I’ve always been told to try to negotiate.
My folks always tell me I’m long-winded, so bear with me while I get to the point please (lol). I’m in my mid-20s and in my second full-time job. My first only lasted a couple of months, and I did not negotiate. In my second role, I started off part-time. When asked to transition to full-time, I was able to negotiate a little. We are paid hourly, and the pay rate drops by $3 for full-time employees. I tried to start off with my part-time rate. They brought me in at a $2.50 increase. I’ve been here two years, and I’ve been applying for other opportunities for two years (As a recent college graduate with a ton of experience when I started, I’m underpaid and underemployed).
Well, I’ve recently gotten a full-time offer; It’s also hourly. I would be making $7 more than I currently make. For me, that is huge, although I would be needing to move, so my monthly expenses would be increasing. This is also an entry-level position. My question is should I try to negotiate for the sake of negotiating? Is it appropriate with an entry level position?
I’ve heard that not negotiating can be seen as complacent. I also know though that you need to have a reason to negotiate. Being in my current role has made me insecure (treated like the bottom of the totem pole; given menial tasks). Additionally, being out of college for a number of years now and removed from the many experiences I had there (studying abroad, receiving multiple honors and awards, holding multiple leadership positions, volunteering extensively, traveling nationally and serving as a face/voice for the institution, doing research, maintaining work in operations and customer service, etc.) has depreciated my value. I don’t know if I bring enough to the table to negotiate. But do I try?
Anonymous
09/26/21 at 12:51PM UTC
Whether or not to negotiate would depend on the job and the industry. Are they offering you a fair wage for the position and tasks you would be doing? Never negotiate based on your pay history or your personal expenses. Negotiate based on whether the pay is in line with the job offered. Use sites like Glassdoor and pay scale and salary to estimate what you’re worth, what other people’s experiences with that company/industry have been, and what other openings for similar work pay in the same area.
Anonymous
09/26/21 at 12:58PM UTC
To clarify, yes you should set your own personal budget and have your own minimum that you need to live. But I would not go to an employer and say “I need $X to pay my rent.” Employers don’t care about your personal expenses.
Likewise with previous jobs, unless you’re doing the same job at a different company, each negotiation should stand on its own and should consider the market value for the job. In the past, some companies have asked for pay histories in order to underpay employees.
Brigette Wilds
Compliance Director in North Carolina
326
09/05/21 at 11:12PM UTC
There are sites that can show you cost of living and how much you need to make in X city to be as comfortable as you are in Y city. You could check that and say, "I need to make X to be where I am in my current location." Then you are basing the request on something more than simply "wanting more money" -- not that there is anything wrong with that!
Anonymous
09/05/21 at 1:25PM UTC
From an internal HR person entry-level in many companies is defined as 0 to 2 years, however that doesn’t negate or diminish the ability to negotiate as mentioned here it’s going to be no if you don’t ask.
Over the last couple of years I’ve seen more non-experienced college recent college grad negotiate for higher salaries than I’ve ever seen before. I believe they’re being coached to do that and it can’t hurt to negotiate.
Sue Gordon- retired Career Coach
3.27k
09/05/21 at 12:40PM UTC
You've gotten great feedback here already. Yes you should negotiate. Does your university provide career coaching to alumni? Many do. Check your alumni relations and career center websites. It's often free and you might benefit from a conversation on what you are looking for and to clarify your skills and the value you can bring to an organization.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
21.99k
09/03/21 at 9:55PM UTC
Congratulations on the job offer! I'm not sure I understand so could you elaborate a bit on why you're applying for entry level positions when you have two years full time experience and more part time experience prior to that?
What do you do and what kind of position are you looking for?
You say you've been applying for two years. Have you been getting responses to your resume? Interviewing? Making it to second round? Final round? How do you feel your interviewing skills are? What has this job search process looked like for you?
Why in the world would you say that your value has "depreciated"?! THAT IS NOT TRUE! I'm really sorry for whatever has happened in your life to make you believe this is true. Because it's not!
You can negotiate. What's the worst they can say? No? If you don't ask, it's already a no. And that's you saying no to yourself by not asking. Sometimes they can come back with a better offer, some companies present their best offer up front.
You can do research on places like Glassdoor on compensation. Some job descriptions have the salary range in there so even if you're not applying for that particular position, you can make note of the comp.
Then you can say "I'm really excited about working at XYZ company and very happy to get the offer - do we have any wiggle room here?" or after doing research, you can say "based on my research, the target salary for this position should be more in the range of $XX"
Personally, I recommend talking about compensation on the first call with the recruiter. You can ask "what is the salary range for this position" and then "what's the target?" They're not the same thing.
Say the salary range is $80k to $120k. HR almost never lets an offer go out above the midpoint which would be $100k. The target might be $95k.
I find that the earlier you talk about compensation, the less of a big deal it is.
Lastly, please please please understand that you are a worthwhile person with their own individual gifts to bring to the table. Don't EVER let anyone make you feel bad about yourself or diminish you in anyway.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
08/28/24 at 3:55AM UTC
Hi Joan,
Original poster here. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post and for congratulating me. I did not take that position and was offered something else in February 2022. I've been in that role for 2.5 years now.
I was working in retail banking at the time as a teller/personal banker, and I was offered a job as a personal banker. The job I accepted in February 2022 was as a Program Coordinator, which aligned more with my skills and long-term goals. I'm now a Program Manager.
This part of your statement, "Why in the world would you say that your value has 'depreciated'?! THAT IS NOT TRUE! I'm sorry for whatever has happened in your life to make you believe this is true. Because it's not!" absolutely broke me. I was going through a tough time, and I appreciate you taking the time to tell me I am a worthwhile person. Even now, I am tearing up because life has been challenging. But thank you so much for taking the time to speak life to an anonymous stranger. I hope you are well and life has been kind to you.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
21.99k
08/28/24 at 8:48AM UTC
It's so great to hear from you! And to hear of your continuing success!! Program Manager - that's fantastic - good for you!!
You are most definitely a worthwhile person and helping folks is what this platform is all about.
When I look back at the timeframe of this original post, I was going to my own long and difficult job search. Two years ago I accepted the position I'm currently in and I couldn't be happier.
Sending you a big virtual hug and many wishes for continued success and happiness!!
Anonymous
08/29/24 at 2:37PM UTC
Thank you, Joan! And Congratulations on your current role! Wishing you continued success and happiness as well!
Lorna Rose, J.D., M.S.Taking You From Resilient to Resolute
2.13k
09/03/21 at 5:45PM UTC
Going to respond in a list so I don't miss anything you've asked/shared. I hope my few cents can be helpful!
1. Unless the job offer is in a field that is entirely unrelated to the job you've been working for the last 2 years, then yes you should negotiate because you're not an entry-level employee anymore. There are so many skills that cross-over between different types of jobs, you are likely already bringing enough experience to be paid more than entry-level. Look up the average rates of pay for that position in your area and make sure the offer is at least on par with the position average.
2. Calculate what I like to call your 'hard minimum' and don't work for anything less than that. Your hard minimum should pay you enough to cover your living expenses (rent, utilities, bills, groceries, household necessities, medical), your work expenses (commuting, parking, tolls), vehicles expenses if any (car note, insurance, gas, maintenance), anything else that is a monthly financial obligation you have + 20% to actually enjoy your life outside of work. Basically: if you cannot afford to live comfortably on the wages they're offering, then you can't afford that job.
3) You are not a car!! Your value doesn't depreciate the longer you're out of college. College is great but it isn't an exact representation of what you'll be doing in "the real world." All of those experiences you had while in college are still a part of who you are and they've only been supplemented by all of the other experiences you've had since then. It's all about how you present those experiences, skills and knowledge.
4) I'm so sorry you have developed this sense of unworthiness. You are definitely not giving yourself enough credit, and I know from experience how hard it is to give yourself credit when it seems like nobody else is. One thing I did that helped my self-esteem a lot was to ask my friends, "If an employer asked you to name one of my professional strengths, what would you tell them?" I asked because I had to answer the "what are your strengths" question on an application and I am soooo bad at that question. I just figured I'd put down whatever other people saw in me as a strength. Getting all that positive feedback not only gave me a good answer to the question but also it made me feel so much better about myself as I continued job hunting. I'd been extremely undervalued in past positions and that kinda sticks with you, so being told that I am in fact competent, qualified, and then some renewed my hope that I would eventually find a great fit where I was properly valued in both treatment and compensation.
5. I think you bring more than enough to the table. Don't settle for less than you believe you're worth, and at the very least, don't settle for less than you can actually afford to live on. Good luck!!
User deleted comment on 08/28/24 at 3:45AM UTC
Anonymous
08/28/24 at 3:44AM UTC
Hi Lorna,
Original poster here. I'm so sorry I never responded to your great advice. I was so depressed back then and barely making it through. I did read your response back then, and I appreciated it. I still do. I did not take that position and was offered something else in February 2022. I've been in that role for 2.5 years now. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I hope you are well.
