Handle your salary negotiations like a pro, so you don't leave money on the table.

That's great advice, but often hard to enact. Many wonder if employers are even willing to negotiate in these times. The answer is YES!

According to a recent survey conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), 90% of HR professionals say salaries are negotiable. They also stated that they often have limited power to improving bonuses or benefits plans. So, it becomes imperative to know what to ask for and exactly how to go about asking. In fact, the Department of Labor reports that negotiating salary typically results in a 15% increase. Here are some strategies to use to come out way ahead in your negotiations.

• Go for the cash up front. – Most jobs have a range for the salary. Rarely is the top the first figure offered. Express your enthusiasm for the job. Be sure you have gathered the facts on salary and perks then say something like, "With my background and skill set I expected the position to pay a bit more. Can we discuss it?" Simply asking can often get you thousands more dollars in just minutes where it could take up to three or four years to earn that increase.

• Ask for the perks you are most likely to get. – Employers are more likely to agree to an extra vacation week, flextime, and covering relocation costs. If the medical insurance has a large co-payment to cover your family you can often ask to increase your salary base to cover this expense.

• For executive level positions, think long-term expenses. -- It's getting more common to negotiate a severance package into your hiring plan. Having a severance agreement in place is a great benefit, along with relocation expense coverage, if and when the time comes to move on.

This Month's Success Story
Ken, a career counseling client, put these tips to work when he was offered a Purchasing Manager position at a Fortune 500 company. The offer was $10,000 more than his current job paid. By pointing out some of his top strengths, Ken showed the employer how the company would benefit from hiring him. Ken got the company to increase their offer, making his new salary $74,000 ($22,000 higher than his old job).

This Month's Resource -- Interview Advantage
Prepare to Give a Winning Job Interview! There are no second chances in a job interview. The Interview Advantage prepares you to finish first with a proven strategy that takes you from the phone interview, to the final interview, all the way to the salary negotiation.

The Interview Advantage, a comprehensive 3-tape program, plus Robin's blockbuster book "60 Seconds and You're Hired," seen on Oprah, prepares you for your job interview by revealing:

• 89 interview questions -- and their answers!
• The secrets interviewers use to narrow candidates
• The most common interview pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Negotiation techniques for securing the best salary and benefits package

Master the Interactive Practice Tape and you will enter your job interview confident and well-prepared!

"Robin Ryan's interview book worked wonders. I found the 'Questions and Answers' section most useful. I didn't encounter a single question during an interview that I hadn't already been prepped for by her book. It's thanks to her I landed my great new job." -- Stan Rice, Insurance Broker

You can order Robin Ryan's books and audio programs online at www.robinryan.com/careerCoachProducts.htm or call 425.226.0414.

Career Consultations with America's most popular career coach
Robin works with clients all across the U.S., so no matter where you live America's top career coach can provide the best guidance possible. Robin offers individual career counseling services with several different program options. Just go to www.RobinRyan.com or call us for details at 425.226.0414.

Robin Ryan's Speaking Engagement

Robin Ryan is the featured Keynote Speaker at a luncheon meeting of the Lake Washington Chapter, The Society for Human Resources Management.

Tuesday, April 13, 2004
The Bellevue Club
Bellevue, Washington

TOPIC: "Make your HR Career your Dream Job
Register by contacting the Lake Washington Chapter, SHRM
www.lwhra.org or www.gwenfinch@spherion.com

Robin Ryan has appeared on Oprah, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, CNN, CNBC and is considered America's top career coach. She has recently appeared as career expert on the Dr. Phil Show. She is the best-selling author of: 60 Seconds & You're Hired!; Winning Resumés; Winning Cover Letters, and What to Do with the Rest of Your Life. She's the creator of the highly acclaimed audio training program Interview Advantage and The DreamMaker.

© Copyright 2003 Robin Ryan, all rights reserved. Contact author at Robin Ryan, 14404 93rd Street, Newcastle, WA 98059, or call her at 425.226.0414, or e-mail RobinRyan@aol.com