How to Negotiate a Salary in the Healthcare Field
Many potential new employees do not consider the option of negotiating their salary when they receive a job offer. A recent survey from Salary.com found that one in five people never negotiate their salaries. This number is estimated to be even smaller for people in healthcare careers, who may view their salary offers as more rigid and non-negotiable.
While it’s often true that healthcare jobs have specific salaries based on budgetary restrictions, experts have found that many employers expect a new hire to negotiate their compensation package. If you feel like you are not being sufficiently compensated for your level of experience or quality of work, do not let fear inhibit you -- take a look at these tips to negotiate your salary or ask for a raise confidently:
1. Self-Assess
In the majority healthcare jobs, pay is based on factors like experience, performance, and education level. Think about your experience and background, and ask yourself why you deserve a higher salary. If you are a recent graduate, this step may be more difficult for you as it is harder to prove your worth.
However, if you are an experienced healthcare professional applying for a new job, you can use your experience and previous performance to your advantage. Basically, you want to communicate to the employer why you deserve a higher pay level based on your background and accomplishments. Know yourself and your strengths, and be armed with facts to support your efforts.
2. Do Your Research
A great way to determine the salary you should ask for is to compare your position to other similar positions in your area. Conducting online research can help you gather salary data and see how much other people in your region and your experience level are making in related healthcare careers -- be sure to visit our salary trends page for more information!
By doing this you will have hard numbers to present to the employer and show them what you are worth.
3. Make Your Case
You have thought about your personal qualities, experience and education levels, and researched what salary you should be making -- now you need to prepare yourself for your pitch. Negotiating a salary can be daunting -- 28% of people reported feeling uncomfortable with the idea -- so a good way to prepare yourself is by practicing what you are going to say beforehand.
In addition, keep in mind that the more facts and data you have, the more convincing your argument will be. If you know your worth, you will be exponentially more confident in explaining why you deserve a pay increase.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Negotiating a salary at a new job can be overwhelming and a little terrifying -- you may be fearful of coming off as pushy or giving the wrong impression to your employer. However, if your case is justified, it is worth a try. In hospital careers, hiring solid, experienced employees is a priority to employers.
They want the most skilled workers in the profession, so if you can confidently prove your worth with facts, data, and your own qualifications, they may be more likely to consider your offer. Good luck negotiating!
