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Vietnhi Phuvan
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To be able to negotiate, you have to be in a strong bargaining position. Do you have experience that makes you stand out from other applicants? Skills? Evidence of outstanding ability that would make you a compelling hire? If the answer is "no", then you have no leverage and the only bargaining you'll do is bargaining with yourself.

To negotiate effectively, you have to put yourself in the other parties' shoes. And why should the other party see in you than a kid with an over-inflated view of themselves? What's so compelling about your candidacy that would motivate the other party to get to the negotiating table rather than just end the whole charade by making an offer to one of your peers? How are you going to convey your willingness to negotiate to the other party when they don't care whether or not you are willing to negotiate?

You did not analyze your relative bargaining positions. You did not analyze your relative strengths and weaknesses. You did not analyze the motivations of each party and how their motivations might either drive them to negotiate,or not to bother negotiating. You did not prepare. Negotiations are a lot more than mere haggling, so you don't understand the negotiating process itself either. The notion of haggling implies a process of give and take- What is it that you can give in your position - I mean, really give? There is a reason why those who argue for a raise make damn sure that their arguments are lined up before they ask. Because they know that the failure to prepare means at best that they don't get a raise and at worst, that their jobs are in jeopardy. You're going to be slaughtered.

Now, you know why excellent negotiators are worth their weight in gold.

Vietnhi Phuvan
  • 72.4k
  • 8
  • 133
  • 268