STOP BEING SHY ABOUT MONEY
Your salary is negotiable. But knowing that and actually doing it are two very different things. Here's how to go into that conversation prepared.
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS
Before you negotiate, do your homework. Look at what people with similar roles, experience, skills and responsibilities are earning. This gives you something to base your expectations on instead of just picking a number that sounds good. And remember, in the Netherlands, compare gross with gross and look at the whole package, including holiday allowance and other benefits.
BE CONFIDENT
Saying "I think I deserve more" probably won't get you very far. Instead, think about what you actually bring to the table. Which skills do you have that they need? What experience can you bring? What results have you delivered? The stronger your reasoning, the easier it is to explain why your number makes sense.
DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT
If you're given a salary range, don't automatically aim for the lowest number. If your experience and skills support it, there's nothing wrong with aiming towards the higher end. You can always have a conversation about coming down. It's a lot harder to negotiate up once you've already accepted a lower number.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
There is a difference between talking about salary and actually negotiating it. Early in the hiring process, you might be asked about your expectations to make sure you're roughly in the same ballpark. But once you've received an offer, the conversation changes. They have decided they want you, which puts you in a much stronger position to negotiate.
THINK BEYOND THE PAYCHECK
Sometimes the salary itself isn't as flexible as you'd hoped. That doesn't mean the conversation has to end there. Look at the whole package. Extra holidays, a bonus, pension contributions, a training budget, travel allowance, flexible working or an earlier salary review can all have real value. Your salary is only one part of what you're being offered.
ASK. THEN STOP TALKING
This might be the hardest part. You have to actually say the number out loud. You could say: "Thank you for the offer. I'm really excited about the role. Based on my experience, skills and the market rate I've researched, I was hoping for something closer to €X. Is there room to move on the salary?" And then let them answer. You don't need to immediately justify, apologise or talk yourself back down.
THEY SAID NO?
A no to your number doesn't always mean the conversation is over. Ask whether there's flexibility elsewhere in the package, or whether you could agree on a salary review after six months based on your performance. The goal isn't to win every negotiation. It's to make sure you're not leaving value on the table simply because you were too nervous to ask.
SOURCES:
https://www.iamexpat.nl/career/employment-news/how-negotiate-your-salary-netherlands https://www.makeitinthenorth.nl/all-content-for-jobseekers/negotiating-salary-work-benefits-and-your-dutch-employment-contract/ https://www.robertwalters.nl/en/insights/career-advice/blog/how-to-negotiate-salary.html https://bluelynx.com/blog/how-to-negotiate-salary/