Earn It: Best Salary Negotiation Tips for Food & Beverage Industry Jobs

April 16, 2018 in Career and Job Search Tips

 

 

The food & beverage job market is hot.

Unemployment is extremely low.

You’re a talented professional at the top of your field.

So, why aren’t food & beverage employers tripping over themselves to offer you more money?

 

If you want to earn it, you have to ask for it.

Whether you’re angling for a higher salary or better perks at your current food & beverage organization, or trying to secure the right offer somewhere new, it’s up to you to get the compensation you deserve. Below, our food industry executive recruiters share their best salary negotiation tips for professionals and executives like you:

  • Make sure you truly deserve it. Thinking you deserve more money and being able to back up that belief with data are two very different things. Before you approach the employer, create a list of measurable results that demonstrate your success and position you as an indispensable asset. Offering tangible proof of your value is the best ammunition for salary negotiations.
  • View the negotiation as collaborative, not adversarial. Adopting a “me vs. them” mentality immediately puts you on the defensive and creates negative expectations. Approach any conversation about pay as an opportunity to create a package that makes sense for both parties. Taking a collaborative approach positions you as a confident, proactive professional who understands your value and wants to create a win-win compensation scenario.
  • Expect success, but have a back-up plan. If you’ve done your homework, know your true worth and can support your position with measurable results, you should enter your negotiation expecting a favorable outcome. But prepared to handle a variety of scenarios! Think through the negotiation from the employer’s perspective, and prepare yourself for potential objections they may raise. Realize, too, that the employer may not be authorized to immediately accept your proposal. If they say they need time to consider your request, stay calm, positive and professional. Schedule a follow-up meeting to revisit the issue.
  • Be willing to compromise. Successful negotiations are all about striking the right balance. If the employer cannot offer you the salary you’re asking for, consider other forms of compensation that may be acceptable, such as extra paid time off, enhanced medical or dental benefits, or an early performance review. Know what you’d be willing to take in lieu of a higher salary before you enter the negotiation process.

Want more food & beverage salary negotiation tips?

Read these earlier posts from Kinsa’s experts:

Then connect with Kinsa. Our food and beverage headhunters are ready to help you find food industry jobs that offer the challenge, opportunity and compensation you deserve.