Jump On Board
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Written by The Voice of Reason
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Dear Reason,
I need tips on negotiating. I just received an offer and I know it's a low ball, but I'm just so bad at negotiating for myself.
Negotiating Ninny
My Dear NN,
Oh, how I can relate to you! I have learned the negotiating lesson the hard way – through far too much experience. The key factor in dealing with jobs and money is letting go of any fear you have that asking for more will lose you the job. It won’t. The absolutely WORST case scenario when you are negotiating is that they’ll tell you that they can’t pay you a cent more than they’ve offered and you’ll have to make a decision as to whether the job is worth taking for less money than you want and feel you deserve. That’s it. You will NOT lose a job offer because you ask for more money. Period.
1. NEVER DISCUSS MONEY AT THE BEGINNING. I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it again darling. The interview is not only the opportunity for the employer to see if you’re the right match for them; it’s ALSO the opportunity for you to see if they fit in with your requirements as an employee. There’s no reason that money needs to come into play before you’ve both decided there’s potential in the room. Go in and wow the interviewer – with your outstanding knowledge, your sparkling personality, and your fabulous skills. You’re MUCH more likely to get them to budge on the money front once they’ve already decided that they like you. If you walk into the room and say you want more than they’re offering before they’ve even had the opportunity to get to know you, then you’re doing yourself a disservice from the start. Make them want you and then let them know what they’ll have to pay to get you. The only time you might lose out on a job because of money is right at the very beginning. If you ask for too much before they’ve learned who you are and what you’re worth, then they may just cut the interview short.
2. ASK FOR WHAT YOU’RE WORTH. Don’t let fear stop you from asking for what you feel you truly deserve. If they’ve offered $75,000 and you feel you’re worth 100, then by all mean - ask for 100! If you say, “I was thinking more like 90-100” then they’re going to start negotiating down from 90 because you’ve let them know that’s acceptable. If you tell them you want 100, they’ll come back at you with 85, you’ll say “How about 90?” and it will be a done deal. Of course, we all know in the Hollywood assistant world these are outrageous numbers, but you’re all worth it and I’m hoping you’ll use this down the road to get every last cent that you’re worth.
3. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR MORE. If you’ve gotten a job offer, then they like you. They want to work with you. There’s nothing wrong with asking them to consider paying you more. And if they come back to you and tell you they plain and simply can’t offer more money right now but you still really want this job, there are options. My advice? Let them know that you’d like to take the job even though the salary is less than you’re worth but that you’d like to have a 6 month review (rather than the standard year…or in some Hollywood companies…NONE AT ALL) to go over salary after they’ve seen how much you have added to the company. This lets the employer know that you are willing to take the job for less because you really want to work for them, but that you still believe you’re worth more than they’re willing to give.
Money is never an easy subject. Just be confident and know what you’re worth. Everyone always wants to get more for less. And can you blame them? I mean, I know I love a good bargain. So they’ll try to get you as a bargain as well. Just let them know that you’re not a bargain – but they’ll get penny’s worth out of you. The Voice of Reason Send your questions to
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About Voice of Reason
Editor's note: the original Voice of Reason is currently on hiatus.Please accept my advice in her place. Send questions to
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Reason started her career in entertainment in her parent’s living room staging the musical “Annie” with the neighborhood kids. Since then, she’s had stints in both New York and Los Angeles working in film, theater, and television. Reason resided in Manhattan for six years, where she interned for an independent film company and then went back to her roots to work for the producers of Avenue Q, Baz Luhrmann’s Production of Puccini’s La Bohome, and Rent, among others. In 2004 Reason moved to La-La land where she was faced with traffic, perpetual sun, and the world of television. Reason landed a plum job working for a major network and after several months of wondering whether or not she should just go back to school to be a kindergarten teacher, was recently promoted off of a desk. In hindsight, it was well worth the wait.
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