Fast Company | Business + Innovation: Are you negotiation-phobic? Are you so risk-averse that in a job interview you blurt out, “Thanks, I’ll take it!” in response to whatever salary you’re offered? If so, you’re not alone. Even though many employers admit to lowballing initial offers in the expectation of a negotiation, many job candidates, it turns out, just grab the first offer.
4 comments:
This article directly applies to what I have been learning in Tech Management for the past few weeks. We have been discussing negotiation, and observing different situations where negotiation takes place. In addition, we have studied the different types of negotiation that people use. I am not surprised at all that most people do not attempt to negotiate initial employment offers. Today, getting a job especially right out of college is not an easy feat. Most people think that negotiation will lead to tension with the possible employer. However, the article does a great job at pointing out that negotiation can only help if done in the correct way. If someone is bold enough to negotiate initial offers, it shows that that person thinks that they will provide services above the employer's expectations and they are the type of person who does not settle. While some types of negotiation have the potential to lead to conflict or tension, more people should educate themselves on how to effectively negotiate, as negotiation is a skill that can lead to a better relationship and offer between the employer and the employee.
I think one of the biggest problems with negotiating a salary at a young age in the theatrical industry is that most jobs don't have any room to negotiate the salary. When you're in college you're working internships and apprenticeship jobs, and the job may come with x-dollars attached to it, no questions asked. Trying to negotiate for more money when the company says "this is the pay that there's no wiggle room" can be the difference between you getting the job, and you being rejected for the next person in line. There also isn't much wiggle room for flexible days and vacation time when you're working a one-off gig or a short internship. That being said, there are other things you can try to negotiate for these types of jobs. I know that some jobs I've taken, there was no way to change what my salary was, but I was able to get a travel stipend from the company in order to get myself to the job. Some companies will also offer mileage reimbursement if you use your personal car in run errands for them, but you have to know to ask. It's a tricky world out there negotiating with companies when there is a line out the door of people who are just as qualified as you for a job when you're starting out.
My mom always told me that you never know until you ask. So why not just ask. The article makes some good points about asking and I think the most important one is emotion. You need to see it plainly and that if they say no it is not like they do not want you or anything. Need to be calm and collective and respond slowly. I love the point of this story and really should keep them in mind because it will be very very soon that I will start to negotiate for salary and benefits. I also really like the idea about negotiating for benefits also as well as salary. Just to remember there are other things that you can receive from the company beside money and those things can be negotiated.
I certainly don't plan to negotiate internship offers, but I'm on the fence about negotiating a first job offer. I'd be much more at ease if I had multiple offers, and was negotiating to compare and get the best offer from the company I most wanted to work for. But if I only had one offer, I'd be more hesitant about negotiating my salary. In fact, I'd be much more likely to negotiate my benefits and vacation time than my salary. Those tend to be devalued by individuals who have just started work because they don't think they'll need them. In actuality, they build up over the course of a career if you stay at a certain company. And if that is my plan, I certainly plan to take advantage of the opportunity.
Of course, this is because I'm confident that my salary will be competitive and well-suited for my experience, college, and ability. I do plan on comparing with peers and fellow employees-to-be, but as a CMU graduate there is an expected threshold that I hope will remain in place by the time I graduate.
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