by Deborah S. Hildebrand

Created on: November 21, 2008   Last Updated: January 03, 2011

Six Tips on How to Negotiate Your Salary and Benefits Package

You've come to the end of the interview process and you're ready to negotiate your salary and benefits package. This is the part that makes you nervous. On the one hand, you don't want to ask for too much for fear that you won't get the job. On the other hand, you don't want to low ball yourself and not only lose out on possible earnings or perks, but perhaps look a bit desperate.

If the topic of salary and benefits hasn't already been put on the table or even if it has, and you are wondering the best way of approaching the subject, here are six tips you need to keep in mind.

Do Your Homework

Before you can ask for anything, you need to have a jumping off point. That means doing research to determine what the typical salary might be for the position. This can come from a number of sources.

First and foremost, you need to look at what you are currently earning and decide how this position compares. Is the work and responsibility equal to or greater than what you are currently doing? This might mean a lateral move or a small increase. Are you changing career fields or industries? This might require a salary cut. Tradition has dictated that you should make a move to a new job when it pays at least ten percent higher than your current salary. However, it really depends on the circumstances.

Next, check out current salary recommendations on line at websites such as Careerbuilder's CBSalary.com, salaryexpert.com and salary.com. However, don't limit yourself to just what you find here. If you know someone in human resources - at your current employer or somewhere else - see if they can help by providing a salary range for your position. You might also want to look at job postings on line to see if any list the salary range.

Once you have all this information, you can probably come up with a competitive salary that works best for you.

Avoid Saying It's Negotiable

Sure, lots of people might recommend this as a safe option to deflect the salary question; however, we all know that job seekers have an ideal figure in mind. Besides, most people - candidates and employers alike - are willing to negotiate, so you're just stating the obvious.

If you become unwilling to put your cards on the table, you may appear to be rigid, difficult and secretive, characteristics that most employers don't want in an employer. Others may think you lack creativity or are clueless for not having a better response. Instead, you might

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