Starting one’s first job is very exciting, as one finds themselves surrounded by new tasks to be completed, new colleagues to begin with, as well as new responsibilities, and finally comes the first real salary.
However, many young professionals find it difficult to establish themselves when it comes to negotiating their first salary while being interviewed. Read also Leadership and attractive .. How do you have a charismatic presence at every occasion? Important tips for searching for a new job in the time of Corona Temporary job anxiety… How did Corona reveal our job fragility? Find a job like a pro.. 10 tips for developing your LinkedIn profile
“This is due to the fact that the question of money and how to deal with it is simply neglected in schools,” says German professional Johannes Filbert.
talk about money
Because they generally know so little about finances, young people often find it difficult to talk about money with their employer and proactively emphasize their own ideas.
But no one should underestimate their knowledge and skills, so many young professionals can also be self-confident about what they offer to work from the start.
It all starts with the job application documents and documents, and Filbert recommends that “you should clearly define here the added value one has to offer in order to have a good basis when negotiating the salary at a later date.”
Salary Standard
If one is invited to go to a job interview, it makes sense to go prepared for sure, but that means not only researching a potential employer, but also researching the salary standard in that industry.
German career counseling coach Jöte Bölke recommends checking online job databases for such information.
If the potential manager is offering a salary below the norm, the applicant should bring it up during the interview, and may reject the job if there is no room for discussion.
However, let’s keep in mind that some jobs – such as training or civil services – have fixed salaries.
Additional benefits
Sometimes the employer also offers additional benefits that can offset an average salary, such as providing a pass to use public transportation, or offering annual bonuses or free lunches.
A person entering a job interview well prepared means that he is off to a good start. “The most important thing is not to appear as someone who is begging too hard for the job,” says Filbert; After all, a potential employer may be more demanding than a job applicant.
One should feel on an equal footing with the employer, and represent their position according to the motto “I have these skills and competencies, and I offer this added value to the work, so what will I get in return?”
And if a potential employer makes an offer that seems too low, Filbert recommends asking “How much are you willing to compromise here?”
golden mean
If the person applying for the job is not satisfied with the proposed salary offer, they should be able to discuss why they deserve a higher salary. Career counseling coach Bulke recommends practicing salary negotiation with friends, saying that “over time, practice can also give you a certain assurance in job interviews.”
It may also be useful for the person applying for the job to indicate that he is simultaneously applying to other jobs. “It indicates that he is not prepared to take the job under any circumstances,” says Filbert.
In the end, there is a fine line between not asking for too little or too much. “It’s all about the golden mean (i.e. moderation),” Polke thinks.