Salary negotiation tips

7 golden rules for salary negotiation:

1. Know your market value:

• Gehalt.de, Glassdoor, Kununu, StepStone salary report
• Ask former colleagues, industry contacts

2. Never name a figure first:

• "What did you have in mind?" → "What is the salary range for this position?"

3. If YOU name a figure – aim high:

• Name 10–15% above your desired salary. The employer will negotiate down

4. Achievements instead of needs:

❌ "I need more money because my rent has gone up"
✅ "I led project X and achieved a Y% increase in sales"

5. Timing:

• After a successful project, at the annual review, when taking on new tasks

6. Don't negotiate only salary:

• Home office days, training budget, company car, job ticket, more holiday

7. Endure the silence:

• After stating your demand: STAY SILENT. Whoever speaks first loses. Let the employer react.