Nothing is tougher than receiving an offer for an amazing job opportunity only to realize the salary is much less than what you are worth and were hoping for. Job offer negotiation is never easy to navigate, though it’s a critical skill and important part of growing within your profession. One of my financial mentors once told me, “Never accept the first offer – you can always get more!” There are a few different steps and principles to apply to improve your chances of negotiating the offer that you deserve. Here’s how!

Read the Offer

While money is important, negotiating your job offer is not just about the salary. Before accepting the offer, you are going to want to assess the job offer to get very clear on everything from wages to vacation, overtime, work location, benefits and perks. Ask all the questions you need to in order to clarify any points of question and ensure you understand the value of the entire deal before beginning the negotiation process. Whether you want to negotiate one aspect or several aspects of the offer, choose what is important to you and negotiate on those things rather than nitpicking the offer bit by bit. Sure, working one day out of the weekend may not be the greatest, but maybe it’s not so bad if you get to work remotely? Don’t just consider what you want out of the job, but also what you need to be the best you can be within the role and explain the importance of each point of negotiation.

Do a Market Research

Negotiation is good—it ensures all parties are happy and demonstrates that you know your worth. However, asking too low can be an indication that you are unfamiliar with the industry standards for the job. This is why it’s important to do a market research so you can make an informed counter offer. For instance, a graphic design candidate would look up how much graphic designers typically make in their given area as well as anything else that is relevant to the, such as whether or not flexible work hours and work from home is a common practice.

Tell Them Why

Part of negotiating involves explaining why you’re worth the price that you’re asking. Base it off of your experience and accomplishments in order to illustrate the value that you bring to the company. Some elements that you can leverage to increase your chances of a favourable negotiation include your education, licenses or certifications and current salary. You can also mention any expenses involved in carrying out the job, such as travel, software or subscriptions.

Be Flexible

Negotiating goes both ways so it’s important to remain mindful of the company’s perspective and potential limitations as well. Getting stuck on one detail of the contract may reduce your chances of a successful negotiation with the company down the line. A common tactic to land on a good offer is by counter offering higher than what you expect in hopes of landing somewhere in the middle. That being said, being adaptable yet knowing when to say no is just as important to avoid selling yourself short.

A good negotiation leaves all parties feeling satisfied and ready to move forward in business! The sooner you get comfortable with negotiating job offers, the better a negotiator you will become down the line to obtain a raise, for future promotions, contracts and more. It’s an invaluable skill that will help you navigate the rest of your career for years to come!

Got a career question for us? Send it via email to Style Nine to Five’s founder Christie Lohr to get the conversation started on your professional journey and how Style Nine to Five can help set you up for success!

Anita Hosanna is a freelance fashion stylist and creative consultant with a love for fashion journalism and tech.