Money isn’t everything but why not get paid what you're worth for doing something you love. When you finally land the job you’ve been praying for it sounds like the icing is already on the cake. The conversation shouldn’t stop after “the job is yours.” Evaluate the package and make sure it fits your needs. Here is why you shouldn’t be afraid to negotiate your salary: 

Negotiating your salary shows your employer that you know your worth

Make sure before you begin the conversation of negotiating your salary you have an understanding of the role, the market where you live and the experience you have to bring to the table.  You can’t negotiate a salary if you don’t know the base salary for that particular market. When you're discussing business and money come prepared with the reasoning behind your request. Some may think they don’t have enough experience to bring this conversation up. Take a look at your previous freelance jobs, internships, and previous work experience and evaluate the responsibilities you were held upon against the new role. You may have the skill to bring to the table that your manager or counterpart doesn’t. This skill can be vital to the growth of the business. For example one of my previous marketing roles I was hired because I have experience in media and advertising. My manager lacked an understanding of how media works and needed some insight added to the team. Never judge your previous salary against your current worth in the market place. Don’t sell yourself short because the company needs you as much as you think you need them.

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You’ll never get what you want unless you ask for it

Many people think it's offensive and aggressive to ask for a salary increase. It’s all about your approach because this is a business deal and you will need to eliminate all emotions. There was a time I felt uncomfortable asking for higher pay.  I desperately needed a job and didn’t have time to explain why I want the job and why I needed an increase. I was so happy to receive a call back after applying to 100+ jobs in my field. The remark was “YES when can I sign the dotted lines.” Until I stepped foot in the workplace and realized there were people who spoke about negotiating an entry-level role coming straight out of college. In my next role, I learned from a former boss how to not only negotiate my salary but my vacation days as well. The company didn’t want to grant me vacation days up front unless I committed a year with the company. I politely explained the package I’m receiving with my current employer and pushed back on the offer until I was able to receive a final confirmation of my vacation days. I’m realistic and I know the things I want in my next role. Self-care is important and emergencies happen. I didn’t want to sign off on an offer letter that I wouldn’t be comfortable with later down the line. HR came back and granted me with the salary that was in range and vacation days up front. FYI I didn’t know you can negotiate things outside of your salary. A closed mouth doesn't get fed and it doesn’t hurt to ask. Most companies are impressed when you provide them with a challenge. The first offer is always the lowest on the table because they expect you to negotiate so they leave that wiggle room when making the initial offer. So when you take that initial offer your saving the company money and those funds will be put aside for the next candidate or to invest elsewhere. 

"I negotiated the cost for me to attend the National Athletic Training Association Conference and they didn't even put up a fight about it" Tiarra Joseph - Athletic Trainer

It might be a while before you can revisit a raise

Don’t depend on a raise because it may not be guaranteed right away. Some companies may not be in the predicament to provide bonuses and raises yearly. Some companies have policies that sometimes require you to work for a certain time period in order to be eligible for a raise. Therefore, the first offer letter you receive be sure to negotiate your offer to what’s pleasant to you because it may be a while before the next raise come. 

Always remember everything is negotiable. It may be hard but the challenge will allow you to build your confidence. How often do you negotiate your salary when accepting a new role?