Dear Cynthia,
I have great news–I just got a job offer this morning!
Heeding your advice, I definitely want to negotiate my salary before I accept the offer, but I am unsure of how to go about it.
I've been doing some research and it seems like the salary that they offered me is below the average for what people in similar positions in my city make, and is significantly below the average salary of other employees at the organization.
I am trying to figure out where I fit in, given my skill and experience level, to gauge whether the offer is fair.
From Wondering About My Worth
Hello Wondering Your Worth,
The steps to knowing your number are one thing and then being able to advocate for yourself is another!
It sounds like you’ve done the research online and your offer is lower than expected. You will want to couple this research with some industry conversations - Do you have a networking group focused in your industry? Do you participate online with those who have a good sense of the market?
If you feel confident about what your salary range should be, the next big step is outlining how you deserve more given your skillset. Just saying, “I’d like more” is not enough. Saying “I’d like more because I was able to grow our customer base last year by over 35% and can do the same for you,” will get you where you want to be faster.
Come with data and show your elevated skill level. And then just ASK!
Cynthia