How to Negotiate Your Salary With a Contingent Offer
Getting a job offer is a big accomplishment, especially in a bad economy. But if that contingent job offer comes with a salary you find unacceptable, you need to negotiate a better offer from your new potential employer. Honing your negotiating skills and researching the value of the job can help you get the job you need and the compensation you deserve.
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Instructions
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Read the job offer carefully to determine exactly how much you are being offered in terms of monetary compensation and company benefits. Although it is best to negotiate based on salary, the presence of a potentially valuable benefit such as stock options can sometimes make a slightly lower base pay package more acceptable.
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Research the median salary for the position you are being offered. Use reputable government resources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics when compiling your data. Also keep your level of experience in mind. If you have 20 years of experience in the field, that can justify a salary that is above the average. If you are an entry level employee, you may need to settle for a lower salary than the government statistics show.
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Schedule a meeting to discuss the job offer and the compensation with the hiring manager. Use the time leading up to that meeting to compile your compensation information and practice what you plan to see during the conversation.
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Thank the hiring manager for the job offer, then point out that you were expecting a higher level of compensation than the employer is offering. Point to the statistics you have compiled about median salary, and ask if the employer can make a better offer. Be prepared for some back-and-forth negotiation. Asking for a higher salary than you are willing to accept gives you room to negotiate with the employer.
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