How to Negotiate Salary for Your Next Career Move

Posted by Rockingham Resume on 11 Jan 2026

Negotiating your salary is an extremely difficult process, since it requires you to balance what you think you’re worth versus the amount an employer believes they’ll be able to afford. But, if it’s done correctly it can be positive for both parties, resulting in a better salary for the employee and greater employee engagement in their work. Here’s how you can negotiate your salary with confidence.

Principal Takeaways

  • Before you negotiate your salary make sure you research market rates as well as industry standards to confirm that the salary you request is reasonable.
  • Collect information through networking with colleagues, using online resources such as LinkedIn Salary and Glassdoor, and also reaching out to professional networks.
  • Plan your talk points ahead of time, including education & certifications as well as years of relevant experience, the results and achievements and unique skills qualities, industry knowledge, and potential for training.
  • In the course of negotiations, you should be confident and articulate but also flexible and open-minded. You should highlight tangible results you’ve achieved in your previous positions.
  • Keep a positive and upbeat tone throughout the conversation and make sure you are listening actively.

Do your research

Prior to entering any salary negotiation, you need to conduct thorough research on standard industry rates and market rates to ensure that your salary request is realistic. Things that may affect the amount you are offered could be experience level, company size, and location (?). A great method of gathering information is through networking with colleagues or other professionals who are in the same area of work.

Research Online

With the help of some online sources, like [LinkedIn Salary] (https http://www. linkedin. com/salary) and [Glassdoor] (https http://www. glassdoor. com/Salaries/index. htm) You can find a more substantial approach towards the range of benchmarking salaries companies pay for the same job. It will provide you with an idea of the current market rate and a few other facets of the position.

Your Network is Vital

Find out more about your situation by talking with colleagues who have been in similar roles or reaching out through professionals networks in addition to brainstorming professionals in professional organizations.

Make Talk points

The time spent in preparing for a negotiations is always a good time spent. You’ll be more confident in presenting your case if you have a clearly defined outline of your talking points prior to the time.

Here are a few ideas of things you might want to think about including in your salary negotiation:

  • Training and certification
  • Experience gained through years of relevant work
  • Results and achievements
  • Unique set of skills and attributes (e.g. bilingualism)
  • Industry knowledge
  • Potential for training

A notepad or notebook can be helpful during conversations so that you don’t miss any crucial points.

Be confident & concise

In a negotiation for a salary, it’s important to be confident and articulate. Talk clearly about your work experience, achievements and job expectations. It’s essential to maintain an optimistic tone throughout the discussion so that the employer feels like you’re not coming across as insecure.

Show tangible results

Simply stating that one is committed, hardworking, and goal-oriented may not be enough to make an appealing appeal. So put forward clear statistics regarding the ways in which previous jobs made difference in companies or what are the most valuable qualities that benefit the organization.

Keep your mind open

If the employer isn’t able to your requested salary or compensation package being flexible and open can allow room for dialog. It is possible to inquire about alternative incentives like performance-based bonus models instead of Base salary(? ).

You must remain professional throughout the negotiation - regardless of how successfully or not: being too combative or making unreasonable demands is likely to lead to a negative outcome for everyone affected.

Practice active listening

Listening is equally as important as communicating in these types of conversations. Listen attentively from the any other participant during negotiations, observing specific requests and resolving doubts as much as you can while keeping to the initial request. Ultimately both parties should arrive at acceptable outcomes.

Take what you have learned from these discussions and incorporate them into future talks you’re likely to participate in. The tips mentioned above will go far in maximizing the chance of achieving positive, mutually beneficial results.

Your network is important Contact friends and acquaintances who have held similar roles or reach out via professionally-oriented networks as well as brainstorming members within professional organizations.
Plan talking points Education & certification, Years of relevant experience, Results and accomplishments, Unique skill set and qualities (e.g., bilingualism) and industry knowledge. ability to train
Be confident & concise Talk clearly about your personal experiences, achievements and job expectations. Highlight Tangible Results.
Stay flexible Find out about other incentives, such as bonuses based on performance instead of Base salary. (?). Be sure remain professional throughout the negotiation process.
Practice active listening Listening is equally important as speaking during these kinds of conversations. Take what you have learned from these conversations and incorporate them into future negotiations that you’re likely to take part in.


Are you ready for your next job shift? Explore for our Rockingham Resume ‘s services today!

Frequently Answered Questions

What is salary negotiation?

The process involves negotiating and deciding on the compensation package for a job. In this negotiation it is possible to discuss not only your base salary but also additional benefits such as retirement plans, health insurance and much more.

Why is it so important to negotiate a salary?

Negotiating your salary could give you a better financial future and also show that you’re confident about your worth. It can also help you keep money off the table.

When should I begin to negotiate a salary?

It is best to begin negotiations after you have received an offer, so that everyone is conscious of what’s being discussed. In this way, negotiations will focus on securing ideal terms while avoiding surprises.

What if I am happy with the offer without negotiating?

If you get an offer and are pleased with it, there may be no need to negotiate. It’s nevertheless important to have transparent communication about what the employers are willing to offer with regards to things like compensation for training or performance-based bonuses.

Do I have the option of negotiating my salary when changing career paths entirely?

Negotiating your salary after changing career paths can require extra preparation due to the fact that your previous experience might not directly translate or overlap with new responsibilities. Learn about the salaries similar to those in similar industries pay, to develop a thorough knowledge of the realistic expectations you can set for you, based on the specific circumstances.

Are you ready for your next job move? Check the services of our Rockingham Resume ‘s services today!

Rockingham resume helped me land my dream job. Not only was the service second to none, but they genuinely cared to help me. After applying to more then 50 jobs and no call back, literally within a few days of getting my resume professionally written by Rockingham Resume I couldn't keep up. If only I knew this was going to make such an impact to my job search I would of acted sooner. I cannot thank you guys enough, you have literally helped me land the job of my dreams.
Sandra Tricoli
Absolutely fantastic professional speedy service, didn't need to request/make any modifications to resume or cover letters. Very friendly to deal with. Highly recommended.
Grant Leane
I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere with my job hunting so I thought I would give the professionals a go. I was so pleased with the thoroughness from Rockingham Resume. They make you do a little bit of work for them so they can get a really good feel of who you are about, they then take your talents and showcase them in a truly polished professional series of documents. Thanks for getting me out of the jobhunt blues!
Colin Strike
Thank you to everyone at Rockingham Resume for all your hard work and efforts! I had a very positive experience with you and I love what you have done for me. Thank you. Would highly recommend.
Nina A Majewski
Very well detailed resume written by Tanja, beyond my expectations.
Luke C
This is well worth the investment. So if you are tossing up whether you should do it or not just pull the trigger. I dealt with Tanja and she was incredibly professional. She communicated thoroughly. Provided a timely turnaround. The final outcome was brilliant. Admittedly I would have never had the capacity to put that much time and effort in. It's crazy how someone who is writing about you can capture you better than you can yourself. Massive thanks to Tanja. Highly recommended Rockingham Resume.
Shelby Allen
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value Thank you to a great Team who have been a terrific help and so efficient. Sonia
Sonia Phillips
Tanja has put together a fantastic resume and cover letter for me. Her understanding, enthusiasm and turn around was great and I could not be happier with the result. Thanks again Tanja!
D. Ah
Fantastic I highly recommend this company they compiled an amazing resume and cover letter in PDF format and word, don't worry if you find computers frustrating as I do they will book an interview with you over the phone. The consultant took about a hour (less if you have everything organised which I did not). Also they will sort out your LinkedIn profile if you have one. Again amazing. Thanks again for your help. Rob
Rob Warner
Thank you for the professional resume and the friendly service.
Danilo Spasojevic
The Art of Negotiating Your Next Job Offer’s Salary Package

Resume

We provide professional resume writing services.

The Art of Negotiating Your Next Job Offer’s Salary Package

Cover Letter

We provide professional cover letter writing services.

The Art of Negotiating Your Next Job Offer’s Salary Package

LinkedIn Profile

We provide professional linkedin profile writing services.

The Art of Negotiating Your Next Job Offer’s Salary Package

Contact Us

Click the button below to get in touch.

About Us &

What We Do

We provide professional resume writing services and our very experienced resume writers will make sure your new resume stands out among the crowd.

We are a team of highly qualified and seasoned Recruiters, consultants and HR Professionals who are committed to delivering an excellent, well-written resume or cover letter.

We pride ourselves on our extensive understanding of top-practice hiring methodologies and Australian recruitment standards. Plus, our expertise in a wide variety of professions, industries, and areas means that we can produce a high-quality, impactful resume that suits your personal requirements.

Our goal is to provide you with an impressive, striking resume that is perfectly maximised for success in the competitive Rockingham job market.

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our writing services, so you can be sure that you will be fully satisfied with your new cover letter or resume.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Make an Enquiry

Request a Quote

Fill out the form below to get in touch or call us today on
1300 871 072