Nailing Your Salary Negotiations Over Email
Negotiating your salary is one of the most important things you can do for your career. It impacts your long-term earning potential and shows how much you value your skills and knowledge.
Many people find the idea of negotiating in person stressful and prefer to negotiate over email. There are a few benefits to negotiating this way. It gives you time to think through your responses carefully and prepares you for future conversations.
Negotiating salary over email also leaves you with a written record of your conversations.
This article will help you learn how to confidently negotiate your salary over email. We’ll give you actionable strategies, helpful templates, and best practices to help you get the salary you deserve. You’ll learn how to prepare, what to say, and how to handle different situations that may come up.
Preparing for Salary Negotiation: Laying the Groundwork for Success
Before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) for a salary negotiation, you’ll want to do some prep work. Knowing your worth and defining your expectations are key steps to take before you start hammering out the details of your compensation package.
Knowing Your Worth: Market Research and Self-Assessment
What’s the going rate for someone with your skills and experience? It’s important to do your homework to get a sense of what’s typical in your industry and location. Online salary checker tools can be a great starting point, but don’t stop there. Talk to people in your field, browse job boards, and look at industry reports to get a well-rounded picture.
Next, take a good, hard look at your own skills and accomplishments. What makes you stand out from the crowd? What unique contributions can you bring to the table? Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Did you increase sales by 15%? Did you streamline a process that saved the company $10,000? These concrete examples will help you demonstrate your value.
Determining Your Salary Expectations
Now that you have a good understanding of your market value and your own strengths, it’s time to define your salary expectations. What’s your ideal salary? What’s the minimum you’re willing to accept? Consider your financial needs, your desired lifestyle, and your future career goals as you come up with these numbers.
It’s often a good idea to state your salary request as a range, rather than a fixed number. This gives you some wiggle room in the negotiation process. Be prepared to justify your request with your research, your skills, and any other job offers you may have.
Crafting the Perfect Salary Negotiation Email: Key Elements and Strategies
So, you’ve landed a job offer — congratulations! Now comes the part where you negotiate your salary. Here’s how to craft an email that gets you closer to the compensation you deserve.
Essential Components of a Salary Negotiation Email
- Subject Line: Your subject line should be clear and professional. Something like “Salary negotiation for [Name of Position]” is a good start.
- Opening and Gratitude: Always begin with a polite greeting and thank the hiring manager for the job offer. Addressing them by name shows you’ve paid attention.
- Stating Your Desired Salary: Don’t beat around the bush. State your desired salary clearly, based on the research you’ve already done.
- Justification and Value Proposition: This is where you explain why you’re worth the salary you’re requesting. Before you even mention money, highlight the skills and experiences you bring to the table and the contributions you plan to make. Bolster your argument with market research and, if applicable, other job offers.
Tone and Communication
- Maintain a Professional Tone: Throughout the email, stay collaborative and positive. Emphasize your desire to find an agreement that benefits both you and the company.
- Clarity and Conciseness: Get straight to the point. Avoid rambling or using overly complicated language. Be as clear and concise as possible.
What should you avoid? Negativity, personal issues, and bragging about competing job offers are all off-limits in a salary negotiation email. Focus on the value you bring and your enthusiasm for the role.
Think Beyond the Base Salary
Negotiating salary isn’t just about the number on your paycheck. Smart negotiators know that compensation packages include perks and benefits that can significantly increase your overall value. Considering the whole package gives you more wiggle room and opportunities to improve your total compensation.
What else can you negotiate?
- Paid Time Off (PTO): More vacation, sick days, or personal days are always valuable.
- Flexible Work: Working from home, setting your own hours, or compressing your workweek can improve your work-life balance.
- Signing Bonus: A one-time payment can sweeten the deal.
- Professional Development: Ask for money to take courses, attend conferences, or get certified in your field.
- Health Insurance: Explore different plans and coverage levels to find what works best for you.
When you’re negotiating over email, make sure to mention that you’re interested in the entire compensation package. Ask specific questions about the benefits offered, and explain how these benefits will contribute to your productivity and overall well-being. For example, you might say, “I’m very interested in the professional development opportunities offered. I believe that attending the upcoming [Conference Name] would allow me to bring valuable insights back to the team.”
Handling Common Salary Negotiation Scenarios Over Email
Negotiating a salary can feel a little awkward, especially when you’re doing it through email. Here’s how to navigate some common situations.
Responding to a Low Initial Offer
If the initial salary offer is lower than you expected, here’s how to respond:
- Express gratitude and disappointment. Thank the hiring manager for the offer and say how excited you are about the opportunity. Then, politely let them know you were hoping for a higher starting salary.
- Justify your counteroffer. Remind them of your skills, experience, and the market research you’ve done to determine a fair salary for the position. Clearly state the salary you’re looking for and explain why you think it’s appropriate.
Leveraging Multiple Job Offers
Having multiple offers can give you some leverage. Here’s how to use it:
- Be transparent and professional. Let the hiring manager know you have other offers on the table, but that you’re very interested in their company. Use the other offers to negotiate for a higher salary and better benefits.
- Set a deadline. Give the company a reasonable amount of time to respond to your salary request. This shows you’re serious and helps move the process along.
Following Up on Your Email
It’s important to follow up if you haven’t heard back. Here’s how to do it:
- Send a polite follow-up. If you don’t get a response to your initial negotiation email, send a polite follow-up to show you’re still interested.
- Craft a polite follow-up email. Briefly restate your interest in the job and the salary you’re hoping for. Ask about the status of your request and say you’re happy to discuss it further.
Salary Negotiation Email: Don’t Make These Mistakes
Negotiating salary can feel awkward, but it’s important for your career and your bank account. When it’s time to negotiate salary over email, here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Don’t be negative or aggressive. Keep your tone positive and respectful. Don’t bring up personal issues, and definitely don’t mention competing job offers. This comes across as entitled and unprofessional.
- Don’t be unprepared. Before you even think about sending that email, do your homework. Research industry standards and market rates for your role and experience level. Be ready to back up your salary request with specific examples of your accomplishments and how you’ll bring value to the company.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate. It can be uncomfortable, but negotiating is a key part of getting paid what you’re worth. Don’t sell yourself short!
- Don’t talk about your personal life. Keep the focus on your professional qualifications and the value you’ll bring to the company. Leave your personal financial problems and sob stories at home.
The Bottom Line
Negotiating your salary over email can be a smart move if you do it strategically and professionally. The keys to success are preparation, clear communication, and a focus on what both you and the company can gain.
Most importantly, remember your value. Know what you’re worth and be confident in your ability to contribute to the company’s success. Don’t be afraid to negotiate for what you deserve. It’s not greedy or pushy to ask for fair compensation.
Salary negotiation is also a skill that you can develop and refine over time. Think of each negotiation as a learning experience. What went well? What could you have done differently? Embrace opportunities to learn and improve your negotiation techniques, whether through books, workshops, or simply reflecting on your past experiences. The more you practice, the more comfortable and effective you’ll become.
By approaching salary negotiation with confidence, preparation, and a willingness to learn, you can increase your chances of landing a job that not only fulfills you professionally but also compensates you fairly for your skills and experience.