Introduction
Most times, we expect an attractive compensation package from companies we want to work with. What do you do when the salary offer comes lower than expected? This article has been written to help you overcome the difficulties in negotiating a lower than expected salary offer.
Negotiating the Salary Offer
When a lower than expected salary offer comes, what we have to do is negotiate. Negotiating a salary is a tricky business: You don’t want to undervalue your skills and experience by asking for too little, but you also don’t want to ask for too much and scare off the employer. Sometimes, job seekers don’t counter the job offer because they are afraid to ruin the deal, but the truth is that most employers probably lowball the offer expecting you to negotiate. Employers will try to get you at the least possible salary as possible in order to reduce costs.
Here are 5 tips to negotiate a lower than expected salary offer:
- Know and show them your worth: One of the strongest negotiation tools is knowing how much you are worth. Your experiences and skills accumulated over the years should give you an insight of how much you are worth. If a company offers you a job, it means they want you. It is left to you to prove yourself during the negotiation process. You can prove yourself by telling them about past accomplishments and how it relates to the job you applied for. If there is a time to talk about professional accomplishments, now is the time to do it.
- Research the industry average: Getting to know the average salary for an industry can help you find a balance between what you think you are worth and what the employer is willing to offer. MySalaryScale.com can be used to research the average pay for your position and the company you work with.
- Present relevant salary data: Some hiring managers don’t know the going rate for most people. Presenting a relevant salary data in terms of your cost of living and your previous salary might help the hiring manager see the difficulties you will experience if you accept the lowball salary offer.
- Be grateful and respectful: If the job offer comes in at a much lower pay rate than you expected, it might be tempting to act angry or frustrated, but this won’t help you get the salary you want. Instead, respond by being firm about what you deserve while still showing gratitude for the offer. It’s okay to say that you truly appreciate them offering you the job and the offer that they gave you, but that you think you deserve more (and then explain why). This goes back to point one, but make sure that whatever you say in response, you show respect and gratitude. Even if the employer comes back and says that all they can offer is the initial offer, you can try one more time. Don’t give in and jump to rejecting the job; simply reiterate the fact that you are worth more and then wait to see what they say. An employer isn’t going to walk away just because you ask for more (unless they have made it clear that this is the last offer).
- Remember that there are other variables: Even if the company does not agree to increase the salary offer, there are other things that can be taken into consideration. You can discuss your benefits, time off, the job description itself, how often you will be reviewed for a promotion, and possibly even your work hours. Sometimes a company that offers great insurance at a low price and multiple paid days off, actually ends up paying more overall than a company that offers a higher salary but less benefits.
- Be reasonable and know when to walk away: Even if the first offer you receive is way below the minimum standard you set for yourself, it is best to explain the minimum you will take and see what happens. Otherwise, if they can’t come close, then you will waste a lot of time by negotiating. In addition, asking for too much can make you look ridiculous. It can be scary to negotiate but you need to know when to stop. There are lots of available jobs out there that can undoubtedly give you a chance to interview elsewhere and get the salary you need.
Remember that most employers expect you to negotiate, and if you do it respectfully, you may end up making thousands more than you would have if you took the initial offer.
Conclusion
With the information contained in this article, one should be able to negotiate a lowball salary offer anytime, anywhere.
See also How to Answer the Salary Question in an Interview: Nigerian Perspective
See also 10 Signs You Aren’t Getting a Raise
See also Comparing Job Offers: Employee Benefit Packages
See also How to Approach Your Boss about a Raise
