It's reasonable to believe that you deserve more if you're doing well, because your salary is a marker of your value to your company.
If you want to get a bigger paycheck, you can either ask for a raise at your current job or go for a new job.
During job interviews, Mandi Woodruff-Santos negotiates good salaries.
I started my first full-time job at the age of 22. Since then, I've quit jobs six times, increasing my salary by nearly $200,000 and leaving for a new opportunity 39% of the time.
She increased her base salary by more than half in 10 years. She made an additional $160,000 in bonuses.
A finance and careers coach is what Woodruff-Santos does now.
She has some tips for negotiating a better salary.
1. Don't quit your job because you want a better salary.
It's important to think about what you really want to do and what will help you develop your skills and further your career in the long run, even if it's a bigger salary.
2. Don't say you will make a lot of money.
During a job interview, the recruiters will ask you about your current salary or salary expectations. If you answer too quickly, you will lose out.
It's best to wait until you know more about the position and the team before answering a question about salary expectations.
I would love to hear more about the role and expectations. Can we revisit this conversation after I've had a chance to talk with the team and see if I'm a good fit?
She said it's best to not answer if a recruiter asks for your current salary.
I would rather not say that at this point in the process, as I would like to have a more comprehensive salary conversation based on my skills, what I can offer to the team, and company benefits. Can you tell me if you have a budget?
3. Negotiating in less stress-inducing situations.
Stress can cause miscommunication when negotiating your salary. It's a good idea to practice as much as you can when you don't have much to lose.
Sending the wrong order back at a restaurant can be a simple way to get the restaurant to lower the bill.
This rule can be applied at work. If you notice that you are being given more responsibility than usual, you should ask for a raise.
4. Don't respond to your first offer right away.
Don't respond immediately to a job offer.
You can use your position to negotiate.
After you have had time to review the offer, reply with a thank you note and tell them you'll get back to them within 24 hours. "Then schedule a call to negotiate something higher," she wrote.
She said to finish it off by politely letting them know you're more than happy to give them time to consider your request.
5. Never by email or phone.
If you can, try to negotiate in person. It's better to use the phone if that's not possible.
It shows that you can fight for what you want and that you can handle difficult conversations.
She wrote that she was able to double her signing bonus at one job because of a phone call.
Thank you for your offer. I'm very excited about this opportunity. I don't think this compensation reflects what I can offer. I think this X amount makes more sense because of my skills and responsibilities.
6. The total package is something to think about.
Sometimes a template doesn't always follow a salary negotiation.
On one occasion, Woodruff-Santos asked for a better base salary over the phone, and the recruiter reluctantly promised to call back with an answer from the higher-ups.
They told her that they wouldn't increase her base salary, but that they would raise her signing bonus to match what she wanted.
Your total compensation package is more than the base salary. She wrote that you can negotiate other factors, such as a signing bonus.
7. Talk to people you trust about the final offer.
Don't be afraid to reach out to people close to you for their advice before you say yes.
Each time I got a new job offer, I turned to my mentors for advice. I asked them questions like what range they thought I should shoot for, what perks and benefits I should request, and whether they thought a final offer was reasonable.
In the recruitment process, networking is a useful tool. Ask people with good experience in the industry for help and advice.
