Empowering Yourself in the Employee Market: A Guide to Salary Negotiation Jon Orozco, MBA, SHRM-SCP. Fractional Chief People Officer Find me on LinkedIn I landed my first job as a bank teller at Washington Mutual through the High School Intern Program. The pay was modest. $7.50 an hour. On day one of new employee orientation, the trainer dropped a line that stuck with me. “Keep your resume updated. It will reflect your value and prepare you for future opportunities.” I could not fully grasp the weight of it back then. But I understood the basic rule: keep the resume current if you want to thrive in the corporate world. I followed my passion for business and pursued college. My advisor recognized my strong interpersonal skills and problem-solving and pushed me toward Human Resources. I took her advice, completed my master’s in HR, and got nationally certified. I started as an HR business partner. I climbed the ladder. HR Director. Vice President. Chief HR Officer. Along the way I learned how to negotiate compensation as your career advances. Here is the thing. Most of us get discouraged the moment a posting goes live. We see the dream job, our passion lights up, and then imposter syndrome floods in. We doubt whether we hit every qualification. We tell ourselves we do not deserve it. Ignore that story. Put your hat in the ring and be counted. A quick guide to handling the negotiation. Do Your Homework Research market rates. Use neutral sites like PayScale.com, GlassDoor.com, and Indeed.com to pull salary ranges for your role. Knowing what top talent gets paid tells you what you are worth. Ask About the Salary Range Do not hesitate. When you apply, politely reach out to the hiring manager. Express interest in the position. Ask if they can share the range. This aligns expectations before you move further in the process. Prepare Thoroughly Study the job description. Know the requirements, the company, the products, the target audience. That lets you align your skills and experience with what they need. Practice interview questions. Research common ones. Tailor them to the role. Run them in front of a mirror or with friends. Builds confidence and delivery. Excel in the Interview Show your value. Use the interview to demonstrate your passion for continuous learning and your dedication to the field. Share your education, certifications, and personal interests that line up with the job. Multifaceted candidates leave a lasting impression. Ask insightful questions. Ask about company culture, how the team feels about working there, what success looks like in the role. Shows real interest. Also gives you information for your own decision. Engage in Salary Negotiations Highlight your value. When salary comes up, express enthusiasm for joining and ask if it is a good time to review the offer. State your desired salary. Tie it to your qualifications, skills, and experience. Make clear it is fair and equitable based on your research. Handling unexpected offers. If the offer is below expectations, thank them for the confidence shown and politely ask if they are the right person to discuss the offer. Then make your case. Skills. Achievements. Contributions. Ongoing Negotiations Explore internal opportunities. If you want a raise at your current company, bring it up during your annual review or regular check-ins. Share your performance rating. Ask to discuss a market rate adjustment. Use the same playbook. Remember this. You are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But you are meeting your employer at their budget. Get as much value as possible. Key Takeaways Knowledge is power. Research market rates so you can negotiate with confidence. Preparation leads to success. Study the description. Practice the questions. Gather company insights. Show up as a well-informed, motivated candidate. Articulate your value. State your skills, experience, and accomplishments clearly. Justify your desired salary. Salary negotiation is your chance to advocate for yourself and secure fair compensation. With preparation and confident but friendly communication, you can position yourself for success in the employee market.