Shifting Your Negotiation Mindset: How to Earn $5-20K in 15 Minutes
Do you ever regret not negotiating earlier in your career?
I wish I had learned it in school so I felt more comfortable doing it right out the gate with my first job.
It wasn't until after college that a mentor showed me how to ask for what I wanted and how to work the system in my favor.
Now I help job seekers negotiate their offers.
I always start by sharing the most common mindsets job seekers have when negotiating.
It's very common to feel scared, awkward, unworthy, and fearful of negotiating.
These feelings often fuel two specific mindsets that show up most often in candidates.
Ima share the mindsets with you below and reframe them so you can go into negotiations feeling a bit more confident.
Lez go.
Here are the negotiation mindsets holding you back:
Fearful and Accommodating
This isthe most common mindsetI see in job seekers. Folks are scared to ask for what they want for fear of losing the offer or seeming greedy.
Often candidates feel like they should just be grateful which causes them to accept the offer as is without negotiating. No bueno.
Angry and Maximizing
This mindset often occurs when candidates have been burned in the past by other employers and now they want to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Candidates will often push the negotiation too far by not respecting the natural cadence of the back and forth in a negotiation. This often gives the company cold feet because they feel like they can't meet the asks and a deal won't be made. Also no bueno.
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Welcome to the Coconut Coaching newsletter where I share job search advice to help you land your next job in tech.
Hey friends,
Do you ever regret not negotiating earlier in your career?
I wish I had learned it in school so I felt more comfortable doing it right out the gate with my first job.
It wasn't until after college that a mentor showed me how to ask for what I wanted and how to work the system in my favor.
Now I help job seekers negotiate their offers.
I always start by sharing the most common mindsets job seekers have when negotiating.
It's very common to feel scared, awkward, unworthy, and fearful of negotiating.
These feelings often fuel two specific mindsets that show up most often in candidates.
Ima share the mindsets with you below and reframe them so you can go into negotiations feeling a bit more confident.
Lez go.
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Read more job search advice on the Blog
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Here are the negotiation mindsets holding you back:
Fearful and Accommodating
This is the most common mindset I see in job seekers. Folks are scared to ask for what they want for fear of losing the offer or seeming greedy.
Often candidates feel like they should just be grateful which causes them to accept the offer as is without negotiating. No bueno.
Angry and Maximizing
This mindset often occurs when candidates have been burned in the past by other employers and now they want to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Candidates will often push the negotiation too far by not respecting the natural cadence of the back and forth in a negotiation. This often gives the company cold feet because they feel like they can't meet the asks and a deal won't be made. Also no bueno.
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Let me reframe these mindsets for you by sharing some common truths about negotiating.
The Company Expects You to Negotiate - It's a common practice for companies to leave room in their initial offer for negotiation. They expect candidates to negotiate and are often prepared for it. By not negotiating, you might be missing out on the full potential of the offer.
The Worst That Could Happen Is They Don't Budge - The fear of losing an offer is often overstated. In reality, it's uncommon for an employer to rescind an offer simply because a candidate asked for more money. The worst-case scenario is usually that they say no, in which case you're no worse off than before.
Companies Want to Make a Deal - Employers invest significant time and resources in the hiring process. Once they have made an offer, they are typically motivated to close the deal. This gives you leverage to negotiate.
They Are Being Strategic, So You Should Be Too - Employers often make their initial offer with the expectation that there will be some negotiation. They may start lower than what they are willing to pay. Being strategic in your approach can help you get closer to your desired outcome.
The Biggest Leaps in Salary Happen When You Change Jobs - Job changes are often the best opportunities for significant salary increases. Use this to your advantage by negotiating assertively when you receive an offer.
Learn to shift to a strategic and confident mindset. It will give you the boost you need to negotiate every offer in your career.
Remember everything is negotiable always.
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Pro Tip: Get negotiation scripts for success.
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When I first ask clients if they have negotiated before I'm surprised to hear that most often folks have never done it.
It's never too late to start my peeps. Begin now with your next offer (or in your next promotion conversation) so you build the confidence to do it every time.
Remember this: Not negotiating your salary can have long-term financial consequences. Even a small increase in your starting salary can compound significantly over time, affecting not only your immediate income but also future raises, bonuses, and retirement contributions.
Shifting your mindset can lead to a more successful negotiation, potentially earning you an additional $5k - $20k in just 15 minutes impacting your earnings in the short and long term.
So always do it. And may the force be with you in every negotiation.
