“What should I say in my next salary negotiation with my manager?”If you want to get a raise and want to do it correctly, then you’ll need to learn how to negotiate salary with manager. Most of us can get a raise by going up to our boss, asking for one, and getting it. Problem is that most people only ask for…
Negotiating your salary with your manager is a nerve-wracking process. You want to make sure that you’re doing everything right, and you don’t want to scare them off. But if you’re proactive and prepared, it can be a lot easier than you think.
First things first: Don’t wait until the last minute to start negotiating. You should have this conversation in your second or third week of work, after you’ve had time to settle into your new role and get to know the other people in the company. This way, they’ll know that you’re serious about the job and its responsibilities—and they’ll have time to consider what they can offer you in exchange for agreeing to come on board with them.
When it comes time for the actual conversation, make sure that everyone’s in an open mood! Start by saying something like “I’m really excited about this opportunity,” then ask them how things are going so far. If they seem receptive, try asking if there’s anything else they would like from one of their employees—they might even be able to suggest something specific! Then go ahead and tell them what you can offer them: what skills do
How to negotiate salary with manager
Do your research.
The first step to negotiating salary is to know the market value of your skills and experience. Unfortunately, finding this information can be tricky. The best way to do it is by looking at job listings in your industry, company size, and location. You can also look at data from other sources such as Glassdoor or Payscale (but keep in mind that these sites might have affiliate links).
You may also want to find out what other people in similar positions are being paid at your company by requesting a compensation packet from HR. This should include information about current salaries for employees who hold similar roles as yours, but don’t be surprised if the numbers are not listed on paper—you may need to ask HR directly for them and they may not share them with you without approval from upper management.
Plan well.
Before you go into a salary negotiation, it’s important to prepare. The best way to do this is by making a list of your strengths and weaknesses, then researching the market rate for your job. You should also prepare a written proposal with a salary range and list of benefits. Be ready to answer questions from the other side such as “What would it take for us to get you in this role?” or “Why do you feel that you’re worth more than what we’re offering?”
The most important thing is being able to articulate why hiring someone else would be more expensive than hiring yourself at these terms.
Don’t be too early.
You don’t want to be too early with your request. Before asking for a raise, you should have at least six months of experience in the position you’re applying for. This gives your manager time to see how well you’re performing and if there’s anything they’d like to see changed before they commit money to keeping you on board.
It’s also important not to wait too long before requesting a salary increase, either—you could end up feeling stuck in an unsatisfying job without options for improvement or advancement.
Present your case in person.
You’re a big believer in the importance of face-to-face meetings, especially when it comes to negotiating your salary. And that’s because you want your boss to see the passion you feel for this job and how much it means to you. You know that if your manager gets a sense of how much you care about this role and what skills you bring, she’ll be more likely to see value in paying more than she otherwise would.
So take some time now—before any offer is made—to come up with an opening statement describing why this is such an important opportunity for you, and why it would be mutually beneficial for both parties if they were able to reach an agreement on compensation. Be sure that your case includes both non-financial factors (e.g., opportunities for growth) as well as financial ones (e.g., pay at other comparable companies).
Highlight the value you bring to the company.
- Make it clear to your manager what you bring to the company.
- You should have a list of skills, experience and other attributes that are relevant to the position’s requirements. List these out in detail in your cover letter and resume if possible. The more specific you can be about how they’ll help your employer, the better. For example: “I’ve learned to develop strong relationships with my clients by listening carefully to their needs and being flexible enough to work within their schedules.”
- Find out what the company wants from this role before going into negotiations with them. It’s important that you’re able to communicate effectively with them so that they know how valuable someone like yourself can be for their business!
Ask for more money than what you actually want.
You want the salary you want, but know that negotiations will involve some give and take. Asking for more than what you really want gives room to negotiate down. It also gives your manager an opportunity to meet somewhere in the middle and is much better than asking for too little or too much at once.
Negotiating salary is a skill that takes time and practice, so don’t be afraid of asking for too much or too little at first—you can always adjust your request when necessary!
Have a clear idea about how much time you need in order to make a decision.
Depending on where you are in your career, and what kind of salary increase you’re asking for, it may take you a while to weigh offers/make a decision. If this is the case, ask yourself: how much time do I need? The answer should be in line with the company’s typical offer review process; if they have a quick turnaround time on reviews (say, one week), then you should be fine asking for the same amount of time. However, if their typical review cycle is longer than two weeks (which is common), then ask for an extra week or two beyond what would typically be required by them.
If you find yourself in a hurry—for example, because another company has approached you about moving over there—you could end up losing leverage over your current employer due to their assumption that there must be something wrong with your current job and its salary structure if it isn’t able to keep its employees happy enough that they don’t jump ship so easily!
If you have multiple offers, let your manager know about it.
If you have multiple offers and are deciding between them, let your manager know. He or she may have a lot of say in your decision to stay at the company, and will probably appreciate knowing if you’re considering leaving. The best way to do this is by being honest and straightforward: “I’m considering three different positions right now. I love working here and would like to stay, but I need more information about [the other company’s] benefits package before I can make my decision.” Mentioning that you’re considering other jobs isn’t going to hurt your chances of getting a raise—it just lets them know how much time they might have left with you.
Some managers may see this as an opportunity for leverage during negotiations; some won’t care either way. Either way, be clear about how much time you need before making any decisions about whether or not to take another offer (and then give yourself that amount of time).
Consider giving your boss some time to think.
- Give your manager some time to think about the offer you’ve made.
- Ask for a decision in a specific timeframe and make sure that you follow up on it.
If things don’t go as planned, ask your manager how you can bridge the gap between what you are asking for and what they are willing to pay you in the next review period.
If things don’t go as planned, ask your manager how you can bridge the gap between what you are asking for and what they are willing to pay you in the next review period. If your manager has several months left on their contract, there’s no harm in asking if they will consider giving a small raise if they renew. In addition, it is important to remember that simply knowing what is expected of you is necessary before any negotiation takes place. If a company has not specified its expectations for new hires or employees in general (i.e., annual reviews), then those expectations should be discussed with management before negotiations begin.
You’ll get a better salary if you understand yourself and the key points of negotiation.
Negotiating a salary is difficult, but there are ways to make it less stressful. One method is to prepare ahead of time. Before your manager makes an official offer, you should understand yourself and the key points of negotiation.
You’ll get a better salary if you understand yourself and the key points of negotiation:
- Why do I want this job? What do I hope to get out of it?
- What are my strengths and weaknesses as an employee (for example, task-oriented vs creative)? How can I use my skills at this new company?
- How much money am I willing to live on each month (or year)? How expensive are the items on my wish list for life outside work (gadgets/cars/travel)?
Then ask questions like these during negotiations:
