Salary Expectation and Negotiation Tips 💸

BEFORE the interview, it’s important that you have an idea of your salary expectations. Here are some quick tips to help you solidify your answer:

1. Key elements in a job description to identify leverage your value:
   • Education level: Do you have more education than is required for the role? This may show you have more knowledge and soft skills in the field!
   • Experience in the field: Are you already well informed of the industry and role due to previous roles? This may mean you need LESS training!
   • Certifications: Do you have relevant certifications that elevate your understanding of the role? You may be well balanced with other educational perspectives!
   • Location of the position: It’s important to identify the cost of living of the city the role is located.
   • Review benefits: Do some digging into the benefits the job offers. Benefits are part of negotiations and you can leverage these in the future!
2. Research typical salaries and cost of living for the role using:
   • Indeed‘s salary comparison tool
   • Glassdoor‘s salary tool
   • NerdWallet‘s Cost of Living Calculator
3. Finally, be realistic with the amount.
   • Have a range
   • Aim a bit higher
   • Consider what benefits you can request in case the salary is not negotiable.

**IF the job DOES NOT provide a salary amount, be prepare with knowledge from above.

DURING your interview, you are planting seeds of your experiences, values, and education for future salary negotiations and justifications. Below are some suggestions from Indeed when you are asked “What’s Your Salary Range”:

Wait for the right moment

If the hiring manager asks about salary early—like before detailing the job’s scope—stall gracefully. Try saying, “I’d like to learn more about what this position entails before I discuss my desired salary.” This buys time to assess the role’s demands and align your expectations accordingly.

Back your answer with evidence

When you’re ready, ground your response in research. Know the market rate for your job title, industry, and area. If you’re eyeing $90,000, explain why:

➡️ “The average salary for this role locally is $85,000 to $95,000, and with my five years of experience and recent certification, I’m targeting the higher end.”

Congratulations! YOU GOT THE JOB OFFER! Before accepting, be sure you have reflected on your worth to negotiate. When the job is offered, feel free to ask for an acceptance date! Consider adding the following to your email or phone call:

“Thank you for the offer, I’m looking forward to reviewing the terms. When do you need a response?”

It’s important to dedicate time to re-vist your research from above and UPDATE based on what you learned in the interview process.

Once you are ready to discuss/negotiate, Idealist.org has provided an excellent script to prepare you:

➡️ “Thank you again for sharing a written version of the job offer you extended last week. I’m thrilled about the potential of joining your team!

Now that I’ve had a few days to review the offer, I am hoping we can discuss the base salary. Based on my research, I believe a salary in the range of [$X – $Y] is appropriate for this role.

As you know, I bring [X] years of experience in [department/field], as well as success with [specific skills, preferably calling out some impressive data points]. Based on our discussions during the interview process, I believe my background aligns well with the [specific project, goal, or need of the organization] and can bring a lot of value to the team.”