Negotiation Tactics: How To Get The Salary You Want

6 min readApr 11, 2022

Did you know that more than 56% of the workforce ends up taking jobs at face value every year just because they aren’t sure how to negotiate?

The excitement of finally getting a job after endless rounds of interviews or the apprehension in asking for what you are worth, or even the fear of losing the job to another candidate, ends up crippling some, making it overwhelming to even think about negotiating altogether.

Sadly many of us can relate to this! After all, haven’t we all ruined an opportunity or two only because we weren’t suitably prepared for the situation? Luckily with the growth in technology and increased awareness, leading HR experts and gurus now show us different negotiation tactics that can help you get the salary you want.

Below are the top ten negotiation tactics to help you get the salary you desired.

1. Knowing what you’re worth

Before you even begin to lay the foundation for negotiations with your employer, you must do your homework. This involves conducting in-depth research of the market, especially the job you are gunning for.

Not only this, but you must also consider your education, training, certification, and years of experience and assess what all of that is truly worth.

Luckily, we now have several reliable sources on the internet that give you a free salary survey and allow you to obtain detailed information on what you should be earning given your particular skill sets. After all, Unless you realize what you are worth, how can you expect the same from your potential employer?

2. Never mention money first

Salary negotiation can be a tricky process. When you are finally ready to begin the negotiation process, never be the first one to mention money. As shocking as it might be to believe, the cardinal rule of salary negotiations is that whoever ends up talking about money first always ends up losing.

Even if your recruiter asks questions about your salary expectations, try flipping the question around and answer with questions like “what is the range that this job pays?” Eight out of ten times potential employees end up surprised when they learn that the salary being offered for the position is, in fact, relatively higher than what they were expecting.

Throwing a number at the beginning of the negotiation process, especially if it is lower than what the hiring manager is ready to pay, will not only get them to devalue your skills but also land you with a salary that is far less than what the recruiter was prepared to pay

3. Resell yourself once again

Once you clear the interview and have received the offer, the next step is to sit down with the hiring manager and negotiate the salary.

In doing so, always remember to begin the conversation by reselling yourself. Focus on why your employer needs you rather than why you need the job. Reaffirm the reasons your organization wants you and what unique set of skills you are bringing along that will contribute to the organization’s success.

Reiterate your key strengths and what sets you apart from the other candidates who applied for this job. This automatically allows you to negotiate from the point of advantage, leaving the hiring manager no other choice but to give you the salary you want.

Want to learn the best negotiation tactics, or how to negotiate from the best? Grab a free copy of my Salary Negotiation Guide

4. Reiterate your interest in the company

One of the key negotiation tactics that will most certainly contribute to getting the salary you want is restating your interest in the job. Even though you might have already communicated this during the interview process but including such details during the negotiation process will convince your interviewer that you are no doubt the perfect candidate for the job, thus forcing them to reconsider your expected salary

5. Have a figure in mind

Before you even initiate the negotiation process, decide on a number that not only meets your needs. However, you should ensure that the number is realistic and based on a market survey. During negotiations, if you have reiterated your interest in the company and convinced the hiring manager how big of an asset you can prove to be, you have already won half the battle.

Chances are that your recruiter will ask you for a figure that you are comfortable with. Do not hesitate to mention the number you have in mind when that happens. The hiring manager will most likely ask for a minute to go back and discuss this number with other stakeholders before agreeing to it.

Patiently holding your ground is probably one of the best things you can do at that time.

6. Choosing perks over money

Did you know that it is far easier to negotiate non-monetary compensations than asking for a raise? While preparing for negotiation with the hiring manager, try asking yourself questions like what is important for you to at the moment?

Does the idea of having a paid annual vacation with family sound more lucrative than a bump in the salary? Or would you instead prefer your company to cover your health care and insurance expenses? Once you have decided what’s more important to you at the given time in your life, try to request your organization’s HR department politely. Be upfront and honest with them, clearly stating your current vacation level.

In the case of health plans, many companies indeed offer lousy coverage. If so is the case with you that you can also argue for a higher salary to compensate for the medical plans.

Irrespective of whether you choose to settle for a vacation or adequate health coverage or even a salary increment, at the end of the day, your decision should be solely based on what motivates you and what you need instead of being influenced by what other co-workers are demanding.

7. Leverage the power of visualization

This is probably the most effective technique to ensure that you get the salary you want. By harnessing the power of visualizing how the entire negotiation process will go, we can quickly put things into perspective.

Moreover, by actively visualizing a successful outcome, we feel confident and pumped up for the negotiation process and activate the law of attraction in our favor. Today, the internet is filled with many techniques how one can use this to activate the law of attraction, thus tipping the balance of things in our favor.

8. Using the role-play technique

Role-play is also one of the negotiation tactics that go hand in hand with visualizing a successful outcome. It allows you to make your case and practice your negotiation points out loud while defending why you are worth more. So when the actual negotiation process commences, you are more than ready to state your case. To do this, ask a friend or a trusted colleague who has your best interest at heart to role-play the entire conversation with you.

While you role play, make sure you do an excellent job convincing your friend. You should also take note of the objections that you may hear and also try to overcome them. After all, if you cannot convince your friend, how can you expect to convince the hiring manager trained to negotiate.

Another critical factor to keep in mind while using the role-play technique is the importance of feedback. Listen to the feedback you get from your friend and work on your negotiating points according to it. Preparing for negotiation this way will set you up for success and keep your anxieties at bay.

Finally, be sure to get whatever you all agree to in writing. Too many organizations in the past have been known to make endless promises regarding bonuses, and benefits, etc.

While companies may not always do this intentionally, the pressure of budgetary checks and other responsibilities makes them do so. To avoid falling prey to false promises, always insist on a written appointment letter after negotiations. The employment letter should cover basics like your signing date and job description. It should also clearly outline your salary, signing bonus, perks, and benefits.