What do you do if you want to secure a salary with added benefits and perks?

What is worth. Many people will think of a number. But worth and value go deeper. It goes to how you feel about it, and that goes to emotion. Second thing: others have perception of their wants and needs to. Best solutions are attained when mutual values become aligned. The best negotiation takes place when there are more kinds of value to talk about. Because you can give the other what they need, especially when it is something of less value for you, while in return they can give you what is important for you and it is less important for them. The game of negotiation is finding as many differing values as possible and trade. Practice every conversation you have. It is a lot of fun!

This articulating needs is somewhat tricky. Did you know there is a 'zone of possible agreement' in negotiation? Where the mutual wants and needs are close enough so a deal becomes possible, but your not quite there yet and talking back and forth, giving and taking is needed to really close the deal. The process is so fragile! Like a butterfly you can enjoy it or crush it if careless. Negotiation is not rocket science. It is the art of soft skills. Knowing that your needs and how you articulate them directly impact how your negotiation partner thinks about giving/taking. Everybody can be a good negotiator, but it is something you have to work for. Let an expert trainer help you learn.

This can be solved in the following way: Determine your wants and needs (monetary and non monetary) Translate to monetary currency Describe what you think is minimally necessary to make a deal. Describe what you would prefer ideally to make a deal that makes you happy Describe a number of combinations with different wants and needs that could be offered by your employer. For every combination determine if that value matches the value you prefer to attain. Now you can start trading. Better yet...treat yourself to a life changing training emotionally skilled negotiation.

Get training. Good training. Criteria: training that builds self awareness, self management, awareness of others, communication with others. Don't do workshop if you haven't learned about soft skills yet. Get training to builds these skills over weeks to months. This way it becomes a trait. Otherwise it will become a fading memory. Now try to find exchange of value in every conversation you have. What can I give to make the other happy, what are my wants/needs in this conversation, and how can I effectively express this. Good negotiation skills should be learned from early on, because it is about building relationships and learning to mutually appreciate value.