You found the company you want to work for. You updated your resume, highlighting sections relevant to the job. You wrote a tight, engaging cover letter. You wowed them at the interview and got the job! Fantastic!

Do you feel grateful to have a job of any sort and simply accept whatever they offer you or do you value your skills and potential enough to negotiate on your behalf?

Remember, this company was looking for someone to fill a need in their organization. They chose you. They want you there. You want to be there. Both of you have that in common. The door is open to work together to achieve an end result you can both be happy with.

The company won’t be taken aback when you start negotiating. They won’t think you’re greedy. Most companies not only expect new hires to negotiate, they respect the person who is willing to go to bat for themselves. It demonstrates a surety in yourself and your abilities that you will bring to your work and their organization.

A few things to keep in mind when negotiating

Don’t end negotiations before they begin

You hear the details of the job offer and immediately say, “Yes that sounds great! I can’t wait.” When you do that, you’re not leaving yourself much room for negotiation. Try and refrain from agreeing to anything concrete until you’ve had a chance to digest what you’ve heard and discuss what you were hoping to achieve through the negotiation.

Make sure your goals are in the ballpark

No matter how great your potential, if the job you’re negotiating about pays in the $40K  - $50K range, they absolutely won’t be willing to jump to $60K because that’s the dream number you had in your head. Do your research before hand. Know that the going rate is for your position so you’re negotiating from a position of strength.

Be likable

These people hired you. At the very least they respect you. If you want negotiations to go your way then stay positive and show your winning side. The more likeable you are, the more they’ll want to try and accommodate your requests.

Back up your requests

If you’re asking for more money or more vacation time, then you should be able to explain why you think you deserve it. Do you have extra qualifications? Are you willing to enrol in more courses? Do you bring experiences outside the regular skill set that will be an asset to the job or the company? Those should are the tools in your negotiation toolbox.