Salary negotiation is an art that every jobseeker must learn and be well-versed in. Asking for your talent’s worth is not a crime, but a matter of conviction. A common mistake committed by most first-time jobseekers is that while they prepare perfectly in terms of possible questions that can be asked during the course of the interview, they neglect to prepare for the most important aspect – a discussion on Salary.

Don’t underestimate your worth just because it is your first job. Analyze the offer being made to you carefully, and buy yourself some time before accepting or rejecting the offer.  Please note that if you have the talent, organizations will recruit you at any cost.

Now, the obvious question in your mind would be – How do I determine my worth? Ensure you have weighed your talent with respect to the following aspects before taking any decision:

 

Keeping an eye on the changes in your preferred industry will work to your advantage. If you have applied in a ‘promising’ industry, you can expect a good pay package. Collect vital information from varied resources such as networking websites, consultants, friends, trade publications, etc. about the salary being offered. Hard facts will help you justify your expectations, and will also sound more realistic.

Also, get detailed information about the financials of the organization where you have applied, and assess their market position. Check the company’s website and arm yourself with useful information.

 

Consult alumni or friends who are either in the same industry or organization. They will provide a better insight for they have been there and done that.  If an offer has been made, take useful advice from experienced friends or family members before accepting the offer.

 

Just because you don’t have any previous job experience does not mean that you should accept any offer that comes your way. Apprise your interviewer about the experiences gained while working on projects undertaken by you during your internship or in college. Express your willingness to learn and grow, and reiterate how passionate and enthusiastic you are about working in the organization. Remember that the interviewer knows of your educational background and work experience and hence, has reasonable expectations.

 

Be realistic while penning your expectations. Assess how you would like your salary break-up to be in terms of components such as basic salary, perks, and other benefits. If you feel that organization is offering you a lower basic salary, measure it in terms of perks and benefits such as paid holidays, LTA, overtime pay, medical and educational allowances, etc. And if the perks are attractive enough, go for the deal. However, if the perks aren’t that great, and if you are really in need of this job just ensure that your employer agrees for a salary review within 3 to 6 months from your date of joining.
Determine what’s more important to you – the salary or the perks, and then, take an informed decision. Your performance will determine your future salary, and will give you the power to justify your demand for a pay-hike in the near future as well.

 

Never discuss the salary during the interview. This is because being a first-time jobseeker, you are bound to be anxious and nervous, and you might end up committing something that you may later regret. Don’t put yourself in such an unnecessary fix.
Discussing salary during an interview is a ploy on part of your prospective employer to gauge your expectations. Remember that your interviewer is much more experienced than you, and hence, might convince you to accept an offer lower than your worth. So, be discreet in your responses and try not to fall in the trap. If the offer is made to you, no matter how tempting or disappointing, be sure to express your willingness to take up the job, but buy yourself some time for considering the offer.  Accepting an offer then and there might be looked upon as a sign of desperation. Convey that you would like to have some time to ‘think over’ the offer before arriving at any decision. Please note that by asking for time, you won’t be jeopardizing your position in the eyes of the prospective employer. This is a general practice across the globe, and hence, don’t be wary of asking for some extra time.