5 Salary Negotiation Mistakes to Avoid
19 December 2016
Knowing salary negotiation techniques will put you at a better chance of increasing your earning potential. This article will focus on 5 techniques you want to avoid which could either result in a much lower job offer than you expected or possibly, and even worse, loose the job offer altogether.
1. Not Negotiating the Salary Offered at all
Many job seekers may dislike the whole negotiation process as they may lack the knowledge and skills to do it. However, settling for less than what you are really worth can have consequences in the long term. It can limit your earning potential in the future since most employers ask for a salary history when determining how much they will offer you. Salary data.co.ke will help you to compare your salary for your position in your location.
2. Poor Research
With the number and variety of salary resources available online such as salarydata.co.ke, job seekers in Kenya or those seeking to changing to new jobs can arm themselves with accurate data about jobs, industries, regions and many other factors that influence salaries. Having knowledge on average salaries for positions is important. Use our online tool to prepare well and learn when and how to negotiate your salary as well as negotiating the salary either in a small or a large company.
Compare your salary with others!
3. Accepting a Job Offer too Quickly
The long interviews have ended and the hiring manager finally makes an offer, it is not unusual to want to accept the offer right away.
However, this period calls for careful consideration of what is actually on the table. Some people are motivated by bigger salaries, others want to understand the total rewards - what benefits are provided, others may be motivated by the prospects of career growth opportunities, etc. This post offer period is sentive but it gives you power - power to negotiate and negotiate well your worth and value that you will bring to the organization. Usually, the hiring manager will give you sometime to think about the offer which can be several days to a week. However, be aware of the timeframe given to make your final decision about the offer.
4. Don't take Salary Negotiations Personally
This is about behavior - emotions should be suppressed and whatever happens during salary negotiation should stay professional. Stay calm when negotiations break down and don't go your way. Sometimes, it could be what is being offered is not your expectation, take the moment to thank the hiring manager and as they say "don't burn bridges".
5. Not Asking for the Final Offer in Writing
When a final offer selection has been made by the hiring manager and you find it acceptable the terms and conditions of employment, then you should have that confirmed in writing. In case, no such is provided, then that should be taken as a red flag that there is something seriously wrong.
Peter Kinyanjui
Email: [email protected]
