If you feel awkward about negotiating your salary, it might be fear that is holding you back. Fear that you will be judged as greedy, fear you will receive a "no," or maybe even fear that your job offer will be rescinded.
Consider what a successful salary negotiation would feel like, though. With the right strategies, you can achieve it. Let's explore how to negotiate successfully and when to have those conversations, all while staying polite and avoiding awkwardness.
Recruiters and hiring managers are often savvy negotiators. Remember, this is something they do for a living, meaning that if you don't have any negotiation experience, you might be at an immediate disadvantage. Fortunately, we are here to help level the playing field, beginning with why you should negotiate your salary.
According to Eurostat data, Ireland ranks as the second most expensive country in the EU. For the most part, wages track with higher living costs in this country; the Central Bank of Ireland reported a 4.6% increase in wages at the beginning of 2025. This could be a good starting point for negotiating your own salary.
Your salary was fair when you began at the company. Since then, you get the job done quicker and better, yet your salary doesn't reflect your increased experience level. If you are offering a sought-after skillset, it is fair that you receive a sought-after salary. Some employers may start with lower offers than their budget allows, and test the boundaries of what candidates will accept. Guess what? You can challenge this.
Your current salary sets the bar for all future pay rises. For example, you may accept a lower offer of €32,000 rather than negotiating up to €34,000. When your next pay rise comes, the typical 3-5% increase will be based on the lower starting wage, meaning you will get, at most, €33,600. If you had successfully negotiated a higher salary from the outset, you would enjoy €35,700.
When you don't negotiate, you don't only lose out on a couple of thousand euros at the moment. You lose out on potentially tens of thousands in the long run.
Negotiation is more than words; it's also about timing. Here's a breakdown of key times to discuss your compensation package, with a guide on when to negotiate, and when to wait it out.
"What are your salary expectations?" So enters the most awkward (even though it shouldn't be!) question of every interview. One of the main reasons you are sitting in an interview, after all, is to secure a job that offers fair compensation for the work you do.
This is a crucial stage at which to anchor your salary expectations. It is not, however, a time to launch into a full-on salary negotiation. It is enough to state the range you are happy with (more on this later) and to leave a fuller negotiation after you have secured an offer.
After you receive a job offer, your potential new employer has more skin in the game. In other words, they are more likely to consider salary negotiation to avoid losing out on their preferred candidate. This is an ideal time to make your move.
Performance reviews often go hand in hand with what of salary. Typically occurring once per year (though this varies from workplace to workplace), a performance review is a natural time to discuss your achievements. With a potential raise already on the table and successes fresh in your manager's mind, this is the perfect time to engage in a salary negotiation.
In the moment, it might be tempting to try to "stay on the good side" of your manager and choose not to rock the boat with counteroffers. But in the long term, you may regret not speaking up.
Receiving recognition and a new title without any salary raise is known as a "dry promotion." While it may bring development opportunities, it could also mean you do more work for less pay. If your responsibilities have increased, it is fair for this to be reflected in your compensation package. Unless you have already received a pay rise recently, this is a safe time to leverage success to gain your desired salary.
While not a legal obligation, it is typical for pay raises to be offered on an annual basis. If you haven't received a pay rise in two years or more, it's time to consider why, especially if you have undergone extensive professional development and taken on extra responsibilities.
As awkward as it might feel, sometimes you need to bite the bullet and request a meeting. Provided you are a good worker, you deserve to be paid market value for what you do.
You've chosen your timing. Now, the conversation. As negotiation experts, we at Scotwork are here to guide you through one step at a time.
Begin by conducting some market research to see what the salary range is for your chosen profession based on your location. Check to see how the average salary compares with yours, as, typically, those living in larger cities have a higher cost of living. For example, in Dublin, a software engineer can expect a salary in the range of €58k-90k/yr. In Cork, by comparison, the range is €48k-69k/yr.
It's all good and well to know the market rate, but you won't have a leg to stand on if you can't prove that you deserve to be in the top percentile of the range. You are like a lawyer building a case. The judge (aka your manager) naturally wants to see tangible evidence to support your request for a higher salary. Don't wait until right before the negotiation to do this! By tracking your projects and successes as and when they happen, you will have a ready-made list of evidence to present when the time comes.
If you are starting a new job, use evidence from previous roles to support your case.
You may be feeling anxious, especially if you are eager to please and worried that the negotiation won't go well. If so, start by taking a deep breath. It sounds cliché, but it works. If you go into the discussion with a sense of calm, your quiet confidence might contribute to winning the salary range you are hoping for.
If you are required to suggest a range of figures, always be sure to anchor the higher number first. For example:
Don't say: I would be happy with a salary in the range of €40-45k per annum.
Do say: I would be delighted with a salary offer of €45k, but I would be content with €43k. I am, however, unlikely to consider an offer as low as €40k.
Whether you have received a job offer or are discussing career progression, walking away is (almost) always an option. In fact, being prepared to do so is a powerful technique for negotiating salary. If you are crucial to the operational running of your organisation, for example, you may be surprised at how the budget can be stretched to accommodate you staying.
Review benefits: Consider how other perks (like holidays and insurance) might increase your job satisfaction beyond salary alone. These may influence your negotiation strategy.
Document your journey in writing: While negotiating salary over email might not be ideal since tone and body language are absent, it's necessary to document any discussions or agreements in writing. Email provides a clear record of what's been proposed, confirmed, or is still under negotiation.
Be comfortable with silence: Don't be afraid to wait in silence while your recruitment consultant or manager considers your counteroffer. Sometimes, a little silence is all that is needed to get the result you want.
At Scotwork, we support you in building negotiation skills at every stage of your career. Whether you are negotiating a pay rise or closing a deal, we offer practical advice grounded in how negotiation really works. Get in touch today.
