How to Negotiate an Offer
Job offer negotiations begin when the interview process does. You should carry yourself in a professional manner, be courteous to everyone at the company during the interview cycle, and be sure to point out your career accomplishments. Many job hunters look at a job offer as the goal they are seeking. It should be looked at as a starting point for negotiation. Research your industry and understand your value to a company to help you through the negotiation process.
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Instructions
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Wait until you get the actual job offer in contract or letter form. You cannot negotiate until you have the official offer and know what the company is offering. If the offer does not outline all of the terms of employment such as retirement benefits, health insurance and time off, ask for that information to be forwarded to you in writing.
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Call and request a meeting with the hiring manager and the human resources manager to discuss the offer.
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Present a counteroffer in writing at the meeting. Include a copy of your resume with the counteroffer and a copy of the salary research you had done during your job hunt. Be sure that your counteroffer is at least 10 percent more than you will accept to allow room for compromise.
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Highlight your career accomplishments and those parts of your skill set that make you valuable to the company. Remind them of the parts of your past experience that are relevant to the position. If you belong to any professional organizations where you have received awards, be sure to point those out as well.
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Accept the offer if the company responds with the salary and benefits package you were seeking. If they will not move on negotiating your offer, then consider moving on in your job hunt.
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Tips & Warnings
Remain professional throughout the process. Always have copies of your resume, references and salary requirements on you to distribute when it is requested. You want to be able to respond to the company's questions with factual, written information.
References
Resources
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