Get the salary you deserve in 6 easy steps
Aoife Geary is an Irish journalist specialising in the areas of Workplace Culture, Diversity, Startups and Digital Trends. She’s fond of a burrito and even more fond of a bad pun. Aoife works with tech companies to build their brand and engage talent through storytelling.
‘What’s your salary expectation?’ may be one of the most awkward and unsettling questions of the whole interview process but it’s also one of the most important.
Your initial salary agreement will influence all further negotiations and pay increases, so be sure you’re comfortable with the agreed figure and that you’re not limiting your earning potential off the bat.
IT salaries can vary massively, even within the same departments or similar job role. Take the ‘developer’ title for example, the average salary for a Python developer in the UK is £55,000, while the average salary for an R developer is £75,000 in the UK.
Whether you’ve been offered a new job or you’re looking for a pay bump in your current one, here are some general, but effective tips on how to negotiate your salary effectively.
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Information is power so invest some time in finding out the going rate for your role and investigate all known variables which could affect your salary. Is the company a startup or an established corporation? Do they offer an attractive benefits package?
Look at the personal considerations too: Do you match the desired education and level of experience listed on the job spec? Are you proficient in the technologies necessary to carry out the role or would you require further training?
Once you’re up to speed on average industry salaries try to come up with a figure that you’d be happy with.
Pick a specific number rather than a general one as this will look like you’ve put extensive research into your answer.
Consider your skillset, experience, suitability and ambition. Don’t be disheartened if you’re not offered your ideal salary right away, it is a negotiation after all.
That said, don’t undervalue yourself either and settle for a number you feel is beneath you. One of the most powerful bargaining tools is being able to walk away from a negotiation so decide on your bottom line and stick to it.
Don’t try to negotiate by phone or over email, this needs to be a face-to-face conversation.
A person’s body language, tone and reactions are very revealing in this situation so arrange a one-on-one meeting to discuss.
Be aware of your own body language too, try not to fidget, cross your arms across your chest or lean too far back in your chair.
Sometimes the most valuable weapon in your arsenal is silence.
Don’t feel obligated to reply to an offer or even state your salary expectations until you’re comfortable.
It’s perfectly reasonable to decline to answer the question or to ask to mull over your options. Avoid any ultimatums or phrases that may come across as overly demanding like “I must have” or “I want” and instead use phrases like “how about we try this”, “I’ll consider any reasonable offer in line with my experience” or “thanks for the offer, I’ll consider it and revert back in a few days”.
While money can often be the focus in negotiations, it’s not the be all and end all. Think about what other opportunities could enrich your working life.
Will you get the option to travel, return to education, take a career break? What benefits could you ask for to subsidise your earnings?
Take something from every rejection. There won’t always be a job offer or the ideal salary but there will always be opportunities.
If you’ve been unsuccessful in securing your desired salary, still thank the interviewer for their consideration. Use the no to build a connection that you can revisit later.
