutting edge, or some kind of benefit that no one else can offer, then I can see it.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: spidey07
2. Never ever mention salary or what you make, it's none of their business. If pressed just calmly say "that's personal information and not relavent".

That's when the interviewer gets out his DENIED stamp.

:evil:

Correct. A company doesn't want to waste it's time if there's not going to be a match in the salary range.

If you tell a potential employer what you make you are at a SEVERE disadvantage. It's one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Nothing good can come from divulging this information.

1) Job pays 150k, you tell them you make 80 - they offer 100. You left 50k a year on the table that you can never get back. 5 years, quarter of a million dollars you left.
2) Job pays 150k, you tell them you make 200. No offer

OR

1) Job pays 150k, you don't divulge information and get them to name a number. They name 145k and you negotiate to 170k plus a perfomance based bonus and 4 weeks vacation. WIN.

This is what I was thinking. Let them speak first then counteroff there. Go a little higher (just a bit) and you get more. Because if I just say 60 flat out and they are actually going to pay me 80 or so then I lose....

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Note, many companies will require it on an application and will call your former employers to confirm.

Yup, this just happened to my SO. It's becoming more standard and more employers are complying with the requests for confirmations. I don't like it but that's just the reality of the world right now.

 

[vi edit]

If you have limited experience in people management, project management, or lack intimate understandings of "in-demand" systems, then you are ordering up one tall cup of coffee.