Myth Debunking 101: Salary negotiation is not meant for freshers

You aced your first interview but when it came to salary discussion, you could not gather the courage to negotiate and ended up accepting what was offered — this is a common situation, especially among freshers. It is exactly how one loses the chance to begin their career journey with a pay structure they think they deserve.

While experienced employees are encouraged to negotiate their salary and ask for a compensation that matches their worth, the same doesn’t happen when it comes to freshers. Despite the excellent skills and knowledge they possess, many freshers are sometimes told that they are not eligible to negotiate their first salary as they are just embarking on their career journey.

However, the employment landscape is changing. Today, it’s important for every individual, whether experienced or fresher, to know their true market value from the start in order to lay a strong foundation for their career.

Common hesitations freshers have in negotiating salaries

It is important to negotiate your first salary as a fresher because that sets a positive tone to begin a career, experts say. A great start not only helps in building a good reputation but also reflects your competencies and worth in the market you are entering, says Sumit Sarabhai, Chief Business Officer, Spectrum Talent Management, a manpower solutions provider.

However, he says some mental barriers often stop young individuals from asking for higher compensation. To begin with, the desire to start a professional career as quickly as possible, along with unfamiliarity with negotiation skills, actually prevents them from negotiating.

During their transition from college life to corporate, Sarabhai explains, individuals are often under pressure to meet the expectations of family, society and friends. To avoid any career gap or to reduce this gap in this transition phase, they grab an opportunity without giving due consideration to the pay scale.

Besides, the lack of information around market salaries, industry trends, and company compensation practices leads to fear and anxiety and creates hesitation in the mind, he adds.

It is important for a fresher to negotiate on salary as it also sets a foundation for an earning trajectory, says Lokesh Nigam, Co-founder and CEO, Konverz.ai, a conversational intelligence tool simplifying and improving talent decisions. He says negotiating salary demonstrates professionalism and confidence and always helps to set the tone for further advancements and earning potential. It's a pivotal step towards ensuring equitable compensation and long-term career growth.

Coming to the reasons for hesitation among freshers, he cites lack of confidence, fear of rejection, or the fear of jeopardising the offer due to negotiation as prime concerns. Alongside these, he says a lack of bargaining experience in addition to the desire to just get a job are massive obstacles. Many are also held back by their fear of ruining the relationship with their company, he adds.

Freshers are slowly realising their worth

But experts say they are witnessing a change in the employment landscape as individuals are becoming more aware of the need to ask for a rewarding pay scale. Though some graduates still struggle to clearly advocate for themselves and their abilities while handling negotiations, many have started setting great examples.

Elaborating on this shift in the approach, Sarabhai says he has come across various candidates who were very clear in their thought process and had done proper research about the industry standards and market. They had followed the advice of their mentors before proceeding for negotiation discussions.

“Fresher candidates today negotiate their first salary beyond hesitation, and achieve positive outcomes by leveraging preparation, confidence and a strategic approach to negotiations. A mentor can play a vital role here to get them market-ready and deal with such challenges,” he says.

Nigam recalls an instance of a recent graduate, named Priya, who landed her first job offer as a content writer at a digital marketing agency. Talking about her encounter with the discussion around salary negotiation, he says, excited yet apprehensive about the salary offered, she hesitated initially but decided to muster the courage to negotiate. “She did her homework, consulting her college placement cell and online resources to understand industry standards. Priya approached the negotiation respectfully, expressing her enthusiasm for the role while articulating her value and the competitive rates for similar positions”.

Besides her salary, she made sure to discuss opportunities for skill development and flexible work arrangements. As a result, her sincerity and preparedness impressed the hiring manager, leading to a revised offer with a higher salary and additional benefits, such as remote work options, he explains.

Strategies for freshers to seamlessly negotiate their salary

If you are about to enter the employment landscape and are intimidated by the pay discussions, the experts suggest a few effective ways to help you turn the negotiation in your favour.

To begin with, they advise doing thorough research to understand the market rates for your roles, industry, and location. This will help in identifying and articulating your skills as per the market requirement and presenting yourself as a valuable asset to the employer.

Also, they say that one of the most powerful strategies for persuading someone that you deserve more than what is being offered is to position yourself as the problem-solver. You must attempt to determine the difficulties that your recruiting manager is facing and how you may assist them in resolving those problems.

Keep your negotiations flexible. It’s good to communicate the pay scale you want, but it’s equally necessary to understand the employer’s perspective to know their constraints and priorities. Also, remember to initiate the negotiation after receiving the job offer and before accepting it.

Having said that, if the compensation component cannot be increased, experts emphasise identifying the perks that are vital to you and requesting those benefits. For instance, they say benefits like a metro train card, vehicle or taxi fare, gym membership or restaurant discounts could be of immense help. Asking for more training chances as a perk is another smart move to seek continuous professional development.

Most importantly, along with approaching salary negotiation with professionalism, assertiveness, and confidence, individuals must remain respectful and open to discussions. Irrespective of how your interaction turns out, stick to subtlety and politeness, and be ready to receive a “no”, they add.