Salary negotiation should start with your final salary in mind. If that salary cannot be met, you should feel comfortable walking away from the salary negotiation. To be successful in any type of salary negotiation, you must be willing to walk away. Look a little closer…
Salary negotiation can be learned. Some work with a career coach to learn how to better market their skills to organizations. This can increase your perceived value and your financial situation. You sabotage your career success and financial position by accepting a job offer that you really should walk away from. How do you know when to back out of a salary negotiation?
Look at poor Steve. His interviewer began by ridiculing elements of his resume and dismissing actual experience. After his entire resume was verbally cut, Steve had to get up and leave the interview. Later, when he spoke to his contact for this interview, his explanation was that it was just the interviewer’s style and that Steve could have been offered the position if he had stayed. But Steve didn’t regret his move. In fact, several months later, Steve saw the interviewer’s name in the newspaper. He was the subject of an investigation for mistreatment of staff. Steve listened well to his inner mechanism or “intuition” during this interview.
Here are several situations that should give you a red flag when you’re in a salary negotiation:
Salary Negotiation Red Flag #1 – An employer who is inflexible and shows no respect.
They don’t respond to emails, can’t find time for a meeting, may only be available by phone for a few minutes at a given time, or demand a quick response. They haven’t decided they LOVE YOU. Walk away.
Salary Negotiation Red Flag #2 – No matter how hard you try, they just won’t negotiate.
Often Human Resources never offers you their best offer first unless you hear the words “This is a firm offer.” However, there are more things to negotiate than salary (at least 26 other things I discuss with my clients). No matter what option you propose, whether it’s a different start date, job duties, more vacation, job training, tuition reimbursement, company car, or cell phone, they won’t fit the budget. This is probably a good indicator of how they will negotiate in the future on salary or these items. Walk away.
Salary Negotiation Red Flag #3 – An employer who is not on their best behavior during the interview process.
They may be dismissive about your work experience or your value like they were with Steve above. They may just be nonchalant or cut off their responses before he can complete his thought. This is probably a sample of how you will be addressed as an employee. “Believe them when they show you who they are the first time.” They are showing you what they will be like as an employer. Walk away.
Salary Negotiation Red Flag #4 – Not being willing to see the situation as it really is and go ahead with unfavorable terms.
Negotiating salary should not put you in a bad spot due to fear, bills, a slow economy, or higher unemployment. Get out of your tunnel vision and look around you. Talk to your professional adviser, a trusted friend, or an advisor. Trust your internal mechanisms and your intuition. Be sure of the value you own. If you accept the job, accept the fact that this is a temporary job and not a place of rest or a career.
I know what you’re thinking. You couldn’t possibly walk away from any salary negotiations in this unstable economy. Unemployment has risen more than layoffs. Obviously, during a slow economy it’s easier to dismiss that strong negative reaction to the position or salary negotiation because you think jobs are scarce. Stop! Try to see all your opportunities. Don’t be pressured into accepting a lower position with lower pay out of fear. It continues to bring the same value to the organization in a slow economy as it would in a growing economy. There is still a market value for that value.
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