How to negotiate a job offer effectively during and after an interview

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

I'm having an HR interview soon with company A. I am certain that they will ask for my expected salary in the interview.

I've been doing some research on this company and found out that their average starting monthly salary is 1000. On the other hand, I hope to get a salary in the range of 1500-2000.

However, during interviews I always give the following statement "My expected salary depends on the whole package. It depends if it covers medical insurance, working hours, overtime, vacations, ...etc , so it's hard to give an exact number"

Of course they ask again for a number. I give the 2nd answer "I think a salary in the range of (1500-2000) will be great, BUT again it depends on the whole offer."

Questions:

1. Is this an appropriate attitude during an interview? I keep emphasizing the "whole package" idea because in my country salaries tend to be lower than the average.
2. What if I get an offer of 1000? What is the correct way to negotiate the salary to reach my range?
3. What if I get an offer of 1500 (my minimum range), but I feel the whole offer should make the salary 2000 or even more (ex: no overtime, working for 6 days a week instead of 5, no medical insurance)? How to ask for that professionally?

Notice:

The salaries mentioned aren't real numbers (but they are close), so a 500 raise is a huge raise.

Don't be surprised by the offers because (no overtime, no medical insurance, ...etc.) is actually quiet common where I come from T_T

manpreet 2 years ago

I take 2 approaches depending on if I want the position for the salary increase or for getting my foot in the door at the company.

Salary increase: Figure out what is the lowest you would accept and add some percentage on top of that. Like you, I always include the but it depends on the whole package thing because I always renegotiate for an extra weeks vacation since that is more important than the extra money or signing bonus too me.

Foot in the door: I would like the median salary for the position you are hiring me for. That way you don't start at the low end of the scale but also don't start so high that it scares them off or they can't give you raises in the future, which would also scare them off. Of course the company could lie about what that dollar amount is, but I think they understand that if you come aboard you'll find out that number anyways so why risk having a disgruntled worker.