Getting selected in a job interview is only half the job done; the other half is salary negotiation. When negotiating a salary, timing is important. Asking the salary amount right in the first instance would be imprudent. It is important to get the job offer or reach the final interview first before negotiating the salary. This article gives some tips on salary negotiation, helping you in negotiating your salary with a prospective employer.

There are many different situations that one would face regarding the salary that he or she is offered depending on the type of job and the type of organization. In some jobs there may not be any room for negotiations, you simply have to accept or reject what is offered. If you don’t like what is offered, you have to look for another job.

Looking from an employer’s perspective, if you have fixed X amount as the salary for a particular job and if somebody is willing to work for X-Y amount, you would have saved Y amount for the company. Hence you may initially offer X-Y amount to see if the prospective employee accepts it and give yourself room for negotiation if required. Remembering this strategy, when the employer asks your last pay drawn, you must disclose the true amount and also explain why you are worth more like you were responsible for increase in sales by Z% or you have saved Z amount for the company and so on.

If in an interview you are offered X amount as salary and asked for your opinion, there are some options for you:

1) You can remain silent in which case the employer may think that you feel it is too low and might raise the offer

2) Explain to them the last salary that you were drawing and that you expect a raise by Y amount and the reasons for the same. The Y amount should be a few thousand dollars more than what you are willing to settle; this would give you room to negotiate in case the employer wants to bring it down

3) Accept the offer on the condition you expect the salary to be revised after a few months on the basis of your performance. This offer is most likely to be accepted by the employer but you are taking a risk in that you should demonstrate tangible benefits to the employer within the agreed time.

Depending on the position you may also ask for a share of the profit or benefit that has accrued to the company because of your efforts. Like if you are in sales department, a share of the X% increase in sales that you have brought to the company or if it is production department, a share of the X amount of saving because of your efforts etc.

Whatever be the case, it is important to negotiate your salary at the time of interview or later in order to get what you are worth.

If you are a job seeker looking for a new position, or are a college graduate taking that initial step in light of that snappy new college degree to work, you should become a big proponent of job fairs that are held throughout the nation. Job fairs have now become so prevalent that unless you inhale from a rural area, you should have no problem finding many plenty of them.

The job fairs usually has a theme to them based on different professions and careers, but most offer the job seeker the opportunity to speak with representatives and recruiters from different companies that are recruiting talented new employees to come and work for them. Many times the actual interview is conducted right there on the spot and they will have you fill out a job application as well, which really speeds up the process of landing gainful employment.

It actually works both ways in that job fairs also allow the job seeker to interview in question the perspective employer. Here the employee and waiting can actually learn more about the company in the position that is being offered while comparing them alongside of the other participants at the job fair. So basically, everyone here is trying out in some form or fashion.

Job fairs are held for many industries such as the health care industry, especially for nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, physicians’ assistants, and other supportive technical personnel. You would be amazed that the number of shortages and staff that the health-care industry is dealing with. The health care industry is growing with the increased demand for patient services directly related to the huge baby boomer population, the first of which are now entering into retirement.

Job fairs for health-care workers are some of the most popular ones that are held because that is where the need is truly great. Job fairs for health care professionals seeking new opportunities the chance to browse around at the different health care delivery systems, how they are different and yet the same. You could have the same job title in one place, yet be much happier doing that same job in another. Of course this isn’t just the health-care industry or that rule applies.

Because the United States is on the dawn of what some are calling a health-care crisis, new graduates such as nursing students stand a real good chance of being hired rather quickly and they’re usually snapped up at job fairs. Job fairs are a great place to compare benefits, sign on bonuses, and relocation and travel packages offered by competing agencies and health care delivery systems. Nurses can also complete continuing education units (CEUs) toward license renewal at health professional job fairs by completing a class or lecture. Many times you can even negotiate your own terms as far as starting pay and benefits. That is how badly nurses are needed right now.

Of course you will be inundated with various informational packs like brochures and recruiting literature that you picked up from the job fair. These health-care companies are selling themselves, and you are the target. Be sure to pick up a free tote bag that is available by various vendors at the job fair to carry your materials because believe me, you’ll need it.

John Kirsch usually also offer tips on how to spice up your résumé and improve on your interview skills. This is usually done by the company that puts the job fair together as an added enticement to get people to turn out. It’s a pretty good idea actually. I recommend that you Attend as many different job fairs as you can because different companies may be sponsored at each. Don’t jump at the first often that you get, do yourself a favor and take a good look around. This will give you the opportunity to connect with more potential employers at these job fairs, which will greatly increase your chances of getting a position that you truly can be proud of.