Landing a job offer is so exciting that many people accept it without considering whether the offer is in their best interest. Job salaries and benefits aren’t always concrete, and the art of negotiation is an important skill for your future. Here are a few ways you can learn to negotiate better benefits and pay in your career now and moving forward.
Salary
There are two primary aspects of negotiating a salary:
- What is the average salary for this kind of position in your area?
- What is your walk-away number?
Before you begin to negotiate a salary, research the common rates for similar positions. Resources like Salary.com and Glassdoor can help you decide. The walk-away number is the lowest salary you would be willing to accept. When you get an offer, compare it against these two metrics before making your decision.
Benefits
Health benefits may feel a little more complicated. Most companies have specific plans that you can choose from. You may also want to shop around before accepting the job to determine if private insurance coverage or plans from the marketplace will be a better fit for your budget, lifestyle, and family.
Time Off
You also may not think that you can negotiate time off, but it’s more than possible. In most cases, the easiest way to do this is to evaluate the time off you get in your current job and ask the potential new employer to match it. It’s important to fully understand the kind of paid time off the new company offers. Some already provide unlimited PTO, so learn more about what that means before negotiating more vacation days.
Added Perks
Negotiations don’t need to stop with the tangible benefits such as salary, healthcare, and paid time off. There are other perks you can negotiate before you accept a job offer. Some things to consider include:
- Flexible schedule
- Tuition reimbursement
- Performance bonuses or commission
- Transportation reimbursement
By negotiating any of these items you can reach an agreement with a company that will be a good long-term fit for your career.
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