Tips on How to Negotiate
Currently I am attending FENS virtual Forum and on Sunday I listened to a panel discussion: How to negotiate to get what you need. I was late so I missed a bit of the beginning but I have gathered a few tips that might be of help. In parentheses you find the name of the scientist giving the (following) tips. Keep in mind that these tips are especially directed toward scientists, PhD-students, Post-docs etc. . But I believe they can be helpful to anyone. Enjoy. And if you wanna add something, feel free.
Don’t give up too fast. (Johannes Gräff)
You can negotiate, you deserve to do it. (Laura Andreae)
Desperation is good for negotiation and you can negotiate even for the smallest things
For instance, you need materials for the lab but don’t have money, you could negotiate for it with your employer
Know what you are looking for. (Marian Joels)
What are you looking for in that new job/company/university/employer?
What exactly is it that you want, what are you negotiating for?
Be a pleasant negotiator
Be well prepared
Put the person/company/employer you are negotiating with into the advisor position and not the enemy position
Marian talked about one of their sponsors and how they put them in an advisor position which is very smart, I think. I sometimes do it with my supervisor (if it fits) and it works.
Don't get emotional. Avoid it. Be rational.
Honesty is important and being authentic.
share the impact with the person you are negotiating with. Not immediately but maybe 3 months later, if needed.
Be careful with going to the next level (the person a level higher from your supervisor in the hierarchy. He/she might say that you should go back to your supervisor and nothing has changed)
In case you are switching from one university to another university, you need to know that the rules are different for each university (Menno P. Witter)
learn what the rules of your new employer is.
In case there is discrimination: Is this really the place you want to work at?
Negotiating for a position: make a list of everything you do daily (you touch gloves etc.) and you need to know whether this university pays for it.
Know what you want and use negotiation to explore your future environment
Forget about previous experiences. Let go of the emotion and don't talk about your ex-supervisor to the new employer. (Aparna Suvrathan)
Again be prepared.
be honest if you are trying to apply to two positions. The person/employer wants you to have the position, be confident and honest. (I think this was Menno P. Witter)
