Knowing your worth in the marketplace
At senior level, understanding the negotiation process becomes even more important to ensure you achieve a salary reflective of your skills and experience, and secure a benefits package that offers you the right investment and support.
At an advanced level the ideal is for you to manage the interview. Undertaking company background research alongside an in depth job brief means you can sell your skill set around these specifications. You will have an organised experience/skill ‘tool kit’ with which to approach an interview.
Often in today’s job market there is no salary stated on an advert, particularly for senior posts - it would normally quote ‘competitive’ or ‘negotiable’. At this level your negotiating strategy should be carefully planned to achieve the salary and package you require.
Benefits may include a pension, private healthcare, share options and company/personal bonus. In a competitive job market where businesses want to attract the top talent and retain them, ‘enhanced benefits programmes’ are now offered. Available to senior candidates these include such extras as gym membership, cheap theatre/events tickets, RAC membership, extra holidays and free travel insurance.
Work options are becoming increasingly recognised with the introduction of the work/life balance. Today’s employment climate means senior candidates can negotiate working schedules around long distance travel and family commitments if necessary.
If an offer is made, this is the time to highlight any extra benefits you would like to negotiate. At this stage your employer understands your worth to the post, and you can therefore afford to be more particular with your requirements. Do not come across as demanding - assume a level of assertive respect and the process should be comfortable and productive.