Whether you want to continue working from home or are seeking a raise or promotion, here is what to say, how to say it, and when to ask to receive the desired response.
Numerous individuals find negotiation uncomfortable. However, the adage that you don’t get what you don’t ask for is true. As with most activities, negotiation becomes simpler with practice. Even if you don’t get everything you ask for, there’s a good possibility you’ll get something. In fact, according to one recent survey, 83% of individuals who negotiated their salary when they accepted a new job say they received higher pay.
The negotiation process should be a conversation, not a power struggle
The first step in requesting anything (a raise, a promotion, remote work, more flexibility, a new assignment, etc.) is to approach the discussion as a collaborative effort rather than a power struggle. In lieu of a straightforward yes or no, statements such as “I would love to know what the opportunity is to get closer to this salary” open up the conversation.
And if you do receive a negative response, try establishing a timeline for achieving a positive response by agreeing to benchmarks that you can reach and reassessing in three to six months.
Part 1 of PREPARE: RESEARCH
Research is essential when negotiating your remuneration in a new position or requesting a raise in your current position. Using websites like salary.com, payscale.com, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the first stage is to determine the market salary range for the position. Consider the salaries of individuals with similar titles in your industry, taking location and years of experience into account.
If it’s a new position, it can be useful to learn how long the company has been searching for a candidate and what the turnover rate has been. This can provide insight into the urgency of recruiting and your potential competitive advantage.
Knowing whether the company is a high-, mid-, or low-payer can also shed light on how much you can expect to receive.
PART 2 OF PREPARATION: DOCUMENTATION
Documentation is essential when requesting something at your current employment. If your company is requesting that employees return to the office and you wish to continue working from home, find out what the company’s leadership aims to achieve by having employees return to the office.
If your manager is concerned about productivity, quantify how your output has remained the same or increased during the period you’ve been working remotely. If they want to increase collaboration, provide a strategy for how you will check in with coworkers. And always be willing to compromise. If a rule applies to all employees, it may be difficult to obtain an exception; however, a hybrid schedule or flexible start times may be an option.
Regardless of your desired outcome in a negotiation, it is always ideal to be truthful. Threatening to resign if you don’t get what you want (or claiming to have another job offer) is not only likely to backfire but can also harm your professional relationship.
