Your salary is likely one of the most important decisions you will make during your career. You’ll be spending a large chunk of your salary on rent, car payments, and other fixed costs. So it makes sense to get the best value possible for your money. That’s where negotiation skills come in handy. Even if you’re earning less than you deserve, why not ask? You never know—you might just get that raise or that bonus that changes everything. Negotiations don’t have to be awkward or confrontational, and they can help seal the deal when it comes to landing a new job or getting more out of your current one. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of negotiating salary at a job interview, as well as some tips to help you land the offer you want.

What are the pros of negotiating salary at a job interview?

There are several major advantages to negotiating salary at a job interview. These include demonstrating your value to employers and boosting your confidence at the same time. First and foremost, negotiating salary leads to a better deal for you. Employers want to know that you are confident enough to ask for what you’re worth—and that you won’t settle for less. Employers may also be more likely to increase your salary if they know you’re willing to negotiate. This shows them that you know how to stand your ground when you need to, and that you’re not a pushover when it comes to getting what you want. By negotiating salary, you can also prevent salary negotiations from happening again in the future. Employers may feel more comfortable increasing salaries when salary negotiations are a one-time occurrence, rather than a regular part of the hiring process.

Negotiating salary is difficult for some people

Some people feel very uncomfortable negotiating salary, even though it’s natural for them to accept what’s given to them. That’s totally normal. You may find that you’re uncomfortable with salary negotiations because you’ve never done it before. You may have even read or heard that salary negotiations are bad and scary. If this is the case, it’s important to remember that salary negotiations are a normal part of the job-hunting process—not something to be feared or avoided.

Try not to get too emotional when negotiating your salary

Negotiating salary can be incredibly nerve-wracking for some people. If you tend to get too emotional when you negotiate salary, this can end up hurting your chances of getting a higher offer. Keep in mind that negotiating your salary should be a calm and calculated process, not something that leaves you in a state of anxiety. That way, you’re less likely to make rash decisions that end up hurting your chances of getting a raise.

Don’t make rash decisions when negotiating salary

While it can be useful to get a feel for what your salary would be at different job offers, don’t let this influence your decision to negotiate. You may feel that negotiating your salary gives you more negotiating power than it actually does. If this is the case, you could end up making rash decisions that hurt your offer instead of helping it.

Here are some tips for negotiating your salary at a job interview.

When negotiating salary, be prepared to negotiate in two directions at once. First, be ready to negotiate in terms of salary level (new job vs. current job vs. raises), while also negotiating in terms of salary amount. Second, be ready to negotiate in terms of where the negotiation should take place (interview vs. offer vs. negotiation, etc.).

What to say when negotiating salary

-“I’m hoping to earn $X per year at my new job, and $Y at my current job.” -“I believe I’m worth $X at my current job and $Y at my new job.” -“I’d be happy to earn $X at my new job and $Y at my current job.” -“This is the salary range I have in mind for my new job, and I’m open to earning anywhere in that range at my current job.” -“How important is it to you to make sure that I’m compensated fairly?”

Conclusion

Negotiating salary should be used as a last resort. It’s better to accept your salary offer without negotiating than to negotiate and end up with a lower salary than you deserve. However, if you feel like you’ve been underpaid for a while, it’s important to be able to negotiate your salary. This can help you get the salary you deserve while also showing employers that you’re worth more than what they’ve offered so far. Keep in mind that salary negotiations are best done in person and after you’ve already accepted a job offer. If you try to negotiate salary before you’ve accepted the job, you could end up lowering your offer and ruining your chances of getting the salary you deserve.