Today, I want to discuss with you the importance of researching your salary and taking the time to negotiate it.

Many people don't do enough research to identify how much they should be getting paid in advance.

They often become disappointed later when they realize they should be getting paid more than what they initially asked.

Most people get worried during the salary questions and ask for lower amounts than what they should be getting paid because they fear asking for a higher salary would price them out of the position. However, this can lead you to get lowball offers that are well below the market average.

Establishing a salary range in advance ensures that this does not happen to you and helps you maximize the potential salary you can receive.

In this article, I am going to share with you 6 tips to negotiate the maximum salary on your next job interview:

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1. Research your salary range

Spend the time to establish your salary range.

Research your salary using sites like Glassdoor Salaries or Indeed Salaries.

Or ask ChatGPT, “What is the IT Project Manager salary range with 5 years of experience in Toronto?” .

2. Establish your ideal salary and benefits

Once you do your research, establish your lower and upper salary limits.

• Lower limit: the minimum you would accept based on your needs.
• Upper limit: the maximum amount that the market pays for someone with your experience.

Establish what other compensation you are looking for in the role (i.e., vacation days, education budget, health benefits, etc.)

3. Ask about their budget

When the interviewer asks about your salary, let them know you’re open to negotiating but are curious about the budget.

Ask, “I am fairly open in terms of salary, and I would love to know what sort of budget your team has opened up for this position?”

Let them admit their budget.

4. Do this If they don’t admit their budget:

Sometimes, companies may be reluctant to admit their budget.

Ask, “I am pretty flexible in terms of salary, and based on my research and experience in the field, I am expecting a salary of $130,000. Is this within your budget?” If they say yes, great!

If the salary you ask is too much for them, then humorously ask, “What’s the maximum amount you can offer me without getting anyone in trouble?” It will yield the best number they can offer.

5. Ask about other benefits:

Ask about other benefits and compensation they offer, such as:

1. vacation days
2. health benefits
3. education budget
4. other employee benefits

Once you have all the information, take the time to consider the package, at least for a day. You don’t have to say yes immediately.

6. Negotiate your salary through a phone call or in person

Always negotiate your salary through a phone call or in person.

They are more likely to say yes to what you ask for by phone or in person than through email or any other form.

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See you next week!

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