Salary Negotiation Guide

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Maximize your Salary Potential

Ensure your references back up your worth. A positive reference check can be your ace in salary negotiations.

Creating an Effective Salary History

STEP 1
The Header
Include your name, phone number, and email at the top.

STEP 2
Introduction
Clearly define the document's purpose.For example:
Salary History
[Your Full Name]


STEP 3
Formatting
Organize your salary history in a reader-friendly manner using tables or bullet points.

STEP 4
Listing Previous Roles
List your roles in reverse chronological order, including:
– Company Name
– Position Held
– Employment Dates (Month/Year to Month/Year)


STEP 5
Detail Your Earnings
Break down your earnings into categories such as base salary, bonuses, and
other benefits.

STEP 6
Total Compensation
Sum up the total earnings for each role you've held.

STEP 7
Repeat for All Roles
Ensure every job you’ve had is thoroughly documented.

Salary Negotiation Example

Context:
Let's say you've received a job offer for a senior developer position. The offer is at $100,000 with standard benefits like healthcare and a 401(k) match, but you've done your research and know that the market rate for your role and experience is around $110,000–$120,000. Here's how you could approach the negotiation:


Pre-Negotiation Preparation:

  1. Gather Data:
    Research salaries for similar roles in your area or industry. Websites like Glassdoor can provide useful insights.
  2. Know Your Worth:
    Consider your years of experience, skills, and contributions you can make to the company.
  3. Prioritize:
    Make a list of what's most important to you—whether that's salary, benefits, work-life balance, etc.

The Negotiation, Verbally:

You
: Thank you for extending the offer. I'm excited about the opportunity to work with your team. I've reviewed the compensation package and would like to discuss it further.

Employer: Sure, what would you like to discuss?

You: Based on my research and industry standards for this role, the market rate is between $110,000 and $120,000. Given my experience and the value I can bring to your company, I was thinking more along the lines of $115,000.

Employer: That's a significant increase. What justifies that figure?

You: I bring 10 years of experience in software development and have led teams to complete projects that increased revenue by 15%. Also, I have certifications in [relevant technology], which adds a specific skill set that aligns with your project needs.

Salary Negotiation Letter Example:

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for extending the offer for the [Job Title] position at [Company's Name]. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the team and am particularly aligned with [Company’s mission/values/project].

I have reviewed the compensation package, and while it is quite generous, I would like to discuss it further to better align with industry standards and my professional experience. The initial offer was for a base salary of $100,000 along with the standard benefits package. According to my research and industry norms for this role, the market rate is between $110,000 and $120,000.

Given my background and the unique skill set I bring to this position, I believe a salary of $115,000 would be more appropriate. I offer [X years of experience in the relevant field], and during my previous role at [Previous Company], I led a team that [describe achievement, metric, project that you led, etc.]. Moreover, I have certifications in [relevant technology or skill], which directly align with your company's current projects and long-term goals.

Additionally, the value I bring isn’t just in my technical abilities but also in my aptitude for [list soft skills, if appropriate, like leadership, strategic thinking, etc.]. I believe that these attributes, combined with my drive to succeed, would make a significant impact on the team and the company as a whole.

I am open to discussing other compensation elements such as a signing bonus, additional paid time off, or flexibility in work scheduling, should a higher base salary not be feasible at this time. My primary goal is to arrive at a package that reflects both my qualifications and the value I can add to [Company's Name].

I am excited about the possibility of contributing my skills to a dynamic team like [Company’s Team Name]. Thank you for considering my request, and I look forward to our discussion.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Why should I hire someone to check my references?

The #1 reason that a qualified job applicant may not get the job is due to bad references from former employers. If you’re concerned about a previous boss badmouthing you, don’t leave your career and your financial future up to chance.
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Because we also work with recruiters, attorneys, and direct hiring companies, your references will not be informed about the source requesting information about your employment history.
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Timeliness

Our staff will begin attempts to contact your references by phone within 48 hours.
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Peace of Mind

If you suspect that an old boss is slandering you and ruining your chances of getting hired by a new employer, a documented reference check can confirm it and give you the ability to do something about it.
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HOW IT WORKS

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1

Enter your reference information

After you place an order, we'll request some details about your references.

2

We'll make the phone call

Within 48 hours, we'll begin contacting your former employer.

3

Detailed report, delivered

We will provide you with a comprehensive report detailing your job reference

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