Three Salary Negotiation Starting Points

If you are lucky enough to get a final job interview, you will be presented with one final obstacle: The salary negotiation.

Negotiating salary is a difficult task.  Job seekers have to balance what they want with what they need, as well as keeping in mind what the employer can reasonably offer.  That's why you should go into the interview with three numbers: What you want, what is acceptable, and what is a non-starter.

The first number you come up with is one that you would make you ecstatic.  It's a salary that is beyond what you would expect, but is not so far-fetched to be a complete fantasy.  This is where research comes in.  You must have a solid understanding of what the average salary is for the job for which you are applying.  If you see there are some organizations that are paying their employees on the high-end of the spectrum, you should use it for your "dream salary."

The second number is one that you would accept, even if it isn't everything you would want.  This is generally the salary that the majority of people working the job would get paid.  For example, The NonProfit Times' 2011 Nonprofit Salary and Benefits Report shows that nonprofits paid their non-management development employees an average salary of $36,817.  That would be a salary that would at least pass the "sniff test," and could be a basis for your negotiation.

The last number doesn't require as much explanation.  This is a salary that, if you were offered, you would reject without hesitation.  This would be something like being offered a $25,000 salary for a job that normally pays in the high 30s.  You probably won't run into this situation very often, but it's good to be prepared.

Having these three numbers will help you have a basis for which you can evaluate the offer you are given by the employer.  You can then begin your negotiations on a much stronger ground, and that's half the battle.

Non Profit Job Salary and Benefits

Believe it or not, non profits don't pay in
Monopoly money

One of the biggest myths about working in nonprofit organizations is that you are destined to live a life of poverty.  Many people think that just because they are not built for the sole purpose of making money, that there is no chance a non profit could offer a salary that could compete with a for-profit job.  While it's true that you may not get the kind of bonuses or stock options you could get at a big corporation, a typical non profit salary is actually very comparable to that of a typical job in the for-profit sector. 

For example, working as a Chief Development Officer at a successful non profit could earn you as much as $100,000 a year.  And according to Simply Hired, the average entry level salary for a non profit job is $42,000.  So while you may be leaving some hefty bonuses on the table by working at a non profit, you certainly will be earning more than a respectable living (and by the way, non profit jobs do provide opportunities for bonuses, they just might not be as outrageous as those at for-profit jobs).

In addition to earning a very good salary, nonprofit organizations often have some really good perks and benefits.  There are plenty of exciting non profit events and conferences that even just staffers will get to attend, as well as fundraising dinners.  What about retirement plans?  Well believe it or not, these are quite similar to the standard 401(k) plan you would get at a for-profit, with some small differences.  For instance, according to Fool.com, the 401(b) plan involves less contributions from the employer, and is also simpler to manage.  Still, 401(b) plans still allow employees to elect to have some of their salaries set aside for pre-tax purposes, as well as the other standard 401(k) benefits. 

So as you can see, non profit benefits can not only be similar to for-profit jobs, but can also have some added perks as well.  So if salary and benefit concerns were holding you back from pursuing a non profit job, you can safely put those concerns aside and pursue the job of your dreams.