If you’re like most people, the thought of having to negotiate a job offer or a promotion isn’t exactly your favorite thing to do. Chances are your reaction to the prospect of negotiating is somewhere between a cold sweat and an overwhelming sense of dread that keeps you up at night.
Or maybe you clicked on this post because you’ve never considered making a counter offer for a new job, and you’re not even sure where to start.
Chances are your reaction to the prospect of negotiating is somewhere between a cold sweat and an overwhelming sense of dread that keeps you up at night.
Either way, you’re not alone!
It’s one of the aspects of the job search that almost every single one of the 1000+ clients I’ve worked with has wanted advice on.
Negotiating a better compensation package isn’t always comfortable, but it’s definitely worth the effort! Here’s the good news–learning to advocate for yourself in this part of the process is something that will benefit you both now and in the future. I’ve had many clients who reach out to me a year or two after working with me to say that they’ve successfully negotiated for themselves in a new job or promotion, because of what they gained from their career coaching experience with me.
Negotiating a better compensation package isn’t always comfortable, but it’s definitely worth the effort!
If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of the negotiation process, here are 3 tips to help you navigate it with confidence!
Shift Your Mindset
The key is to remember what your compensation is based on. You’re negotiating based on how you will impact the company and the results you’ll achieve for them. During the interview process, work on your 30/60/90 day plan for the new role, and project the outcomes you expect to see during that time. Think about how much money you will help the company to make, how many new clients your work will bring it, how your initiatives will influence productivity, or how many costs you’ll help reduce.
You’re negotiating based on how you will impact the company–the results you’ll achieve for them.
Rather than emphasizing what you’ve earned in the past, focus your negotiation on what you will accomplish in this role. You are not the same person you were when you started your current position, and you’re certainly not the same person you were at the beginning of your career. You’ve learned, grown and developed professionally. Don’t underestimate what you can achieve in your next position!
Know Your Worth
A career transition is a time when most of us struggle with insecurity. Maybe you’re leaving a toxic work environment, and your confidence has taken a hit. Maybe you’ve been stagnant in your current role and have lost sight of the value you add to the team. Maybe you feel unsure about your ability to perform in a new position or industry. No matter what your most recent position has been, as soon as you start looking for a new opportunity, it’s easy for uncertainty to creep in.
This makes it more important than ever to remind yourself of all that you bring to the table. Your worth goes beyond your past job titles, or even the expertise you’ve gained. Your value is an amalgamation of who you are as a person, your life experiences, your professional knowledge, and your cultural insight. All of those things combined comprise the value you have to offer, and no one else has the exact same mix of personality, background, and skill as you do.
No matter what your most recent position has been, as soon as you start looking for a new opportunity, it’s easy for uncertainty to creep in.
If you have a difficult time identifying what differentiates you from your peers, you might need to ask other people for feedback on your unique abilities. One of the most helpful exercises you can do is reach out to people who support you and ask them how they would describe you in a professional setting, or what they believe are the biggest strengths you bring to an organization. Sometimes it helps to hear about your value from an outside perspective.
Do Your Research
As much as possible, research compensation for your target jobs during the interview process. Find out what similar jobs in your geographic area offer in terms of salary and benefits. Take your seniority level into consideration, as well as unique skills that other candidates don’t offer, such as fluency in multiple languages, expertise in various software programs, or perhaps an unconventional career path.
Take your seniority level into consideration, as well as unique skills that other candidates don’t offer, such as fluency in multiple languages, expertise in various software programs, or perhaps an unconventional career path.
It’s important to understand the range you can anticipate for the industry, position, and career level you’re pursuing. That, combined with your level of competence, gives you a basis for where to start with your counter offer.
Is It Really Worth It?
The reality is that negotiating can be uncomfortable. It can be scary to make a counter offer, especially if it’s been a long and arduous job search. Many people reach the offer phase and accept the job immediately, out of fear that the opportunity might be taken away if they ask for anything more. But this is a fear that’s not actually based in reality.
Not only do companies expect a counter offer, confidently asking for what you’re worth shows that you understand the value you’re adding to the team and the results that your work will achieve for the organization.
So before you talk yourself out of negotiating by convincing yourself the offer is “good enough,” recognize that advocating for yourself in the offer phase will impact the company’s confidence in you and position you for growth in your role. If you’re ready to be challenged and expand your leadership capabilities, use the negotiation process to own your success within the organization.
Not only do companies expect a counter offer, confidently asking for what you’re worth shows that you understand the value you’re adding to the team and the results that your work will achieve for the organization.
It still may not be your favorite part of the interview process, but shifting your mindset, knowing your worth, and doing your research, will definitely make it easier for you to negotiate a counter offer and get compensated for the value you add to your next organization!
Looking for more interview and negotiation tips? Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn, or check out my Career Success Coworking program to get 1:1 coaching for your career transition!