5 Things to NEVER do during a Salary Negotiation

No matter what type of market we are in, there are some pretty bad tactics I've seen people encourage to those in the offer process, almost always without any compensation/HR experience. 

Here are my biggest warnings to NOT do during a Salary Negotiation and why!

Salary negotiations can be a delicate process, and knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to do. Here are five key pitfalls to steer clear of to ensure your negotiation is productive and professional.

Accepting the First Offer Without Discussion - Accepting the initial salary offer without negotiation can potentially have you starting salary be lower than the potential. While all companies may not negotiate all offers, it always behooves you to ask some questions regarding the offer and make a business case on why your offer should be revisited.

Using Ultimatums or Threats - Approaching a salary negotiation with ultimatums or threats—such as stating you’ll walk away if you don’t get the desired salary—can be counterproductive. This tactic often creates a defensive atmosphere and can damage relationships with your potential employer. Saying something like "I can't accept this role for less than $80,000" allows the company to safely pull the offer.

Negotiate "Everything" - There are elements to an offer that can be negotiated and are usually expected....and there are elements that you should NOT try to negotiate as it doesn't always land well. You are usually safe negotiating things that pay in currency. Salary, Bonus, Stock, Sign-On Bonuses are usually safe elements. Things that come with a little risk are Benefits and 401k as those are managed by government guidelines and all employees have to be treated the same. Things you should NEVER try to negotiate are managers or if the role can be done remote. Doing so could put you in huge risk for an offer pull. 

Asking for Numbers Outside of the Determined Range - Requesting a salary far outside of the established range for the position can signal a lack of awareness or preparation. If you ask for a figure that is significantly higher than what the company is willing to offer, it may come across as unrealistic and diminish your chances of a successful negotiation, it may also anger the recruiter and hiring team and an offer may be pulled without further consideration.

Negotiating "Live" - The company has all the cards in a negotiation and I've seen far too many examples of people caving or agreeing to the offer on the spot because of pressure. Take the negotiation to email as it removes the pressure, gives you time and ability to compose your thoughts, creates a system of record and ensures easy communication with the internal stakeholders.

By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can approach salary negotiations with confidence and professionalism, leading to a more successful outcome for both you and your potential employer.