How to Successfully Negotiate Your Salary

Talks about salary in the Philippines are usually done in whispers. Typically, people seem ashamed to ask questions regarding money, earnings, and finances – even though they should especially if it is for future career choices. It seems as though it is such a taboo topic that should only be discussed with a small group of trusted people. Though this stands true for most, the fact of the matter is that people should be educated on their income, where it comes from, and–in the event it is needed–how to negotiate their salary. 

In this article, we’re teaching you Salary Negotiation 101: what it is, why people do it, and how you can do it too. 

What is salary negotiation?

Salary negotiation pertains to the process between an employee and their higher-up wherein they discuss potential increases in their income from the company during the job offer period.

Why should people negotiate their salary?

There are a slew of reasons as to why people opt to negotiate their salary.

1 It shows that the candidate knows their value and worth.

At times, the work that can be done by the candidate and what they are bound to be given probably don’t match. 

2 It can affect motivation and therefore the output of their work.

As mentioned, if the candidate sees their total compensation package doesn’t match the job description, it can affect the quality of their work. They negotiate their salary at the beginning of the job offer to ensure that their responsibilities and compensation are aligned.

3 It helps close the wage gap.

Depending on the company, there can be a trend of unequal pay that people want to get rid of to achieve equality in the workplace. They can negotiate their salary when the job is offered to them in order to get rid of the inequality of pay. 

4 The work benefits are outweighed by the need for a higher pay.

Though work benefits are a major plus for many potential employees, having enough income to support themselves is more important than having more vacation time. 

5 An employee’s current salary can dictate whether or not they will go for the next job opportunity offered to them. 

Sometimes, a candidate will receive multiple job offers. In order to weigh their options, they may inquire about the salary range and see if it fits their expectations.

“But, how can I negotiate my salary?”

Whether you resonate with one of the points mentioned above or have another valid reason why you need to negotiate your salary, these are the important things you have to consider:

1 Know what you have to offer 

Make sure you are aware of your accomplishments in your previous roles and the possible responsibilities in the potential company. From there, try to calibrate how much you need to earn. 

2 Do your research on the market average 

Every industry and every job position has their own baseline when it comes to salary. Make sure to know what your current position typically earns on average and take into consideration your geographical location, the level of your offered position, and how much other companies within your industry pay their employees. 

3 Prepare your winning pitch

Think to yourself, “What makes me deserving of receiving a higher salary?” It might even help to prepare talking points which elaborate on what you have achieved, your years of experience, skills you have acquired, and the average salary offered by other employers from similar companies. 

(Don’t forget: always be respectful when speaking and be open to comments and suggestions!)

4 Be open to your request not being granted 

In the event that your salary negotiation does not get accepted, do not take it personally. Maybe, the company lacked the budget to increase your pay; maybe, it simply was not the time to grant your request. Nevertheless, you can explore other options such as increasing your bonus, vacation time, position level or title, and more. 

Ultimately, salary negotiations aren’t just about increasing the pay you receive. By carefully evaluating the compensation package and your job description, learning how to successful navigate your first negotiation also teaches you how to stand your ground and to be confident about your worth. 

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Kalibrr is a recruitment technology company that aims to transform how candidates find jobs and how companies hire talent. Placing the candidate experience at the center of everything it does, we continue to attract the best talent from all over, with more than 5.5 million professionals and counting. Kalibrr ultimately connects these talents to companies in search of their next generation of leaders.

The only end-to-end recruitment solutions provider in Southeast Asia, Kalibrr is headquartered in Makati, Philippines, with offices in San Francisco, California, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Established in 2012, it has served over 18,000 clients and is backed by some of the world’s most powerful start-up incubators and venture capitalists. These include Y Combinator, Omidyar Network, Patamar Capital, Wavemaker Partners, and Kickstart Ventures.

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