Full Compensation 4U

One of my newsletter subscribers asked me whether or not it was okay to talk about salary during the first interview with an employer. They were worried that it would give the wrong impression. How could they avoid revealing their salary expectations too soon? They were wondering how they could postpone this discussion until the right time. My golden rule is to never lie to anyone. Therefore you need some good strategies to avoid this topic until the last minute.

When I have been pressured by HR for an response to that question in the past, my preferred approach is outlined in the following checklist.

1) My first response would be to try to defer the topic until later. Because we haven’t really gotten through the responsibilities of the job, nor the contributions I can make in the new position. The new job is somewhat different from the past job because the company’s market, product or industry are somewhat different than the past companies. Therefore the past salary history is not all that applicable. I would prefer to be paid in accordance with the market and the company’s hiring practices.

2) I have been pressed for an answer several times, and my response is to first try to push it until later in the meeting. I explain that while it is important to me, it is not the most important factor. I would rather ensure that both the employer and I are happy with one another, and that the job lines up with my experience and that my contributions and the company’s salary line up within both a fair market value and within the company guidelines. There are many factors beyond just cash that need to be discussed before we can address the salary bottom line.

3) It is important for me to be aware before going into any interview what the standard salary range is for that position. I also want determine where my overall percentile would fall within that range. The vast majority of people are not at the top end of the salary range, so unless I know I have been a superstar, which I usually strive towards, then I wouldn’t recommend expecting the absolute maximum salary, unless I know I can explain why I am worth it. This is almost always confirmed by reference checks, and also, when starting the new job, it will be obvious if I am not in the 98th percentile. The goal is to be generous with your self evaluation but honest if you are not at the total superstar ranking.

4) Regardless of your past salary that you earned in that job role, you should expect to be paid fairly for the current market conditions. You should explain to the new employer that regardless of your past salary, whether it was at or below the market range, you would like to be paid at the salary level that is fair. Your reasons for having a lower than average salary in the past are not pertinent to the new job, and your life situation has changed. Therefore your goal is to have a fair salary negotiation that both sides will be pleased with.

5) Suppose you do reveal your past salary due to the pressure. It is important to do so under the caveat that you expect to be paid fairly, and that you don’t feel that the information you are bout to give is all that pertinent. You need to paid an honest salary for your honest work. Just remember to be clear and firm about your expectations, all the while maintaining a level of respect and rapport.

Never lie to a prospective employer. This is cardinal rule number one. The new company will find out facts and do their legwork to assess your history and past performance. You need to clearly communicate the value you bring and that your past salary history whether high or low is not too pertinent to the new job. You need to be met with fairness in the recruiting process, and that your value proposition is clear and well expressed.

Trevor Davide Grant is a project manager in the IT field and has extensive experience in salary negotiation. Trevor has worked for large telecom, electric utilities, software consulting, and a prominent web 2.0 site. He has learned salary negotiating in the most effective way. Learn great tips on the topic of salary negotiating at www.HowToNegotiateASalary.com.

A friend recently asked me for some advice or tips on how to negotiate a salary. They are no expert at salary negotiation and would like to get better.

Expert salary negotiation takes a lot of experience and a lot of practice. My experience has allowed me to negotiate salary many many times, and I have been able to realize significant salary gains as a result. I am writing here to outline what I consider a great, quick approach that can help arm you for salary negotiation and get you ready to negotiate a great salary.

What follows here is a great set of introductory strategies, however there are many approaches to salary negotiation. It is very important for those looking for a higher salary to have the full picture. You need to know all the relevant strategies for salary negotiation to be successful. You may be faced with objections and have negotiation hurdles to overcome.

While salary negotiating is a huge topic and I cannot provide all tactics in one article, I will give you a great outline to salary negotiation.

The following presents an overview of the must do’s.

1) Be diligent in your job market research to find out the perceived value of the role you are going to fill. Check with some common salary web sites like salaryexpert.com or salary.monster.com or payscale.com for those.

2) Document all the things you can where you have added value to the business or employer. Pay special attention to tasks you do that are above the call of duty.

3) It is very useful to know where you stand compared to other staff in your company. This can involve some research on your part. Ask people. It is seemingly more acceptable these days to discuss salary in social circles. Choose your words carefully when discussing this sensitive subject.

4) Plant the thought in your supervisors mind. Approach them at a stategic time when they are not too budy. Avoid times when they are rushed out the door or off to their next staff meeting.

5) Ask if you can discuss salary when it is a good time for them, and then ask for your increase. You should be confident about your request because you’ve done your research and built your case.

6) Make to conscientiously rehearse your approach to salary negotiations. Cover off some objections and have your responses to the objections ready in your mind. There is always a way to stay the course to a successful negotiation.

7) It can get discouraging in salary negotiatiosn, but do your best to maintain your high self confidence. Never give an ultimatum when negotiating salary because you may be forced to act on it. You don’t want to find yourself looking further for another job.

There is a considerable list of approaches for each salary negotiation strategy and there are a number of things to look out for. When going into negotiations it is really easy for a salary seeker to encounter problems and landmines. Sometimes they are traps set by the hiring manager. Sometimes they are just out there for the job hunter to step into. Make sure you don’t find yourself stepping on your own feet in salary negotiation.

A very common strategy is to wait for the employer to address the topic of salary first. They may reveal their acceptable salary range, or they will outright ask you what your preferred range is. It is best to leave this as late in the process as you can.

When you receive an offer that you’re not happy you can always ask the employer the question, is that the best possible offer you can make me at this time? When you follow up with silence, the boss will be scrambling to say something. If the answer to the question is yes, you need to discuss why you cannot accept it, and that you have reasons to believe you are worth more. If the response is no then ask them if it is possible for them to give your top salary request.

Whatever strategy you chose, make sure you’ve built up your case to support your negotiation and ensure that know your script by rehearsing. Plan for objections, and know how to deal with suprise or unpredictable scenarios. Always leave the door open for future salary negotiation, until you close the deal in a way that makes you happy.

To your success.

Trevor Davide Grant is a IT manager in the IT field and has extensive experience in salary negotiation. Trevor has worked for large telecom, power utililties, software development consulting, and a prominent web 2.0 site. He has learned salary negotiating in the most effective way. Learn great tactics on the topic of salary negotiating at www.HowToNegotiateASalary.com.

Are you underpaid, and over worked? Do you put in excessive an effort in your career life and give up too much of your free time? Are you a consummate professional and in need of a pay raise? If so, you’re one the millions who are in the same boat.

Earning a higher salary is not a factor of luck, it is a matter of being proactive and building yourself a well planned case for negotiating a pay raise. When you have a well planned case, you can approach your boss in a totally empowered way, and you give yourself the best chance of success.

Each person has a motive for asking for a pay increase. In order to get there though, you need to step up your skills in salary negotiation. What are your motivations? Here are some great thoughts.

1. Earning the respect of your boss. One facet of job satisfaction that shows up repeatedly on employee satisfaction surveys is that people who feel respected by their employers are more likely to stay with them. Well one factor that is respected. Well, when you approach salary negotiation from a place of empowerment and win, you will have earned the respect of your employer.

2. Self respect. When you stand up for yourself, and negotiate a salary increase successfully, you will feel a sense of pride for your accomplishment. It is not self indulgent, it is rather well founded pride in both working hard and deserving the raise, and in preparing yourself with a solid case for salary negotiation.

3. Extra cash flow. The main reason for negotiating your salary is to earn more money. You may want more income because you want to take a trip or a buy some special treat for yourself, or you may feel you need it to plan for your retirement. Either way, you won’t win the salary negotiation based on your wants or needs. You must have a solid foundation.

4. You may negotiate extra benefits. Many times, salary negotiations may not end with the final dollar figure that you had in mind, but you may instead compromise by negotiating a combination of salary and benefits. For many people the combination of extra cash and extra time off, or other benefits like pension, stock options, or other unique benefits are a big deal.

5. The higher your starting salary, the bigger your raise will be when it comes time for a scheduled pay increase. The sooner you negotiate a higher salary for yourself, the more likely you are to gain a larger increase when the next annual increase comes around. If your increases are based on a percentage of your current salary, this is particularly relevant.

You know your motivations for increasing your skills in salary negotiation. Having a well founded set of skills, strategies and tactics, you will greatly increase your chances of success in your career.

To your financial success.

Trevor Davide Grant is a IT manager in the IT field and has extensive experience in salary negotiation. Trevor has worked for large telecom, electric utilities, software development consulting, and a prominent social network. He has learned salary negotiating in the most powerfulway. Learn great tips on the topic of negotiating salary at www.HowToNegotiateASalary.com.

It is common knowledge that the US financial system is in the middle of a recessionary slowdown, and that slowdown is having an effect on their largest trading partners, studies have recently shown that for many employees in many companies there is still room for salary negotiating.

It is critical to remember, and you must know your tactical approach to salary negotiating at this challenging time.

Don’t shy away from salary negotiation if it is the right time for you. While many companies are slowing down or reducing staff levels, other companies are in need of top talent. You should keep this in mind. There is still an opportunity to discuss salary with your employer, or to negotiate your salary offer with new employers.

When doing a salary negotiating, you are asserting your worth and standing up for the value you bring to the company. By representing yourself in an assertive way, you are projecting your value to the employer and letting them know that the market will bear your salary request. Make sure you’ve done your homework to support your salary expectations.

Be wise in your approach to salary negotiation at this time. You want the employers to respect you for your approach and tact when asking for an increase or a higher salary in a job offer. It is not the time to demand or use ultimatums when negotiating. We are still in a challenging financial era.

These are challenging times, and should you find yourself in danger of losing your job or you have found yourself unexpectedly in the market for a new job, you’ll be keenly aware that salary negotiating skills are imperative. The good thing is salary negotiation is still an option in these times.

Just remember that salary negotiation is still an option and not to be dismissed because the economy is in a downturn. Contrarily you should look for the best approach, do your job market research, and build your supporting case for your salary increment request.

Wishing you the ultimate success in your salary negotiation.

Trevor Davide Grant is a IT manager in the IT field and has extensive experience in salary negotiation. Trevor has worked for global telecom, electric utilities, software development consulting, and a prominent social network. He has learned how to negotiate a salary in the most effective way. Learn great tips on the topic of salary negotiating at www.HowToNegotiateASalary.com.

New Jersey personal injury law follows the law of comparative negligence so you are entitled to restitution even if you were partly responsible for the accident you were injured in.

In the day of contributory negligence you would not be entitled to restitution however. This concept says that anyone who is partly to blame for the accident cannot receive any money damages. But that has given way to the law of comparative negligence.

The law case that contributory negligence was founded on was an old English case before the invention of the automobile. A man was injured when he drove his carriage at night over a large log left in the road negligently by the home owner living near the road.

The man in the carriage at first won the case but it was overturned on appeal. The court on appeal ruled that the carriage driver was partly at fault because the lamp on his carriage was not working at the time.

If his light was working the carriage driver would have had it lighted and he would have been able to see the log and avoid it and thereby avoid the accident and his injury. He was not allowed to collect any money for his damages.

However, since then contributory negligence, a harsh verdict against the injured, has given way to comparative negligence law. This states that the injured party will have his award reduced according to his level of fault for the accident.

In a trial the jury will determine the percentage at fault of both parties and then adjust the verdict accordingly. Therefore, if you are injured in and accident that was due in part to your negligence, you can still sue and win money damages.

Hiring a New Jersey personal injury lawyer for your case is an important decision. You should make sure you are comfortable with the attorney you retain. Performing research and interviewing a qualified Neptune injury attorney is a good idea.