Congratulations on Your New Job
Great news! It's 2024 and your company finally came up with that big, fat raise you so deserve. No? In that case, let me congratulate you having the courage to leave your job and take on a new position at a ginormous salary commensurate with your obvious abilities. Not that, either?
I don't want to make you feel bad; that's your manager's job. Still, if 2024 is shaping up to be a rerun of 2023, and you're hot and heavy into job hunting, it's time to figure out the problem. This could take time, or maybe not.
The problem is you -- you, and the stubborn fact that you don't know how to negotiate.
Don't beat yourself up (that's your manager's job, too). Not everyone was born with the negotiation gene, which is why everyone should read "These Mistakes Can Sabotage Your Salary Negotiations Before They Even Start," an article by Aline Lerner on the Fast Company website.
According to Lerner, faulty negotiating "leaves $1 million to $1.5 million in lifetime earnings on the table." And that doesn't include stock options, extra days off and free matcha.
There are two mistakes people make when negotiating salary: revealing information too early in the game and negotiating before they're ready. To avoid these interviewing boo-boos requires leverage and preparation.
In this economic environment, where any job could evaporate with the introduction of an AI chatbot with your name on it, you have zero leverage, though you can always try holding your breath until you turn red. It worked in kindergarten.
But preparation -- that, you can definitely do. And I can definitely help, kind of.
Mistake No. 1: Revealing information before you're ready to negotiate
When it comes to interviewing for a new job, it's perfectly acceptable to open your heart. Just don't open your mouth. Recruiters and hiring managers may speak glowingly about growth potential and free foosball in the employee lounge, but really, it's all about the Benjamins. They want to know your current salary, your salary history, your salary expectations and the amount of your allowance in 6th grade on a pre-EBITA basis.
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Copyright 2024 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
