In life, everything is negotiable, and starting salaries in a new position are no exception. As a knowledgeable professional, you have experience and other valuable skills that employers should be charged a premium for utilizing.

Give yourself your worth by negotiating your starting salary within a new company. Not only will it put you on a better financial footing, but it’ll also make you seem like an ambitious businessperson.

Follow the tips below to confidently and successfully negotiate a higher starting salary:

1. Mum is the word. If you’re too forthcoming about your salary requirements, you may come off as desperate. Desperation is something that turns an employer off – big time.

• Furthermore, you may lock yourself into a lower starting salary simply because you’ve given too much information about your salary requirements before the employer has even had a chance to assess your value.
• If your interview is truly impressive, the person interviewing you may immediately give you their absolute highest salary offering to ensure that you’ll take the position.

2. It’s not about you. Companies hire employees based on what the candidate has to offer the company, not the other way around. Yet, many candidates choose to exaggerate how they’ve always dreamt of landing this job, what the position will mean to them, and more.

• Excitement is good. But, acting too exuberant can cause the interviewer to perceive you as immature. Rather than focusing on what a life-changing experience this is for you, make it known that you’re suitable for the job because you have a proven track record of saving money, increasing profits, improving employee performance, or some other benefit for the company.
• If the interviewer can see you as an equal counterpart rather than a giddy newbie, the discussion of salary requirements will be pertinent. Also, your assertiveness in this high-pressure situation gives the interviewer a glimpse of how you will handle high-pressure situations in the workplace.

3. Don’t jump at the first offer. Unless you’ve blown the socks off of the employer, it’s unlikely that the first offer you’re presented with is their absolute best. It’s possible but not probable.

• If an employer says they’re ready to offer you $45,000, keep cool, calm, and collected – even if the offer is much lower or higher than you expected. Wait a few seconds to see if they adjust the offer, and if not, counter with a higher figure.
• There’s no need to play hardball; be firm in your approach. If you’re offered $45,000 and know you’re worth $55,000, ask for $55,000. The worst that can happen is that you’ll be told that \$45,000 is their maximum budget. You can still take the offer as long as it’s on the table.

4. Take the offer. Take the offer if your negotiation tactics have failed and you needed the job yesterday. But ask the employer to analyze your performance within six months to negotiate a raise possibly.

• With an offer like this, the employer has nothing to lose. If you are genuinely as good as you think you are, you’ll be able to slash their costs, improve staff productivity, or increase sales, and he will be able to afford to offer you a raise.

Negotiation is all about the legwork. Research the company, its current salary offerings, and the average salary in your locality.

It can be daunting if this is your first time negotiating a salary. But you have nothing to lose. If the job is being offered to you anyways, why not try to make it as profitable as can be?

A good book on negotiating your first job is How To Negotiate Your First Job: 8 Steps that will create value for you and your new employer. Covering interview questions to salary negotiation, it’s an excellent guide for the early career professional.