“I decided I was going to double my salary , and would accept nothing less.” That’s what one of our candidates told me when I asked him how he set his salary expectations. And guess what, double his salary he did! The biggest tool you can have in your arsenal when negotiating is confidence. Here’s an inside secret, if you and the role/ organisation are a good fit —> 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 + 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 10%. This will ensure you have adequate negotiating leverage for yourself. If that final number is beyond the budget set by the employer, your recruiter/ HR will let you know accordingly and you will have the opportunity to recalibrate. While many may disagree with me, in these parts of the world , i.e. Asia, I’ve seen how quality candidates tend to sell themselves short out of fear of losing a solid opportunity. Most people think, they are so many candidates out there and so few roles/ companies. Having run a recruitment agency, I can tell you that we ALWAYS struggle to find really good candidates. So if you have the skills, don’t sell yourself short. In many instances, employers will respect your ask. Remember, it is easier to negotiate downwards, then it is to negotiate upwards. The cold truth is most employers just want to find someone who fits the role both technically and culturally. And if they find that person, they’re not going to be haggling over a few thousand dollars (in annual salary) unless it’s well and beyond the budget that they set.
Great post Sugasini Kandiah !
Thank you for sharing this valuable advice! 🔥Appreciate this encouragement to ask for what you want because there are so many recruiters who would do the opposite and that normalises undercharging ourselves.
Well noted with thanks. :)
Hello brother
Founder & Career Coach @ Career inFocus 🔸 2x Linkedin Top Voice 🔸 Diversity & Inclusion Director 🔸Talent Development 🔸 Helping women land fulfilling careers with income that match their impact.
8moCouldn’t agree more - often we disqualify ourselves but if we don’t ask, we don’t get either.