5 Mistakes You Are Making When Negotiating A Salary

5 Mistakes You Are Making When Negotiating A Salary

By Susan Gitonga

Have you ever settled for a salary? Maybe you knew you deserved more, but you settled because you had been unemployed for a long time?

In this article you, will find out which areas most people overlook when it comes to salary negotiation. We will also answer why many people are earning less than they deserve, and how to avoid such pitfalls.

Mistakes You Are Making When Negotiating A Salary

1.You are not negotiating the salary offered

Research shows that Young Professionals and especially ladies don’t negotiate salary offers. We can compare this to the many young women today, who are in bad relationships because they settled for behaviors they know they should not have accepted.

In the world of jobs and salary offers, the same is happening.

To avoid this first blunder, you need to know that when an employer gives you a salary offer, it does not mean it is the final word. It’s called an offer because you are required to negotiate.

Settling for a lower salary comes with a price. You might end up resenting and hating your job because you feel underpaid for the amount of work you do. Also, you will receive smaller raises down the line, because most raises are based on a percentage of your salary.

Tip: Do your research if you are not sure about how much you should be paid for a specific role.

2. You are focusing on your need and greed rather than the value you bring

Another mistake you might be making  when negotiating a salary is placing very high expectations on the employer to overpay you.

Your ambitions to live in Kileleshwa and to drive a Subaru by the time you are 30 should not make you to ask for an unrealistic salary.

Negotiate your offer based on research and your worth in terms of what you can do for the company and not based on your greed for money.

3. You are making a salary pitch too early in the process

The secret remains: The longer you wait, the more power you have. Unless the employer brings up the topic of salary in an interview, it is advisable not to bring it up  until you are the final candidate.

Throwing the salary question at the employer the first few minutes of your interview will give him the impression that you are only focused on the money, rather than the job itself.

4. You are accepting a job offer too quickly.

When an offer is made to you during the final stage, it is very important to take some time to think about it.

Most employers might even give you some time before writing you the offer letter. Don’t be so excited to get a job, and in turn end up settling for a salary you should have negotiated for.

5. You are declining a job offer too quickly.

On the flip side of things, don’t decline an offer too fast without thinking about it. If the money is close to what you expected, but is not the exact amount, consider the benefits.

Some companies have bonuses and allowances that can counter for the salary you are being offered, which does not meet your expectations.

Don’t make hasty decisions.

The bottom line when it comes to negotiating a salary is to conduct research. Without research you might come across as being too greedy for quoting a very high figurer or too naive for settling for a salary that is too low.

Have you ever negotiated an offer made to you? I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below.

Susan is a Communications Officer at Career Point Kenya. Email: susan@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

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