Winning Strategies In Negotiating Pay And Benefits

Everyone wants to be compensated well. There’s little point to working, after all, if you aren’t going to be paid for your efforts. 

Unfortunately, though, getting paid what you’re worth is easier said than done, as there’s a fair amount of negotiation that typically goes into the process.

You’ll need to sharpen your strategies if you want to score a job offer with the best possible pay and benefits. These tips will help you refine your approach and negotiate the best deals for yourself in the future.

Make Sure The Job Is Worth It

You don’t want to spend the effort negotiating a great salary only to find yourself trying to bail a few months down the road because of a toxic workplace, says San Francisco workplace harassment lawyer Pasternak Law.

Instead, make sure you do a hearty amount of research about the company you’ll be working at and how others feel about the workplace so that you aren’t waltzing into a sticky situation. All that research will also give you a leg up when it comes to the next step in negotiating a great salary.

Know Your Own Worth

If you want to get paid what you’re worth, you need to be able to articulate the strengths you bring to the table. 

After all, when it comes to most positions, employers have their pick of various candidates, so you’ve got to make the case for why you stand out from the pack.

When negotiating, you’ll need to make sure you highlight what makes you unique (and valuable) — specialized industry knowledge, situational expertise, competence with specific software, etc. — it all goes into getting you paid.

Consider All The Angles

Remember that negotiating compensation isn’t just about your starting salary, so don’t focus on that number alone during negotiations. 

You’ve also got to think about benefits (medical, dental, etc.) and, as Kampf, Shiavone & Associates, workers’ compensation lawyers in San Bernardino, point out — what you can expect if you sustain an accident while you’re on the job.

Exercise Some Patience

They say that fools rush in, and the same applies when you’re on the hunt for a job. When it comes to negotiations and getting the best salary, make sure that you don’t accept any offer for a job until you have it in writing.

While you’re waiting for that written offer, you should use your extra time to ask follow up questions that might affect your decision to accept and gain whatever clarification you need about the job — signals that you are a thoughtful employee and well worth what you’re requesting to be paid.