Art Of Negotiation

by Stephanie Blye

Due to the high competition on the job market, job seekers can consider themselves lucky if they get to land an interview and even more lucky if they actually get a job. The moment you got a job, our advice is to negotiate the terms of the offer with your employer. The secret of negotiation (be it for your job, be it for your salary) is knowing when to stop. So... do your homework!

Negotiation is an art - an art which has to be practiced on.

First, have a short evaluation of your negotiation skills. Do you feel comfortable negotiating with a car salesman on the price of the car yu want to buy? What was the rate of success in your previous salary negotiations? If you have had a lot of negotiation successes in the past, it is possible that you still have these skills. So use them.



Consult all business magazines or even the local library in order to document yourself with regared to tactics and negotiation techniques.

Know when to stop!

Negotiation is not all about winning at any price, it is also about coming to an understanding regarding the terms and conditions of a job offer in such a way that you are satisfied.

For starters, establish what the are the minimal salary and benefits which can correspond to your necessities. No matter what your objectives are - three vacation weeks instead of only two, the possibility of travelling or advancement opportunities - they have priority in your negotiation process.

Be creative!

Don't think about negotiating the salary only. When possible, negotiate other categories of benefits as well. For example, the possibility of benefiting from professional training courses, a more flexible program or a shorter working schedule during summer.

Don't get greedy!

Stop when you're on top! If you will continue negotiating just because you like arguing, even if you got an excellent offer, you'll only have to lose. The employer might as well end all negotiation and give you their final offer, without the possibility of other discussion. You risk pushing your prospective employer away from you or even worse, losing the respective position.