A new job’s top starting salary can be yours
If you are in the market for a new job, you might hope that your next position also comes with a bit more pay.
Wage growth is starting to pick up after languishing for some time. Trade Me’s latest job data shows that the 13 job sectors with the most demand for workers recorded average pay increases this quarter, compared with the year before.
Megan Alexander, the general manager of recruitment firm Robert Half in New Zealand, said the middle of the year was a popular time to change jobs.
Salary would be a major factor in accepting a job offer but it was important to negotiate it well.
Alexander said it was important for jobseekers to evaluate the situation from their potential employer’s position before they started talking about money.
‘‘If you’ve proven yourself to be a serious and valuable prospect for the job, you’re likely to get the best result.’’
She said people should avoid talking about money through the ‘‘courtship’’ phase of the initial discussions and first interview.
‘‘Before starting a dialogue about your salary expectations, you need to display suitability for the role and be sure the job is right for you.
‘‘Waiting until the second or third interview is much wiser for discussing salary.
‘‘Once you’re confident the company is interested, you can lay your cards on the table.’’
She said job hunters should be able to talk about their skills, experience and prior successes, especially those that made a difference to a business’s bottom line.
Jeremy Wade, head of Trade Me Jobs, said the start of a new job was a good time to get the best salary possible.
‘‘If they are talking money, they are likely keen on hiring you,’’ he said. ‘‘They may need to entice you from your current employer and there is leverage with that employer, too.’’
He said that, over the course of a person’s working life, a small difference in starting salary could compound to become a significant pay gap. People should find out what other roles were paying and make a solid case for what they thought they were worth and could offer a business.
Wade said it was important to consider the style of the person they were negotiating with.
‘‘There are great personality profiling tools that you can use to determine how best to communicate.’’
Alexander said it should be made clear that money was not the sole motivation for being interested in a job.
‘‘Discussing salary during the initial interview, or referencing it in your cover letter or resume, can send the message that you value dollar signs over opportunity.’’
She said jobseekers would have more success if they talked about a salary range they were happy with rather than a specific figure.
‘‘Showing that you’re flexible is the first step towards negotiating a pay packet that’s viable for your employer and reflects your ambitions.
‘‘It’s never a good move to mislead a prospective employer about your current compensation or other higher-paying job offers in an effort to get more money.
‘‘Instead, emphasise the value you can bring to the firm, and be honest about your desired salary.’’