How to Negotiate Salary for Your Next Career Move

Posted by Mackay Resume on 15 Oct 2025

Negotiating a salary can be a difficult conversation, as it is about balancing what you think you’re worth versus what the employer thinks they’ll be able to afford. However, if done correctly it can result in positive for both parties, resulting in a higher pay for the employee and a greater satisfaction for the employees in their work. Here’s how you can negotiate your salary confidently.

Key Takeaways

  • Before you make a salary offer study market rates and industry standards to ensure the salary you request is reasonable.
  • Get information from networking with colleagues, using online tools like LinkedIn Salary and Glassdoor, and contacting professional networks.
  • Create talking points ahead of the time, including education and certificates as well as years of relevant experience, results & achievements as well as unique skill sets and abilities, industry expertise, and training potential.
  • During the negotiation, you must be assured and confident but remain flexible and open. Bring out tangible results you’ve had in your previous positions.
  • Keep a positive attitude throughout the conversation and practice active listening.

Do your research

Before you enter any negotiations regarding salary, it’s essential to conduct a thorough investigation of current market rates and industry standards to make sure that your salary proposal is realistic. Some factors that can affect the amount you are offered could be levels of experience levels, the size of your company and geographical location. (?). One way to gather information is through networking with colleagues and others within your profession.

Research Online

With the aid of online resources, such as [LinkedIn SalaryWith the help of some online resources like [LinkedIn Salary (https: //www. linkedin. http://www.linkedin.com/salary) and [Glassdoor] (https: //www. glassdoor. com/Salaries/index. http://www.salaries.com/index.html) you will get a more substantial approach towards the range of benchmarking salaries businesses pay for the same job. This gives you an idea of the current market rate and a few other factors related to the job.

Your Network is Vital

Get insight from talking to people who have had similar positions or reaching out through professional networks as well as brainstorming professionals in professional organizations.

Prepare talking points

Preparing for any negotiation is always time well spent. You’ll feel more confident when the presentation of your case if are prepared with a specific list of points to discuss prior to the time.

Here are some ideas of what you might want to think about including in your salary negotiation:

  • Education & certification
  • Experience gained through years of relevant work
  • Achievements and results
  • A unique set of skills and characteristics (e.g. language proficiency,)
  • Industry knowledge
  • Training potential

The idea of keeping a notepad and/or notes handy could also help during conversations so that one doesn’t miss any important details.

Be confident & concise

When you negotiate your salary it’s crucial to appear confident and clear. Be clear about your experience, achievements and job expectations. It’s essential to maintain a positive tone throughout this dialogue so that the employer isn’t being insecure.

The Key to Tangible Results

Simply saying that you are driven, hardworking, and goal-oriented may not be enough to generate an impactful appeal. Make sure to provide precise statistics regarding the ways in which previous jobs made difference in companies or the value of specific qualities that help an organisation.

Stay flexible

If your employer isn’t able to your salary or compensation arrangement being flexible and open can allow room for dialogue. You may be able to ask for alternatives to incentives, such as performance-based bonus arrangements instead of Base salary(? ).

Make sure to remain professional throughout the negotiation - regardless of how well or not: being too combative or imposing unreasonable demands will likely have a negative impact for everyone who is involved.

Practice active listening

Listening is equally as important as communicating in these types of conversations. Do listen actively from other party during negotiations hearing requests carefully and clarifying questions if needed, but gently sticking with what you originally requested. Both parties should ultimately arrive at acceptable outcomes.

Use the lessons you’ve learned from these discussions and incorporate it into any future talks you’re likely to participate in. By following the suggestions above, you will go a long way towards maximizing the chance of achieving positive, mutually beneficial results.

Your network is important Talk to your friends who have held similar roles or reach out via professional networks and brainstorming with members of professional associations.
Make Talk points Qualifications and training, Years of relevant experience, Performance and achievements, Unique abilities and skills (e.g. multilingualism), Industry knowledge, Training potential
Be confident & concise Talk clearly about your personal experiences, achievements and job expectations. Highlight Tangible Results.
Stay flexible Consider alternative incentives such as bonuses based on performance instead of Base salary (?). Be sure remain professional throughout the negotiation process.
Practice active listening Listening is just as important in these types of conversations. You can take the lessons you’ve learned away from these conversations and incorporate them into future negotiations you’ll likely take part in.


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Frequently Answered Questions

What is salary negotiation?

Salary negotiation is the process of negotiating and finalizing the compensation package to be paid for your job. When you negotiate this you are able to discuss more than just your salary base, but also other benefits like health insurance, retirement plans and many more.

Why why is it important to negotiate a salary?

Negotiating your pay can provide you a more secure financial future as well as show that you know your worth. This can help you not leave money on the table.

When should I start negotiating for a raise?

It’s best to begin negotiating immediately after receiving an offer so that all parties are aware of the terms being discussed. So, negotiations will focus on securing perfect terms while avoiding unexpected unintentional surprises.

What if I am happy with the offer with no negotiation?

If you receive an offer and are pleased with the offer, then there may be no need to negotiate. It’s nevertheless important to provide clear information about what your employer’s expectations in terms of things like compensation for training or performance-based bonuses.

Do I have the option of negotiating my salary when changing careers?

Negotiating salary when you change careers may require more preparation because your past experiences may not be directly applicable or overlap with new responsibilities. Find out what similar jobs in related fields offer to have a clear comprehension of realistic expectations for you, based on the particular circumstances you face.

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