How to negotiate a salary for your first job offer post-graduation

With a degree in hand and eager to land your first job offer, you’re excited. You can’t wait to see how much money you’ll be making each month and what you can afford with that salary. But before jumping into a salary negotiation, it’s important to know a fair market value for your skillset so that you don’t end up underselling yourself or overpricing yourself unintentionally. How much should you ask for? And how should you negotiate for the salary that works best for you? Negotiating a first job offer isn’t easy. There are many factors at play, such as what the company is willing to pay and how established that rate is in the industry where you work. It takes practice to get used negotiating your first salary but once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature and might even become one of your favorite parts of job searching. Here are some tips on negotiating your first salary, from practicing before an interview to staying focused on why negotiating is necessary.

Know what you want to be paid before you start negotiating

If you’re not sure what you should be asking for in salary, it’s best to first know what you want. You should be looking for a salary that’s high enough to live comfortably but not so high that it puts you in a spot where you can’t be considered for the position. It’s also important to know what type of lifestyle you want to live while pursuing your career. If you want to travel a lot or move to a big city, consider how much that lifestyle is going to cost you in addition to your salary. If you want to start a family soon, factor that into your salary negotiation as well.

Finding your salary target can also be easier through tools like salary.com, glassdoor, and many other resources to find the specific salary for your role. If you’re lost and you narrowed it down to a specific range that can work as well when the question does come up. Give your recruiter a range that you’re looking for, but if you have an offer from another company this will be a superpower in your negotiations since the employer knows they must at the very least match the offer. Another way to find salary bands will be to look for similar roles at companies located in states that require the salary to be stated on the job description when applying like Colorado and New York.

Stay positive and be respectful

Negotiating a salary is a lot like dating someone new. You’ve just met them, but there’s a connection and you both have an interest in each other. But there are still plenty of things that need to be worked out before the two of you can be together romantically or financially. So instead of getting frustrated or angry that your salary negotiation isn’t going your way, remember to stay positive and be respectful of the situation. Remember that you’re not being disrespectful of the person you’re negotiating with just because you’re not demanding or shaming them; it’s a negotiation and both of you have different wants and needs that have to come together.

Remember the base salary is only one component of the negotiation. If they’re unwilling to compromise on the base salary find additional levers to pull like stock in the company, bonuses, time off, etc. Consider all components that lead into “total compensation” until you’re at a point where you can accept an offer. Additionally, consider the growth trajectory of a position as well. If you’ll accept a lower salary for one year to get a position or title that you think will set you up for success later than it’s still worth considering.

Don’t make demands or meet deadlines

Asking for more money than what’s offered may seem like a good idea, but it’s important not to demand more than the company is willing to pay. While it’s important to negotiate, it’s also important not to be too aggressive with your salary negotiation. Instead of being overly demanding, be clear with what you want and show that you’re reasonable in how you value yourself and what you will bring to the company. Your salary negotiation is not a game and need to be done with maturity, not a game of chicken where one of you has to be the victor.

Practice your negotiation skills before the interview

Before the interview, practice your salary negotiation skills. Find some articles online or talk to your friends who have gotten jobs and see what they were offered and how much they negotiated for. Take notes on what you like and what you didn’t like about their negotiation process and make subtle adjustments to your salary negotiation. If you have a specific company in mind, ask your friends what they negotiated for that company and take notes. This will help you to better tailor your negotiation skills to the specific company you’re negotiating with.

Being prepared for the salary expectation questions is a must. They can pop up in any part of the recruitment process, therefore coming to the first interview prepared is key. Some experts recommend to never answer the expectation question, but rather respond with what’s the salary band for this role. This too can be a great strategy, but some employers would like to know your expectations to be able to meet them (in some instances). Others might have budgeted far over what you asked for but will happily accept your expectations. That’s why negotiations can be tricky and the more you research the more success you’ll have.

Show your worth with a good job offer email

When the interview is over and the job offer is in hand, the negotiation is not over. Instead, it’s just beginning. So while you’re waiting for that first paycheck, make sure you’re putting yourself in the best position to get the salary you deserve. When you get the job offer, be sure to let them know how much you would like to be paid. This can be done in a number of ways, from writing a cover letter to explaining why you should be getting a certain amount in salary on your job offer email. Keep in mind that you should be trying to show them why you deserve the salary you want; it’s not the other way around. Again, having another job offer with a greater amount will be the strongest negotiation tool without this there may be little forces for them to make considerable changes to the initial offer.

Conclusion

Negotiating your salary is a difficult process and often results in stress, frustration, maybe even a few email response drafts. But don’t worry, you’re in a great spot - you’re close to starting your first job and this is part of every employment opportunity. Salary negotiation is a part of the job search process and one that all job seekers will have to go through at some point. The key is to take this process one step at a time and to remember to remain positive and respectful at all times. Finally, remember that you’re not doing it wrong and are in fact showing employers that you’re worth every penny by negotiating for what you deserve. Employers want their team to be happy and in some instances will stop the recruitment process for the perfect candidate to not insult them with an offer 20-30k less than what their expecting or offered from other companies.