So you have been invited for an oral interview and you want to be prepared for the upcoming salary negotiation, you do a research on the standard pay range and practice asking for what you want. Those steps are certainly valuable, but they’re not enough.

Too often, people lose money because they think through just one contingency. While they’re ready to say, “I know the starting number for someone in this sector in this city is ₦50,000,” they’ve never considered how they’d reply to “This is our best offer, with no room for negotiation.” Feeling flustered, they accept on the spot, even if they’re not at the desired number.


To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, read on for the most common things you’ll hear and tips for how to respond.

1. “What Are Your Salary Expectations?”

It sounds like the hiring manager is letting you lead. But in actuality, they want to gauge the very least you’d be willing to accept. If you say you’re hoping for a certain salary that’s at the bottom of their range, they know they won’t have to offer you more, (even if they were originally planning to).

Deal with this question with a diplomatic deflection: “I’m more interested in finding a position that’s a good fit for my skills. I’m confident that what you’re offering is competitive.”

Or spin the question right back around to them: “I’m flexible on compensation. The position and growth potential are much more important to me. Would you be willing to share the rough range you have in mind for this position?”
If they still push you for an answer, come prepared with some market data to answer the question matter-of-factly, without giving away what you’d actually accept: “Based on my research, the market rate for a position like this is ₦65,000 - ₦80,000.”

2. “How Much Are You Currently Making?”

A common mistake applicants make is disclosing their current salary early in the process. Again, employers will use this to gauge if you’d be willing to accept a low offer. If they’ve budgeted up to ₦90,000, but you disclose that you’re currently making ₦65,000, they’re likely going to start with a lower offer, assuming that you’ll be happy with a 10 to 15% jump.

Therefore, the best response is to avoid giving an exact number. Try: “I’d prefer to not discuss what I’m currently making because this position that I’m interviewing for isn’t exactly the same as my current job. I’d like to discuss the responsibilities and then I’m sure we’ll agree on a salary that’s appropriate.” Or, “My current employer doesn’t allow me to discuss compensation outside of the company. I’d like to respect their privacy.”

Of course, this may’ve come up before the interview stage, if you had to list an amount in your job application. (For future reference, I suggest putting “N/A” or an obviously incorrect number, like ₦1. In my experience, most recruiters won’t penalize you, as they’ve likely seen it before from experienced negotiators).

If you already listed your compensation, be ready to reframe that amount during the interview process. Come up with solid reasons why your current salary isn’t reflective of your true market value. For example, highlight if you’ve taken on significant responsibilities in your current job or classes to improve your skills.

Whatever you do, don’t confuse pivoting the question back or delaying it until the interview process with lying. While it’s okay to argue your market value is higher than what you currently make, it’s never okay to lie.

3. “Unfortunately, We Don’t Have Any Room to Negotiate”

Sometimes, the number really isn’t negotiable. For example, if you’re being hired into a “start class,” the offer can be nonnegotiable. (A start class is when a large company hires a number of people at the same time with similar qualifications—associates straight from law school or management trainee programs.) It can also be non-negotiable if you’re taking a public sector role and you’re already getting the best offer for the pay grade.

That’s a good time to ask about the compensation package as a whole (vacation, tuition reimbursement, stock options, bonus, work from home flexibility). Even if they can’t budge on take-home pay, other benefits could provide a real monetary value.

Once you’ve decided what benefit you’d like to focus on, try: “I understand that at this point, salary isn’t negotiable. I see that you have a tuition reimbursement program and I want to get my product management certification. Would you consider sponsoring my program?”

http://syberkart.com/blog/best-respond-four-salary-negotiation-questions/

Bookmarked. Very informative.

SyberKate:

Very informative and right on point.

please correct topic to read: -

``Best Response To Salary Negotiation Questions``

Educative

Please push this to front page
Every one needs to read this

Where is what's that name again

All these things are not always true. I keep telling people, a standard organization always have a standard pay structure for each level of staff. They will definitely not pay you lower than your contemporaries in the same cadre, neither will they pay you higher(except of course if u are an expatriate coming with something they obviously need) At least in the industry I operate, I know this to be true.

The truth is, there is no best way to answer such question, just be armed with adequate information concerning the industry generally

BlueRayDick:
All these things are always not true. I keep telling you, a standard organization always have a standard pay structure for each level of staff. They will definitely not pay you lower than your contemporaries in the same cadre, neither will they pay you higher(except of course if u are an expatriate coming with something they obviously need)

But will every body work in a standard organization

Great, absolutely

kateskitty:

But will every body work in a standard organization

Then apply the non standard organization method if it works for u

In my company we have 4 brand managers, I believe I earn the highest. Cos the rest chikened out and accepted their offer. I told them my options and left. Four days later I was called to renegotiate. So keep that standard organisation stance

charles009:
In my company we have 4 brand managers, I believe I earn the highest. Cos the rest chikened out and accepted their offer. I told them my options and left. Four days later I was called to renegotiate. So keep that standard organisation stance

I recently had same experience. I was offered a job by Kpmg last year but turned down the offer because the pay wasn't OK by me and also it was outsourced. If it were to be KPMG direct, the offer would be better. This year again, I got another invite asking me to address the pay again only for me to find out that the pay has been raised a bit.
Nevertheless, I am not taking the offer because I am sure I might end up being a second class citizen in the coy since I would be recruited by a different firm which will serve as my main employer.

Just know your worth, what you want and stick to your gun. May not be applicable to a fresher anyways!


P.S: I am presently gainfully employed but would still love to have KPMG experience but not as an outsourced employee!

BlueRayDick:
All these things are not always true. I keep telling people, a standard organization always have a standard pay structure for each level of staff. They will definitely not pay you lower than your contemporaries in the same cadre, neither will they pay you higher(except of course if u are an expatriate coming with something they obviously need) At least in the industry I operate, I know this to be true.

The truth is, there is no best way to answer such question, just be armed with adequate information concerning the industry generally

Chop knowku

davit:


I recently had same experience. I was offered a job by Kpmg last year but turned down the offer because the pay wasn't OK by me and also it was outsourced. If it were to be KPMG direct, the offer would be better. This year again, I got another invite asking me to address the pay again only for me to find out that the pay has been raised a bit.
Nevertheless, I am not taking the offer because I am sure I might end up being a second class citizen in the coy since I would be recruited by a different firm which will serve as my main employer.

Just know your worth, what you want and stick to your gun. May not be applicable to a fresher anyways!


P.S: I am presently gainfully employed but would still love to have KPMG experience but not as an outsourced employee!

You should have accepted the offer still, and work your way into KPMG from there. You might have become a full KPMG staff by now...

SyberKate:
So y

http://syberkart.com/blog/best-respond-four-salary-negotiation-questions/

Madam why all this long thing. Just research on the company's salary structure, what's attainable in the market for the position and what you feel will be a fair pay without under-selling yourself.
Then give them a number.
I really do not see why you're avoiding giving a number.