9 things to avoid when negotiating a salary

I came across this article the other day. It gives some helpful tips about negotiating your salary. 



You’re 96% sure that you’re ready to schedule a meeting with your boss to ask for a raise. Or perhaps you’re nearing the end of the job interview process and an offer is in sight. However, if you’re like me, you have definitely put your foot in your mouth a time or two saying the wrong thing at the absolute worst moment. Doh!

Don’t mess up. Don’t mess up. No matter how many times you rehearse what to say, there’s always that risk of fumbling right at the five-yard line. Instead of panicking, get prepared.

To coach us along in the salary negotiation process, we turned to Josh Doody, author of Fearless Salary Negotiation. “A salary negotiation is a collaboration, and a key ingredient of a successful collaboration is good communication,” says Doody. “It’s important to be very clear with what you communicate to avoid ambiguity, which could complicate things and slow the negotiation process.”

Instead of Doody simply sharing the things you should say, he’s here to warn you about the potential negotiation landmines to avoid when angling for the salary you deserve. Here are nine things to never say in a salary negotiation:

1. “I’M CURRENTLY MAKING . . .”

The most common question recruiters will ask a candidate is something like, “So where are you right now in terms of salary, and what are you looking for if you make this move?” Don’t fall for it.

Instead of asking for “more” salary or “more” vacation, this is your time to get specific.
“I call this the ‘dreaded salary question,’ and it’s tricky because it usually comes up early in the interview process, and most candidates don’t think of it as part of a salary negotiation even though it is,” says Doody.

“Answering this question by disclosing numbers can make it very difficult to negotiate effectively later on because it can box the candidate in. Once they disclose current or desired salary, the offers they get are very likely to be tied to those numbers. That can be very expensive if the company might have offered them a much higher salary than they disclosed.”

2. “MY DESIRED SALARY IS . . .”

Don’t disclose your current or desired salary! “Recovering from this mistake can be tricky and each situation is unique. But one way to untether from those original numbers is to review the benefits package for deficiencies,” says Doody. “If the health insurance offering, paid vacation, target bonus, or other aspects of the benefits package are underwhelming, the candidate can use those as reasons to ask for a higher salary to compensate.”

Instead, try something like:

I’m not comfortable sharing my current salary. I would prefer to focus on the value I can add to this company rather than what I’m paid at my current job. I don’t have a specific number in mind for a desired salary, and you know better than I do what value my skillset and experience could bring to your company. I want this move to be a big step forward for me in terms of both responsibility and compensation.

3. “SORRY”

According to Doody, “negotiating is uncomfortable, and our natural tendency is to try to smooth the edges on a difficult conversation. Saying sorry could signal to the recruiter or hiring manager that you might be willing to back down, and that could be expensive. Don’t apologize for negotiating.”

4. “NO”

“You want to continuously improve your situation throughout the negotiation and you do that by avoiding negative language and focusing on positive language. Instead of “No, that doesn’t work for me” (two negative words), you can say, “I would be more comfortable with . . .” (a more positive expression).

“Saying sorry could signal to the recruiter or hiring manager that you might be willing to back down . . . Don’t apologize for negotiating.”

Negative words slow things down and may put up walls that make collaboration difficult. Using only positive words is difficult at first, but you’ll get better with practice.”

5. “YES”

While this may sound like the exact word to use when speaking to an HR recruiter, Doody insists it should be used with caution. “You’ll often get a job offer that seems really appealing, and it might be far more than you expected. Your instinct in that case might be to just accept the offer because it’s so good.”

But is it too good?

“It’s possible you underestimated your value in this situation. Instead of “Yes,” formulate a counteroffer to see how much you can improve it. The negotiation should end with the company saying “Yes” to you. Once they say “Yes” to you, or you run out of things to ask for, then you are finished negotiating.”

6. “LATER”

As in, “I can deal with that after I start.” Procrastinators, this one’s for you. “Sometimes it’s easier to avoid uncomfortable parts of a negotiation by deferring those parts of the conversation until after you’re hired. That can be a very expensive mistake because you won’t have the same latitude to negotiate and improve your position once you’re in the door. Push through the discomfort and get the best possible result now.”

7. “TRY”

In expressions like, “Can we try . . .?” “’try’ is a passive word that leaves a lot of wiggle room, and you don’t want that,” insists Doody. “It’s easy for someone to say—honestly or not—”We’ll try…” and reply with, “We tried and it just didn’t work out.” Don’t ask them to “try” to do something. Instead, use more positive language like “I would be more comfortable with…”.”

8. “MORE”

While this word seems counter intuitive because you are negotiating to get more, it’s a word that is too general for a successful negotiation. Instead of asking for “more” salary or “more” vacation, this is your time to get specific.

“Don’t leave things to the imagination once you’re negotiating. Instead of “Could you budge on the salary?” say, ‘I would be more comfortable with a base salary of $105,000.’”

9. “WANT”

Lastly, the word “want” can tank negotiations. Using it can undercut the entire premise of your argument that you deserve to be paid more and you deserve a more competitive salary. Go into a negotiation with facts and figures, making a compelling case. Start with printing out your results using a tool like Glassdoor’s personal salary estimator, Know Your Worth. See what you base salary should be and see what the industry norms are.

“You could talk about what you want, which just isn’t all that important. Or you could talk about what the company wants, which is not as potent as talking about what the company needs, which are the most important thing,” adds Doody. “Focus on the company’s needs and how you can help meet those needs so they can easily see your value and work to compensate you for it.”

Get your money. It's not about what you are worth...it's about what you can negotiate. 

how to get more done at WORK

here's another article that should help you dedicated workers LOL...



Ever have those workdays when you know by 10 a.m. that you won’t be making it home for dinner? Instead of resolving to work after hours, tap into these seven surprising secrets for boosting your productivity. 

1. Work for 52 Minutes, Break for 17

That’s the schedule that super-productive people follow, according to a study conducted by DeskTime, a time-tracking app that monitors your work efficiency. The app analyzed its top 10 percent most productive users and found that on average, they took 17-minute breaks throughout the day. 

That aligns with previous research touting the stress-busting benefits of breaks. One Australian study found that employees who took a short walk at lunchtime felt more enthusiastic and more relaxed in the afternoon than those who didn’t head outdoors.

But breaking every 17 minutes all day long isn’t exactly realistic—according to this formula, you’d be on a break for 2 full hours of your day. Consider saving this strategy for when you’re working on something particularly complicated or draining. 

Research from Singapore also shows that brief “cyberloafing”—i.e. watching funny YouTube videos—provides an instant recovery from the humdrum of day-to-day work, helping people stay productive for longer amounts of time. 

2. Drown Out Chatter with the Right Soundtrack 

When you need to churn out work on a tight deadline, the last thing you want to hear is your chatty cube mate shooting the bull. 

Putting in earbuds to drown him out seems like the obvious fix, but blasting your favorite tunes can actually be counterproductive. Research in Applied Cognitive Psychology found that listening to pop music with lyrics while performing memory and reading comprehension tests led to lower recall and poorer comprehension than doing the tasks in silence. 

But another study from the Acoustical Society of America found that listening to natural sounds, like flowing water, could boost your mood and productivity. 

3. Hide Your Phone 

Sure, you know that browsing Instagram probably won’t help your work performance. But research from the University of Southern Maine found that simply having your cell phone on your desk distracts you during complex tasks.

Is answering the occasional text really all that bad? Science says yes. In a study at Michigan State University, people who were interrupted from a task for just 2.8 seconds made twice as many mistakes when they returned to it—and a 4.2-second disruption led to three times as many flubs. 

4. Find Your Zone

There are certain times of the day where you’re totally in the zone, like after your morning cup of coffee, or maybe right after your lunchtime run. Keeping track of when you’re at your best and capitalizing on that time will help you knock out top to-do list items, says Kathryn McKinnon, Harvard Business School Executive Coach and author of Triple Your Time Today. 

“If you’re spending your most productive time of day doing email or other tasks that aren’t your true priorities, you won’t get your best work done,” says McKinnon. Save the important stuff for when your mind is sharp and your energy is high. 

5. Break Free from Email

One of McKinnon’s clients was drowning in emails and came to her for help. After assessing the guy’s workday, McKinnon found that he was spending an average of 4 hours a day just on email, and 60 percent of the messages weren’t related to his highest priorities. 

It’s 2015—there’s no getting around a digital inbox. But highly productive executives follow the 6-12-6 rule, says McKinnon: They scan their email early in the morning, (6 a.m.), again at lunch (12 p.m.) and at the end of the day (6 p.m.). 

If someone has a really pressing message for you, they’ll give you a call or swing by your office. Otherwise, all emails can wait. 

6. Get a Head Start on Tomorrow 

Prep tomorrow’s to-do list before you head home today, suggests productivity coach Cathy Sexton, founder of TheProductivityExperts.com. 

When you’re already in work mode, it’s only going to take you a few minutes to assess what you really need to get done first thing in the morning. So taking an extra 15 minutes at the end of the day to strategize might save you up to an hour tomorrow A.M., says Sexton. 

Keep your list organized by splitting it in two: Have a master list with tasks you can complete at a comfortable pace, and a must-do list with no more than three top priority items on it, Sexton suggests. 

7. Analyze Your Distractions

Just when you’re making progress on a tricky task, your coworker knocks on your office door. If daily distractions often throw off your workflow, consider the source, says Sexton.

Do an experiment: Every time you’re interrupted, jot down who it was and what it was about. You might find that it’s the same person always interrupting, or the same issue that repeatedly occurs.


In that case, you may be able to nip common problems in the bud before they become distractions, says Sexton. 

best advice about MONEY

Here is a pretty good article that I found the other day. You may find it useful...

What secrets about managing money do the rich know that the average person doesn't?

Below are some strategies that helped the rich get rich:

1. Track spending.

Know where your money is going. Look at your bank and credit-card statements every month. You'll uncover certain expenses for things you're not even using, such as club memberships, subscriptions, and automatic charges for services you've never used. Often these automated charges occur after you enroll in some "free" promotion, where the free part expires after a promotional period.

2. Periodically audit expenses.

Many expenses can change over time — like insurance costs. They can go up or down over time. Make sure you are paying the lowest insurance rates for homeowners, auto, and life insurance. Check your health insurance. You could be paying for dependents who left the nest, are on their own, and have coverage through their employer. Cable and internet costs can increase without you being aware of it. Calling your cable or internet provider to secure the lowest fees available should be an annual process.

Periodically shop cellphone plans. Increased competition in the cellphone industry is driving down monthly rates. Make sure you aren't paying more than you have to.

3. Purchase good quality used cars.

New cars lose value as soon as they come off the lot. Buying good quality used cars allows you to take advantage of this loss in value anomaly prevalent in the auto industry. Forty-four percent of the rich in my study purchased good quality used cars.

Typically these are cars coming off a lease. They may be two or three years old. At 125,000 miles, most cars will require some annual repairs. Expect to incur about $1,500 a year in repair costs when you hold on to cars beyond this 125,000-mileage mark.

That is still significantly less than you'd spend on a loan or lease for a new car.

4. Use coupons.

Even the wealthy in my study engaged in this money-savings habit. Thirty percent of the rich used coupons to buy food. Why pay more than you have to on groceries or other expenses?

5. Keep your housing costs below 30% of your monthly net pay.

Contrary to what you've been led to believe, most of the rich don't live in McMansions. Sixty-four percent of the rich in my study live in modest homes.

6. Bargain shop.

Far too many make spontaneous purchases, paying more than they otherwise would. That's a Poverty Habit. Shopping for bargains and taking advantage of sales events is a Rich Habit.

7. Take advantage of credit-card reward dollars.

Many credit cards have rewards programs attached to them. Typically, these rewards programs generate reward dollars that you can use at participating vendors. For example, the American Express reward program gives you about .88% back on every dollar you spend using an American Express credit card.

One of the participating vendors with American Express is Barnes and Noble, and 50,000 American Express Rewards Dollars translates into $500 in Barnes and Noble gift cards. You can buy 20 $25 Barnes and Noble gift cards and give them out as gifts for occasions like birthdays and holidays, and it'll cost you nothing.

8. Establish savings goals.

The rich make a habit of allocating their savings into different buckets, or categories. In order to do this, you need to establish an overall amount of savings you're willing to set aside each month.

For example, if you decide to set aside 10% of your monthly income, you might allocate 5% into your retirement bucket, 2% into your specific expense bucket, 1.5% into your unexpected expense bucket, and 1.5% into your cyclical expense bucket.

9. Automate the savings process.

This is where the rubber meets the road: implementation. Automatically direct each of the above savings amounts into each bucket's separate account via automatic withdrawal from your net pay or from your bank account. Automating your savings forces you to live below your means because you save first and spend what's left.

Money management is a process. Accumulating wealth is a process. It's all one big process this thing we call financial success.

But if you don't have a process or adopt good money habits, like the rich in my study, you will never be able to save. It just won't happen.

When you develop good money habits, you feel like you are finally in control of your life. It's empowering and it will increase your wealth over time. Keep in mind that it took most of the wealthy in my study 32 years to become rich. Accumulating wealth takes time and discipline.