Relocating for work? While your money and your time are scarce, are you maximizing your value? More bloggers and freelancers are taking a sales negotiating course to learn how to achieve a better deal. Most bloggers and freelancers are selling their ideas, services and themselves. Here’s how you can make your next negotiation net you a relocation bonus.
Have the confidence to ask early
Asking as early as possible is the best way to maintain a strong bargaining position. If you leave your opening position too late, you’ll be considered desperate or unprepared. Additionally, you will be short on options, and this will factor into the type of deal you can negotiate.
If you want the best outcome possible, be prepared and communicate your requirements in the early stages of your negotiation. No amount of negotiation training will allow you to undo the setback to your position caused starting with too weak an opening position, and delaying sharing your position.
Confidently ask for more
Something the best online sales courses will train participants on is the value of confidence. Be careful however to not fall into the overconfidence trap by neglecting your preparation. Sales professionals need to understand the value of your services and products to your clients’ business, and to build this value prior to entering the negotiation room.
It’s worth pausing to consider how your employer decides on your value to them, especially in the early days. If you don’t negotiate effectively, and this of course includes your relocation package, then your employer may fear you will not be a strong negotiator when client facing. So know your worth, don’t be timid about asking for more in your negotiations with an air of self-confidence. Ensure you understand how your skill set will translate to business results for your employer. Making your unique skills known ensures everyone will know your contribution and will give you more decision-making powers to achieve your business goals.
A taxing issue
Negotiation training provides you with valuable practice in honing your negotiation skills – both in the job and to get the job. You need to think of how to maximize value in the mid to longer-term. Whatever relocation package you agree, you are highly likely going to face the tax man.
You naturally want to ensure that as much money finds its way into your account as possible. So tax should be part of your negotiation plan. When should you bring up the taxing issue of tax? If you leave this until later, then you face a higher chance of a ‘no’. Instead, voice them from the outset. If your employer knows you expect the tax to be covered, they’re more likely to pay you extra to compensate. So ensure that you mention tax when you first raise relocation, as part of your opening ‘offer’ or request.
Factored in your reconnaissance trip?
Do you know where you want to move? Plan ahead by deciding how much time you’ll need to get accustomed to your new home city or town. Typically this requires at least a few weeks, which may require more than one trip. Add up all the travel and accommodation costs you’ll likely incur before you’ve made your decision on where you’re going to make your new home, and present this to your new manager. Provide your calculations, including dates and line items, and present them to your new employer.
Sales negotiation courses teach to keep your eye on the bigger picture, and not to get overly focused on the here and now big ticket items.
Do you need a lawyer?
You’ve negotiated as best you can, and are happy enough with the offer on hand to sign the contract. Not so fast! Negotiating trainers instruct to pause before signing the contract. Very few people like to read the fine print. Unfortunately too many have stories of regret to share for not having taken care by reading their contracts.
If you’re not comfortable with dry legalese language, you can find an affordable lawyer on one of the affordable online job sites. It’s now affordable to get a qualified and highly experienced lawyer without having to pay all the legal firms overheads. Employment contracts should be safe to trust with a lower cost offshore lawyer who has experience with your country’s law.
The more you plan your negotiation, the broader and more long term you will be able to think, and the greater the value you will capture. Most employers will want you more, not less, as a result of your negotiation preparation and planning, plus your self-confidence.
