5 Job Offer Negotiation Fails: Avoid These Common Mistakes

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5 Job Offer Negotiation Fails: Avoid These Common Mistakes

By Elizabeth Pearson | Forbes Magazine | August 20, 2024

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If even the idea of negotiating a job offer makes you nauseous, you’re not alone. According to Pew Research Center, 38% of workers reported feeling too uncomfortable to negotiate a job offer.  With the right strategies you can avoid common negotiation blunders and walk away with a job offer that makes you feel like your new employer sees your value. To know what to do, we must first explore what not to do. Here are the top 5 mistakes candidates make when negotiating a job offer, and how to sidestep them with the finesse of a seasoned professional.

1. Playing the “Let’s Get a Match” Game.   Employers are savvy, and if they sense that you’re treating their offer like a commodity, they might question your loyalty or long-term interest in the role. Worse yet, they could pull the offer altogether, leaving you empty-handed.  Instead focus on the job that’s the best fit for you, not just the one with the highest paycheck. When negotiating, emphasize your enthusiasm for the role and the company, and use any competing offers as quiet confidence rather than as leverage.
2. Going All-In on Salary Websites.  Salary websites can feel like a crystal ball into what you should be earning, but relying solely on these estimates is like trusting your horoscope to guide your career. Sure, they provide useful benchmarks, but they’re not the whole story.  Salary websites pull data from a variety of sources, and those numbers don’t always reflect the nuances of your specific role, industry, or location. If you walk into negotiations armed only with these figures, you might either undervalue yourself or come across as out of touch.  Instead use salary websites as a starting point, but also consider your unique value. Research industry-specific salary surveys, talk with anyone you may know who currently works there or has worked there in the past, network with professionals in your field, and consider the total compensation package—including benefits, bonuses, and growth opportunities—when negotiating.
3. Forgetting the Perks: Salary Isn’t Everything.   Focusing solely on salary can cause you to overlook other valuable benefits, such as extra vacation days, flexible working arrangements, fertility benefits (IVI, IFV, and egg freezing), mental health benefits, or professional development opportunities. Instead when negotiating, don’t just ask for more money—ask for a better deal. Consider negotiating for additional vacation days, remote work options, executive coaching, company stock, or a signing bonus.
4. Negotiating After Saying Yes: A Recipe for Disaster.  Once you’ve accepted an offer, you’ve set expectations. Attempting to renegotiate afterward can make you appear unreliable or even dishonest and could put your new job at risk before you even start.  What to Do Instead: Negotiate all aspects of the job offer before accepting. If you’re unsure about the offer, ask for some time to review it thoroughly. Once you’ve said yes, commit to it with confidence, knowing you’ve done your due diligence beforehand.
5. Disclosing Your Previous Salary: The Classic Blunder.  Disclosing your previous salary can severely limit your negotiating power. If your previous salary was below market rate, it could anchor the employer’s offer lower than what you deserve. Worse, your past salary has no bearing on the value you bring to this new role.  Politely decline to disclose your previous salary and shift the focus to the value you bring. 

3 key takeaways from the article

1. According to Pew Research Center, 38% of workers reported feeling too uncomfortable to negotiate a job offer.  
2. With the right strategies you can avoid common negotiation blunders and walk away with a job offer that makes you feel like your new employer sees your value. To know what to do, we must first explore what not to do. 
3. Top 5 mistakes candidates make when negotiating a job offer, and how to sidestep them with the finesse of a seasoned professional are:  while deciding among competing jobs focus on the job that’s the best fit for you, not just the one with the highest paycheck; Use salary websites as a starting point, but also consider your unique value; When negotiating, don’t just ask for more money—ask for a better deal; Negotiating After Saying Yes is a Recipe for Disaster Instead Negotiate all aspects of the job offer before accepting; and Disclosing Your Previous Salary: The Classic Blunder Politely decline to disclose your previous salary and shift the focus to the value you bring.

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Topics:  Negotiation Skills, Communication, Salary, Job, Career, Transition