The Negotiating Challenge

Have you ever noticed that your friends are more likely to talk about the intimate details of their health or relationships than they are about how much money they make? Do you know how much money your cousin, your neighbor, or even your best friend makes? If so, you’re probably in the minority.

For some reason, people just don’t seem to feel comfortable talking about how much money they earn. If it’s “too much,” they’re afraid they might arouse jealousy. If it’s “too little,” they may be afraid others will look down on them. Most teenage children don’t even know how much money their parents make, much less how their parents may have negotiated to get that amount of money.

You’ll find that, in an interview situation, both you and the interviewer will have a tendency to get the salary discussion out of the way and clinch the deal as soon as possible. Unfortunately, nothing could be more detrimental to your ability to bargain with the employer for the salary you deserve. In this chapter we’re going to bring the issue of salary right out into the open. We’re going to talk about several things that are important to understand before you negotiate:

Taken from : Fearless Interviewing - How To Win The Job