Career Coaching Blog

There are certain times in an individual's career in which you have the opportunity to significantly improve your salary. Changeing careers or accepting a promotion are certainly two of the best opportunities to negotiate a better salary contract. From a negotiating standpoint, a potential new employee with sought after skills has the most leverage BEFORE starting the job. So what should be negotiated? Consider the following:

• Salary

• Working Environment

• Travel Requirements

• Reporting Date

• Title

• Time Off Work

• Benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Relocation Expenses

These are just some factors to consider in negotiating. But even if you're successful in getting most of what you want, one of the biggest mistakes is not having all of the agreed upon terms and conditions in writing. The basic rule of human resources is "if it's not in writing, it didn't happen." So even if your superior verbally agrees, the burden of proof will rest on the employee to enforce the contract. Most superiors will honor verbally agreed upon contract terms, but what happens if the superior leaves? The new superior may not honor those verbal agreements and, since its unwritten, will not be obligated to abide by them unless you can prove otherwise. So push for a written agreement in your negotiations.

Even a written agreement is not enough to protect you if it is vague. While you and your current superior may understand the meaning of words or terms in your agreement, your new superior may not. Their interpretation may differ. Here are two suggestions for improving your contracts clarity: First, consider every way a particular provision can be misinterpreted. And second, give it to a third-party to review. Ask them to question it openly and honestly. If there is something they don't understand, then clarify it. Don't defend the agreement provisions and terms. Trying explaining to the third-party what they mean and once understanding is achieved, then incorporate the clear provision in the agreement.

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