Do your homework before negotiating your contract - or your salary. It's important for the process to unfold as you want it to.
Remember:
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Research the salary level in your industry or the salary development at your workplace before starting to negotiate salary. And decide on an absolute minimum salary.
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Salary is far from the only aspect that affects your satisfaction with the employment conditions. Consider whether, for example, a company car, a free phone, a home PC, internet connection, or more days off have greater significance for you and your family than a salary increment. Consider what your priorities are.
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Base your negotiation on the value you add to the company, not on your own needs. See yourself as an investment. Make a list of the results you have achieved for the company, as well as areas where you have developed or improved. Be honest and specific about your results. And make sure they can be proven or substantiated through examples as much as possible.
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Think about what counterarguments you can expect and prepare a good response to them.
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Consider the company's situation. Is it in a favorable development, does it require more people with your qualifications - is there a prospect of a lot of overtime, travel, or growing responsibility for you?
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Set the goal for what needs to be in place before you part ways - otherwise, you might end up with a "we'll see..."
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Get the final compromise in writing - to ensure that both you and the employer understand the conditions. But be prepared for the final commitment to be given only after the manager has had a moment to think.
Avoid as much as possible:
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Issuing an ultimatum. Instead, have some alternatives ready that you can present.
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Pitying your boss. You both benefit from a satisfactory solution.
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Talking about your poor personal finances - you have that under control, right?
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Comparing your salary with colleagues. Instead, use the common salary statistics.
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Resorting to personal attacks or lying about your abilities.
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Straying from the topic. You must be determined to achieve your goal in order to reach it.
