-: Salary negotiation is an important step
to maximizing your earning potential
and validating your worth in the workplace.
In fact, according to salary.com,
those that do decide to negotiate salary
see an increase of over 7%.
(gentle music)
So if negotiating leads to a higher salary,
why don't more people do it?
Here are some revealing numbers.
Only 57% of men negotiated the salary of their first job.
Only 7% of women negotiated the salary of their first job.
60% of women say they've never negotiated their salary.
Only 15% of women say they have negotiation skills.
55% of all employees say they need to change jobs
in order to see a significant pay increase.
I think the hesitation comes from two places.
Number one, fear.
It can be an awkward topic to bring up
and the fear of rejection could be enough
for some people to just skip it all together.
What if they do not think you are worth
what you're asking for?
What if your request has lingering consequences
within the workplace?
These thoughts exist and they are hurdles
that the employees must tackle head on.
Dealing with the fear is easy.
All you need to do is give yourself
a little motivational talk to boost your confidence
and come prepared.
Number two, they just don't know how to negotiate a salary.
As for how to do it, here are some tips.
Number one, research the current salary trends
in your industry via websites like Glassdoor
or by speaking with
industry professionals and recruiters.
Know your value.
Number two, keep a record of, and present your achievements,
new skills and future plans.
Be honest when asking yourself, do I deserve this pay raise?
Number three, ask for more money than you want.
This leaves a little buffer room for negotiation
and gives you a better chance
of getting the number you want.
Number four, ask for a specific number, not a salary range.
Number five, present a counter offer if need be
and don't be afraid to walk away.
Number six, be polite and professional, but firm.
Do not make any threats.
More people should negotiate their salary.
According to the numbers, men seem to do it more than women.
Regardless of your gender,
salary negotiation could work for you
and most hiring managers are expecting it.
So know your value.
Don't let fear get in your way and earn more money.
(gentle music)