5 Mistakes to Sidestep During a Salary Negotiation With a Candidate

5 Mistakes to Sidestep During a Salary Negotiation With a Candidate5 Mistakes to Sidestep During a Salary Negotiation With a CandidateIf youre a hiring manager, you may be interested to know that more than six in 10 executives polled in a Robert Half survey said theyre willing to negotiate starting salary.And no doubt, the best candidates know this. The better the candidate, the more likely you need to be ready for salary negotiation when the time comes. Get a head start by taking a look at these five common mistakes managers make when attempting to close a deal1. Being unpreparedMany of todays savvy job candidates show up at the negotiating table organized, having done their research on how to get what they want. You should be prepared, too. Before you discuss salary, make sure youve benchmarked your offerings. Is the position harder to fill than last time you hired? Use resources such as the most recent Salary Guides from Robert Half as a reference.2. Agreeing to a salary thats to o highNot much can kill the spirit of teamwork in your office quite like beginning a new hire at a higher rate than your current staff. While you may think salaries remain secret, eventually they often get out, especially in a small business setting. Its best to set a maximum amount youre willing to offer a job candidate so theres a reasonable degree of internal equity. In case the candidate does reveal his salary, you wont have to worry about disgruntled coworkers.HIRING? WE CAN HELP3. Thinking its all about the moneySalary itself isnt the only part of the salary negotiation equation. If a job candidate isnt satisfied with the starting salary, remind him of the intangibles related to the position such as opportunities to learn and grow with the organization and the benefits package. totenstill not budging? Here are some other perks you might offerTelecommutingFlexible work hoursOpportunities to attend seminars and conferencesDiscounted gym membership4. Playing gamesSalary negotiati on is essentially bargaining Youre trying to get what you want (a great employee) at the lowest possible cost. A back and forth is inherent in the process, but dont let it lead to playing games. Respect and be honest with the job candidate and with yourself during salary negotiation.Always keep in mind your workplace needs and how easy or difficult you believe filling the position will be.Plus, dont let factors such as the halo effect - focusing on one positive attribute of a candidate and ignoring everything else - taint your judgment during the process. Sometimes you have to let a great candidate go if you cant strike a reasonable deal.5. Getting caught up in the momentDont become so engrossed in negotiating that you forget whats important to your organization. Sometimes, you just have to walk away. If your attempts to woo a reluctant candidate fall short, the best thing to do in many cases is to cut your losses and look somewhere else. The goal at this point should be to end th e process so that the candidate leaves with a feeling of being treated fairly and with dignity. Dont burn the bridge You never know when your paths may cross again.This post has been updated to reflect more current information.