Salary negotiation

[whatevergirl]

Ah…but most places can’t give that info out…they can confirm title and when you worked there, but not salary info.

BTW…this guy went from making mid 60-s to making 85k.

but you still shouldn’t lie about anything, really.

 

[Maxply]

I think you should say what you think you should be making.

That whole “you tell us your salary history” business is fishy. So is advertising an open position without saying how much you’ll pay.

It’s a system biased against employees. I have no problem lying about what I make.

 

[a_priori]

Ok…in business, supply and demand is the rule. You buy something at a low price, then sell it for as much as you can get for it/vs volume sold…that economic curve thing.

In salary negotiations, one is often asked ‘So what is your current salary?’

Do you think it is morally right to inflate this figure just asked for? If I make 20k a year, and tell them I make 40k a year to hopefully get a higher salary, do you think it’s right?

I don’t go to the store and ask the grocer…‘so what was your wholesale price on this before you marked it up?’

Isn’t it all the same thing, except you are selling yourself in this case? Why not try and get the most you can?

I hate business sometimes…it’s a dirty thing. I wish all could be honest 100% of the time. If someone had a job opening, post what it pays and that’s it. Want a car? Post what it costs with your markup…take it or leave it. This negotiation stuff creeps me out sometimes.

I hire people and I have a few suggestions.

Be honest all of the time.

Don’t be coy or evasive when you are asked reasonable questions.

MAKE EYE CONTACT.

When it comes to discussing salary, tell them what you make and why you feel you are worthy of more.

Explain to them in concise unambiguous terms that you are honest and have a strong work ethic.

Any company can teach skills. What we can’t teach are those things your mother should have taught you. (Never be late. Never call in sick unless you are, etc.) If your mother did it right and you can communicate that to a potential employer, you will rule the world.

Trust me, 2 people in 10 have the necessary hard wiring to be successful in my neck of the woods.

Just a few thoughts from the other side of the table…

 

[tcay584]

One other bit is to talk to headhunters and find out what the range is for someone in your industry with your skill sets. I was able to negotiate a 25k increase over 2 years because I knew I was underpaid and while I never outright threatened to quit I told the company my low salary would make a long term commitment difficult.

I too hate the “How much do you make?” question 2 minutes into an interview; or when they thrust an application form in your face right when you get there.

Can support much of the above advice: not answerwing the question or answering a question that wasn’t asked. It’s best not to be too confrontational right away. Showing your full benefits, 401k contributions, etc. is important. Also, consider intagibles too, like a dress down policy vs. suit-n’-tie, commuting distance, etc. Also, this is tough, but you should employ the non-verbal body language in the interview of wanting the job, but not being desperate.

And lastly, don’t lie. Good luck and I’ll pray for you.

I’ve always wanted to say “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours”. Or something to that effect. If they’re hiring, they know what their budget is, and my current salary is really none of their business.
I did not tell my prospective employer what my current salary was. I didn’t lie, I just said “I don’t see the relevance of that question” and quickly moved on to the amount I’d like to be making and the reasons why I would be worth it. They got the point, and off we went. Just MHO.

 

[Maxply]

I agree with the above poster.

The whole matter, to me, is an Artificial Conversation. They’re not really being fair when asking this, since the employer will READILY pay you less than the going value for your work.

If the employer entered into these talks truthfully, YOUR income would be of no conceivable concern. . . they would only know how much they will pay for your work.

This is a duplicitous way to force you to accept less than you would otherwise make. The remedy for this is to have everyone share information about their salaries, which, I understand, IS happening via internet sites.

It’s a Power-Information Game employers pay, playing off your ignorance and desperation.

 

[a_priori]

I agree with the above poster.

The whole matter, to me, is an Artificial Conversation. They’re not really being fair when asking this, since the employer will READILY pay you less than the going value for your work.

If the employer entered into these talks truthfully, YOUR income would be of no conceivable concern. . . they would only know how much they will pay for your work.

This is a duplicitous way to force you to accept less than you would otherwise make. The remedy for this is to have everyone share information about their salaries, which, I understand, IS happening via internet sites.

It’s a Power-Information Game employers pay, playing off your ignorance and desperation.

Employers are not always quite so malevolent.

 

[whatevergirl]

I think you should say what you think you should be making.

That whole “you tell us your salary history” business is fishy. So is advertising an open position without saying how much you’ll pay.

It’s a system biased against employees. I have no problem lying about what I make.

aren’t all lies…lies? I mean…is it not a lie because we feel that it’s justifiable?

 

[whatevergirl]

I agree with the above poster.

The whole matter, to me, is an Artificial Conversation. They’re not really being fair when asking this, since the employer will READILY pay you less than the going value for your work.

If the employer entered into these talks truthfully, YOUR income would be of no conceivable concern. . . they would only know how much they will pay for your work.

This is a duplicitous way to force you to accept less than you would otherwise make. The remedy for this is to have everyone share information about their salaries, which, I understand, IS happening via internet sites.

It’s a Power-Information Game employers pay, playing off your ignorance and desperation.

Not so. I applied for my job about 4 years ago…no salary posted. I asked for the range I wanted, and got on this higher end. One can state a range, if the employer thinks the range is too high, then you’re better off looking for something else. Everyone has a low starting point of their range–the minimal he/she will accept…and if the employer won’t even come up to that level, then it’s best to move on.

But, God doesn’t want us to lie…about anything. If we start lying about salaries…it can lead to justifying other lies, too. Just my thoughts.

 

[VociMike]

Interesting answers…I’m not looking for a job…friend of mine just got one. We are in the same profession (IT). Same skill sets, same length of time in the field. He fudged the answer to the above question and is now making 40k more a year than I am…he has passed his previous salary by 20k…as you can see, if he would have been honest about his real pay at his old job, he would be making 20k less. He didn’t need the job; he just threw out that high number to see if they would bite. They did. There is quite a range out there for the same types of position. Makes me wonder if I de-value myself. We are both IT directors for same-sized companies. I had to struggle to negotiate what I have now…I’m very happy for him. But if he would have been honest, it would have been good for the company, bad for him. By puffing the number, he now has a take home pay that is over 1000 more a month. A month. He told me today, it feels like he hit the lottery.

If you’re willing to take the risk, take his figures to your company and ask for an equivalent salary.

 

[VociMike]

I’ve always wanted to say “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours”. Or something to that effect. If they’re hiring, they know what their budget is, and my current salary is really none of their business.
I did not tell my prospective employer what my current salary was. I didn’t lie, I just said “I don’t see the relevance of that question” and quickly moved on to the amount I’d like to be making and the reasons why I would be worth it. They got the point, and off we went. Just MHO.

One could always answer “I’m making market salary for this (or that) region”. Almost by definition, that’s true.

 

[whatevergirl]

In a sense, it’s not the potential employer’s business…but in a sense, it gives them a gauge, of if you are capable of earning this new salary. If someone is making $20k, and is asking for $80k…come on…it’s not a realistic leap. But, I also think that one can simply read an applicant’s job history–and get an idea of what he/she is capable of.

I guess there is no right or wrong answer!