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- Tuesday Tea-Time: Negotiate!!!
Tuesday Tea-Time: Negotiate!!!
with: literally all kinds of teas :)
Radhika Paliwal
September 24, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Hello fellow Tuesday tea-timers 🙂 I hope you’re all doing really well. These last few weeks have been an absolute frenzy for me and due to that, I’ve literally had all kinds of tea. So instead of focusing on one particular one for today’s newsletter, I’d like to take a moment of gratitude for all the beautiful types of teas that exist and the numerous benefits each one provides. I’ve used a few to help me digest better especially when I feel bloated, I’ve used others to help me stay focused throughout the workday, some others I drink only at night to help me fall asleep better. The possibilities are endless and it always blows me mind that something so simple as tea leaves provide so many various benefits to the human body. WOW.
Today, I want to get directly into it: it’s a topic close to my heart, partially because I used to be really bad at it and partially because I still see so many of my friends never even try. It’s the topic of negotiation.
I see a lot of people unhappy with their current job situation. I don’t know if this has always been the case or if COVID really accelerated people’s perception of how long they’ve been in the industry and their role. With the growth of social media, it also doesn’t help that the grass always seems greener on the other side.
I say this because of one particular story that come to mind:
One, a co-worker of mine feels miserable at work day after day. It’s been 9 years into her career and she feels like the days are the same. The only thing that brings her even a little bit of joy is the concept of quitting her job tomorrow and never setting foot in her office. There have been multiple times she’s been close to making that decision until she realizes the crushing debt she has with student loans and home loans. The first question I ask her when she tells me about her job: What exactly it is are you looking for? That brings us to the first topic within negotiation:
🗻 What are you seeking?
You have to be very clear within yourself about what exactly you are looking for in your life. Negotiation isn’t just about more money.
In the case of my co-worker, she wanted more flexibility in terms of where she was allowed to work. Currently, she was required to go into the office 2-3x a week (minimum), and what she really wanted was to explore the different cultures around the world. She actually loved the work she was doing - she was challenged the right amount, she was creating positive impact for her clients, and she felt empowered to do her job well. She had the 3 pillars of a rewarding career: Autonomy, Connectedness, and Competence. All she was missing was flexibility.
Whether you are seeking a new role or are unhappy in your current role, really take the time to understand what exactly it is you’re seeking. Here are some examples of what that could be:
Additional time off days
Flexibility to work from different cities/countries
Increase in monetary income (salary)
Growth opportunities (promotions, professional development, etc)
Learning opportunities (to learn what you want to in your current role)
A pay structure that aligns with your finances (monthly or weekly instead of bi-weekly. OR: getting paid in RSUs or equity instead of cash bonuses)
10-hour workdays 4 days a week instead of 8-hour days 5 days a week
Flexibility taking care of your loved ones (kids, etc.) in the middle of the workday or as needed
Benefit package: Health insurance, retirement contributions, stock options, wellness programs, etc.
💎 Understand your worth
Everyone has something special to offer a company. Know that the company recognizes this too, especially if they’ve already sent over an offer or if you’re already working there. I keep hearing this over and over again and it’s VERY TRUE:
“You were hired for a reason.”
Know what your self worth is. Here are some things that may help:
Years of Industry Experience
Level of Education
Certifications/Licenses
Skill Set
Recognition
Potential for Growth/Success
During this part of the process, be sure to go on Glassdoor and other similar websites to understand the range of salaries that are being offered from the same company for the same role. It’ll help give you a gauge of what to expect in terms of the job offer.
🧑🦰 Who are you asking?
“Companies don’t negotiate; people do.”
During the process, there are often two individuals you have the most contact with: the HR representative and your hiring manager (your prospective boss). They each have different levels of influence to help you.
For example: my first role out of college was a training program with a cap of maximum salary for each individual. There were 7 of us, each paid the exact same amount so there was a limit to how much salary I could get. Understanding the constraints are important here. While I couldn’t get a higher salary than everyone else, they were flexible on my start date, signing bonus, etc.
If you know you want to take the job offer, negotiating back and forth on something petty with your new boss might do more harm than good. However, they are the ones with more influence in the situation. If you can showcase your value and have a specific ask, they’d be the ones to go to bat for you and make that special request more than your HR rep.
⌚️ Timing your ask
Timing your ask is essential when it comes to negotiation. If you are currently already in a role and are looking to negotiate, some ideal times to initiate these conversations include:
After Major Achievements: If you've just completed a big project or exceeded your targets, this is a prime time to leverage your success.
During Performance Reviews: These structured meetings are a natural setting to discuss your career path and compensation.
At the End of a Fiscal Year: Companies often reassess budgets and employee compensation toward year-end or during annual reviews, making this an ideal window to bring up negotiations. (Pro tip: figure out when your company has promotion cycles and when exactly managers are required to fill out annual reviews)
If you just received a job offer, here’s how to navigate that process:
After Receiving the Formal Offer: Wait until you’ve received the official job offer in writing. This ensures you’re negotiating from a position of power, knowing exactly what’s being offered.
Before Accepting: Once you have the offer in hand, it’s your time to negotiate. This is the window where you have the most leverage—before committing. Employers expect some back-and-forth during this phase, so don’t hesitate to ask for what you want.
Leverage Competing Offers: If you have more than one offer, now is the time to use them to your advantage. Let the employer know about your other offers, but do so diplomatically. You can frame it as: "I’m excited about this opportunity, but I also have another offer to consider. Is there flexibility in [salary/benefits/etc.] to make this decision easier?"
Show Enthusiasm, But Be Patient: Employers want to see that you’re eager about the role. Show excitement about the job while also taking time to evaluate the offer thoroughly. A well-considered, thoughtful negotiation signals that you’re serious and professional.
🖼️ Framing your value
It’s not enough to ask for more - you need to justify it. When negotiating, make sure you frame your request around the value you bring to the company. Here are some things you can talk about:
Key Accomplishments: What have you achieved in your role that directly contributed to the company’s success?
Skills and Expertise: How have you expanded your skill set, and how does it benefit your employer?
Industry Knowledge: Stay informed about industry standards for salaries, benefits, and responsibilities to show that your ask is aligned with the market.
Confidence is key. Back up your request with data and examples that make it clear why you’re worth the investment.
For my friend, it took us a few weeks to go through the following steps, to really understand what she was looking for and framing her abilities in front of her manager. After having a conversation, she was able to work from home whenever she wanted as well as take a 3 month sabbatical from her job. She never again thought about quitting her job and taking time away made such a difference in her perspective about her career. Not only did she start enjoying her work again, but she was also able to focus on paying off her student loans and house bills with ease. The best part? She now had learned the skill of negotiation and could apply this to her next role and take it with her for the rest of her life.
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