How to negotiate your salary during a job interview with tips and examples

Is it time for a higher salary in your current job, or are you currently applying for a job? If it is a yes, then a competitive salary is something you need to consider before negotiating your next salary. How do you ensure you receive the salary you deserve? Can you affect your salary increase, or is it something you should avoid doing? These and other questions are covered in this article to help you see what you can and can’t do about it. Read on to learn more about it.

You have absolute control over your new monthly payslips! With a well-prepared salary negotiation, this is easier than you might think. Do you find it exciting to start a conversation when it comes to your new income? You are not alone! Preparing your salary negotiation helps you to feel more confident and to arrive at an amount that both parties are happy with. Here are our nine valuable tips to help you negotiate your future salary successfully.

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Know what you're worth

If you have a good CV and the right skills for the position, realise that you have enough to offer and that this includes a suitable salary. Your work experience also plays an essential role. If you've already gained the necessary experience, you'll be more likely to settle into your new job than someone fresh out of school.

Think about where your qualities lie in advance and feel free to respond to this when you sit at the negotiating table. It certainly works to your advantage if you inform yourself well in advance and find out what the average salary is in the industry in which you are active. You can find this very easily online, giving you a good impression of what is common.

Don't be too low

Always bet higher than the original amount you have in mind. Why? Your conversation partner feels he will get a better deal if the salary is lower than the compensation you initially asked for due to the salary negotiation.

At the same time, you will sooner receive the wage you are satisfied with. So it is a win-win situation for both parties. So don't be afraid to ask too much. Your employer will always respond with a counteroffer. You miss a great opportunity to get a higher monthly income if you don't negotiate.

Come with your first proposal

The first amount on the table is crucial. This is where the salary negotiation starts. If you let your employer make the first offer, which turns out to be much lower than what you have in mind, your final wage will also be less high.

So take the initiative and be the first to put an amount on the table. You have so much more control over the further course of the conversation, and you increase your chances of a successful pay increase.

Provide a well-founded substantiation

Do you or the interlocutor make a proposal? Then it is always a good idea to have strong reasons to justify your worth.

You can indicate the strengths with which you demonstrate your added value for the company. Give specific examples and show how the experience you bring benefits the company. This way, you show why your employer should pay you more than the pay he may have originally had in mind, and you can convince him sooner.

Ask questions

If you're not getting the response you want to your offer, asking open-ended questions is a great way to keep the conversation going and achieve more. You can think of questions such as ‘what can I do so that we come closer together?’ or ‘how did you come up with this offer?’.

You show you are willing to work it out together, making maintenance run more smoothly.

Keep your ears open

What you say and the questions you ask are important, but your listening skills also come in handy during salary negotiation. Listen to what your conversation partner says and let everything sink in. In this way, you get valuable information about the company's needs. Doing so will ensure you can use the information to your advantage!

Don't focus too much on the salary

If a higher salary is not possible for the company, you can also consider which types of remuneration are more interesting for you. Think, for example, of the option to follow a course, more vacation days, the opportunity to work from home or flexible working hours. See for yourself what appeals to you the most. A higher wage may not be within reach right now, but you do create the right working conditions for yourself in this way.

Practise, practise, and practise

Prepare yourself thoroughly for the salary negotiation. How do you do that? You can write down what you want to say and practise the conversation in front of the mirror or with a friend or family member. Following these steps will make you feel more at ease during the real negotiation, and you will start the conversation with more confidence, making you appear stronger and achieve more results.

Record everything in writing

Have you reached the point where you have made agreements about your future salary, and are you satisfied? Well done! Now make sure that you get the agreements made on paper. You can also include other matters you have discussed, such as the job description or a possible bonus. Also, remember that both of you sign the document. Doing this prevents misunderstandings and makes it clear to all parties what you have agreed to.

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