For the past three weeks you have been in the application and interview process
ID: 327683 • Letter: F
Question
For the past three weeks you have been in the application and interview process for an HIM director position. You currently work as an assistant director at another hospital and have 15 years of HIM experience. Today you were offered the job, with salary that is comparable to what you make now. The organization is roughly the same size as the one where you are currently employed. You think that you should make more for the upper level position. Develop a stategy to adress your salary concern and then formulate your response to the offer. Minimum 350 words
Explanation / Answer
I believe that the first and probably the most important step to negotiate effectively is research. Look out for as much information as you can get about the role you are applying to, how important it is for the company to hire a person who has skills of similar type and level as you have, and how much a person makes in other companies of the same sector. When you know these things, not only you look more knowledgeable, but also more interested in the job. This shows your enthusiasm towards the job in general, which might compel the company to hire you, even if it costs them a bit more.
Now coming on to the situation described above, following things can be done to address the concern and negotiate effectively:
1) Research. as described above know about how much company wants someone of your skills, and what are industry trends.
2) Do not open up your cards too soon on salary. Wait for as long as possible during the interview, or after it. When asked during the beginning of the interview, tell the panelists that a better job role overrides meatier salary in your case, and thus try to divert from the question. This is to make sure that you don't seem desperate in front of them. When you are reasonably sure that they are willing to hire you, tell them about your concerns in a subtle manner. Give one clue at a time, and explain it properly. Tell them that there's not much of a point of changing if you are getting pretty much the same salary (in a subtle way, don't be too direct).
3) Formulate a list of skills and extra things you'll bring to the table if you join the company. Use them one/two at a time. Don't leave all the clues at the same time. Negotiate effectively with the help of these skills. Your over and above things other than the basic skills are the ones that'll bring you more salary.
4) Be persistent in your approach. Justify what you are speaking with a rationale (here your research becomes important). If the employer is not revising the offer too much, ask for some other form of incentives. You might land up getting flexible hours benefit, or revised variable pay, or other sort of perks, which can help you saving money a lot.
5) Last, but certainly not the least, have a back up. Tell them that you have a better /comparable offer with some other company. This makes them defensive party instead of you, and you can negotiate on your terms effectively. for such a thing to happen, it is always good to apply at multiple places and have 2-3 offers with you. In such a scenario, you can always some extra pressure on the employers.