Recent global events like the COVID-19 pandemic have changed the working world in a lot of ways. Workers have had to adapt as well as they can, with many making the shift to remote working and trying to do the best jobs possible from their own homes, while others have found themselves unemployed or struggling to make ends meet.
Now, perhaps more than ever before, it’s important to be able to negotiate a salary that works for you and matches your aspirations and expectations. This guide will go over some common salary negotiation mistakes people tend to make.
Failing to Research
It doesn’t matter what sort of work you’re in, whether it’s marketing, finance, or professional essay writers, there’s always one golden rule you have to follow when it comes to salary negotiations: knowledge is power. The more you know, the better position you’ll be in when it comes to working out a rate of pay that your efforts deserve. Make sure to carry out research, finding out about average salaries for people in your position and with your qualifications and experience.
Not Putting Enough Effort into Your Resume
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that salary negotiations only begin when you’ve been offered a job and are sitting down with the recruitment team to work out the details. The negotiations actually start a lot earlier than that. They begin the moment you hand over your resume, and recruiters can instantly make decisions on what sort of salary to offer based on the resume you present. It needs to exude confidence, highlight your experience and expertise, and demand respect.
Forgetting to Ask about the Budget
Getting into salary negotiations is a lot easier if you actually know what sort of budget the employer is working with. Otherwise, you might be quoting totally unrealistic figures that are simply too high and will quickly bring an end to the negotiating process, or you might be underestimating the salary you could actually receive. So make sure to ask about the budget and don’t commit to any kind of salary range too early on, before you know all the requisite information.
Ignoring Other Benefits
Salary is very important, but it shouldn’t be the only item of consideration during your negotiations. There are many non-salary items and benefits you can incorporate in your offers and suggestions, and a lot of business owners are open to the idea of providing additional benefits to talented workers in order to bring them on board. Think about things like a company car, flexible hours, extra holiday time, and so on.
Playing Too Hard
There are times when it feels like salary negotiations have turned into a game of chess or some strategic mind battle, with both sides trying to outwit one another. This can happen in any line of work, whether you’re applying to a be a high-end CEO or a professional college paper writer, but it’s important to not let the “game” get too serious. At the end of the day, negotiations aren’t really a battle between sides. They’re a simple discussion in which both sides are trying to reach an agreement. Don’t get into the mindset of feeling like the recruiter is trying to catch you out or trip you up, and don’t play too hard.
Author Bio:
Jake S. Platt is 31. He has a master’s degree in marketing and is currently pursuing a career as a content writer. He wrote his first story at age 15, and now he uses his decades of experience to inspire people to explore the world of marketing. Feel free to connect with him by email.