Salary Negotiation Tips for Food & Beverage Industry Jobs

August 29, 2022 in Career and Job Search Tips

 

Laurie Hyllberg

Laurie champions Kinsa Group’s position as the top food and beverage recruiting firm in the nation and its presence in the global FMCG marketplace. To her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Business Management, and Marketing she adds over 20 years of executive search experience in the food and beverage industry at Kinsa. Building a network of executives and professionals through membership in the Women’s Foodservice Forum, Institute of Food Technologists, FaB Wisconsin, Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network, and maintaining professional expertise in recruiting as an Executive Board Member for the Recruiters Of Wisconsin association, Laurie is able to connect top talent in the food industry with food and beverage processors and foodservice providers growing their teams at the C-Suite, VP, Director, and Management level. Connect with Laurie today!

 

Whether you’re looking for a higher salary or better perks at your current food & beverage organization or trying to secure the best offer somewhere new, it’s up to you to get the compensation you deserve. Below, we share the best salary negotiation tips for food & beverage 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 backup 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 be 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 your employer may not be authorized to accept your proposal immediately. 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 healthcare 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:

If you’re looking for your next food & beverage career opportunity, connect with Kinsa today.