Negotiating Salary: Too Risky Right Now?

Sept. 24, 2009 — -- Last fall I wrote about the great negotiations debate between applicants and employers: whose job it is to name a dollar amount first.

This fall I'm hearing recession-weary job applicants express a new concern: whether it's appropriate to negotiate at all given the country's recent financial contortions, or whether you should simply accept any salary you're offered.

Diana, a communications professional with four years of experience in the field, struggled with this decision when she received a job offer from a telecommunications firm in March.

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"I wasn't happy with the salary they offered," Diana said. "At first I thought I could just accept it and try to find a new job in nine months when the economy improved. But then I realized that I wasn't going to be satisfied if I didn't at least try to get them to pay me more."

So she told the HR rep that she hoped to be happy with the company for years to come but didn't want to feel pressured to look for a better-paying position once the job market rebounded.

"I felt like if they made me the offer I must be the best candidate," Diana said. "They're going to want me to stay even after the recession ends."

Fortunately, Diana's would-be employer agreed: they increased their offer by 7 percent.