How to Negotiate the Salary for a Job Offer

You prepared a strong resume and did well during the interview, and now a new job is almost yours. But before you can resign from your current position, you need to finalize your new one by negotiating a salary. Once you're received a job offer, ask for some time to think it over, then prepare yourself and make a counter proposal.

Instructions

1. Determine what the job is worth. Websites like PayScale use your education and experience, the job's location and other information to estimate the current market value for a position. The Bureau of Labor Statistics website provides helpful information to determine what a job should pay.

2. Consider your strong points. List your strengths and the value you bring to the new employer, and emphasize these during the negotiation.

3. Ask for non-monetary benefits. "Be familiar with possible perks and benefits, and ways to increase your salary," suggests PayScale Senior Writer Kristen Cowan. For example, maybe you'd be willing to accept a few extra vacation days per year in lieu of a few thousand dollars in pay.

4. Rehearse the negotiations. If salary talks make you nervous, practice with a friend or family member playing the role of the potential employer. Have your practice partner throw out some anticipated roadblocks and rehearse how you will respond to tricky comments or lower-than-desired offers.

5. Get it in writing. Once you've finalized a salary and benefits package with your new employer, ask for the details on paper, suggests author Dr. Randall Hansen. "No legitimate employer will have issues with putting the offer in writing, so if yours balks at your request and accuses you of not having any trust and tries to bully you to accept the verbal agreement, take it as a major red flag that there is something seriously wrong," he says.

Resources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics