How to Negotiate a Salary Counter Offer for a Job

How to Negotiate a Salary Counter Offer for a JobHow to Negotiate a Salary Counter Offer for a JobWhats the best way to negotiate a counter offer when youre not thrilled with the job offer you received? How much leeway do you have when you get a job offer? Whats the best way to make a counter offer? When should you stop negotiating and accept or reject a salary offer? These are great, and challenging questions. Its wonderful to receive a job offer, but less wonderful if the salary or rate doesnt match your expectations or requirements. So when you find yourself with a surprisingly low offer - or simply feel you deserve better or could get mora - its only reasonable to consider negotiating your way to a better salary. What is a Counter Offer? A counteroffer is an offer made by a candidate in response to a salary offer from an employer. A counter offer is issued when thejob offerpresented by a prospective employer isnt considered acceptable by theapplicant. An employee might also issue a counteroffer to their current employer if they are awarded a promotion and dont agree with the new compensation offered for accepting that position. A counter offer can also be made by a company when they learn that a valued employee has received an offer from another organization. In this case, the employer would offer mora money or other incentives for an employee to stay with the company. When considering a counter offer, there are several things you can do to increase your odds of getting more pay, and a few things that could stand in your way. Do ThisResearch salary ranges for your desired positionKnow that greater than 50 percent of employers expect to negotiate for entry-level job salariesUnderstand that employers will offer the lowest pay they think youll acceptConsider how much you need or want the job, market rates, other opportunities, and the current job marketFocus on facts, such as the value you bring, rather than on emotionsBe prepared to ask for other benefi ts if a higher salary isnt an optionDont Do ThisRely on your gut feeling or financial needs when choosing your counter-offer rangeSet the bottom of your range lower than what youre willing to acceptNegotiate too aggressively or theyll rescind the offerExpect to get more if youre not willing to askNegotiate just for the sake of negotiatingMake a bluff if youre not really willing to walk away Should You Make a Counter Offer? A CareerBuilder surveyreports that over half of workers (56 percent) dont negotiate for more money when they are offered a new job. The reasons include not being comfortable asking for more money (51 percent), worrying that the employer will decide not to hire them if they ask (47 percent), or not wantingto appear greedy (36 percent). A Glassdoor survey reports that womenare less likely to negotiatecompensation than men, with twoout ofthree women (68 percent) not negotiating paycompared to about 52 percent of men. Even though many job seekers arent comfortable negotiating, manyorganizations do expect candidates to make a counteroffer. Fifty-three percent of employers say they are willing to negotiate salaries on initial job offers for entry-level workers, and 52 percent say when they first extend a job offer to an employee, they typically offer a lower salary than theyre willing to pay. So there is room to negotiate for many candidates. How Much Compensation to Target You dont need to mention in the email how much more money youre hoping to make that discussion will unfold after the hiring manager sees your email and agrees to schedule a meeting or a phone call. (Hopefully. More on the other possibility in a moment.) Ideally, youll have set yourtarget salary rangebefore the first interview, but if you havent, theres no better time than the present. You want to have a good idea of how much youre hoping to get and willing to take long before you abflug negotiating in earnest. Research is crucial for this. Dont make the mistake that many job seekers commit where they set their price based on a gut feeling or financial obligations that need to be fulfilled. By doing so, you could either be pricing yourself out of a job you want or selling your skills far shorter than necessary. Instead, research salary ranges for the exact job title and duties, as determined by thejob descriptionand what youve learned during theinterview process. There are a lot of online tools that can give you a sense of whats reasonable. For example, the salary information site PayScale.com will create afree reportfor you, based on your answers to survey questions about the job youre targeting, your experience, skills, education, and geographic location. Finally, dont set the low end of your range lower than youd like to accept. Hiring managers have a budget, and may even get bonuses for keeping costs low. Theyll often offer you the lowest number they think youll take not because they want to low-ball you or devalue your skills, but because its their job to stay on target, budget-wise, as well as hire good candidates. What Can Happen When You Counter Offer But while you can negotiate, its possible that the employer might rescind the job offer if you do so too aggressively. Some employers arent thrilled with candidates who go back and forth over salary offers multiple times. Also, there may be a set salary range for the position and there may not be much room for further negotiations. Its possible the negotiation process could leave both you and the employer feeling frustrated and disenchanted. In an ideal world, this situation wont arise, because, during the interview process, you will have gotten a sense of what the company has in mind for a salary, and made your salary expectations clear. Of course, its also possible that the negotiation process will go smoothly, resulting in a counteroffer thats everything you want, and is acceptable to the hiring manager and company as well. When you are deciding whether or not to negotiate a counter offer, keep these considerations in mind the salary conversations you had throughout the interview process, the market rate for the position, your current salary, how much you need this job, the availability of similar positions, and the job market in general. If you feel that as a candidate you deserve more, and that your expectations are reasonable based on the position and industry, use the tips and strategies below to negotiate a counter offer. How to Negotiate a Counter Offer If you have received an offer thats not what you expect, you do have a few options Ask if there is any flexibility in the starting (or future) salaryConsider perks you may be able to negotiate in plus-rechnen or in lieu of salaryTurn down the offer, realizing that the company may not make a counterofferCreate an opportunity for more discussion One of the best ways to open discussions after you have received an offer is to ask for meeting to discuss the offer. Review a counter of fer letter and counter offer email message you can tailor to fit your circumstances if youre going to make a counteroffer. Tips for the Negotiation Process While we have mentioned a lot of reasons to be cautious while negotiating, its also good to remember that if you dont ask for something, you generally wont receive it. It is possible that the company has more money available for your salary (and in fact, they may expect a certain amount of negotiation to take place, and have crafted the offer accordingly). Here are some tips to consider while negotiating a counter offer Know Your Value and the Industry Rate for Your PositionThe best negotiation tactics are rooted in facts, not emotion, so spend some time researching. When negotiating your counteroffer, youll need to make a case for why you should receive a better offer. This case will be built on your value Youll want to remind the employer of why youre a particularly good match, offering experience and know-how that other ca ndidates do not. (Most likely, employers would prefer not to restart the interview process they picked you for a reason) As well, youll want to let employers know about the market value for the position. You can mention the salary range for similar positions at other companies. Here is how to research a company, and here are salary calculators to help you know industry rates. Dont Rush ItSince you need to have a lot of information to make a reasonable counter offer, its worth taking some time before you begin negotiations. Start by sending a thank you note for the job offer, and establishing a timeline for when youll be in touch. Dont Forget Non-Salary BenefitsBefore you crumple your offer letter into a ball, look beyond the salary. Perhaps you get other benefits and perks (such as tuition reimbursement, the ability to work from home a week each month, etc.) that make up for the lower salary. Or, if you dont, perhaps there are some non-salary benefits that you could ask for that wou ld make the lower salary more palatable. You can ask for a signing bonus, for health care coverage to begin immediately if the company has a 30-day period waiting period, additional vacation days, coverage of your moving expenses, etc. Dont Push Too MuchThink about why youre negotiating- is it because you genuinely think that the position merits a higher rate, or are you negotiating for the sake of negotiating? If you are comfortable with the offer, you might not want to push too hard just to get a little more. The very best job negotiations end with both employee and employer happy with the resolution. Dont Say Too MuchThere are some things that wont help your case when youre negotiating salary. Know Whats Really Important to You?Youre going to negotiate differently depending on your circumstances. Getting a job offer after youve been unemployed for a year is different than an offer when youre employed at a tolerable job. Dont bluff if you are not actually willing to walk away from the job offer. But if you are lucky enough to be considering two job offers, do use that to your advantage.

How to Job Search Without Your Employer Knowing

How to Job Search Without Your Employer KnowingHow to Job Search Without Your Employer Knowing8Heres how to job search without your employer knowingDont cross the work/job search boundary.First, try not to job search during your current work hours, and of course, always use a personal email address and phone number rather than your work email and phone number for job search activities.It can be hard to wait until youre off the clock, but its worth it to wait if you really dont want your current employer discovering your job search. Plus, youll be better able to focus, and your performance at work wont suffer. Which brings us to point two.Dont let your responsibilities slip at work.If youre looking for a new job, planning your departure from your current employer might be mora exciting than continuing to do your job, but thats a red flag to your employer. Dont let your job performance slip.Keep up with your responsibilities, stay engaged with your coworkers, and proceed as you normall y would. You cant estimate how long your job search might take- dont have one foot out the door prematurely.Triple-check your LinkedIn privacy settings.LinkedIn is a great way to connect with your network, request recommendations, and show potential employers your value. But if every one of your new moves is broadcast to your whole network, it can be obvious that youre actively looking for a new job.Review each of LinkedIns privacy options to make sure your activities are kept quiet. Turn off alerts to your network, and use the private message system to communicate with your network.Enlist the help of your closest coworkers.Its nice to have a good reference from your current employer when searching for a new job. But if asking your manager is out of the question, think about which coworkers you work closely with- those who could speak to your qualifications but also keep your job search private.Be very cautious about whom you choose to confide in, if anyone. If current coworkers are nt an option, get in touch with previous managers and coworkers who can speak really well about your experience working together, and who also know what youve been doing since you changed jobs.A covert job search is entirely possible if you maintain good boundaries between your current job and your job search, stay productive in your current role, check online privacy settings, and enlist the help of only your most trustworthy colleagues.Remember, its very difficult to predict how long it will take you to find a new job, so dont put one foot out the door until youre ready to keep walking.Start Your Job Search

Engineering a Hybrid Resume for a Tech Pro

Engineering a Hybrid Resume for a Tech ProEngineering a Hybrid Resume for a Tech ProResume writer Steve Burdan likened job seeker Jeff Helds gemisch of formatting details to dumping ketchup over a meal. Heres how Bardan and Held created a tastier story for the former CIO.What can you control in a job search? Your resume, according to professional resume writer Steve Burdan.Sure, its in his best financial interest to say that, but that doesnt make it any less truthful.Burdan, who resides in the Chicago area, has been in the resume-writing profession for 17 years and an independent, certified partner with Ladders for several years. With his expertise as a resume writer and a background as an executive, hes quick to sum things up for job seekers.There are too many variables in a job search, Burdan said. So, I tell people all the time to manage their expectations and do their best to avoid getting an ulcer over the things they cant control. Focus on what they have some control over, and thats their resume and how much they push the networking end of things.Steve recently worked with Ladders subscriber Jeff Held, a former CIO at Watson Wyatt who hadnt had his resume tuned up in at least eight years.Researching job-search servicesIt had been a long time since I had done much with my resume, since I got my job back when the opportunities were more plentiful, Held said. I had done my homework on a variety of sites and services out there.So, after he subscribed to TechnologyLadder, Jeff decided to give the complimentary resume critique a try. Many places offer free critiques, but he felt comfortable with this one since the site has a real focus on C-level and senior positions, the level at which Held operates after 20-plus years in technology and government work.With a million places to go online for job searching, only about 5 percent of what is out there is something Id be interested in. Ladders separates the wheat from the chaff, to use an old clich, Held said. You d ont waste your time on things you know you dont want to do.Based on the free critique he received from Ladders, Held said he knew hed be satisfied with the results of a full resume rewrite. In fact, Held has had three interviews since his resume was reinvigorated.Highlight areas of expertiseJeffs resume was on the right track, but his opening statement had some weakness, Burdan said. He had a branding statement, but his areas of expertise needed to be muscled up a bit. Also, there were too many bullets that all looked the same. We needed to mix up the language and format to keep the readers attention and avoid being repetitious with wording.Burdan spruced up the opening statement by adding some keywords and stronger leadership language, and he added a stack of six solid bullet points that profiled Helds overall strengths. He followed up that section with a more assertive areas of expertise section that got into more detail about Helds management and technology background. Then seve ral of Helds stated accomplishments were integrated back in to the chronological areas of his past positions without repeating the same words.Burdan made it a point to talk about formatting and bullet points because he finds too many resumes dull the readers eye.Its like putting a bottle of ketchup on top of a meal, Burdan said.One, its not tasty. Two, it looks bad, and three, it misses the target because thats all you taste You have to mix up the look and feel.Held detailed the experience After the initial questionnaire process which took a few days to do, I talked to Steve a few times over e-mail and the phone. And within about a week total, the new resume was completed I can see now that my old resume had been too chronologically focused. The new one put a lot of emphasis on keywords and the most important information way up front in the document.Burdan said, He also needed to play up his international experience more. Helds international experience could be a profound differenti ator in the job search, so Burdan brought that more to the forefront using a mix of keywords and sentences.The hybrid resume winsThere are three types of resumes out there chronological, functional and hybrids, Burdan said. The brutal truth in this business is the best resume is the one the works.What works for Helds qualifications and career goals is a hybrid resume that is easy to scan, hits on quantifiable business metrics regardless of the position and presents his qualifications in a way that will spark interest from a potential employer.Content is king in a resume, Burdan said. An information technology resume like Jeffs can sometimes be more jargon heavy rather than a profile of what you can manage and lead for the new employer. I look at my role like a dating matchmaker One rolle is looking for chemistry the other may be looking for stability. Its a match game, but one I can help facilitate since Ive gone through the process thousands of times.I love what I do because I get paid to help people, Burdan said. You sort of realize that after doing this for as long as I have that people who are having their resumes done are at a vulnerable point in their life. You have to treat that with a certain amount of respect, and you become a kind of coach behind the scenes with the wording. I believe that 99 percent of the people I am working with have the talent to get to the next level, but they lack the knowledge on how to package it for others. I can help with that.