LifeLaunch! Module #8: Salary Negotiations

1) Which one of the following is not true about negotiating for salary?

Over 80% of managers expect you to negotiate for salary.

They may not move the numbers every time, but over 90% of managers do have the ability to raise an initial salary offer.

If you don’t even try to negotiate, some managers will diminish their estimation of your skillset.

Ultimatums are the best way to max out a salary offer.

2) Which one of the following is not a negotiating rule?

You can’t actually negotiate until the other party is ready to sit down and close a deal.

The first person to name an exact figure has lost competitive advantage.

Getting the other party tired, confused and frustrated gives you an advantage.

If you can’t get up and walk away, you’re not negotiating, you’re begging.

3) How much can it cost you, over a lifetime, if you don’t negotiate for salary?

Up to $1,000,000

Around $5000

Nothing. You can always make it up by getting promoted.

Nothing. Losing the job offer because you negotiated will be much more expensive than any raise in the initial salary.

4) What is true about women and negotiating?

Women don’t negotiate at the same rate as men, and this is a major contributor to the gender-based wage gap.

Women can be just as successful as men when they negotiate.

Women can create an advantage in negotiations by negotiating on behalf of some entity larger than themselves, such as all women, their current or future family, current or future kids, or a more fair and just society.

All of the above.

Answer Key:

1: D, 2: C, 3: A, 4: D

Step 3: Read the Texts

Read How to Get Any Job: “Salary Negotiations” (p. 225 ff).

Read the article “The Ins and Outs of Negotiations” from the Asher Associates website.

Step 4: Explore the Job Market

Practice your deflections, preferably with a friend, but (if you have to) use a mirror and play both the interviewer and the interviewee. Remember, don’t give a number! Just practice deflecting. Your friend should ask:

What’s it going to take to bring you on board?

What kind of salary did you have in mind?

What do you think would be an appropriate salary for someone with your skill set and background? Etc.

Practice saying this out loud, over and over: “I really love this company, but I just have to ask, is it possible to move the salary at all? What can we do?” Say it really nicely, and try to smile a lot.

Email your alma mater career center and ask them, “What was the median and maximum salary reported by someone with my major who graduated last year?”