One of the biggest reasons why people aren’t asking for a higher pay is fear. Maybe they don’t want to come off as greedy or don’t know how to bring up the topic.

Or maybe they just don’t want to be disappointed.

As daunting as negotiating a higher pay may be, what’s even scarier is not doing it. You don’t want an employer to see you as pushy lest they regret their decision to hire you.

But you must understand: There’s nothing wrong with getting a salary that correlates with your experience and skills, as well as the value you’ll bring to their business.

If you see that the offer made is inadequate, go and sort it out. Employers are often willing to entertain a counteroffer anyway. There’s an art to getting them to hear your request though. Consider the following dos and don’ts to help you get the best compensation possible.

What NOT to Do During Salary Negotiation

Don’t come unprepared

When you receive the job offer, don’t just counter with a higher amount. Explain why you feel you deserve more than what they’re giving, along with research to back it up.

Emphasize your strengths, highlighting what the company would get from someone with your track record.

Don’t stretch the truth

Commit to complete honesty when negotiating. The fastest way to get an offer withdrawn is when a hiring manager discovers that you inflated your salaries from previous jobs or invented a competing job offer. The last thing you want is to be blacklisted for being a dishonest applicant.

Don’t wing it

It’s a good idea to ask a mentor or friend to practice the conversation you’ll have with the recruiter. Ideally, your practice partner should be someone who can coach you to project confidence and answer unexpected questions. Run through your delivery a few times until you feel sure of yourself.

Don’t rely on words

Once you and hiring manager settle on a rate, get it on paper. The written documentation must include the amount along with:

• Special arrangements such as allowance for your internet connection or a signing bonus
• A list of responsibilities for your new role.

Have it signed by both you and the employer.

Don’t lose your cool

Most recruiters don’t enjoy negotiating either. Know that they’re not your enemy, so keep your tone positive even when making your counteroffer.

While you don’t want to seem like a pushover, you don’t want to be rude either. Maintain a professional image at all times to effectively navigate the discussion.

Don’t be in a rush

In responding, allow space to reconsider by restating the amount and sitting quietly for 10 seconds. This may prompt the client to:

• Justify their rate, which will continue the negotiation process.
• Give a better offer.

If their final offer isn’t enough, ask for time to think about it.

Don’t apologise too much

Over-apologizing makes you appear unsure, fearful and nervous. When you express your opinion or make a small mistake, there’s no need to say sorry for every little thing.

Certain situations may warrant an apology but don’t do it too much when negotiating. Just do enough to remain personally accountable.

Don’t talk of personal needs

Be careful that you don’t tell your future boss that you need to make more money because your child is starting college, your rent is expensive, your bills are high or any other personal reasons. These are irrelevant to your potential employer because they’re not a charity organization.

What to Do During Salary Negotiation

Do study trends

Enter the discussion as informed as possible. Consult your peers to get a current and realistic view of compensation packages in your field.

The going rate may differ according to your location but it can made up for by your skills and experience.

Do consider the benefits

Salary negotiations often include employee perks. Employers find that extra vacation days or flexible hours are less costly than a bump in pay so they’re more willing to provide those instead.

Think about what’s valuable to you, be it work-life balance, retirement savings, or health insurance.

Do establish a connection

An effective tactic is to create personal rapport with the other party. Develop a degree of empathy with them so they’ll consider you as more than just another candidate.

Find out about their professional background on LinkedIn or the company website and see where you can connect.

Do requests in one go

Rather than talk about each benefit individually, it’s better to divide it into soft and hard categories.

• Soft categories refer to job titles, flexible schedules, and days off which can be negotiated further.
• Hard categories are stock options, holiday bonuses, and other matters related to pay.

Do be confident

Generally speaking, men are more confident about receiving a pay raise than women and they’re more likely to get one too. The feeling of self-assurance might be the key to landing the pay you want, so learn to be more assertive when asking for a higher amount.

Do take down notes

Writing down notes helps all parties recall what has already been discussed and what have yet to be tackled. Send copies to the recruiter after every video or phone call you have so they can check if your documentation matches with theirs so you’re all on the same page.

Do follow up

Make sure to send a thank you note or email after every meeting. It serves as a polite acknowledgement to those you’ve met, especially for the first time.

Doing this also gives you one more opportunity to remind them what a top candidate you are.

Do know to withdraw

Realize going in that the final number may be less than what you initially desired. Hence, decide how much you’re willing to compromise beforehand so you know where to stop.

Dragging out your discussion will only frustrate the hiring manager and start your relationship on a sour note.

Get the Pay You Deserve

If you’d like to receive a higher starting offer, ask for it!

Applicants tend to accept the first number that’s put on the table, not knowing that recruiters are often willing to discuss about it. Regardless if the economy is stable or not, it’s important you don’t sell yourself short just because you’re scared to negotiate.

Do you think you’re ready to make counteroffers and talk about fringe benefits you would be willing to exchange for an increase in salary? Remote Workmate can connect you with clients from around the world who are looking to hire virtual professionals like you.