Author: Lavie Margolin, Career Coach
The key to the highest job offer is not to reveal how much you are looking for until you receive an offer. Larger companies have organizational charts including salary ranges they can offer for each position. For example, human resources professionals within that company understand that they can offer a senior financial analyst with 10 years experience between $85,000-105,000 per year. Your goal is to gain an understanding of what is the most the company is prepared to pay and receive that offer from the employer.
Avoid revealing how much money you are looking for during the early stages of the interview process. If you reveal how much money you are looking for early on, you may be eliminated based on price or receive a lower offer than the company was willing to pay. When questioned, or asked to put a salary demand on paper, write ‘open to negotiation’ or give a wide range (Example: A range between $70,000 and $110,000 thousand dollars) After a company has placed an advertisement in the newspaper, vetted through hundreds of resumes, called you in for multiple interviews, checked your references and decided you are the best candidate, then you are in the best place to negotiate.
Do your research. Understand what your skills are worth in that sector of the market. Careeronestop.org, Salary.com, Onetonline.org and Indeed.com are good places to start in determining an appropriate salary range for your position. Additionally, survey several professionals you respect, who work in your field of interest, to determine an appropriate figure. Do not necessarily agree to the first offer but express a strong interest in the position. Come back with a reasonable offer and give the company time to meet you somewhere in the middle. It is likely that they will.
About the Author: Lavie Margolin is a New York-based Career Coach and the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. To learn more, go to Lavie’s website, Lion Cub Job Search:www.Lioncubjobsearch.com