How to manage salary negotiations during COVID?

Question

If you lost your job to COVID or were actually unemployed before it started (like me!) or even just happened to be switching jobs, how did you handle salary expectations and negotiations? With companies laying off workers and not hitting their revenue, their budgets have gone down. And with times being uncertain, especially if you've been out of work awhile, it's more tempting to take whatever job comes our way.  Are you accepting a lower salary than what you'd normally expect? Or negotiating as usual?

ANGEL RILEY · Answer

This is a great question and something I’ve been wondering myself. I read an article on LinkedIn that discussed taking a position with a lower salary while still applying for other positions. In that way, you have steady income.

However, I struggle with wondering how such a move impact my integrity.

Very interested to follow this dialogue.

ROANNE JACOBSEN · Answer

What a great question Holly.  I am in the same position as my position was eliminated prior to the pandemic and have been job hunting for quite some time.  I am grateful that I did receive a severance package so with some strict budgeting I have been able continue paying bills on time.

That being said, I do believe that you can negotiate if offered a position.  One suggestion is that if the company cannot meet your salary requirements but you think the job is a good fit is to negotiate a salary review after a period of time (3mon, 6mon, etc).  That way you provide tangible results to the company why you were asking for your original salary.   You get to see how the company operates and handles HR matters.

Good luck.

How to manage salary negotiations during COVID?

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