6 Non-Negotiable Negotiation Strategies (that Work!)

Negotiating job offers is nerve-racking terrain for so many of us. Case in point: according to a recent Pew Research Center survey of U.S. workers , only 40% of employed adults report having negotiated their current salary.

Well over half of us are not negotiating, which becomes even more mind-boggling when you consider that 85% of those who do negotiate get at least some of what they requested.

Eighty-five percent!

Assuming you wish to be in that group the next time you have a job offer on the table, what can you do to stack the odds well in your favor? Plenty, according to negotiation expert Alex Immel, founder of Next Level Negotiation.

Here are 5 non-negotiable strategies he shared:

? 1. Research market rates. It's crucial to understand the going rate for your role, industry, and city. Fortunately, there are plenty of online resources for conducting this research, including Glassdoor, Payscale, Indeed, and levels.fyi , which is a super cool crowdsourcing platform.

? 2. Decide on an "anchor number." This is the number you're going to pitch as your counteroffer (Immel suggests setting that a bit higher than what you'll accept.) Once you have that set, you should jot down your ideas on the value you'll bring in, and why you're worth that price.

? 3. Buy yourself time to plan your counteroffer. Yes, your future employer is likely going to push for an answer immediately. That's an urgency tactic designed to get you to sign off on the offer as is. It's certainly within reason to ask for a few days to review and respond.

? 4. Draft a counteroffer script (and practice it!) You are likely going to be nervous. Feeling completely prepared to talk money will help offset those jitters. Oh, and keep this short and sweet. Over justification is going to make you look defensive or unsure of yourself.

? 5. Approach the conversation in a "let's solve this problem together" manner. After you've received the offer (be sure and do that with gratitude), work collaboratively with the recruiter or hiring manager to get to yes. Remember, they're extending an offer because they want you to join the team. Aggressiveness may backfire.

? 6. Prepare for objections. Now, you never know. Your first response might be "Why, yes, we can make that work!" (and won't that be a great moment?) But you need to be ready for bit of pushback or concern as you make the request. Don't be caught off guard. Brainstorm various responses that you may receive and be prepared for them.

I'm absolutely fascinated by the psychology of negotiation and have been supporting clients with counteroffers for years. But, having spent hours talking shop with Immel in recent months, I'll be the first to say: the Next Level Negotiation team takes the craft to a whole new level.

Given the quality and value of their offering, their down-to-earth coaching style, and their successes in helping clients negotiate average salary increases of $26K, I'm thrilled to announce that JobJenny.com will be partnering with Next Level Negotiation.

We're kicking off the partnership with a new service, Confident Counteroffers . The package includes a 45-minute consult with the Next Level Negotiation team, a salary data report (for up to 2 roles), and 2 salary negotiation scripts, for $379.

When you've made it all the way to a job offer (amazing work!), do yourself and your career a huge favor by investing the time and energy you need to secure your absolute best offer. You're worth it.

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