After graduation, many students jump at accepting the first job offer that pops up. They don’t negotiate salaries or other incentives because they assume they’re not entitled to get more. New grads are inexperienced and many companies don’t want to hire rookies; on the other hand, there’s a wealth of businesses out there hunting for new-grads. Why? Because they hold valuable information; in theory, they’re ideal candidates who need a bit of training to excel at their jobs. Here are some negotiation tips for recent graduates who want more from a job than a minimum wage.
Prepare for the interview
College grads should know that the most difficult task in a job interview is the work they must prepare beforehand. You won’t be able to negotiate if you’re planning on answering yes/no questions; you won’t stand out from competitors either. If you enter a meeting prepared and throughout the job interview you can actually speak for yourself and talk about goals, your chances of negotiating a better deal are greatly increased.
Before the interview, it might be a good idea to find out fundamental information about the hiring company. Perform a thorough research and get a deeper sense of their goals and objectives. Also, check average salaries for the position you’re applying for on salary.com or payscale.com. The hiring manager will most likely want to how much you’d like to get, so you don’t want to make a fool of yourself by asking for too much or too little.
Don’t be the first one to name a number
Job interviews are stressful, tense and nerve-wracking. A hiring manager’s job is to assess you, your strengths and weaknesses. You’re not there to make friends, so if you sense that they’re being rude and impersonal, try not to take it personally. It’s their job to seem distant. Although it can be challenging to evade the money question, there are ways to avoid an answer. Wait for an employer to act first, and if they want to know your salary expectations, express your willingness to negotiate. State a range rather than a fixed amount.
Have solid arguments
When entering a job interview, you should be prepared to entertain different matters of opinion. Some employers will want to listen to what you have to say, other won’t. How do you make a case when you lack the experience to back up your claims? First of all, you must have a bottom line for your salary expectations; next, don’t hesitate to walk away if you’ve been offered a job that doesn’t satisfy your needs. Last but not least, find a way to anticipate probable objections that might come from the hiring manager, and counter with solid data, facts and figures.
Don’t bring personal reasons into the discussion to get a higher salary because that won’t happen. Nobody will want to hear about your financial issues, especially since a hiring manager already has an idea of your status since you just graduated from college.
Stay confident, cool and friendly
When attending a job interview, try to be on your best behavior. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you, control your body language and leave your emotions at home. Make an effort to keep negotiations friendly, professional and conflict-free. Active listening skills can offer a lot of benefits because it shows that you’re paying attention to everything the hiring manager has to say.
Don’t be rude, be brief in answering questions and have a considerate attitude. Hiring managers want to deal with job-seekers who are genuine, honest and determined. It’s ok to smile and communicate excitement, although try not to get too emotional. A lot of students are not excited at all about entry-level job interviews, and that’s because they feel under-qualified or discouraged by the competition. You can also go for negotiation training for the purpose.
Why should you feel intimidated when you’ve got everything a company needs to thrive? You may not have a lot of experience right now, but at least you’re determined to learn and do whatever’s necessary to prove you succeed. New grads have a whole future ahead of them, so even if you’re planning on declining an offer, this doesn’t mean other won’t come along. Maintain a positive attitude and never stop searching; there’s an ideal job waiting for you too.
Prepare for the interview
College grads should know that the most difficult task in a job interview is the work they must prepare beforehand. You won’t be able to negotiate if you’re planning on answering yes/no questions; you won’t stand out from competitors either. If you enter a meeting prepared and throughout the job interview you can actually speak for yourself and talk about goals, your chances of negotiating a better deal are greatly increased.
Before the interview, it might be a good idea to find out fundamental information about the hiring company. Perform a thorough research and get a deeper sense of their goals and objectives. Also, check average salaries for the position you’re applying for on salary.com or payscale.com. The hiring manager will most likely want to how much you’d like to get, so you don’t want to make a fool of yourself by asking for too much or too little.
Don’t be the first one to name a number
Job interviews are stressful, tense and nerve-wracking. A hiring manager’s job is to assess you, your strengths and weaknesses. You’re not there to make friends, so if you sense that they’re being rude and impersonal, try not to take it personally. It’s their job to seem distant. Although it can be challenging to evade the money question, there are ways to avoid an answer. Wait for an employer to act first, and if they want to know your salary expectations, express your willingness to negotiate. State a range rather than a fixed amount.
Have solid arguments
When entering a job interview, you should be prepared to entertain different matters of opinion. Some employers will want to listen to what you have to say, other won’t. How do you make a case when you lack the experience to back up your claims? First of all, you must have a bottom line for your salary expectations; next, don’t hesitate to walk away if you’ve been offered a job that doesn’t satisfy your needs. Last but not least, find a way to anticipate probable objections that might come from the hiring manager, and counter with solid data, facts and figures.
Don’t bring personal reasons into the discussion to get a higher salary because that won’t happen. Nobody will want to hear about your financial issues, especially since a hiring manager already has an idea of your status since you just graduated from college.
Stay confident, cool and friendly
When attending a job interview, try to be on your best behavior. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you, control your body language and leave your emotions at home. Make an effort to keep negotiations friendly, professional and conflict-free. Active listening skills can offer a lot of benefits because it shows that you’re paying attention to everything the hiring manager has to say.
Don’t be rude, be brief in answering questions and have a considerate attitude. Hiring managers want to deal with job-seekers who are genuine, honest and determined. It’s ok to smile and communicate excitement, although try not to get too emotional. A lot of students are not excited at all about entry-level job interviews, and that’s because they feel under-qualified or discouraged by the competition. You can also go for negotiation training for the purpose.
Why should you feel intimidated when you’ve got everything a company needs to thrive? You may not have a lot of experience right now, but at least you’re determined to learn and do whatever’s necessary to prove you succeed. New grads have a whole future ahead of them, so even if you’re planning on declining an offer, this doesn’t mean other won’t come along. Maintain a positive attitude and never stop searching; there’s an ideal job waiting for you too.