College Grads - Negotiate Your Salary the Same Way Executives Do

As a recent college graduate, prior to making anyyou're not Donald Trump, you're a kid who just
salary negotiation moves, you must consider agraduated college, and $3,500 annually is not the
few things:score of a lifetime. Be polite and respect the
1M Question at Hand: Do you really want the job?people on the other side of the table.
The best way to answer this is to ask yourselfSituation 2:
whether or not you would like to spend the nextIn this case, you truly want the job, you think
few years of your life with the people whom youthat the company is great and don't want to risk
have met throughout the interview process?the offer for a few thousand dollars in salary
What were they like? Were they genuinely nicenegotiation. Rest assure, there is still a way to do
people or were they a little bit on the arrogant,wiggle some more compensation with minimal risk,
brash side?however you don't want to press nearly as hard
Situation 1:as you would upon negotiating a salary via
Let's say the answer to the question is that yousituation #1.
can take or leave the current position; it would beRemember, in the long run $5,000 is not going to
no big loss or no big gain. However, you need amake or break a career. It is the company and
job and they want to employ you. Despite thepeople who are going to help make or break your
fact that the relationship appears to be mutuallypotential success at this position.
beneficial on a 50 / 50 level, in all actuality, youI got caught in that trap right after graduating
are in the driver's seat.college (ironically by a recruiter) and, decided on a
Also, don't worry about the people who arejob for $4,000. It was quite serendipitous as
waiting in line behind you if you don't take the jobgetting pushed out prompted me to open my
or ask for too much money. Take my adviceown business, but putting salary before job
that employers never want to hire the 2nd best.potential is never a good thing and the tactic
In all actuality, in situation 1, you have nothing tonever turns out well.
lose and all to gain. I see people negotiate as ifBelow, I've listed 2 main phrases that, in a
they could take or leave the job all the time. Withroundabout and professional way, tell a potential
that being said, how do you properly phrase thatemployer that you want more money, but
you want more money without coming out andcompensation is not a deal-breaker:
actually demanding the monetary increase?"I'm truly excited about this offer as it is the job
Well, in this particular circumstance, there arethat I've wanted and worked the hardest
many different ways to, in a subtle manner,towards. By all means, I'm going to accept,
request a raise.flexibility isn't a killer here, though anything you can
Below, I've listed 2 main phrases that, in ado on the salary would be really appreciated"
relatively direct, though professional way, tell aIf they say, "no" shake their hand and tell them
potential employer to pay you more:you can't wait to start and maybe the
"I do understand that the initial offer was x,negotiations can take place again after you've
however I was truly hoping to start at y. Is this abeen doing a dynamite job. However, before
possibility?"throwing around the "dynamite job" gig, make
"Money is not the one and only, I do very muchsure you show up for work on time.
want to work here, conversely, I was hoping for"I might as well be upfront, this company is
a starting salary of x. Can this be done?"exactly what I want and why I worked as hard
What Happens if they decline any requests foras I did in college. The compensation is a tad-light.
higher compensationAny flexibility on this front?"
"That's fine. I was hoping for more, however I doIf they say, "no" just as above, don't take it
want to think it over, can you kindly tell me whenpersonally, accept the job with a smile and work
the offer is valid until?"hard enough to where you get to the point that
With all three phrases, keep it short and sweet.the company can not do without you. Reach this
Do not feel as if you have to explain yourself orpinnacle and you rarely will hear the word "no"
go over your qualifications. The person sitting onwhen discussing compensation.
the other side of the table understands them andA Brief Conclusion
this is why he or she is presenting you with anUnless you are performing brain surgery out of
offer in the first place.med-school, you're not supposed to be getting
You don't want to get any harsher than therich off of your first job. You're supposed to be
aforementioned phrases because it ispositioning yourself with a progressive, intelligent
unprofessional and you can get a bad reputationcompany which is ambitious, challenges you and
for being argumentative very easily. Even thoughwill give you room to grow. Think of your first
the business world revolves around negotiation,job as an extended internship.