Here's how you can skillfully negotiate a salary or raise in your career.

Salary Negotiations- MY FAV! Did you know you decide your salary and what you are worth? Yep! When you develop your resume and when you are in the interview you are telling the hiring manager what you are worth. So let me ask you this... are you SURE your resume does this? Are you totally prepped to WALK that interview and discuss how you can help them too? What do your non-verbal cues look like? Because this is also a factor of negotiating a salary from the start in the interview. Be hyper focused in your job search. KNOW what they want and what you can offer. Show up and be the right candidate that elicits trust immediately in an interview - even when you are nervous.

Its important to base the conversation on 3 things: 1) Market average: know the rates for your role, experience and industry so you can bring your understanding of the wider market to your conversation. 2) Know your worth: bring experience of you going above your role, positive feedback, achievements and contributions to the company. Make sure to include qualitative and quantitative feedback. 3) Have a number in mind: Go in there with a clear expectation of what you want and why (in line with market value and your own value) and be prepared to negotiate.

Never negotiate a salary before you reach the offer stage. That's the only moment when you have the most leverage. The company wants you, so you're at an advantage.

Timing is everything and there is a time and place. From a senior perspective there are three options: New Role: Wait until the offer stage, be prepared with the market going rates and a negotiation offer as well as knowledge of company bindings if possible Post Promotion Offer: Again bring your knowledge of the market as well as your own experience, skills and credibility to the table. Remember to look at the whole package and not just the salary as this gives you more flexibility. If you get a job offer from another company: This can be used as leverage to see if your company will approve a raise to keep you. However you will need an offer letter and its not the best conversation to have!

Gather comprehensive data about industry standards and salaries for similar roles in your region. Document your achievements, highlighting specific projects where you added significant value or exceeded expectations. Quantify your contributions with concrete numbers, such as revenue generated, costs saved, or productivity improvements. Prepare a clear narrative that connects your past performance to your future potential within the company.

You should negotiate your salary only once you reach the offer stage, and unless many people tell you, you don't need to speak again about how great you are. The company already knows it, you just went through a full recruitment process. They know you're worth it. Instead, be clear about what you want to increase and be straight to the point.

Coming from a place of scarcity is a bad idea in any deal making proces. You can have an alternative offering up your sleeve that will help you negotiatie from a place of calmness and self-assurance. Knowing what the company needs are and how the team you're in is composed also is important to determine your likelihood of success given your expertise and potential value. Also, try to engage personally with the decison-maker. We're all human and therefore, biased. Actively building luck is not only being the best, but also letting yourself be seen. If people love being around you and your name sounds in more places than your specific area, you'll see how opportunities come to you naturally. Keep pushing, keep winning!

Make sure you do your prep ahead of time: -Know the market averages for your role, experience and industry -Go in with a number, be prepared to go down between 10-15% and decide your non negotiable number. - Understand the company needs, its position and explain the value you bring to the organisation -Understand the needs and position of the decision maker and what their biases may be. -Look at your whole package not just your salary as there may be different ways to negotiate.

A list of don'ts: 1) Don't negotiate before reaching the offer stage. 2) Don't listen to those telling you you must share how great you are; there's no need at this stage. 3) Don't do it on the phone if uncomfortable; a simple email can do the job. 4) Don't feel bad negotiating a salary; it's part of the game. 5) Don't play back-and-forth games with the recruiters; be clear with the number you want, and share if you would accept an offer at this amount.

I would separate the negotiation topic in 2 parts. Negotiation upon hiring and negotiation of a raise. Some tips in case of a new job: - consider market conformity - find what makes your profile both unique and valuable to the company you're going to, and come up with compelling ways to demonstrate that, to make it visible to the interviewer. Can be talking about your experience or interests, success stories, case study presentation, solution presentation etc. Negotiation within a company: Companies will not pay a higher salary for doing the same job unless it is inflation rise. So asking for a raise should be accompanied by a desire to take on more responsibilities.