Jobs & Education

Successful Pay Negotiation at Interview

Negotiating the best salary possible at a job interview is easier if you do thorough research beforehand and have a good assessment of your skills and capabilities.

You should know before your interview what the pay rates for your job are. Informal talks with recruitment agencies, your trade union or professional body will give you greater insight into what you should be being paid. Alternatively, you can look at job comparison sites such as www.payfinder.com.

Consider also your years of experience, any management roles, where your work is based (London salaries tend to be higher) and the general state of the economy (in boom years when unemployment is low, negotiating higher pay is easier). Preparation such as this means you’re less likely to be undercut when negotiating a salary with a prospective employer.

Remember the company is a business and the interviewer's job is to get you as cheaply as possible, while you want the best possible pay packet. Being confident and unapologetic about wanting a good salary can reflect well on you as a candidate.

If your interviewer asks you straight out what you are earning now, don’t lie and inflate the figure. If you’re caught out (some companies check with current employers about salary ranges, and your P45 includes your salary details) you may be thought of as dishonest.

If you want more money for the new job, just ask. Explain that because of your experience, skills, the added responsibility in the new role, and your high levels of energy and motivation, you are looking for a significant salary increase.

Keep in mind that you can always reduce your desired salary (and look like a motivated candidate for considering a pay cut). But once a figure is named, it's almost impossible to inflate it.

The actual wage, however, is only one aspect of your total pay package. If the basic salary isn't enough but your interviewer won’t move higher, have a list of other perks that can increase your money: a bonus scheme, an early pay review, an extra week of paid holiday. Remember to ask about the company pension scheme. A good pension scheme can add as much as a quarter to the value of your salary, according to research by the TUC.

There can be a lot to take in during an interview, so don’t feel embarrassed to say that you need to think through what has been offered. You don’t have to agree to the interviewer’s demands straight away. The finer points of negotiation can be done later by phone or email.

Bear in mind that the interview is your one chance to negotiate the salary that you want. Doing your homework and not being intimidated will make you happy - and possibly a little bit richer.