Compensation in Argentina: how to negotiate your salary without fear

Negotiating your salary It is a very important skill to ensure better conditions when getting a job.

This is because companies sometimes offer salaries below the market, due to lack of knowledge of the average salary for the position, and good negotiation strategies can help clarify this issue.

So today we'll look at some tips that will help you solve this problem, without embarrassment or loss of opportunities. Continue here and check it out!

Negotiating your salary: arrogance or self-esteem?

When it comes to salary negotiation, this topic is subject to some controversy, after all, some believe that the company offers the salary it can afford and the candidate accepts it if they want.

This concept is not necessarily wrong, but it should be noted that job advertisers do not always conduct market research to understand the position.

As a result, they end up posting vacancies based on the company's own experiences, which include the average salaries paid to other team members.

The problem is that this is not always fair, after all, each position has its own functions, training and necessary experiences, which results in a compatible remuneration.

Therefore, when a candidate proposes a salary negotiation, this should not be seen as arrogance, but as self-esteem and recognition of the value of their services to the market.

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4 tips for negotiating your salary 

Salary negotiation is a necessary practice, because as we have seen, sometimes the recruiter does not know that he is offering a remuneration below the market.

In addition, in some cases the remuneration is not incompatible, but not adequate to the level of the professional. In this case, negotiation is the best way to ensure talent in the team.

Therefore, below we will see 4 tips that help to discuss this topic without compromising professionalism, or losing the opportunity due to the recruiter's discomfort.

1. Enter your last salary 

It is very rare that a candidate would be willing to accept a salary lower than that of his or her previous job, especially when he or she is still employed.

Therefore, by reporting your latest salary to the recruiter you are already reporting, even if indirectly, the minimum value to accept the vacancy.

So in many cases, simply talking about your latest salary opens up room for a conversation about negotiation.

To do this, try to convey this information in a natural and professional manner, since the idea is that the contractor himself understands the “indirect” information.

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2. Understand the company's payment potential. 

There are companies that are well positioned in the market, while others are still starting out, so they need to “hold on” to investments.

So when negotiating your salary, it's important to understand the company's pay potential: can they afford the salary you want?

Having this information is important to avoid embarrassing situations for both parties, after all, it is not possible to negotiate in impossible scenarios.

Sometimes, a salary reduction is not an attempt to devalue the professional, it is simply a possibility that the company has at that time.

In this case, if you notice that you have superior skills to those offered, it is worth thanking you for your attention and continuing the search for a compatible position.

But if you realize that the company can pay the desired salary, there is room for conversation.

3. Highlight your skills and differentiators 

When it comes to salary expectations, many people make the mistake of stating their dream salary, without considering whether their own skills and experience are compatible.

Remember that when hiring, the company takes into account the value that your profile will bring to the team, so it is unlikely that the salary paid will exceed this figure.

This is because companies are looking for profits, so paying a salary higher than what the employee delivered is considered a loss.

Therefore, when negotiating your salary, a good strategy is to focus on your skills and differentiators, as this shows the recruiter that the value you will deliver to the company outweighs a higher salary.

4. Ask about growth opportunities in the company

What would you prefer: earn a salary of 633 thousand pesos, with no increase planned, or start with 300 thousand pesos with a career plan with the possibility of doubling this amount each year?

The second option is certainly more worthwhile, so turning down the position thinking the starting salary is low may not be a good long-term strategy.

So, when negotiating your salary, remember to ask the recruiter if the company has a career plan and growth opportunities.

In some cases it can be profitable to start from the bottom and have the possibility of reaching higher positions, with compatible salaries.

Take Nike CEO John Donahoe, who started at the company as an intern and in 2020 rose to the top job at the company, where he will remain until October 2024.

In your case, if you had not accepted the internship, you probably would not have reached such an important position within the company.

So, when negotiating this, remember that starting salary is not always the most important information when considering an opportunity.

Also read: Growth Mindset: The Key to Continued Professional Success (imedias.me).