Don't leave salary increase up to chance or by wishing upon distant stars.

Here's 3 tips to negotiate your salary for a new job offer.

1. Factor in inflation.

Be aware of inflationary impacts, especially in the last 12 months.

Research what the inflation rate has been for your area specifically.

It's important because salary data provided for your profession, region and role (see tip #2) could be out of date due to inflation – And if you can't afford to take the job, then you can't take the job.

2. Do your market research.

Perform due diligence around market demands. Utilize professional organizations, talk to colleagues and pay for data if you have to.

Market research enables you to use the data as a third party entity. It relieves you of status or the position of pulling a number out of thin air.

Third party data establishes a baseline and takes the burden off of you. Be confident that you're not unreasonable in your request.

3. Know the pay laws or standards in your city/state.

When navigating new job offers and salary, people tend to worry about what they used to make or are currently making. 😟

We've been trained to worry because potential employers could demand W-2's etc in the past.

Now with new pay laws in NY, CA and PA, (granted they are highly imperfect and corporations are doing their best to dance around them)…

Even still, these changes indicate moving away from “what did you used to make?” and moving towards candidates demanding market value.

Master these 3 tips, and work with a Career Coach to strengthen your negotiation skills.

For more Career Development and Job Search tips, follow me on LinkedIn.

– Kelley Joyce, MBA, CPC

Kelley is a career development coach who is dedicated to helping people discover their career path and land their dream jobs. Kelley has served hundreds of professionals across the U.S., U.K., and Australia since 2012 to radically change their relationship with work.