Salary

You’ll never have this much negotiating power than you do upon accepting an offer. Follow these tips to get the best compensation package upfront. With the economy in such shambles, many candidates believe employers are in little mood or position to negotiate on a starting compensation package. It’s natural to think, “If I don’t accept … Read More

Discussing your salary history can be the most uncomfortable moment in a negotiation. But what do you really have to say? Follow these steps to be honest without being vulnerable. Few professional conversations are more awkward than those about how much money you make. For job seekers, though, salary and compensation history isn’t just an … Read More

Don’t ruin your perfect “first date” with a potential employer by talking compensation too quickly. Job interviews, like dating, have a lot to do with timing. In my many years as a recruiter, I’ve heard the following story countless times from my associates: They had sent the “perfect person” (excellent skill set, right presentation) to … Read More

Sometimes taking the option isn’t really an option. When it is, consider not jumping ship for these reasons. Readers always ask me, “When should I take a buy-out? When is a buyout worth it?” Before I answer their questions, I always need to know these factors: How old are they? How long have they worked … Read More

It’s a buyer’s market out there. How can top-priced talent make its pitch? Is being cheaper really being smarter? Whether we are downsized or right-sized, unemployment in 2009 is not associated only with mid-level and lower-level jobs. It’s an egalitarian phenomenon. We all know someone who has been laid off, from the corner office to … Read More

How to request a salary increase during bad economic times In the early 1980s the country was in the midst of a recession to rival the one we are currently facing. Unemployment was in the double digits, and so was inflation. Yet I was able to negotiate a 50 percent salary increase when I took … Read More

Definitions of and suggestions for eight types of sales compensation packages If your initial offer isn’t big enough and you’re in sales, instead of negotiating more salary, you can negotiate a bigger salary package. Here are some of the more common combinations: straight commission variable commission draw against commission advance against commission base plus commission … Read More

6 steps to ask for a raise or negotiate a salary. One of the most common complaints I hear from job seekers and employees is that they are not paid what they are worth. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that complaint. I would be paid what I’m worth and … Read More

Recessionary Salary Questions How much should I ask for? Can I still negotiate if I’m desperate to take a job? How do I know if I’m overpaid or underpaid? How can I hold out for higher pay when there’s someone waiting in the hallway who’ll work for lower pay? […and they’re just as qualified as … Read More