Talking about job offers? Don’t be a fool!

April Fool’s Day. Make this the only day you’re a fool, especially when it comes to talking about your salary offer with an employer. Here are 5 tips as you discuss your offers

Do research. Prior to attending an interview, know your acceptable salary range. Why should you have a range in mind? Using a range helps you avoid pricing yourself out of a position or lowballing yourself, where the employer would have paid more. Here are some sites to reference as you do research:

VTPost-Graduation Report where you can view salaries of last year’s VT graduates with bachelor’s degrees by major

VTCo-op/Intern program salary report

Glassdoor.comwith self-reports about compensation

Salary.comwhere you can view salary by title and zip code

TheNational Association of Colleges and Employers has a similar site. For more resources, visit here.

Let the employer bring up salary first. There is an old saying about negotiation, “He who speaks first loses.” You want the employer to mention salary before you do. If you mention the topic first, you may come across as caring more about your compensation than about the position or the organization. Sometimes salary is not addressed during the interview process until the employer follows up with an offer—this has happened to me in most of my work life.

Avoid appearing greedy. Why do you believe your offer needs to be higher? Your financial obligations do not enter into the picture—you need to view this from the employer’s perspective. How do you add value which makes you worth more to the employer? Have you performed well above average in school while the offer is the average for your industry? Do you have a skill or experience that makes you more valuable to the employer? Talk in terms of what is reasonable or fair.

 Leverage other offers you have. If you are waiting to hear from your first choice employer, and have an offer from your second choice, contact your top choice to make the recruiter aware that someone else has made you an offer (don’t need to supply details),  and let them know that their organization is your top choice. Ask when they will have a decision. Let your first choice know the deadline you have to meet for the offer you have. You might have to say no to your first offer, before you get another offer. Don’t say yes until you are sure you are ready to say yes. It is considered unethical and unprofessional to renege on an offer (back out after accepting one). Doing so makes more than just you look bad, for to that employer, you represent Virginia Tech.

Get your offer in writing before you say YES. As you receive an offer, thank the employer and ask the employer to send you the offer in writing and to have some time to think. Even if you know you are going to say yes, ask to see the offer in writing first, to make sure you understand everything that is included in the offer. If you would like to talk over your offer, Advisors in Career Services are available to assist you. Call 540-231-6241 to make an appointment, or stop by during Walk-In Advising, from 12 – 3, Monday through Friday.  

We want you to be successful in the journey to your next position. Let us help you get to YES with an employer. What other questions do you have about salary offers?