[misanthrope87]

I MAY need to know how to do this soon if I get hired. But I’ve only been working at my first job ever for a year so I have no idea what you’re supposed to do… O_o. Any tips?

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[kccmom]

If they ask you, do some research on the average salary for your area/position and go with that. However, the advice I got from someone working for a Big Four was don't try to negotiate a salary. They have some pretty standard salaries and they frown upon trying to negotiate a higher salary. He told me they actually withdrew an offer from someone who asked for more money. I work for a smaller accounting firm and they just gave me a number, no negotiaing. Not sure if that helped much.

[misanthrope87]

Yes actually I'm talking to big 4's. Withdrawing an offer for negotiating? That's too harsh.

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[Herbieherb]

Think about why you think you deserve more and be honest…if what you can offer them is justified, they will do it. If you got nothing special, they will just hire one of the other hundred candidates.

NEW YORK- DONE

[MikeInMIA]

If you are just asking for more money for the sake of asking then I don't think withdrawing offers is too harsh. They have alternates they can offer the job to instead and save money. Large firms also have a pretty good sense of the “going rate” and are pretty competitive.

[Anonymous]

I'm only negotiated a salary once when I was being considered for two positions and was offered the lower one. I was over-qualified for the lower position, but underqualified for the level above it. I was also already employed at the time, and the intial offer was less than what I was currently making. I told them thanks, and that I was still interested in the position but was really looking for $$ amount…the hr person took a few minutes to crunch some numbers, and said that they could give me $ amount, but that they really couldnt start me off at $$ because there were others who had been there longer and they couldnt start me out at the same level it took them years to get to (even though I was significantly more qualified than they were).

I said thanks, and we parted ways.

For the most part, I wouldn't negotiate salary unless the offer was below market rate, or below what I was already making. But if you have a spouse that has insurance, you could negotiate not to take benefits in exchange for a higher salary. I've heard of some people being able to do this, but I dont know how common it is.

[Anonymous]

I like Robert Half's Salary Guide. Compare it, and if your offer is not within the perimeters, show them the guide and say, it needs to be this.

If the offer is fair, take it and shut up and be a good little accountant.

[Author]

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