Category Archives: Salary Negotiation

Will has been working the same job for three years without any raise in pay. Due to the downturn in the economy, his company claims that it just can’t afford to pay more to its employees.

I’ve got some good news for Will and for everyone else who has been working longer hours and hasn’t been rewarded with a bonus or an increase in salary.

That might be changing, according to Mercer, a worldwide consulting firm.

In their annual “employee attraction and retention survey,” Mercer found that more companies plan to focus on money – that’s right, cold, hard cash – as a way to retain and engage the right talent.

Because budgets have been tight during the recession, many employers relied on so-called “non-cash incentives.” These were such things as communicating the value of total rewards to employees, work-life programs, formalized career paths and special project opportunities.

But … Continue reading Good News on the Salary Front: More Companies Plan Increases →

Client Kevin Asks: I got an offer letter from the company I really want to work for. It’s a pretty low offer. Do I just take what I can get and hope to work my way up once I’m there, or is there a way to negotiate for more right up front?

Coach Joel Answers: Most companies expect you to negotiate once an offer has been made, as I discuss in Get Paid What You’re Worth. It’s not whether you negotiate that’s important—it’s HOW you negotiate that matters. Begin by thanking the hiring manager for the offer. He or she wants to hear how much you’re interested in joining the company and being part of the team. Companies want candidates that want to work for them. Reiterate the skills and experience that you bring to the table and how your past experience will add value to their company. … Continue reading Why Salary is Important, Learn Also to Negotiate Benefits →

Client Susan Asks: I thought I was going to get a nice bonus… and then it didn’t happen. How can I set myself up for a really well-deserved bonus?

Coach Joel Answers: Susan, you know of your worth and value. You’re adding to the company and you can see your contributions. So the key is to maximize your contributions, quantify them, and share them. Let’s discuss each one.

1. Understand Your Unique Skill Set.

Stop and think about your combination of talents, skills, and personality. There are some things you do better than anyone around you. This gives you one-of-a-kind attributes. So evaluate what they are. Perhaps you:

Offer effective ideas Build consensus Warn of hidden problems Work hard

You may want to ask co-workers what they see as your strengths. Once you understand these skills, build to your strengths.

2. Focus on Adding Value.

You … Continue reading How to Get a Bonus at Work (5 Ways to Deserve It) →

Nora received a job offer for the position of her dreams. She was ecstatic. She wasn’t even focused on the salary. Fortunately, she shared the news with one of her mentors, who had also been her very first boss. “Don’t accept without negotiating the salary,” her mentor advised her. He shared these statistics about salary from a recent Glassdoor survey:

Three of five employees do not negotiate their salary. Women are less likely than men to negotiate—68% of women vs. 52% of men abstain from negotiating. This is a shame, because salary is almost always When men negotiate their salary, they’re over three times more likely than women to succeed. This may stem in part from confidence—men tend to have an easier time asking for what they want—though that’s not to dismiss the impact of sexism. However, it’s getting better: The gender gap is much lower for younger workers than for … Continue reading Salary Negotiation Tips (Yes, Your Salary Is Negotiable) →

My client Jillian called last week, sounding frustrated. She announced that she was about to start looking for a job and wanted my advice about networking.

“I thought you liked your job,” I said.

“Oh, I love my job,” she replied. “I just don’t feel like I’m paid what I’m worth. I could make a lot more working someplace else.”

Do you have that same feeling? So does 65% of the working population, according to survey conducted recently by Salary.com. Out of 14,000 workers surveyed, more than 9,000 said they were going to look for a new job in the next three months. The main reason was because they felt they were underpaid.

Asking Your Boss for a Pay Raise

So I asked Jillian, “Have you thought about asking your boss for a raise?” There was an uncomfortable silence.

“How do I do that?” she finally volunteered. “And what if … Continue reading Asking for a Pay Raise →

Get Paid What You’re Worth

Like most people, you probably feel your work is worth more than the salary you make. You want to be compensated for the actual value you provide to your employer. Apply these three steps to negotiating a better salary, and start earning what you’re worth.