Much like interviews, successful salary negotiation happens BEFORE any conversation. Being well prepared will make you a lot more successful.
1- Know industry ranges so that you know what is realistic for any given role. Glassdoor, while not legally specific, may have some useful information of actual salaries.
2- Always remember that it is a collaboration – not a fight.
3- Speak with your recruiter about what is realistic.
4- Hold off on discussing money until they’ve made a decision to hire you. Potential employers will always be looking to lock you down to a specific range early, and you will have more leverage when they’ve decided that you are the person they are most interested in.
5- Quantify your value – know the specifics around your billable hours, charge rates, along with major new clients that you might have won, or initiatives that might have saved your firm significant amounts.
6- Scarcity and competition are your friend – make it clear that you are in demand and have some other opportunities. This helps the company bring their best offer to the table.
7- Negotiate outside of just salary – many companies might have some limitations around salary banding, but might be able to help with additional working hour flexibility, training allowances, position title, travel allowances, education allowances, additional annual leave, etc.
8- Work with your recruiter – a good recruiter as an intermediary can really help you succeed here. They’re able to have more difficult conversations tactfully on your behalf. It makes things cleaner having an independent third party but obviously they are keen to get the deal done.
9- Don’t haggle for the sake of it. I have seen too many people miss out on dream jobs for trivial amounts of a few dollars a day, particularly taking out tax and superannuation.
