Here's how you can negotiate a salary when starting a new job.

Do your homework and know your value. Plenty of sites show salary comps - make sure you do some research before the offer stage. Some locations must demonstrate salary transparency - these ranges will be listed within the job description. And ultimately you should know your own value - what unique skills do you bring to the table? What specific experience will you bring to bear? What makes you the best candidate? This all plays into the negotiation.

When you receive your first tentative federal job offer, you must negotiate for a step higher than one. Grade levels are not negotiable but are determined by your qualifications and the grade you applied for, so do not cheat yourself out of thousands by "just getting your foot in the door" by applying for low-grade levels. Negotiating a step increase in a federal position requires knowing your worth and confidently communicating it. Start by understanding the job series and grade requirements. This knowledge will serve as a solid foundation for your negotiation strategy. If you are taking a pay cut to accept the role, include two pay periods of pay stubs from your current employer. Learn more by connecting with me here on LinkedIn.

If the employer cannot meet your salary expectations immediately, consider negotiating for a future salary review. Propose a review period, during which your performance & contributions can be assessed. This approach shows your willingness to prove your value and gives the employer a timeframe to budget for a potential salary adjustment. When discussing a future salary review, outline specific goals & milestones you aim to achieve within a certain period. This will provide a measurable basis for the review & demonstrate your commitment to contributing meaningfully to the company’s success. Moreover, it creates a clear framework for both parties to revisit compensation discussions with a focus on your proven impact & growth within the role.

Before entering negotiations, research the average salary range for your role, experience, and location. Websites like Glassdoor, Payscale, and LinkedIn Salary can provide valuable insights. Consider your talents, experience, and accomplishments. Prepare a list of accomplishments and how they add value to the potential employer. Be prepared to explain why you deserve a better wage.

When you’re negotiating, it’s tempting to talk about your needs. Circumstances like being the breadwinner, taking care of in-laws, having a serious injury in the family or healthcare issues that demand $ are relevant, but they won’t help you convince an employer to pay you more. Your salary is directly related to the value you bring to the employer. The number you choose as your desired salary should depend on an evaluation of salaries for similar positions in the workforce, information about typical salary ranges for this employer, the rest of the package/benefits, and specific value that you might be bringing that they couldn’t find elsewhere. Make sure your request is reasonable, but it’s OK to shoot high because you’ll end up lower.

If you're struggling to quantify the value that you bring and you tend to underestimate yourself, it might help to think about your salary like this: 1. How much money would it cost the company if they did not fill this role (soon)? The company is trying to solve a certain problem by hiring, and that problem must be worth more than the money they will pay you. Otherwise, they would be at a break-even point, so why bother? 2. How much would any person who did the job amazingly be worth? Aim for that. The company is trying to hire the best person for the job, and it's up to them to estimate if you're the one or not.

Be flexible and creative when negotiating your starting salary. If the budget is tight, consider negotiating other benefits such as additional time off, work-from-home options, flexible hours, and training or education opportunities. Make sure to also check and potentially agree on your progression (when you can expect to be promoted, to which roles, what the salary will be, etc.). Additionally, examine the company's situation to determine whether the financial outlook may improve in the future and if the current tight budget may loosen.

While setting a target salary, be open to non-monetary benefits as well. Bonuses, stock options, flexible working arrangements, extra vacation days, or professional development opportunities are all possibilities.

1. Check market standards or average salaries for the position.(Do your home work) 2. Evaluate your own level of experience, attributes for the position and the pay you've been offered 3. Set a target range so that it should be realistic for your domain, experience and skill set 4. Ask for salary negotiation with the facts you've collated(Remember practice makes you perfect and this cant be done at once) 5. Be flexible at some point

Trusting your gut when accepting a job offer is crucial—it's about more than just the salary and benefits. How does the offer feel in your body? Is there a sense of excitement and possibility, or does it feel like a weight on your chest? Pay attention to that instinctual "yes" or "no" feeling. Your intuition knows more than you might realize, guiding you toward opportunities that align with your true self. So, don't just listen to the logical pros and cons—tune into your body's wisdom and let it lead the way.

If you tend to underestimate your value, get support from the people around you who are good at negotiation and who know their worth. When you're used to underestimating yourself, it's hard to break free from that perspective. It's useful to talk to people who look at things through completely different lenses and play with higher numbers - they will shift your perspective and give you courage.