Key salary negotiation tips you need to know

Key salary negotiation tips you need to knowKey salary negotiation tips you need to knowWhen I interviewed at Google several years ago, they told me up front that the salary welches non-negotiable. It was very much a take-it-or-leave-it offer.You may run into situations like this once or twice over the course of your career, but in most cases, theresroom for negotiation.In fact, I get worried when one of our senior hires doesnt attempt to negotiate their offer. Thats actually a bad sign, and I start wondering how theyre going to react when a vendor makes an offer. Will they just accept it without negotiating in that situation, too?I know these negotiations can be anxiety-inducing, but there are things you can do to ease any nerves and put yourself in the best position to come away with a better offer.Negotiate based on whats important to you.Your salary can certainly be important to your quality of life, but it isnt the only part of the contract you can negotiate.In fact, most people I talk to dont name salary as the most important factor in their decision to take a job. There are so many other aspects of compensation and responsibilities that can have a much bigger effect on overall happiness.For some, a title is important. For others, its the amount of ownership they have over their work. At a startup, many people value equity and upside potential the most.Figure out what matters to you and focus your negotiations around that. If it happens to be a salary, thats perfectly fine. Just realize its bedrngnis the only compensation you can consider.Know the market ahead of time.Depending on your career and industry, youll want to be aware of the market dynamics at play when youre interviewing.I worked in investment banking for two years out of college and then took some time off to travel. This was 2002, so when I began looking for work again, we were still in the midst of a recession. In that type of market, the labor pool for companies that are hiring is huge- an d it can work against you.I ended up getting a job offer to be a financial analyst at a well-known magazine. It seemed like a natural fit for me, and they gave me a week to make my decision.Unfortunately, I waited until the day before the deadline to tell them I would accept. And when I got in touch, I found out theyd given the job to someone else.By dragging out my decision, I made it look like I was balancing different offers. I didnt factor in the poor job market, and there was obviously someone who seemed more eager to take the position.Remember, nothing is official until the paper is signed. If youre going to take a role, let the company know youre really excited about it- and understand the market dynamics that may influence your negotiations.Dont get too ahead of yourself with career planning and optimizations.Over the course of a long career, a difference of a few thousand dollars wont matter as much as the more intangible aspects of the job.What really matters is whether yo u like your manager, whether you like the company, and what youll learn in this position. How is this going to help you get to your next role?It may not feel great to take a lower salaried position, but if it puts you on the trajectory you want, then it probably wont matter in the long run.Personally, there were times in my career when I took pay cuts because I wanted to pursue a more interesting opportunity, or I wanted to take a role where I had no experience.When I started working at Aeropostale after business school, I had no tangible experience in retail, but it was a way for me to shift industries. So even though my salary was lower than a lot of my fellow graduates, I took the job.In my experience, the people who tend to make the most money are those who are really good at what they do. That comes from doing something you love, something that plays to your strengths.You should always negotiate your offers- just remember there are other forms of compensation than numbers on yo ur paycheck.This article originally appeared on Inc.