How to Negotiate Salary for Your Next Career Move

Posted by Christchurch Resume on 13 Dec 2025

Negotiating your salary is an arduous process because it involves balancing what you think you’re worth versus what the employer thinks they’re able to afford. However, if done correctly it could be positive for both parties, resulting in a greater salary for the employee and a greater employee engagement in their work. Here’s how to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Principal Takeaways

  • Before you negotiate your salary, research market rates and industry standards to ensure your salary request is realistic.
  • Collect information through networking with colleagues, using online tools like LinkedIn Salary and Glassdoor, and contacting professional networks.
  • Create talking points ahead of time, including education and certifications in the form of years of relevant work experience, the results and achievements with a unique set of skills and abilities, industry expertise, and potential for training.
  • During the negotiation, be assertive and confident, yet flexible and open-minded. You should highlight tangible results you achieved in your previous positions.
  • Maintain a positive mood throughout the conversation, and make sure you are listening actively.

Do your research

Before you begin any negotiations regarding salary, it’s essential to conduct thorough research on the market and standards in the industry to ensure that your salary suggestion is realistic. Some factors that can affect this include the level of experience, levels, the size of your company as well as location. (?). One way to gather data is to connect with colleagues or others in your chosen job field.

Research Online

Utilizing online resources such as [LinkedIn Salarywith the help of certain online resources such as [LinkedIn Salary] (https http://www. linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/salary) and [Glassdoorglassdoor (https http://www. glassdoor. com/Salaries/index. htm) you can get an extensive view of the salary range that benchmarking companies pay for the same job. This will give you an idea of current market prices and also other facets of a job.

Your Network is Vital

Find out more about your situation by talking with people who have had similar positions, or contacting them through professionally-oriented networks as well as brainstorming members of professional associations.

Make talking points

The time spent in preparing for a negotiations is always a good time spent. You’ll feel much more confident when making your case if you have a clear set of talking points outlined before the deadline.

Here are a few instances of what you might want to think about when negotiating your salary:

  • Education & certification
  • Years of relevant experience
  • Achievements and results
  • A unique set of skills and characteristics (e.g., bilingualism)
  • Industry-specific knowledge
  • Training potential

The idea of keeping a notepad and/or notes handy could aid in conversations, so that one doesn’t miss any important points.

Be confident & concise

During a salary negotiation it is essential to be confident and articulate. Talk clearly about your work experience, achievements and job expectations. It’s crucial to maintain a positive tone throughout this conversation so that the employer doesn’t feel like you’re coming across as aggressive.

The Key to Tangible Results

Simply saying that you are determined, hardworking and aspire-driven person may not be enough to generate an impressive appeal. It is important to present clear and precise data regarding the ways in which previous jobs made significant difference to companies or the value of specific skills which benefit organisation

Be flexible

If the employer isn’t able to agree to your requested salary or compensation package outright Being flexible and open will help open the door to discussion. You can inquire about alternatives to incentives, such as performance-based bonus arrangements instead of the Base salary(? ).

Keep your cool throughout the negotiation process - no matter how well or badly it’s going Being too aggressive or imposing unreasonable demands will likely cause a negative result for all parties that is.

Practice active listening

Listening is just as important as communicating during these kinds of conversations. Do listen actively from your counterpart during negotiations. Listen to the amount requested carefully and clarifying doubts, if necessary, while maintaining the what you originally requested. Both parties should ultimately be able to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Consider the lessons you’ve learned from these conversations and incorporate them into future discussions you’ll probably be involved in. By following the suggestions above, you will go in the right direction to increase the chance of achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

Your network is important Talk to your friends who’ve held similar roles or reach out to the professional network as well as brainstorming members within professional organizations.
Plan talking points Certification and education, Years of relevant experience, Results and achievements, unique abilities and skills (e.g. the ability to speak two languages), Industry knowledge, the potential for training
Be confident & concise Speak clearly about your experiences accomplishments, job goals and achievements. Highlight Tangible Results.
Remain flexible You can inquire about alternative incentives such as performance-based bonus structures instead of Base salary. (?). You must remain professional throughout the negotiation process.
Practice active listening Listening is equally important as speaking during these kinds of conversations. Consider what you’ve learned from these conversations and apply it to future conversations you’ll probably be involved in.


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Frequently Asked Questions

What is salary negotiation?

The process involves discussing and finalizing the compensation package for a particular job. In this negotiation you are able to discuss more than just the salary you earn, but also other benefits, such as retirement plans, health insurance as well as other benefits.

Why is it so important to negotiate a salary?

Negotiating your pay can provide you a better financial outlook as well as indicate that you’re confident about your worth. It can also help you avoid leaving money on the table.

When should I start negotiating the salary?

It’s best to begin negotiating after receiving an offer so everyone is conscious of what’s being discussed. In this way, negotiations will focus on securing the best terms, while avoiding any surprises.

What happens if I am satisfied with the package I was offered without any negotiation?

If you receive an offer and are happy with the offer, then there may be no need to negotiate. It’s nevertheless important to provide clear information about what employers will provide in the form of performance-based bonuses or career-training reimbursements.

Do I have the option of negotiating my salary when switching careers completely?

Salary negotiation when changing careers may require more training because your previous work experience may not directly translate or relate to the new duties. Research what similar roles in related fields pay, to develop a thorough idea of what realistic expectations are for yourself, given the specific circumstances.

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