SportsField Management December 2021 | Page 16

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT for personal use Have an accessible gym or pay for a gym membership Offer free or reduced counseling services Match retirement plan contributions up to a certain percent Provide life insurance Pay for additional education or professional development opportunities Offer free parking or other commuter benefits These are expenses you may currently pay for on your own that could potentially be covered by a prospective new employer , which can result in significant savings . If you are not sure if an organization provides a certain benefit or service , be sure to ask !
3 . Calculate the cost of living ( if applicable ). If you are considering relocating , the cost of living in your new location may vary drastically from your current location for better or worse . For example , if you make $ 50,000 in Salt Lake City , you will need to make around $ 69,500 in San Diego to live a similar lifestyle .
Utilize free online resources to help you estimate your salary needs if you are planning a move :
NerdWallet : https :// www . nerdwallet . com / cost-of-living-calculator
BestPlaces : https :// www . bestplaces . net / cost-of-living /
CNN Money : https :// money . cnn . com / calculator / pf / cost-of-living / index . html
Salary . com : https :// www . salary . com / research / cost-of-living
Tip : If you are relocating , do not forget to ask if the new organization offers cost reimbursement or a stipend to help with moving expenses .
4 . Know your value , and be able to articulate it . Once you have done your research and have identified the typical salary range for the position , organization , and location , it is time to evaluate your value so you can effectively demonstrate why you deserve a higher salary than what was offered to you . It is not enough to simply think you deserve more money . You need to prove it with specific examples of how you could bring value to an organization !
Ask any clarifying questions to help you better understand the job you will be performing , the expectations , time commitment , benefits package , etc .
Compare the offer to your current salary and the typical salary range you found through your research .
Thoroughly review the job description and compare your experience and qualifications with the required and preferred qualifications , as well as the job responsibilities .
Make a list of all the qualifications that you meet and / or exceed .
Consider any assets you have that make you a unique candidate . If you find that you meet or exceed most , if not all , of the qualifications and requirements of the job and / or have unique credentials that few other candidates possess , you likely have room to negotiate . Use this information as evidence to prove your worth and advocate for additional compensation .
5 . Request a meeting to discuss the job offer . Start by expressing gratitude for the offer and enthusiasm about the position . It is important to maintain a positive tone throughout the negotiation process . Next , demonstrate your value and propose a new salary based on your research . Be respectful with your request . You do not want to offend the organization by demanding an unreasonable amount of money . A requested increase of up to $ 5,000 is usually appropriate , but this will vary depending on your industry and specific situation . Be prepared to discuss where you accessed information on comparable salaries . Additionally , prior to the meeting , you need to decide how much money you are willing to take and when you will walk away from the offer entirely . Your initial request may not be accepted ; however , you may receive a counteroffer that meets your requirements .
Tip : Practice what you are going to say with a close friend , mentor , or career coach before you meet with the hiring manager .
Sample Salary Negotiation Conversations :
Sample 1 : “ I sincerely appreciate your offer and all of the details you shared throughout the interview process . Before accepting your offer , I did want to discuss the proposed salary . As I stated in my interview , I have more than 10 years of experience successfully leading grounds crews at a variety of collegiate and recreational sports complexes . I also recently completed my certification in horticulture . Based on my background and experience as well as the requirements of this position , I feel that a salary of $ 93,500 would be a fair figure . I would love to discuss this with you in more detail .”
Sample 2 : “ I am very excited about this position and the opportunity to work for such a highly regarded organization . After researching comparable positions in the area , I found the average salary for someone with my level of experience and skills is in the range of $ 75,000 - $ 85,000 . Would you consider increasing the salary for this position to achieve this range ?”
6 . Consider alternative forms of compensation . Due to a variety of factors , some organizations may not be able to budge on salary . However , that does not mean you cannot negotiate other benefits that may add value to the compensation package .
For example , you may be able to negotiate : Additional vacation days Late start or early release during the slow season Memberships in professional associations Covered expenses for a new certification , license , or training Relocation cost reimbursement or stipend Your start date sportsfieldmanagementonline . com December 2021 | SportsField Management
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