Do I Accept the First Salary Offer?
People who are job hunting should figure out whether their job skills are in demand before they receive any salary offers. It's difficult to determine the amount of pay you should expect without knowing how marketable your skills are. Job seekers should only accept their first salary offer if it is appropriate for the skills and experience they have to offer.
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Salary Negotiations
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Job hunters lose their chance of getting a new employer to offer them a higher salary if they don't plan their salary negotiation tactics before the meeting. For example, job seekers can try to get a higher offer from a company recruiter by briefly pausing the conversation after receiving the first offer, suggests a 2007 CareerBuilder.com article. A pause in conversation may cause a recruiter to start revealing what additional compensation he's willing to offer out of concern that your brief silence signifies that you're unhappy with his first salary offer.
Industry Pay
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Job hunters shouldn't accept the first offer if it is significantly lower than the average pay rate for their occupation. Consider discussing the pay rates for your occupation with an employer who makes a low salary offer and then asking for a salary near the top of the pay range for your occupation. This tactic may get you a higher salary that's more in line with the pay you want, reports CareerBuilder.com
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Market Value
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People who have skills that are highly technical or in short supply shouldn't accept the first salary offer because they're usually in a good position to ask for more money. However, a 2010 Marketwatch article by Ruth Mantell warns job seekers about overestimating their value in the job market. People who don't have specialized skills may be better off taking the first salary offer, especially if they've had trouble finding a job and have had few or no previous offers.
Considerations
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People who have been out of work for a long time may have to accept their first salary offer to avoid damaging their careers. The longer people remain unemployed, the harder it is for them to get a job, writes Mantell of Marketwatch. Employers usually view people who have recent job experience as better candidates. Nonetheless, job seekers who are considering a low salary offer should find out if they would be eligible for advancement opportunities to avoid being stuck in a low-paying job.
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References
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