On receiving the job offer the first and foremost thing you should do is to genuinely thank for the offer and show interest in the job position been offered. This would bring about positive environment between you and the employers and open doors for healthy discussion for the salary negotiation. MBA graduates have higher market value depending upon the specialization done and the B-school from which it is pursued.

To start with salary negotiation for job offers you receive after MBA degree starts with asking few questions:

• Maintain the professional attitude right from the beginning, say thank you followed by the question to know whether the job position offered is temporary or permanent.

• Once salary offer is given do not hesitate to ask whether the salary is negotiable or not. Else you can consider negotiating other things.

• It’s highly important to know your market value. Know the salaries offered to other students for your job position in the industry and geographic location. If you don’t know search online or ask others who belong to that field. If you walk into salary negotiation without knowing the salary value, then the ball would be certainly in the employer’s court.

• Ask questions such as whether the salary offered is total compensation or base compensation. Take into consideration the entire offer and compare how much it matches with your set priorities.

• Instead of directly negotiating on the basic salary, you can also try to talk on compensation package, vacation relocation package, signing bonus and the start date. Discuss for a 6 month performance appraisal instead of annual appraisal, this would help you achieve certain goals.

• Know your ‘walk away point’. A final offer that’s too low based on your market value, financial requirements or what you expect can be turned down with soft tone but in a powerful way.

• Never ever negotiate the salary on the basis of personal reasons. Keep the reasons objective.

• You can use information such as, if you have another job offer with company from same industry, or peers who have received higher salaries with same company for negotiating purpose. While raising these points never try to threaten the employers by saying that you would go elsewhere, otherwise you may lose the job offer.

• Keep a one page summary of your positive points as an employee. Put in your accomplishments during the MBA course, or if you had any past job experience, awards or any customer testimonials. This would show up your professional value to the prospective boss and you get a firm ground to ask for your preferred salary package.

• While preparing for negotiation, put yourself in the shoes of the opponent’s perspective and think accordingly. This mental exercise would lead you to find solutions that work successfully for both the parties.

• You should be the first person to put the numbers on the table, so that the further conversation is controlled by you and not the counterpart. You should always ask for higher figure than you actually want, as the employers would definitely try to lower it.

• Last but not the least remain kind but firm in your approach. The conversation should be focused.

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