As MBA student Lisa Malachowski negotiated her salary for a job set to begin this summer, a thought familiar to many young workers crossed her mind: B次元官网网址淢aybe theyB次元官网网址檒l withdraw the offer.B次元官网网址�

Malachowski, a soon-to-be-graduate of Concordia UniversityB次元官网网址檚 John Molson School of Business (JMSB), had been offered a full-time position at the same tech company where sheB次元官网网址檇 completed an internship last summer.

The 36-year-old also had 10 years of professional management experience, but said she wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure how valued those skills would be in her new career path.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the hardest things is the knee-jerk reaction of, B次元官网网址業f I ask for too much, I look ridiculous,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not ever an easy conversation to have. But I think one of the things that made it easier B次元官网网址� is that I did so much market research beforehand that I was really confident about the range I was asking for. I didnB次元官网网址檛 feel like I was asking for anything unreasonable.B次元官网网址�

While salary negotiations are a normal part of the hiring process, experts say itB次元官网网址檚 a stone often left unturned by young candidates unsure of how to ask for more money from an employer. That same sense of intimidation is often also felt among young employees hesitant to ask for their first raise.

B次元官网网址淭he biggest mistake is not doing it,B次元官网网址� said JMSB graduate career adviser Bob Menard.

Menard, who leads workshops on how to negotiate salary and advises students on an individual basis, said most indicate they have never negotiated a job offer.

He said a common sentiment he hears is that it doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem appropriate with a first job.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always appropriate,B次元官网网址� Menard said. B次元官网网址淚 try to really stress with them if an employer is giving you an offer, itB次元官网网址檚 not just like youB次元官网网址檙e pulled out of a hat. TheyB次元官网网址檝e gone through a process to select you, so they have as much in it to lose if you walk away, or if they canB次元官网网址檛 meet your counter-offer.B次元官网网址�

Menard added most employers build in B次元官网网址渟ome wiggle roomB次元官网网址� to an offer B次元官网网址� often around seven to 10 per cent in extra value B次元官网网址� that they are willing to add if requested by a strong candidate. He suggested keeping a maximum counter-offer within that range.

B次元官网网址淚f you donB次元官网网址檛 try to access it, well, youB次元官网网址檝e left that on the table and long-term that could actually mean quite a bit of lost earnings for the person,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 OK to be nervous, but the employer has a lot invested in this, especially in todayB次元官网网址檚 market.B次元官网网址�

Research published by Robert Half, a human resources consulting firm, in its 2023 Salary Guide suggests Canadians are increasingly overcoming the awkwardness of asking for more money.

Its poll of more than 500 Canadians last August found 47 per cent of respondents were more likely to request a higher starting salary compared to a year earlier. Fifty-seven per cent felt they, rather than employers, were in the driverB次元官网网址檚 seat in negotiating pay, perks and benefits.

Presenting a well-researched range in salary expectation, rather than a single target, can make the negotiation process smoother, according to Georgia Harper, president of Vancouver-based recruitment firm The Headhunters.

B次元官网网址淚 always suggest to people that everybody has a bad day at work,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淣o matter how excited you are, make sure that youB次元官网网址檙e going to be comfortable with that compensation on a bad day. I think itB次元官网网址檚 also really important that number doesnB次元官网网址檛 change during the conversation.B次元官网网址�

For those already employed, preparation is also key when knocking on a bossB次元官网网址檚 door to talk numbers, added Harper.

The Robert Half poll found 34 per cent of respondents planned to ask for a raise from their employer if they didnB次元官网网址檛 get one B次元官网网址� or the amount was lower than expected B次元官网网址� by the end of 2022.

More than two in five respondents B次元官网网址婤次元官网网址婤次元官网网址婤次元官网网址婤次元官网网址婤次元官网网址媠aid they were taking on responsibilities outside their job description to better position themselves for a raise, while north of a quarter said they research salaries and share discrepancies with their manager.

Before having that conversation, Harper said she urges employees to research the market rate for their role and be ready to discuss how theyB次元官网网址檝e grown in their responsibilities to justify a higher salary.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e looking for a raise, and you know that the market is paying higher, sharing that information is really valuable,B次元官网网址� said Harper, cautioning the research should not necessarily focus on individual postings.

B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 say your job is the administrator; one companyB次元官网网址檚 administrator does a different thing than another companyB次元官网网址檚 administrators. You donB次元官网网址檛 want to [say], B次元官网网址業 saw a job for an administrator that paid way more.B次元官网网址� YouB次元官网网址檝e got to be a little bit careful that the work is aligned.B次元官网网址�

Malachowski, whose counter-offer was accepted, said her advice for other young professionals itching for a higher salary than offered is B次元官网网址渄onB次元官网网址檛 be afraid to ask for it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about making that kind of human connection with a place that you actually want to work too,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚f theyB次元官网网址檙e the type of company that would pull the offer just because they feel you donB次元官网网址檛 provide that amount of value, thatB次元官网网址檚 probably not a place that you actually want to work for.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擲ammy Hudes, The Canadian Press