PayScale: Helping You Negotiate Your Salary, One #PayChat at a Time.

March 28, 2013

By now you hopefully know all about #PayChat. Here’s a
little refresher, just in case you’ve been offline for the last few weeks.
Every month, PayScale hosts a Twitter Chat where we address all those burning
questions that can only be answered with PayScale data. Today, the topic was
one that is near and dear to the hearts of many working professionals – Salary Negotiaton.

Whether or not you’ve actually negotiated your salary before,
you’ve probably thought about it. And if you’ve done any research, you’ve
probably heard conflicting ideas about how to navigate the treacherous waters
that lead to salary satisfaction. This month’s #PayChat produced some sound
advice, not to mention a number of helpful reminders regarding PayScale’s
excellent resources.

Whether they were experienced negotiators, or hadn’t even
started the process yet, all participants seemed to agree that data is one of
the most effective tools you can use during the negotiation process. Since
conversations about salary often turn into a numbers game, facts and figures
about the market rate for your job are valuable when you plead your case. Make
sure you come armed with your PayScale Salary Report and have taken advantage of the PayScale Index so you are aware of wage trends in
your industry and job type.

Do You Know What You're Worth?

Participants also concluded that HR should take an active
role in accounting for employee’s pay concerns. Presenting a company’s salary
range decisions in the context of the overall budget will usually help
employees see the bigger picture, especially if a raise just isn’t in the
cards. (It is also worth mentioning that PayScale offers some fantastic
compensation resources for employers concerned
about employee retention.)

Another tip is to present your case by demonstrating your
value as an employee, and how your unique skills benefit the company’s culture
and bottom line. Keep your points professional and work-focused. And don’t
forget to think long-term. Is a promotion in the near future? That usually
means a raise, so it might be better to work towards that goal. Does your
company offer unique perks and benefits that you wouldn’t be able to find
somewhere else? Factor those into your total compensation so that you can assess
your data in a way that goes beyond simple finances.

We hope you enjoyed #PayChat, and we look forward to your
continued participation. Keep an eye out for future topics, and make sure to
join the conversation on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 10:30 AM PST.

Feel free to join the conversation at any time! Tweet your questions using the hashtag #PayChat and let PayScale assist you on
your path towards career satisfaction.

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3 Tips for Negotiating Salary When You're Happy Just to Have a Job