The first rule of negotiation is…

Homework and research – Do it!

Salary negotiations are never easy so it’s best to be prepared. 

To ensure you are aware of industry norms and standards in terms of market related salaries, you must do your homework.

Get real!

Be aware that if a job calls for 5 years’ work experience in  a particular field and you have 5 years’ experience, but only 2 years in a relevant or particular field, the company may not offer you the same salary as they would someone who has 5 years industry experience. 

In today’s economy you must be prepared for the fact that you may not get what you are asking for.

Negotiate.

Didn’t get offered the salary you asked for? Why not suggest building in a performance-based review after a certain period of time. Another approach if you don’t get offered what you want financially, is to try and negotiate for shorter and more flexible hours so that you have time to make up the income elsewhere. 

Take a holistic view.

Always look at the opportunity as a whole. Money is, of course, extremely important, but what other benefits does this opportunity offer? Factor all of these into your decision:

• Will you be gaining new industry experience?
• Does the role offer flexibility?
• Is it closer to home?
• Do they offer training and education courses?
• Will you be upskilling?
• Will working at the particular company look great on your CV?
• Is there room for advancement?
• What are the benefits?

The Rolling Stones said it best when they said…

You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.