| Money! That's what this is all about. | | | | accept on the proviso that in X months time you meet |
| Unfortunately business owners don't hire you simply to | | | | again to renegotiate your salary package. You're |
| give you their money. The surest way to not get a job | | | | taking a little of the risk away from them. |
| is to ring up and ask how much it is paying. The | | | | OK - now hang on to your hats - here's a lateral |
| second best way to miss out on the job is to ask how | | | | thought for you: you can always get paid on a results |
| much you will be paid in the first interview. | | | | basis... |
| Either wait for the final interview or until you have | | | | Depending on the sort of position you've applied for, if |
| received a job offer. Besides, your research of the | | | | the salary is not up to your standard then ask for a |
| industry should already give you an indication of how | | | | share of profits, increased sales in a certain area or a |
| much to expect. | | | | share of savings made. If the company is spending |
| How to ask for more | | | | $50,000 in a certain area and you can save them |
| Once you've been offered the job it's now time to talk | | | | $15,000 (for example) you could ask for a one-off fee |
| money. Depending on the job you've applied for and | | | | of half the savings ($7,500). (After all, they're better off |
| the organization there may be no room for negotiating. | | | | by $15,000 every year because of your idea.) |
| You may simply have to take what's being offered. | | | | The same thing could apply if you can help to increase |
| The two choices open to you in this case are to put | | | | sales or productivity. You don't have to be a salesman |
| up with it or find a company that is willing to pay more | | | | to do this. |
| for your skills. | | | | I remember a story of a secretary in the Illinois or Ohio |
| The next section only applies if you think you are | | | | who worked for a sausage making company. She |
| worth more, or want to earn more than what you are | | | | thought it would be neat to sell sausages by mail order |
| currently being paid. | | | | so she brought the idea to her boss. The boss said |
| If you were an employer and you have $60,000 | | | | OK and she now heads up a multimillion dollar mail |
| allocated as a wage for a new employee, would you | | | | order sausage business. Oh yes, she gets paid a lot |
| offer the potential employee all of your $60,000? Or | | | | more than when she was a secretary. |
| would you offer them $50,000 to see if they take it, in | | | | Use them as an example for you being paid more... |
| which case you've just saved yourself $10,000? | | | | If the money they're offering is less than you want or |
| So, keeping this in mind, when asked how much you | | | | need and it doesn't look like you're going to get what |
| were earning in your last position, answer truthfully and | | | | you're asking for, try saying something like this: |
| then explain part of your reason for leaving was | | | | "I've researched your firm and I know that the widgets |
| because you wanted a chance to earn more. That | | | | you sell and the services you provide aren't the |
| you felt your skills and contributions to the company | | | | cheapest on the market. Why is that?" They will go |
| weren't being rewarded hence the reason for you | | | | ahead and tell you about their quality and service and |
| applying to this job. | | | | expertise and how it's superior to the rest, etc... |
| It's important to demonstrate early on why you think | | | | To which you would reply: "Well, the same thing applies |
| you are worth more. Bring up case histories of saving | | | | in my case. I'm not saying that other people can't do |
| the company X% or increasing sales or service while | | | | my job for less. All I'm saying is that like you, I offer |
| you were there. | | | | (insert your skills & experience etc... here) and I'm |
| "We were thinking of a salary package of $50,000. | | | | always learning and improving those skills so that I can |
| How does that sound?" | | | | be of maximum value to you and your customers." |
| You'll hear this when you ask them what the salary for | | | | Then say nothing and see what follows. You can |
| the job is or they may simply say it up front. The 3 | | | | always accept what they're offering with a review in 3 |
| ways to handle this are: | | | | months or so if this tactic fails. |
| Say NOTHING. This tactic added $50 a week to my | | | | If the company is the cheapest on the market then |
| paycheck once. OK, that's not a lot but it's an extra | | | | you may be in trouble with the example above so you |
| $2,500 a year and I didn't have to ask for it. A good 2 | | | | might have to point out that if you can work more |
| minutes work. The reason this tactic works is because | | | | quickly and efficiently, etc... then you'll save the |
| people generally don't like silences. When you say | | | | company money. They may pay you more for that. |
| nothing the employer can tell that their offer is less | | | | The last resort.. |
| than you were expecting. By saying nothing forces the | | | | If all else fails and they won't meet your salary |
| employer to possibly make another offer; an offer a | | | | expectations, don't take the job. This might get them to |
| little closer to what you had in mind. | | | | pay what you want or else it won't. The fact is you |
| Explain that you were earning more in your last | | | | have to be happy with the salary you're being offered |
| position and would expect at least that. If that doesn't | | | | otherwise there is little point in working there is there? |
| apply to you, tell them the salary you want plus a few | | | | If you can show the employer why you're worth the |
| thousand dollars more. The reason for this is -- if you | | | | money and they can see that there is no way you'll do |
| ask for too little you can't negotiate up, you can only | | | | it for less, refusing the job may be what it takes for |
| get what you've asked for or negotiate down. You've | | | | them to meet your demands. It shows them that you |
| got no room to move in. But, if you ask for more than | | | | are serious about what you can do and the money |
| you want you have room to move down. Chances | | | | you think you're worth. |
| are that you may get what you asked for which is | | | | If they think you are being unrealistic they'll let you go. |
| more than you originally wanted. | | | | Maybe one of their competitors will appreciate your |
| Accept the offer on the condition that you meet again | | | | skills and pay you the money you want. |
| in 3 or 6 months for a wage review. Explain that you | | | | But remember this: You don't get what you deserve. |
| have skills that will really benefit the company and you | | | | You get what you negotiate. |
| are willing to work for less than you would ordinarily | | | | |