Salary Negotiation Tips for First-Time Job Seekers

Salary Negotiation Tips for First-Time Job SeekersSalary Negotiation Tips for First-Time Job Seekers7Even for the most seasoned of job seekers, salary negotiations can be uncomfortable. So it makes sense that only an estimated 38% of recent grads negotiated salary when they received a job offer, according to a NerdWallet infographic. With barely any job experience under your belt, you may feel unkoranvers whether you should even negotiate salary at all, but you definitely shouldHere are some salary negotiation tips for first-time job seekersUnderstand your expenses.Before you begin salary negotiations, its a good idea to have an idea of how much money you have to earn in order to live. That should be your base number from which to start your negotiations. So if a dream job is offering you a salary that you just wont be able to survive on, you can begin negotiating to get the increase youll need.Be confident.Just because you dont have oodles of experience listed on your resume doesnt mean that you should be paid less than other job candidates. So look for other strengths that you possess that others may not. Potential bosses might favor your youthful energy and exuberance over other been there, done that job seekers. Chances are, youve also been schooled in the latest in industry info. And internships count, too, so be sure to list any previous experiences that you can relate to the position youre applying for. Dont sell yourself short just because you dont have paid work experience on your resume yet.Be knowledgeable.Its understandable that you might be nervous to engage in salary negotiation as a first-time job seeker. Knowledge is power, though, so get updated on what the fair market value is for the position youre applying for. While its illegal for a potential boss to change the salary based on your age, its important that you know what salary ranges to expect before heading into the interview. Websites like Salary.com and Glassdoor are helpful for finding out salary ranges for your job level, career field, and location.Look at the entire offer.Sure, it can be discouraging to hear a smaller salary than you were hoping for. But jobs are more than just salary. Thats why you need to consider the whole job offer, such as medical and dental benefits, work flexibility, PTO, tuition reimbursement- even retirement savings contributions that your employer will make. And if youre able to work remotely, factor in how much money you could save from not having to commute to an bro every day. Suddenly, your salary might start to look a whole lot sweeter than it did beforeBe ready to ask for other benefits.Even if you are offered what is considered to be a fair salary for the type of job youre applying for, that still shouldnt stop you from negotiating other benefits. Ask if you can have work flexibility in terms of a flexible schedule, especially if youre going to travel to work daily. If youre planning to continue your education, you might even as k if the company can pay for it, especially if it relates to your current career.Even if you negotiate only a small salary increase or the ability to work from home one day each week, that first negotiating win will give you the confidence to go after what youre worth for the rest of your career.Dont accept the offer on the table.Unless the job offer is absolutely everything you dreamt of and more (it allows you to work remotely, has a great starting salary, killer benefits, room for growth, etc.), dont feel compelled to accept it immediately. Even if youre a first-time job seeker, you have every right to think the offer over before you take it. This can give you time to really assess if the job offer is right for you- or not. So run the numbers and see if it makes sense to accept the offer outright, or begin your negotiations towards a salary that you want and deserve.Looking for More Career Advice?TRY OUR CAREER COACHING SERVICESThis is a version of a post that was