The best part of the job search process is receiving an offer, and that’s completely logical. You’ve spent a heck of a lot of time researching the company, the position, and how it would impact your life. You’ve made plans about leaving your current job and are doing everything and anything to make the right move. But making the right moves means you must advocate for yourself.
There is no such thing as something that is unable to be negotiated. Job offers are the same way. There are job offers where the company may not be willing to negotiate, and clearly that company isn’t for you. Companies that are willing to negotiate appreciate a candidate who understands their value within the marketplace and are willing to find a way to make it work. The key is you must have done your research on the position along with what the market will bear. If you fail to negotiate, you fail to get the best deal.
Here are three reasons why you should negotiate all job offers:
- Great Insight into Company Culture. Companies who are unwilling to negotiate probably view employees as interchangeable parts. This is not a company you want to work for. Once you see that a company is willing to negotiate, you’ve ascertained that they understand the value that great people have in a great company.
- You Can’t Get What You Don’t Ask For. Sometimes the only thing preventing you from getting a better salary is simply asking. When you have the marketplace research about your position and the average salary in that particular market, what ends up happening is your potential employer develops a respect for you.
- Self-Advocacy. This one is a little more intrinsic. By advocating for yourself what you end up doing is developing a sense of your own worth. This is very important and helps you develop the confidence needed to execute your job functions.
Always be sure to negotiate your job offers, this is a great test for you to see if you’re making the right choice by agreeing to work for a particular company.
