When you’re negotiating your salary, the first number you mention will likely become the anchor everything else references. Make that number stronger by avoiding round numbers.
Photo by Evan Jackson.
As tips site Barking Up the Wrong Tree explains, when you enter an even, round number, it sounds like an estimate. The broader it is, the less likely the person you’re negotiating with is likely to take it as specifically as you are. However, if you add or subtract even a little, the number sounds a lot more intentional:
The first number that gets mentioned in a salary negotiation has an incredible amount of power. It becomes the standard by which counteroffers are judged and most people are reluctant to stray too far from it.
You can make your anchor even more sticky by not using round numbers. When someone says “$100,000” it sounds like they didn’t put a lot of thought into it and will probably accept less. But when someone says “$102,500” it seems like they probably have a good reason for asking for that exact amount.
Of course, arbitrarily adding $500 here or there is never going to be as effective as researching exactly what you’re worth. However, while you’re conducting your research and planning out how much money you need to make a job viable, the more specific you can get, the better.
How To Negotiate Salary: 5 Secrets Backed By Research [Barking Up the Wrong Tree]
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