How to Respond to Pushback During Salary Negotiation | FlexJobs (2024)

FAQs

How to Respond to Pushback During Salary Negotiation | FlexJobs? ›

What to Say: “I understand exactly where you're coming from, and what you're saying makes perfect sense. I've spent a considerable amount of time researching the standard salary range for this position. From my perspective, based on my experience level, I do believe that the figure should be a bit higher.

Ensure your ask is reasonable. Be polite with your response to the rejection. Ask for time to think about it even if you know you will take the job. Consider negotiating for benefits like additional paid time off or flexible hours if the salary is non-negotiable.

It is simple: you can lose a job offer by negotiating salary if you make unreasonable demands or by going below what is expected of the request.

So how aggressive should you be when negotiating salary? A good rule of thumb is to counter offer between 10% and 20% above the offer amount.

Start with a figure that's no more than 10-20% above their initial offer. Remember, you're applying for entry level, and you shouldn't expect something on the higher range. Consider negotiating lower if 10-20% places you above the average.

How do I reply when HR says that the expected salary is too high? ›

State a number too low and you could shortchange yourself in the future. State one too high — without additional interviews to back up that number — and HR might move on to another candidate expecting lower pay. Instead, you can respond to the question by kicking it back to HR, Lares says.

Thank your boss for the salary bump and recognition they've already given you, and then explain why you believe the number should be reconsidered. Share your big accomplishments, as well as the salary data you've gathered, to back up why you would like your manager to reconsider your raise.

Negotiating a salary is a crucial part of accepting a new position, but botching this step can cost a candidate the job. And even if the fallout isn't quite as severe, the outcome of salary negotiations can damage the employee's ability to succeed at work.

Although there's no law against it, firing employees simply for asking for a raise isn't a good business practice. You want to keep employees who put their best efforts into their job, and are willing to go the extra mile.

Silence is a negotiating tool that many employers use during salary negotiations. Don't let them. Silence is designed to make you feel like the employer is losing enthusiasm for your candidacy during the course of negotiating an offer.

Even 70% of employers expect salary negotiation after an initial job offer. Still, less than half of job seekers negotiate at all. If you feel intimidated or uncomfortable about asking for more money, you aren't alone.

Most people succeed or fail in a negotiation based on how well-prepared they are (or are not!). We adhere to the 80/20 rule – 80% of negotiation is preparation and 20% is the actual negotiation with the other party.

But the tactic has an upper limit. Their research found that asking for any range that would be more than 25% did not produce better results. Taking the Paysa survey and the Columbia Business School survey results together, it might make the most sense to consider negotiating for an increase in pay between 5-10%.

Traditionally, negotiation experts advise us to sit tight and wait for the other side to float the first number. This negotiation advice is grounded in the fact that the other party's offer may shed light on his goals and alternatives and better equip you to meet them.

It really depends. Some people feel you should take the first offer if you're happy with it. Never negotiate just for the sake of negotiating. Other people disagree with that position and believe anytime you're given the chance to negotiate, you should.

Is it awkward to negotiate salary? ›

Whether you're negotiating salary for a new job or you're asking for a raise, a “money conversation” in any professional context is downright awkward. If you're like most people, you'd rather accept what you're given — and resent it later — than make the ask.

Making a counteroffer to the first job offer is generally a good thing. As long as you don't fold at the first No, you don't issue ultimatums or make threats and the counteroffer isn't a surprise after the prospective employer already thinks you've accepted, then you will be OK.

“Thank you for getting in touch! I'm excited to review the details when I receive the written offer. The salary is a bit lower than I was expecting, so I'll need a few days to see if I can make it work.”

“Dear [Hiring Manager Name], Thank you for getting back to me about your hiring decision. While I'm disappointed to hear that I was not selected for the [Job Title] position, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to interview for the job and meet some of the members of your team.

I understand that you have declined the job offer. I would appreciate the opportunity to understand more about your decision. If you're comfortable, could you share your reasons for declining? Your honest feedback will help us improve our recruitment process for future candidates.