Salary Negotiation:

I have to strenuously disagree with the advice to go in with a range. You are always setting yourself up for the low end. The best approach is to give them a number that is reasonable, but, as BB noted, a little higher than your reservation price, and let them know that you will negotiate if they don't think this is fair. Otherwise, you are negotiating against yourself, which is the cardinal sin of negotiating.

That's pretty incredible. Why on earth would they counter your offer of $45K with $55K?

I had something similar happen.

I asked for $45 and got $60 when they found out I had other offers, even though the other offers were for less than $60.

A while ago I got a job offer and I declined the offer because I got a counter offer from my employer. I tried to nogocitiate to get the prospective employer to at least partly match the counter offer and they wouldn't budge even a little from their original offer. Anywho, after I declined their offer I told the head hunter that was working for me that I had a friend that I use to work with and he could probably do what they were looking for in a candidate. My friend got the job, got more money (5K more) and more stock options (10K more shares) than they offered me.


Always look out for #1, that's you mofo, that's you!

Thanks for the advice guys -- the question never really came up luckily. If offered I'm not sure if I'll take the job -- but we'll see.

my most memorable interview was at a company in NEPA where I was a perfect fit for the type of work. Because of the location of the company (Columbia County) the salary ranges are very low compared to the same level jobs closer to Phila. When the question came up in the interview I asked for 55 to 60K a year and I noticed an odd, uncomfortable reaction from my interviewer and I proceeded to follow up my offer with this.... " I understand that the range I am asking for may be high for the area but I assure you it is average for the industry." With that said.... done deal.... they gave me 55K a year w/ time & 1/2 for OT and I wound up making 70K that year. Pretty nice deal.

The moral to the story is... I always shoot high with my requests because if they settle on your first offer then you might feel cheated... man, i prob. could have gotten another buck or 2.... and always have a good reason for your request.

I have to strenuously disagree with the advice to go in with a range. You are always setting yourself up for the low end. The best approach is to give them a number that is reasonable, but, as BB noted, a little higher than your reservation price, and let them know that you will negotiate if they don't think this is fair. Otherwise, you are negotiating against yourself, which is the cardinal sin of negotiating.

I think that's generally true, but not always the case. For example, my salary demands depend upon fringe benefits. To the extent that they suck, I ask for a higher salary and vice versa. I haven't had any problems with that approach thus far.

I agree, but I thought we were talking about salary. If you are talking total compensation, then that's another thing. For my current job, I told them I needed a total comp of $x, and they offered base+bonus that equaled $x. I don't care that my salary was less than $x. It could have been a range, but the total comp needs to be a fixed number.

Even when you count non-monetary compensation (via benefits), there is a dollar or utility assigned to it. Whatever the total value is to you, that should be presented in absolute terms, and then negotiate from there. For example, you need $70k plus 3 weeks vacation, but you would be willing to take less for 4 weeks off. You wouldn't say "I'll take $65k and 3-4 weeks off", because you'll get $65k and 3 weeks in most cases.

I think I'm agreeing with you sort of.

I think that's generally true, but not always the case. For example, my salary demands depend upon fringe benefits. To the extent that they suck, I ask for a higher salary and vice versa. I haven't had any problems with that approach thus far.

You mean you don't go in there and say "I'm good, nay, I'm very good therefore I demand you hire me, pay me 270K and give me a company jet for the weekends."

You mean you don't go in there and say "I'm good, nay, I'm very good therefore I demand you hire me, pay me 270K and give me a company jet for the weekends."

Dude, I'm ALWAYS saying "Nay" this and "Nay" that. Employers like it when you're pretentious.

Don't bother responding, I'm above you - nay, I'm FAR above you.

Unfortunately, since you're going to be straight out of college, you're not going to have a lot of bargaining leverage. You have to think of your first "real" job in your career as a starting point for experience. While making a great salary is what we all go to college for, those first few years of experience should be the most important. Like what Schneed or Saden said (can't remember which one,) save your money and avoid as much credit card debt as possible. You can't expect to be coming right out of college and into a limo, although that can very well happen.

When it comes to the salary question in an interview, it's always best to have researched what that position's average salary range is for the particular area in which the job is located in. From there, you can throw in a couple of extra thousand dollars for relocating costs if you're having to relocate. I wouldn't get too cocky and expect the high end of the salary range or even the midway point, because those figures are usually reserved for those who already have a couple years of work experience in that particular field. If the job's minimum range starts at $40k, you can ask for $45k. Most of the time, they'll give ya an extra couple of thousand to intice you if they're interested.