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Negotiating is a huge part of the interview process. The process is simple enough in theory, but many people can’t imagine how to negotiate salary with 2 offers they’ve received. The idea might even seem a little scary to some, especially if they don’t have a lot of negotiation experience.
In this post, I’ll explain how to negotiate salary with 2 offers.
You have two job offers, and you’re not sure how to go about negotiating the salary. Here’s what you should know.
When you’ve got two job offers, it’s tempting to just pick one and go with it—but that’s not always the best move.
Why? Because if you don’t negotiate your salary, even if you’ve got the offer in writing, then you can’t be sure about what that offer really means for your future earning potential.
So here’s what I recommend: take both jobs, then ask for an increase in salary from each company.
How to negotiate salary with 2 offers
Introduction
You’ve been interviewing for new roles and you got two offers. It’s a promising situation—and one that you want to handle carefully. You want to make sure that you’re prepared to accept the best offer, but you also don’t want to burn any bridges with the other company by making an ultimatum or demanding an unrealistic counteroffer. Here are some key strategies for negotiating salary when you have multiple job offers:
Come up with a salary range, not a number
You’re going to want to come up with a salary range, not a single number. This is because the average salary isn’t always what you should be aiming for — and because there are many factors that could affect your compensation beyond just your job title.
When calculating your range, consider:
- What other offers do you have? Are they higher or lower than this one? Are they in the same industry as this company? How do they compare in terms of benefits and perks (like health insurance or retirement savings plans)?
- What kind of job is it? Is it entry level, an experienced role, or somewhere in between? Will there be room for growth within the organization as time goes on (and if so, how much)?
- Other considerations: does this position require relocation costs; does it have any unique challenges like travel requirements or long workweeks; does another offer include more vacation days per year; does one offer include shorter hours per week so that I can spend more time at home with my family
Know the limit to how high you can go
It’s important to know the limit to how high you can go in negotiations. First, research the average salary for your role and make sure it’s not too low for your skillset.
Second, think about what you need out of the job—are there perks or benefits that make a big difference? Is location important? What kind of work environment do you want? Are any of these things negotiable? These factors will help determine how much more money is realistic than other people are making doing similar work in similar markets.
Consider merits besides money
When you have multiple offers on the table, it’s time to consider the merits beyond money. While salary can be an important factor in your decision, it shouldn’t be the only one. Think about what benefits may be on offer at each company and how they might benefit you professionally and personally. Here are some examples:
- Vacation time
- Flex time
- Remote work schedule
- Development opportunities (conferences, training courses)
Don’t divulge other offers
We recommend that you never reveal the details of your other offer to the new employer. You want them to feel like they’re getting you at a bargain, and nothing says “I’m expensive” like telling them what another company was willing to pay.
You also don’t need to share details about your second offer with this company either—it’s too early in negotiations for that information, and if they ask for it, politely decline by saying something along the lines of “I’m not comfortable sharing salary information yet.”
Finally, focus on what is important to you in terms of compensation (salary + benefits) rather than emphasizing past achievements or projects that were completed years ago. While these things may have been impressive at one point in time, there’s no reason why they should impact how much money an organization pays now!
Don’t disclose your salary history
It’s not illegal to not disclose your salary history, but it does put you at a disadvantage. It would be ideal if employers didn’t ask for this information at all and instead came up with their own salary range based on the position and experience of candidates. However, if an employer insists on knowing what you make now or in the past, it’s best to provide as little information as possible.
Don’t say: “$50k” or “I’m making $60k.” You don’t have to answer a question when it pertains to something that could limit your bargaining power—so don’t disclose any numbers unless they’re being offered first (and then only if requested).
Employers want to feel they’re getting you on the cheap. But if you’ve got options and know the right way to negotiate, you can get the salary and benefits you deserve.
If you’ve got two offers on the table, then congratulations! This means that both companies want to hire you. Now it’s time to negotiate your salary and benefits package.
It may seem daunting at first, but it’s actually not hard at all; as long as you know what to do and how to do it. Salary negotiation is an essential skill for anyone in today’s job market—and if there are two companies competing for your services, then now is the perfect opportunity for you to get a little extra out of your next position.
Let’s dive into some tips on how exactly this process works and what makes up an effective negotiation strategy:
Conclusion
Negotiating the right salary for your role can be a tricky business. If you’re lucky enough to have more than one offer on the table, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities to negotiate and leverage those offers against each other.
For starters, don’t reject an offer immediately—and don’t accept it either! Ask politely if you can think about it for 24 hours before making a decision. That gives you time to consider whether the offer is fair and reasonable, and puts you in a better position to negotiate based on any feedback from your research into competitive salaries.
You should also ask for details about any non-salary benefits or perks that might be relevant to you, like vacation allowance or healthcare coverage. These can sometimes make up for not getting the exact salary that you want from your employers so bear them in mind when negotiating.
