How to Negotiate Salary for Your Next Career Move

Posted by Auckland Resume on 21 Jan 2026

A salary negotiation can be difficult to talk about, because it involves balancing what think you’re worth versus what your employer believes they’re able to afford. If it’s done right it can result in an enjoyable experience for both sides that results in a higher pay for the employee and greater engagement of the employee in their job. Here’s how you can make your salary negotiation a success.

Important Takeaways

  • Before you make a salary offer, research market rates and industry standards to make sure that your salary request is realistic.
  • Find out information by the networking of colleagues, using online resources like LinkedIn Salary and Glassdoor, as well as reaching out to professional networks.
  • Prepare talking points ahead of the time, including education and accreditation as well as years of relevant experiences, achievements and results as well as unique skill sets and qualifications, industry knowledge and training potential.
  • During the negotiation, be confident and clear, but be flexible and open. You should highlight tangible results you’ve achieved in your previous roles.
  • Maintain a positive tone throughout the conversation and be active in your listening.

Do your research

Before you enter any negotiations regarding salary, it’s essential to conduct a thorough study of current market rates and industry standards to ensure that your salary suggestion is realistic. The factors that could affect this may include experience levels, the size of your company, and location (?). A great method of gathering information is through networking with colleagues or other professionals within your area of work.

Research Online

With the aid of online sources, like [LinkedIn SalaryWith the help of some online resources like [LinkedIn Salary (https: //www. linkedin. www.linkedin.com/salary) and [Glassdoorglassdoor (https: //www. glassdoor. com/Salaries/index. htm) You can find a more comprehensive information about the benchmarking range of salaries businesses pay for the same role which will gives you an idea about current market prices and also other aspects related to the position.

Your Network is Important

Gain insight by speaking to acquaintances who have had similar roles, or reaching out through the professional networks and brainstorming with members within professional organizations.

Create talking points

Preparing for any negotiation is always time well spent. You’ll feel more confident in making your case if you have a list of points to discuss ahead of time.

Here are some instances of what you might want to think about during your salary negotiation:

  • Education and certification
  • Experience gained through years of relevant work
  • Performances and results
  • A unique set of skills and characteristics (e.g. bilingualism)
  • Industry knowledge
  • Training potential

Also keeping notes/notebook handy can be helpful during conversations so it is not lost important information.

Be confident & concise

In a negotiation for a salary, it’s important to be confident and clear. Be clear about your experience of accomplishments and your expectations. It’s important to maintain your tone of voice positive throughout the conversation to ensure that your person who is hiring you feels that you’re not coming across as aggressive.

Show tangible results

Simply saying that you are driven, hardworking, and goal-oriented might not be enough to create an impressive appeal. Therefore, provide clear data about how your previous positions made a an impact in the workplace or how valuable are specific abilities that benefit the organization.

Be flexible

If the employer isn’t able to your requested salary or compensation plan in full being flexible and open can allow room for discussion. It is possible to inquire about alternative rewards, like performance-based bonus models instead of the Base salary(? ).

Be sure remain professional throughout the negotiation - no matter how well or badly it’s going being too combative or making unreasonable demands can result in an unfavourable outcome for everyone affected.

Practice active listening

Listening is equally as important as speaking during these kinds of conversations. Be attentive to the other party during negotiations hearing the amount requested carefully and clarifying doubts as much as you can while remaining in the spirit of your initial request. Both parties should ultimately come out with acceptable results.

Use the lessons you’ve learned away from these conversations and incorporate it into the next discussions you’ll probably be involved in. Following the tips above goes an enormous way to increasing the chances of achieving an agreement that is mutually beneficial.

Your network is important Talk to your friends who have been in similar positions or reaching out through the professional network and brainstorming with members of professional associations.
Plan talking points Certification and education, Years of relevant experience, Performance and accomplishments, unique skills and characteristics (e.g. the ability to speak two languages) and industry knowledge. the potential for training
Be confident & concise Be clear about your experience accomplishments, job goals and achievements. Make sure you highlight tangible results.
Stay flexible You can inquire about alternative incentives such as incentive structures based on performance rather than Base salary. (?). Keep your professional conduct during the negotiation process.
Practice active listening Listening is equally as important as communicating in these kinds of conversations. Learn away from these conversations and incorporate them into future discussions you’ll likely be involved in.


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Frequently Answered Questions

What is salary negotiation?

Negotiating salary is discussing and deciding on the compensation plan for a position. During this process, you can discuss not just your salary base, but also benefits like retirement plans, health insurance as well as other benefits.

Why is it important to negotiate salary?

Negotiating your salary can give you a better financial outlook and show you are aware of your worth. This can help you keep money off the table.

What is the best time to negotiate the salary?

It is recommended to begin negotiations following the acceptance of an offer to ensure everyone is aware of what is being negotiated. So, negotiations will be focused on securing ideal terms while avoiding unintentional surprises.

What if I am happy with the package I was offered without negotiation?

If you receive an offer and are content with it, then there’s no reason to discuss it. It’s nevertheless important to be clear about what the employers are willing to offer with regards to things like the performance-based bonus or career-training reimbursements.

Can I negotiate my salary if changing careers?

Salary negotiation when changing careers may require more preparation due to the fact that your previous experiences might not translate or relate to the new duties. Learn about the salaries similar to those in similar industries pay in order to get a solid understanding of realistic expectations for you, considering the specific circumstances.

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