Negotiating a job offer can be stressful waters to navigate, especially if you’ve been off the employment market for a while. The reality is, negotiation, once mastered, can be a great way for you to have control over your career progression and employment prospects overall. It allows you to set better boundaries with employers, and also ensure that you are taking accountability before you join an organization.

We’ve put together 5 things to consider during the negotiation process, whether you choose to do it alone or partner with a recruiter! 

1 - Don’t play games

Although a little smoke and mirrors are sometimes necessary whilst you’re still in the midst of deciding, don’t play games with your prospective employer when it comes to offer negotiation. Stay transparent with your communication, be honest if you have other offers on the table (it’s never a bad thing to be in demand), and ensure that all communications are followed through with in writing. 

If you’re partnering with a recruiter, the same principles should apply for a smooth and enjoyable process for both parties. It’s important to remember that game playing adds unnecessary time to the offer negotiation process, and in some circumstances can cost you an opportunity before you get to sign on the dotted line. 

2 - Make sure it’s fact (not fiction)

If you’re looking for a salary increase when negotiating your offer, or you want to explore some added benefits to your package (such as a car allowance, sign-on bonus, or healthcare) ensure that you have done your research first to warrant this. If you’re conducting the research alone, look at sources such as Glassdoor or LinkedIn salary comparisons to see what is negotiable. 

It’s also becoming less taboo to talk about salaries in your peer network. If you have trusted advisors/friends, it’s a great way to triangulate that data and get real-world insights. 

Additionally, you could look at competitors’ offerings in terms of benefits to further help you present facts, not fiction! If you’re partnered with a recruiter, a good consultant will help you with this research and coach you on the best way to talk about it if they aren’t negotiating on your behalf. Although salary increases and additional benefits are possible in the majority of situations, it’s also important to ensure that they’re realistic and achievable within the marketplace.

3 - Expect a counteroffer (and be prepared to reject it)

Counteroffers in a lot of situations are inevitable, and are a final plea for your current employer to stop you from leaving. Countless statistics evidence the reality of how unsuccessful counteroffers are, with the majority of individuals being back on the job market less than 6 months after accepting one. It’s critical to consider all of your motivations when presented with a counteroffer. Why did it take for you to leave to finally be valued? Why is your current employer acting on impulse, instead of proactivity? If you’re unsure of how to navigate a counteroffer, a recruiter can coach you on how to deal with common situations surrounding counteroffers.

4 - Trade, don’t concede

Although more money is great in any circumstance; is it your only driver? Sitting down and establishing what else is important to you will enable you to negotiate a job offer that is aligned with your values as well as your practical financial goals. 

Is it more paid time off? Is it a gym membership? Is it flexible working? Is it a four-day workweek? If you’re partnered with a recruiter, they can also help to coach you to get to the crux of what else is essential. If it’s just salary, you may find rapidly that your other needs aren’t being met when joining a new organization. 

5 - Recruiters are your friends

When partnering with a recruiter and allowing them to represent you, it is in their best interest to get you the best package possible. To be completely candid - the higher the package, the better remuneration the recruiter receives. 

Contrary to popular belief, recruiters are your friends when it comes to negotiating a job offer, so, if you’ve decided to partner with one, they’ll be able to give you comprehensive advice to enable you to negotiate better. Or, they may even be able to negotiate on your behalf. You are both on the same team!

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