Although you might derive your salary baseline from comparisons with colleagues or industry standards, avoid directly comparing yourself to others in negotiations. Salaries are private matters, and some companies ensure this confidentiality. Don’t mention what you earned at a previous job; your past achievements are irrelevant to your current position. Focus on your work achievements and contributions, as these are your strongest arguments.
Of course, bosses often push for a specific salary increase figure. In such cases, you’ll need to provide a range, which should be above your baseline to allow for negotiation. However, don’t make it too high to leave room for discussion. Also, be mindful of your tone; after stating your request, ask for the boss’s opinion in a consultative manner, indicating openness to discussion. Maintain a friendly attitude regardless of the outcome. Remember, the entire salary negotiation process is also a psychological battle where both sides are testing and guessing each other’s intentions. The boss might use various excuses to delay or deny your request, so you need to discern from their attitude whether they are absolutely against giving you a raise, open to negotiation, or have already agreed but are just making formalities.
Points to Note:
(1) In the course of daily work, it’s inevitable to interact with your boss. Sometimes you might be asked to offer suggestions, report on your work, or even be invited to dine and sing together outside of work hours for leisure. Here are some points to consider in these daily work and social interactions:
