Negotiating Job Offers for Millennials

Millennials, have you ever been so excited to get offered a job that you didn’t even think to negotiate the terms? You’re not alone. According to Salary.com, only 37% of people negotiate a job offer, and the biggest reason why people don’t bring it up is because of fear. What are you so scared of? Employers are anticipating that their initial offer will be met with a counter, so take full advantage of the extra cash or benefits that are probably available! Here are a few pointers for negotiating job offers:

Do your research.

During the interview process, Millennials should already be armed with research on current pay rates before they’re even offered a job. Visit websites like Glassdoor or Payscale to look up the pay for similar positions, just make sure you’re looking within the same city. Once you have a general idea of a salary range, always start at the high end when negotiating with a potential employer. Millennials may think it seems greedy to ask for the highest salary on a payscale, but doing so will give you more room to negotiate with the employer. Besides, you should be confident enough in your value as an employee to believe that you’re worth the high pay!

Think big picture.

A common characteristic of the Millennial generation is the tendency to job hop when they begin to feel unfulfilled at a position due to the lack of professional development. During the job offer negotiation, keep your long-term plan in mind and tailor your negotiation around it. Will there be annual evaluations of your performance? Will these evaluations lead to a salary increase or promotion? These are legitimate questions that should be brought up during a negotiation. Remember, it’s not just about what you’re getting now, but also finding out what the potential is for the future.

Keep the economy out of the negotiation.

Most Millennials entered the job market right as the economy was falling apart, meaning a lot of people in this generation were happy to find any job at all. However, during the negotiation process, don’t let your mind wander to the state of the economy. Millennials should not be made to feel guilty for asking for a higher salary just because a lot of people are looking for work right now. The negotiation is between you and the company that is interested in you because of your unique skill set, and the economy should not play a role in how you approach negotiations.

Take some time.

Even if an employer offers you the exact number you’ve had in your head during the entire negotiation process, don’t immediately accept. Impulsive decisions are common for Millennials, but when it comes to job offers, this should be carefully considered over time. Be sure to end the conversation with enthusiasm, and ask when the employer needs to hear back from you. Use the time given to carefully review the offer in detail, and decide if this is truly the best offer for your life. Most importantly, whatever you decide, when you say you will follow up within a certain amount of time, stick to your word.

Write it down.

Before you agree to a job offer, get it in writing. Sometimes, employers will verbally offer things to sweeten the deal only to forget about them after you have been hired. Whenever a potential employer contacts you with an offer, ask for them to send it to you in writing so you can carefully review it. As you negotiate terms, whether that be salary adjustments, allotted vacation, or health benefits, ask for an updated written offer before you verbally accept. Don’t worry, this won’t come off as you not trusting them, but rather you wanting to be conscientious in your review of the offer.

Now that you’ve negotiated the ideal job offer, you’re on the path to success! Climb the corporate ladder quickly by being aware of your leadership strengths and weaknesses using this free assessment, courtesy of Joel Goldstein, President of Mr. Checkout Distributors.

Original article appeared in Lifehack.org by JOEL GOLDSTEIN